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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i have similar processors and graphics, meaning performance for most tasks will be close. However, the IdeaPad Slim 5i offers a higher-resolution screen with a slightly better aspect ratio, which can be beneficial for productivity tasks. In terms of portability, the Dell is lighter, which might be essential if you travel often. If battery life is a priority, the Lenovo has a larger battery capacity, potentially offering longer usage between charges. Both have Windows 11 Home and are new models, ensuring up-to-date software support. Consider the Lenovo if display and battery are critical, or the Dell if you prefer something lighter for frequent mobility. 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 Slim 5i.
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall build quality
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6
6.4
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has a better screen for content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i have fair screen quality due to their adequate resolution and brightness, but they may not have the most vivid panels. When it comes to engineering and design, their screens are not optimal as they lack wide color gamuts, making them less suitable for tasks requiring precise color accuracy. For gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short because their refresh rates are not high enough to provide the smooth visuals preferred in fast-paced scenarios, although they offer enough resolution and an acceptable panel type for moderate use.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
Build Quality
6.2
7.6
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
$828
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are well-regarded for general use mainly because they both have capable processors and ample RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and performance for day-to-day tasks. While the Inspiron offers more portability and a higher refresh rate display which is great for smoother visuals, the IdeaPad Slim features a larger battery, better screen brightness and quality, and higher-rated speakers and keyboard, enhancing the overall user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.3
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a higher screen refresh rate which is preferable for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, however, both use the same integrated GPU which provides moderate gaming performance but is less capable than dedicated gaming GPUs.
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have the same CPU and GPU, which are significant for engineering and design software, and both have ample RAM for multitasking and complex tasks. However, the IdeaPad Slim 5i has a higher-res screen with a larger aspect ratio for more vertical space, but it is slightly heavier, which may affect portability, and it also includes higher-rated keyboard and speaker quality for a more comfortable user experience, especially during long work sessions.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $828 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 4.17 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.02" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
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 | 56.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 315 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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Dig into reviews and images
HT Tech
Robin Sinha | February 2021
"The device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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.
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