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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When considering the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 over the Gateway 15.6", the Dell offers slightly better performance with a newer processor, making it more suitable for intensive tasks. The Gateway, on the other hand, is more affordable and offers better battery life, making it a good choice for everyday use and longer working sessions away from power outlets. The Dell is lighter and thus more portable, but both have similar screen sizes and resolutions. The Gateway operates on an older version of Windows, while the Dell comes with the latest. If budget is a constraint and battery life is crucial, go for the Gateway, but if you need better performance and portability for more demanding applications, the Dell could be the better 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 3530
- Good for software development
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3530.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is somewhat better.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is preferable for engineering and design due to a newer CPU which generally offers better performance for such tasks and a higher refresh rate screen that can provide smoother visuals, in contrast to the Gateway 15.6", which has an older CPU and a lower refresh rate screen, which might not be as efficient for demanding engineering software or detailed design work. Additionally, the Inspiron 15 3530's higher contrast ratio suggests better screen quality, whereas the Gateway's keyboard and build quality scores are low, potentially affecting long-term comfort and durability in extensive use cases.
Screen Quality
6.6
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Gateway 15.6" both provide adequate screen resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like web browsing and document editing, but their panel types may not offer the most vivid colors or viewing angles. These laptops have enough screen quality for engineering and design due to fair color reproduction, but professionals may find the lack of coverage of wider color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB limiting for color-sensitive work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short as they lack high refresh rates which are crucial for smooth motion, and their moderate resolution and panel quality might not deliver the immersive experience gamers seek.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" has 8 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
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
5.1
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$699
$100
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $699 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $100.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is appreciated for general use thanks to its more manageable weight for portability, an efficient heat management system, and higher screen refresh rate, which makes it suitable for smoother visual experiences. Meanwhile, the Gateway 15.6" also shines in general use scenarios with its longer battery life and a screen that is brighter than the Dell's, while having equivalent CPU and RAM capacities for handling everyday tasks efficiently.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a higher screen refresh rate, which is advantageous for smoother visuals in gaming and 3D applications, while both the Dell and the Gateway 15.6" have comparable integrated GPUs suitable for moderate gaming but may not handle high-end gaming at maximum settings. The Gateway 15.6" has a standard refresh rate and shares a similar CPU and screen quality with the Dell, making them both fair options for casual gaming and less demanding 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.3
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Gateway 15.6" 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
7.2
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Inspiron 15 3530 to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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 3530 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$699 | $100 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 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 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gateway 15.6"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Gateway 15.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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