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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life and a more premium build, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" stands out, offering a superior screen as well for tasks that benefit from higher color accuracy and brightness. On the flip side, if the budget is a major concern and you are looking for a more cost-effective option, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 might be your go-to, albeit with less robust performance and battery life. Both laptops have similar storage and touchscreens, but the HP's more compact body and lower weight make it more portable, while the Dell's larger screen could be better for multitasking and media consumption. The HP also boasts a better keyboard and webcam, making it more user-friendly for frequent typists and video conferencing. Consider the HP if you're into general use with some heavier tasks, but lean towards the Dell for lighter use at a more comfortable price point. 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14".
Advantages of the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is adequate for general use with a capable processor, sufficient memory, and decent screen, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to the HP Dragonfly Pro 14", which excels in these areas and offers a better balance of performance, screen quality, portability, and battery life for general use. While both have ample storage, and satisfactory keyboard and speaker quality, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" also tends to operate more quietly and manage heat more effectively, making it very good for everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is generally better suited for engineering and design tasks because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, contributing to better performance for demanding software and higher screen quality, offering sharper visuals for detailed work. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, with less powerful hardware, is considered only fair for such tasks; although, being lighter, it may be easier to carry around, but it compromises on the processing power and screen quality necessary for complex engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.1
7.9
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for content creation, though the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
6.9
7.8
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is 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.
Screen Quality
6.3
7.1
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a screen that is adequate for everyday tasks and engineering due to sufficient resolution and brightness, but its standard refresh rate and panel technology fall short for gaming and 3D work which demand smoother visuals. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" shines in general use and engineering tasks with its higher resolution and superior brightness, enhancing visual clarity, and the color accuracy helps in tasks requiring precise color representation. However, both laptops lack the high refresh rates required for optimal gaming and 3D experiences, leading to less fluid motion and potential visual lags in high-speed scenes.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 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.
Build Quality
6.2
8.5
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very 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
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" costs $1,400.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.5
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is equipped with an integrated AMD Vega 7 GPU and a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which are basic for moderate gaming and 3D applications. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14", while also having a 60Hz screen refresh rate, includes a more capable AMD Radeon 680M GPU, enhancing its ability to handle gaming and 3D tasks better than the Dell.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Dragonfly Pro 14" to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | HP Dragonfly Pro 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $1,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | July 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 12.4'' x 8.8'' x 0.72'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 3.42 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.39" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.78" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 7 7736U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 64.6 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 | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 405 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 8.3/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
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 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 3 | |
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."
HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Brendan Nystedt | March 2023
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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