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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is generally more affordable and slightly lighter, making it easier to carry around, but it has less RAM and a less powerful processor compared to the Lenovo Flex 5 16. If you need higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is a better choice as it comes with more RAM and a more capable processor. The Lenovo also has a longer battery life, which is great for extended use without a power source, but it is a bit heavier, which may affect its portability. The Dell's keyboard is rated slightly lower in quality, and its screen is less sharp with lower color coverage, so for better display quality and a nicer typing experience, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 stands out. Both have touchscreens, but the Lenovo's higher resolution and aspect ratio are advantageous for productivity and multimedia. If cost is a primary concern and your tasks aren't too demanding, the Dell might be the better option, but for more robust performance and a better screen, the Lenovo is the appropriate 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 3525
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Flex 5 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.4/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 stands out for general use with a stronger processor, double the RAM of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, and a higher-resolution and brighter screen which contributes to better screen quality. While the Flex 5 also boasts superior battery life and keyboard quality, the Inspiron 15 is lighter, enhancing its portability, and has excellent heat management, making it more comfortable to use for extended periods.
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.2
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and 8GB of RAM, which makes it a fair option for engineering and design use, ensuring moderate performance for such tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a more robust Intel i7 processor and doubles the RAM to 16GB, enhancing its capability for more demanding engineering software and design work, thereby categorized as good for such use.
Software Development
6.9
7.5
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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's display provides adequate resolution and brightness for tasks like browsing and watching videos, which suffices for general use, but its limited color range and lower refresh rate may not satisfy demanding engineering software or provide the smooth visuals desired in gaming and 3D applications. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers a sharper image and better color accuracy, enhancing the experience for engineering and design professionals who rely on precise colors, yet its lower refresh rate may not deliver the seamless motion detail required for high-end gaming or 3D rendering. Essentially, while both laptops are suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work, neither is ideal for the fast-paced, visually intensive demands of gaming and 3D environments.
Battery
6.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
6.2
7.0
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
$594
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
$900
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $594.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 5625U Vega 7 GPU which provides moderate gaming and 3D performance, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 features an Intel i7-1255U Iris Xe GPU, offering similar abilities for gaming and 3D applications; both laptops have a maximum screen refresh rate of 60Hz which is adequate for casual gaming but might not be sufficient for competitive gaming where higher refresh rates can offer smoother visuals.
Content Creation
7.1
7.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | Lenovo Flex 5 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $594 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | April 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 14.1'' x 10'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 11.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 52.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.4/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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."
Lenovo Flex 5 16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the Lenovo Flex 5 16
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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