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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize battery life and higher performance for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is better suited for you, despite being more expensive. It offers a superior processor, more storage, and a better graphics card for these types of tasks. However, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is considerably less costly and could be a smart choice for general use with decent build quality. It has a larger screen but is slightly heavier and has less battery life. If you prefer a budget-friendly option for everyday tasks and still want a touchscreen, consider the Dell. 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 Slim Pro 7 14.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Very good battery life
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0
8.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
259.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers a higher-quality screen, better portability, and longer battery life which are very important for general use, and also comes with more RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking. Whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 provides a fair experience with its general specifications including an adequate processor, but does not match the Slim Pro 7 in terms of screen resolution and portability, making it less favorable for those who need higher performance and mobility.
Gaming and AI
6.0
6.7
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers better gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU which outperforms the integrated Vega 7 GPU in the Dell Inspiron 15 3525; additionally, the Lenovo's higher screen refresh rate of 90Hz provides smoother visuals compared to the Dell's 60Hz.
Engineering and Design
6.4
7.7
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is considered fair for engineering and design due to its moderate processor and graphics capabilities, adequate for less demanding tasks, but with less RAM and a lower-resolution screen compared to the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14, which is rated good because of its more powerful CPU, high-quality GPU, double the RAM, and a higher-resolution display, making it better suited for intensive engineering and design work. While both are fairly portable, the Lenovo also offers a better keyboard and speaker quality, contributing to a more comfortable and immersive user experience, important for extended work sessions.
Content Creation
7.1
8.0
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good.
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
7.9/10
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 Slim Pro 7 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
7.4
15.6in
SIZE
14.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
259.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
334.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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.
For general use, the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 offers a higher resolution and better brightness, enhancing daily tasks like web browsing and document editing, unlike the Dell Inspiron 15 with its fair screen which is adequate but not as vibrant. In engineering and design, the Lenovo's coverage of color gamuts ensures more accurate color representation which is crucial for detailed work, whereas the Dell's fair screen may not reproduce colors with the same fidelity. When it comes to gaming and 3D work, both the Dell Inspiron and Lenovo Slim Pro have limitations due to their lower refresh rates, though their respectable resolutions and panel types provide a basic experience.
Battery
6.5 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 has 12 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
14.5in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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
7.8
The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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.
Cost
$400
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has a price of $400 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 costs $1,200.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 and the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3525 | Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$400 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2022 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.75'' | 12.9'' x 8.9'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.71 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.91" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 8.92" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 5625U | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS | |
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 | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 73 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 90Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 259 nits | 334 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
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 | 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."
Lenovo Slim Pro 7 14
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Dig into reviews and images
PCWorld
Matthew S. Smith | May 2023
"The Lenovo Slim Pro 7 is an attractive, portable laptop that’s ideal if you need a combination of CPU and GPU performance. It also nails the fundamentals with solid connectivity, an enjoyable keyboard, a large touchpad, and top-notch webcam. Display quality is a weakness, but it’s an acceptable compromise for the laptop’s extremely competitive $1,199 MSRP. The Slim Pro 7 is a versatile, affordable laptop and hard to beat for the price."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 or the Lenovo Slim Pro 7 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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