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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a budget-friendly option with an i3 processor suitable for basic tasks and general use; however, its lower price also reflects in its lower battery life and performance compared to the LG Ultra 16. On the other hand, the LG Ultra 16, while more expensive, offers a more powerful Ryzen 7 processor, double the RAM and storage, a larger screen with a higher resolution, and significantly better battery life, making it suitable for more intense work like engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning. Both lack a touchscreen and are comparable in size and weight, with the LG Ultra 16 being slightly slimmer. If cost is a primary concern, go for the Dell; for better performance and longer battery life, consider investing in the LG. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the LG Ultra 16.
Advantages of the LG Ultra 16
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Excellent battery life
- Good speakers
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The LG Ultra 16 is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The LG Ultra 16 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use primarily due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen processor and double the RAM, which provides better multitasking capabilities and overall performance. Additionally, the LG's larger, higher resolution screen with a different aspect ratio offers a broader and sharper visual experience, and its significantly larger battery capacity results in longer unplugging times, enhancing its suitability for general use compared to the Dell.
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The LG Ultra 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The LG Ultra 16 stands out in engineering and design use with a more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, double the RAM, and superior GPU performance compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's Intel i3 CPU, lesser RAM, and integrated graphics; moreover, LG's higher battery capacity and slightly better screen quality, including a higher resolution and aspect ratio, make it more suited for detailed design work despite both having similar portability and build attributes.
Content Creation
7.0
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The LG Ultra 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the LG Ultra 16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
6.7
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The LG Ultra 16 is good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
6.8
6.2
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
270.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a better screen than the LG Ultra 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 16 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
When evaluating laptops like the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the LG Ultra 16 for general use, screen attributes such as panel type, resolution, and brightness are crucial; fair screen quality suggests that these laptops offer acceptable clarity and visibility for everyday tasks but may not be exceptional. For engineering and design, color accuracy and range are key, so their fair screen quality indicates these laptops support a decent spectrum of colors, critical for precise work, but might not cover the professional standard color gamuts fully. As for gaming and 3D applications, high refresh rates are significant for smooth motion, so the classification of poor screen quality implies that while these laptops might handle less demanding visual tasks, they won't satisfy the needs of high-frame-rate gaming or intensive 3D rendering due to limited refresh rates.
Battery
6.5 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 16 has 17 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$329
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the LG Ultra 16 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The LG Ultra 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3-1215U integrated graphics, offers a higher screen refresh rate aiding smoother gameplay, which is crucial for gaming response times, but its graphical power is less suited for high-end gaming or complex 3D tasks.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Ultra 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.5
The LG Ultra 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the LG Ultra 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | LG Ultra 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.64'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 17 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 270 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | January 2023
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
LG Ultra 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Jentsch | October 2022
"Unlike the gram, the Ultra PC isn't designed to be as lightweight as possible. The 16-inch laptop is a whole 400 g (0.88 lb) heavier than its 16-inch gram counterpart partly because its chassis is not made of magnesium. Other than that, the Ultra PC seems like a copy of the gram – but with longer battery life, lower noise levels, and a clean, delicate look."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the LG Ultra 16
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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