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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is more budget-friendly but larger and slightly heavier, with good general performance, making it suitable for tasks like browsing, office work, and multimedia consumption. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is more expensive but offers better performance, higher-quality display with higher resolution and refresh rate, and longer battery life, ideal for more demanding applications such as photo editing, casual gaming, and multitasking with its additional RAM. The IdeaPad is also more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, potentially making it a better choice for users who are often on the go. 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 IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is better suited for engineering and design tasks because it has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, and a higher-quality screen with a greater resolution and color accuracy. The Inspiron, while offering a fair performance with a capable CPU and integrated GPU, falls behind in screen quality and RAM, which are crucial for resource-intensive design applications, although it's a more portable option with a larger screen for those preferring a bigger display.
Screen Quality
6.3
7.7
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro likely offers sharper images and text clarity along with potential for brighter display, making it better suited for a variety of everyday tasks. For engineering and design, the IdeaPad's display, with broader color coverage, provides more accurate color representation, which is crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, neither laptop provides the high refresh rate desired for smooth motion, despite the Lenovo's better resolution and panel type providing a somewhat improved experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has 8.5 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
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.8
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
$799
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro costs $799.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.7/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a decent performance for general use with its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and 8GB of RAM, but it has a lower-resolution screen and heavier build affecting portability and screen quality, alongside a shorter battery life which is less ideal for extended use without a charger.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has an integrated AMD GPU and a 60Hz screen refresh rate, making it less suitable for fast-paced games that benefit from higher frames per second. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, with its Intel Iris Xe graphics and higher 90Hz refresh rate, offers smoother visuals for gaming and 3D applications, though still fair when compared to dedicated gaming laptops.
Content Creation
7.1
7.4
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.3
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $799 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 3.04 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.29" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.74" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | Intel i5-11300H | |
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 | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 60.7 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 395 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
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 IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | October 2021
"The main selling point of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro versus a regular IdeaPad Slim 7 is its faster Core H-series CPU. In reality, the Core i7-11370H is only marginally faster than the U-series Core i7-1165G7 to the point where most users are not likely to notice the benefits. The slight performance uptick comes at the cost of slightly higher power consumption as well meaning owners will have to deal with potentially warmer temperatures or louder fans to compensate. Unless if you happen to be a power user, then the regular non-Pro model will be more than enough. Once you go 90 Hz, you can't go back."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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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