A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 14, 2024·
When deciding between the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, consider that the Inspiron often offers a balance of cost and functionality, making it a sensible choice for everyday tasks and general use without straining your budget. The MSI Prestige, on the other hand, typically boasts higher performance, lightweight design, and longer battery life, making it suitable for more demanding applications like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming, as well as for users needing a portable device for on-the-go use—factors that contribute to its higher price. If your primary considerations are advanced tasks and the need for a light, long-lasting laptop, the MSI holds the advantage, but for cost-sensitive buyers focused on regular use, the Dell may suffice. 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 MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while adequate for general tasks, may lag behind the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo due to a less powerful CPU and lower RAM, impacting multitasking and speed. The MSI Prestige not only offers superior screen quality for better visual experiences but also excels in portability and battery life, making it ideal for users on the go without frequent access to power.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.8
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with a moderate GPU and standard screen refresh rate, handles gaming and 3D tasks adequately but may struggle with more demanding graphics. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo also performs fairly with similar activities due to its competent GPU and decent screen refresh rate, but it's balanced with a stronger focus on CPU performance and screen quality for productivity tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while adequate for engineering tasks, may lag behind in performance due to its less powerful CPU and GPU compared to the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo, which has superior processing power and a higher-quality screen for detailed work. Although the Dell boasts a larger screen and is good for everyday tasks, the MSI excels in demanding engineering applications and offers better portability, making it easier to work on-the-go, despite potentially having a louder operating noise and a more premium price tag.
Content Creation
7.0
8.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is good.
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
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
415.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's screen may offer adequate resolution and brightness but may not excel in color accuracy or vibrancy, whereas the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo provides higher resolution and brightness, making for clearer and more vivid visuals. For engineering and design needs, the MSI laptop is likely to cover a wider range of colors with greater accuracy, important for professionals who need precise color replication, while the Dell laptop falls short in color gamut coverage. In gaming and 3D applications, the MSI's screen doesn't offer the high refresh rate desired for smooth motion, and likewise, the Dell's screen, though sufficient in basic tasks, doesn't cater to the fluidity and clarity that gaming would demand.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo 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
$329
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo costs $1,300.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 12.3'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.3" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 7.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 415 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.6/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
See more
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3520 vs. Acer Aspire 3 15
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3520 vs. Jumper 16" Laptop
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3520 vs. HP 250 G10
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo vs. Acer Nitro 5 15
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo vs. Lenovo Legion 5 Pro
VS
Compare MSI Prestige 14 AI Evo vs. MSI Creator Z16P
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
127,995
Recommendations made
27,733
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
