A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
When considering the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15", if a lower price is a significant factor, the Dell Inspiron may be a more attractive option as it is often slightly less expensive. However, the IdeaPad may offer stronger performance due to its AMD Ryzen processor compared to the Dell's Intel i5, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks such as light gaming or video editing. The Dell and Lenovo have similar battery life and display characteristics, but the Lenovo has a higher maximum brightness, which can be advantageous if you often use your laptop in brightly-lit environments. Both systems feature similar portability, but keep in mind that the ideal choice depends on your balance of cost, performance, and where you'll be using the laptop. 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
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron and Lenovo IdeaPad offer satisfactory display clarity and visibility, albeit with limitations in resolution and brightness that might impact the viewing experience in brightly lit environments or when seeking crisp, detailed images. Engineering and design professionals may find the color reproduction on these laptops lacking for precision work, as they don't fully cover professional color gamuts, which can lead to less accurate color representation. Gamers and those into 3D work will notice a lack of fluidity in motion and slower response times due to the lower refresh rates, which can detract from the immersive experience and hinder performance in fast-paced visual environments.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has 10 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.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both good for general use.
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
6.1
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
9.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is fair for gaming and 3D because it comes with an Intel Iris Xe graphics processor and a 120Hz screen refresh rate, which will provide smoother animation in games compared to lower refresh rates. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" also has a capable integrated Vega 8 graphics processor, but its lower 60Hz screen refresh rate makes it less ideal for fast-paced gaming where screen fluidity is crucial.
Engineering and Design
6.9
6.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is better for engineering and design because it has more RAM and a higher refresh rate screen, which enhance multitasking performance and visual fluidity important for such tasks, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" has less RAM and a lower refresh rate display, potentially limiting its performance for rigorous engineering software and design work. Additionally, while both laptops have similar CPU and integrated GPU capabilities and decent screen quality, the superior RAM of the Dell provides a computational edge for demanding engineering applications.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
7.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
12.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
6.0
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$722
$741
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" costs $741.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $741 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 14.2'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 3.57 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.18" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 9.29" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 12 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 42 Wh | |
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 | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
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 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Alex Iliev | April 2023
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" is affordable and pretty efficient. At the end of the day, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 (15″, 2023) is one of the better affordable laptops money can buy right now. It has a decent performance, albeit coming from a CPU that is based on old architecture. Playing low-intensity games is possible but at low to medium settings. We are really happy with the cooling setup, but the main event here is the battery life. We got 9 hours of either Web browsing or video playback, which is a great result. Especially if you compare this device with the ASUS E410."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15"
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. Acer Nitro 5 15
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. ASUS Vivobook 15
VS
Compare Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" vs. Lenovo LOQ 16
VS
Compare Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" vs. HP EliteBook 845 G9
VS
Compare Lenovo IdeaPad 1 15" vs. Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,095
Recommendations made
28,188
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
