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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is more expensive but offers higher performance suitable for intensive tasks thanks to better processor and graphics, more storage, and a higher-quality display. The HP Stream 14" is significantly more budget-friendly and is adequate for basic activities like web browsing, video streaming, and light productivity work, but its lower performance components may struggle with more demanding applications. The Dell also has a larger screen and a better battery life, while the HP Stream's smaller size and lighter weight make it more portable, though this comes at the expense of screen real estate and keyboard spacing. For engineering, 3D applications, or multitasking, the Dell is the superior option, whereas the HP Stream could suffice for general use if you're looking to save money. 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 general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the HP Stream 14"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.4
6.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good for general use, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.3
5.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a fair gaming experience because it includes an Intel Iris Xe graphics unit and a screen that refreshes at a relatively smooth rate, while the HP Stream 14" performs poorly due to its weaker Intel UHD Graphics 600 and a screen with a much lower refresh rate, which impacts the fluidity and quality of gameplay and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.9
5.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair for engineering and design, while the HP Stream 14" is poor.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is better equipped for engineering and design tasks because it has a more advanced processor and Iris Xe integrated graphics, which together can handle more complex computations and visual rendering, and it comes with a higher quality IPS screen that offers better viewing angles and color reproduction. In contrast, the HP Stream 14" is less suitable due to its basic processor and graphics, a lower-resolution TN panel that produces less accurate colors and viewing angles, and it lacks the processing power and screen quality essential for engineering and design-related workloads.
Content Creation
7.3
6.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good for content creation, while the HP Stream 14" is only fair.
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
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good for software development, while the HP Stream 14" 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
6.6
5.2
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the HP Stream 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers adequate resolution, panel type, and brightness, allowing for comfortable viewing and readability, while the HP Stream 14" falls short in these areas, making it less suitable for prolonged use or multitasking. When it comes to engineering and design, the Dell's fair screen can display a wider range of colors with reasonable accuracy, which is crucial for detailed work, but the HP's poor color gamut makes it less reliable for professional color work. For gaming and 3D, the Dell's screen lacks the high refresh rate desired for smooth motion and quick gameplay, but the HP's screen is even less equipped to handle the demands of fast-paced visual content.
Build Quality
6.2
5.5
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality, while the HP Stream 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$722
$299
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the HP Stream 14" costs $299.
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Key similarities
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The HP Stream 14" has 7.5 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
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Stream 14" to have very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the HP Stream 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | HP Stream 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $299 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 12.8'' x 8.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 3.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.76" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 8.86" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel Celeron N4120 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 320 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 8.2/10 | |
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 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Stream 14"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"With half of the main system memory and a fraction of the storage that we recommend in any budget Windows laptop, the HP Stream 14 does not impress. Perhaps it doesn't need to, depending on your reference point. For the price, you're getting a functional laptop with Windows 10, which already places the HP Stream 14 above most Chromebooks on that merit alone. Still, in this price range, you can't do much worse, but you can do better. In fact, for just $100 more, you can grab the much superior budget option, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the HP Stream 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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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