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Updated March 13, 2024·
When considering a laptop, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 usually offers a more budget-friendly option which can be attractive if cost is a main concern for everyday tasks; however, it may come with a bulkier design and potentially shorter battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while more expensive, typically brings a more portable design and longer battery life, making it a better choice for on-the-go use and for those who prefer a lighter device for travel or commuting. It may also have better performance for more demanding tasks and a higher quality build. 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 Lenovo ThinkBook 13x.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
- Good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.9
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 offers modest CPU and RAM, which are sufficient for everyday tasks, but its larger size and weight reduce its portability compared to the more compact Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which boasts a higher-quality screen and longer battery life, enhancing its suitability for on-the-go use and better performance in general applications. While both laptops are equipped with adequate storage, the ThinkBook 13x's advantages in keyboard and speaker quality, as well as more effective heat management, contribute to a smoother user experience, albeit at a likely higher cost.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.6
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x both come with GPUs that can handle gaming and 3D applications but may not provide the smoothest framerates for demanding games due to their average screen refresh rates. The CPUs and screen quality on both laptops are sufficient for a decent gaming experience, but they won't match the high performance of specialized gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
6.3
7.9
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, with its superior CPU, GPU, and screen quality, provides smoother performance and more detailed visuals for resource-intensive engineering applications compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520. However, the Dell may still be a suitable choice if a balance between cost and performance is required, offering decent keyboard and portability, despite its lesser power in the very important categories.
Content Creation
7.0
8.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.9
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
8.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, with its fair screen quality, offers adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks but may lack the color accuracy needed for professional engineering and design work; its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for the smooth visuals required in gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, however, boasts very good screen quality with higher resolution and brightness, making it better for both general use and detailed engineering tasks that benefit from its superior color gamut coverage. Despite these strengths, the ThinkBook 13x, like the Inspiron, doesn't cater to gaming and 3D needs due to a refresh rate that falls short of providing the highly responsive visual experience that these activities often demand.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
13.5in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
7.6
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
$1,399
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a price of $329 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3520 | Lenovo ThinkBook 13x |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$329 | $1,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | January 30, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.83'' | 11.6'' x 8.1'' x 0.5'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.65 lbs | 2.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 11.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-1215U | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H | |
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 | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 74 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 9.4/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 3 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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