Choosing between the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" depends on your priorities. For tasks like general use and productivity, both should perform well as they have sufficient processing power and memory for everyday tasks. If battery life is important, the Lenovo has a longer battery life, which could be more convenient if you're often on the go. However, if multitasking performance is a key concern, the Dell might be a better choice with more memory, which can help keep more applications open and running smoothly at the same time. The Lenovo might have an edge in graphical tasks due to its processor's graphics capabilities, which could be beneficial for light gaming or graphics work. If you need to connect to multiple peripherals, consider that the Lenovo offers more USB ports. Finally, the Dell is a bit lighter, which might be appreciated for portability. 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 5 15".
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6/10
6.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron and Lenovo IdeaPad have screens that offer adequate resolution and brightness for daily tasks like browsing and video streaming, but they don't excel in clarity or vibrancy. In engineering and design, these laptops give fair performance, but professionals might find the color accuracy lacking for high-end graphic work as they don't cover wider color gamuts completely. Gamers and 3D designers will find the refresh rate on both models limiting for smooth action and rendering, while the resolution and panel type do not support high-end graphical fidelity as required for immersive experiences.
Battery
6.5 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with its ample RAM and solid processing power, makes for a reliable laptop for general use, while its portability and battery life are decent for daily tasks and mobility. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" offers a durable battery, touch-enabled high-brightness screen which enhances the user experience, and despite having less RAM, the CPU is robust enough to handle general computing needs efficiently; its keyboard and build quality also add to a pleasant user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.2/10
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
7.5/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is recognized for its higher screen refresh rate, which benefits gaming and 3D applications, though its integrated GPU may limit performance in demanding tasks. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15", with a similar integrated GPU, may have lower performance in fast-paced games due to its standard refresh rate; however, it offers a higher quality screen overall and a stronger CPU that can boost general and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
6.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both only fair for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
7.2/10
7.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$722
$690
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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.
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.
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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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.
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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.