Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 depends on your priorities. The Dell has more screen space and a numeric keypad, making it suitable for business and general use, whereas the Surface Laptop Go 2 is more portable, offers a higher-quality webcam, speakers, and builds, and its touchscreen and 3:2 aspect ratio make it good for browsing and media consumption. However, the Dell is less costly, so if budget is a concern and you need a larger screen for multitasking or productivity tasks, it might be the better option. Conversely, if you prefer a more compact, higher quality build with better battery life and the added benefit of a touchscreen, the Surface Laptop Go 2, while more expensive, would likely be your choice. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2.
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.8/10
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
When considering general use, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2's good screen quality is due to its higher resolution and brightness, making images and text sharper and easier to view in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design tasks, the screen's color accuracy and range are crucial, and the Surface Laptop Go 2's adherence to color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB ensures that colors are represented more faithfully. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short because their refresh rates are not as high as gaming-specific laptops, which is important for smooth motion and gameplay, although resolution and panel type are also considerations where they provide a decent but not optimal experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has 8 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
12.4in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.8/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$335
$565
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $335 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 costs $565.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 to be good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a fair balance for general use with sufficient RAM and a decent processor for everyday applications, a quality screen for clarity, and average battery life but is less portable due to a larger size and weight, which could make it less ideal for on-the-go use. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, while also providing ample RAM and a better processor, boasts a higher-quality touchscreen with better colors and portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight, but it is limited by less storage space and shorter battery life compared to the Dell.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is preferable for gaming, but its GPU is less capable than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2, which has a more powerful GPU but a lower refresh rate. Both have adequate CPUs for gaming and fair screen quality, yet neither is optimal for intensive 3D applications or high-end gaming due to their integrated graphics and modest screen specs.
Engineering and Design
6.3/10
6.5/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3 processor and UHD Graphics, offers enough power for basic engineering and design tasks, but may struggle with more intensive workloads; its larger screen and higher resolution benefit visibility but also make it less portable. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 features a more powerful Intel i5 processor with better graphics capability, a touchscreen, and greater portability due to its smaller size and lower weight; however, its reduced storage capacity and screen size might limit extensive engineering and design use.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation.
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
6.7/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 to be 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 review is a compact companion with old hardware. The Surface Laptop Go 2 shows some weaknesses. Microsoft didn't really develop the second generation of the Surface Laptop Go 2 any further but has only equipped it with a slightly more powerful Core i5 processor. However, the performance still remains at a fairly low level overall, but for many users, it definitely should still be sufficient for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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