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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you require a laptop primarily for basic tasks and are considering cost as a major factor, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, being more budget-friendly, could suffice for general use. It has a larger screen but is thicker and slightly heavier than the MSI, making it less portable. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo, on the other hand, offers a higher-quality display, more storage, and double the memory, which contributes to better performance for demanding applications and multitasking. It is more expensive but also comes with a better processor and more premium features such as a touchscreen, a higher battery capacity, and additional ports including Thunderbolt 4, making it suitable for more intensive uses like 3D rendering or engineering tasks. If portability and high performance are priorities and price is less of an issue, the MSI would be the preferable 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 MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo.
Advantages of the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers a fair experience for general use with its standard screen quality, moderate battery life, and heavier weight, making it less portable and less vibrant than some alternatives; however, its lower performance CPU and more limited RAM may slow down more demanding tasks. In contrast, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has a high-resolution touchscreen, a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a longer battery life, all in a lighter and slimmer design, which provides a good general use experience, especially if you need to multitask or carry your laptop frequently, albeit at a higher price point.
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel i3 processor and UHD graphics, offers fair performance for engineering and design tasks, but the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo surpasses it with a more powerful Intel i7 processor and Iris Xe graphics, providing good capability for such demanding workloads. Additionally, the MSI model's higher resolution and better screen quality will benefit detailed design work, while its more compact and lightweight form factor enhances portability, at the expense of a smaller screen size than the Dell's.
Content Creation
7.0
7.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo 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
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip 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
7.7
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
468.0 nits
The MSI Summit E14 Flip 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.
For general use, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo's higher resolution and brighter display offer clearer and more vibrant visuals, giving it an edge over the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's fair screen. When it comes to engineering and design work, the Summit's superior color gamut coverage ensures more accurate color representation, which is crucial for those fields, while the Inspiron's screen may not reproduce colors as faithfully. However, for gaming and 3D applications where higher refresh rates lead to smoother visuals, both laptops may fall short due to their lower refresh rates, with resolution and panel type being secondary concerns.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The MSI Summit E14 Flip 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 Summit E14 Flip 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
$1,599
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo costs $1,599.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.5
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.0/10
The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its Intel UHD graphics and higher screen refresh rate, is suitable for entry-level gaming and some 3D applications, but falls short for more graphics-intensive tasks. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has more powerful Intel Iris Xe graphics and a higher resolution screen, providing better image quality for gaming and 3D content, but limited by a lower refresh rate. Both laptops are fair in this regard but neither is ideal for demanding gaming or professional 3D work due to their integrated graphics.
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo has 7 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.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,599 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 12.6'' x 8.6'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 3.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.56" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.62" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel i7-1260P | |
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 | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 72 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 468 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.5/10 | |
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 | 6/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
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
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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."
MSI Summit E14 Flip Evo
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | July 2022
"The MSI Summit E14 Flip convertible review: a legit alternative to HP, Dell or Lenovo. Instead of taking the 13-inch Summit E13 Flip and simply enlarging it for a 14-inch form factor, the Summit E14 Flip is the full chassis redesign we've been looking for. It loses some of the golden trims of its smaller sibling, but the gains in rigidity and build quality are arguably worth it especially from a professional standpoint where reliability takes priority. It doesn't quite feel as strong as the HP Spectre just yet, but it's certainly getting close."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the MSI Summit E14 Flip 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.
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