For better performance in 3D tasks or gaming, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, with its Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, is a suitable choice. However, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, despite being pricier, offers a balance of performance for general use and light engineering tasks, thanks to its Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. The IdeaPad also has a higher resolution screen, which can be beneficial for creative work, but might impact battery life more than the Dell's full HD display. If portability is a concern, consider that the Dell is lighter than the Lenovo, which may make it more comfortable to carry for extended periods. 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 Pro.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6/10
7.8/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 likely has an adequate display with enough resolution and brightness for daily tasks and some professional applications, but its color range and refresh rate fall short for high-end graphical work and smooth gameplay. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro offers a better balance with higher resolution and improved brightness that benefit both everyday users and those in engineering and design, thanks to a wider color gamut that ensures more accurate color reproduction. However, both laptops may not satisfy gamers or professionals in 3D fields due to lower refresh rates that can't provide the fluid visual experience required for these activities.
Battery
6.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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.
Cost
$722
$860
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $860.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
6.3/10
6.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a fair gaming experience due to its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which, while capable, doesn't match the power of dedicated GPUs found in higher-end gaming laptops, but benefits from a 120Hz refresh rate screen for smoother visuals.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.2/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is equipped with an Intel i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks that may not require a dedicated GPU, while its IPS screen with moderate color coverage ensures decent visibility for detailed work. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro boasts an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, providing higher performance for engineering software and design work that demands more graphical power, and its higher-resolution screen with better color coverage offers sharper and more accurate visual representation for precise designs.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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
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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
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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