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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 is less expensive, emphasizes budget, and offers a good balance for everyday tasks with acceptable battery life. On the flip side, the Gigabyte A5 is pricier, designed with stronger performance for 3D tasks, engineering software, and gaming due to its superior graphics card. The A5 also supports features like hardware ray tracing and has a higher refresh rate screen which is beneficial for fast-paced games, but this comes with more weight, affecting portability. Both laptops have similar screen size and resolution, but if price is a concern and gaming isn't a priority, the Dell might serve you well. If you're frequently using demanding applications or gaming, invest in the Gigabyte A5. 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 3525
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte A5.
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 is better for gaming and 3D because it has a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card which can handle demanding tasks more effectively than the AMD Vega 7 graphics in the Dell Inspiron 15 3525. Additionally, the A5's screen has a higher refresh rate, offering smoother visuals important for gaming, compared to the standard refresh rate on the Inspiron 15 3525.
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525's combination of an AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Vega 7 processor and integrated graphics is adequate for engineering and design tasks but may lack in power compared to the Gigabyte A5 which boasts a robust AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU and a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, greatly enhancing rendering and computational performance for more demanding applications. Additionally, while both have similar screen sizes and resolutions, the superior GPU in the A5 can be a deciding factor for graphics-intensive work, even though it may result in less portability and higher operating noise than the Inspiron, which features a more travel-friendly design and quieter operation.
Screen Quality
6.3
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron's fair screen might not be as sharp or vibrant due to average brightness and resolution, whereas the Gigabyte A5's good quality screen likely offers better brightness and sharper images, enhancing everyday activities like browsing or watching videos. In engineering and design where color accuracy is crucial, the Gigabyte's display likely covers a wider color spectrum, rendering it more suitable for tasks that demand precise color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite their resolutions and types, both laptops fall short due to their likely lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion and a less immersive experience.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.2
The Gigabyte A5 has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$400
$830
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte A5 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a lower-quality CPU and half the RAM of the Gigabyte A5, which contributes to its fair performance for general use, whereas the Gigabyte's better CPU and higher RAM support its good rating. Additionally, the Gigabyte A5 has a higher-quality screen, with better color coverage and contrast, and more robust heat management, but it's also heavier and has the same battery life as the Dell, affecting portability.
Content Creation
7.1
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte A5 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
6.9
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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 3525 and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the Gigabyte A5
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 Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
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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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