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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is a budget-friendly option with a larger screen, suitable for general use and non-intensive tasks. It's less expensive, but it has less storage, RAM, and a slightly lower performance processor compared to the Lenovo Flex 5 14. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 14, despite being more expensive, offers higher storage capacity, more RAM, a better processor for increased performance, and longer battery life, which makes it more suitable for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering. The Flex also has a higher resolution display with better color accuracy, a backlit keyboard, and a fingerprint reader, providing added convenience and security. If you value portability and battery life for productivity on the go, the Flex 5 14 is the better choice despite its higher cost, while the Inspiron 15 3525 serves well for more casual, cost-sensitive users. 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 14.
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 14
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use, though the Lenovo Flex 5 14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 offers better all-around performance than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 due to a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a higher resolution screen with better brightness and contrast, contributing to its higher suitability for general use. Furthermore, the Lenovo's longer battery life and lighter build enhance its portability, whereas the Dell, while fair in general use, may appeal to those who prefer a larger screen size and a slightly better speaker quality at a potentially lower price point.
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 in engineering and design applications due to its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor, double the RAM, and superior graphics unit, which are crucial for tasks that demand higher computation and graphics processing. Additionally, the Lenovo offers better screen resolution and quality, enhancing the overall visual experience for design work, while both laptops have comparable IPS panels and touchscreen capabilities.
Software Development
6.9
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Flex 5 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
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
277.0 nits
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron and the Lenovo Flex offer screens with adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, but they might not stand out in visual clarity and vibrancy. Regarding engineering and design work, neither laptop provides wide color gamuts necessary for precise color work, limiting their effectiveness for professional photo editing or graphic design. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the lack of high refresh rates on both models means they won't be as smooth in fast-paced scenarios, which is crucial for a more immersive and responsive experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.0
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.2
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 Lenovo Flex 5 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and Lenovo Flex 5 14 are considered fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated GPUs, the Vega 7 and Vega 8 respectively, which provide moderate graphical power, with the Flex 5 having a slightly better GPU. Additionally, they both have standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz, which is sufficient for casual gaming but not ideal for high-refresh-rate experiences.
Content Creation
7.1
7.6
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Flex 5 14 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.
Cost
$400
$420
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 costs $420.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and the Lenovo Flex 5 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | Lenovo Flex 5 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $420 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | December 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 12.3'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 3.42 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.32" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.85" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 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" | 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 | 277 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
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."
Lenovo Flex 5 14
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2021
"The highlight of the latest IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is clearly its AMD CPU. The octa-core Ryzen 7 5700U is insanely fast even when compared to the best Tiger Lake Ultrabooks in the market or even Core H CPUs in many gaming laptops. It's a lot of raw processing power for what is supposed to be a budget 14-inch convertible. If your daily workloads can benefit from extra multi-thread CPU performance, then look no further than the inexpensive AMD-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14. For regular on-the-road browsing or video streaming, however, a slimmer and lighter 10th gen Core Yoga, Spectre, or XPS would be a more balanced option."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the Lenovo Flex 5 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 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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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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