If you prioritize performance for tasks like gaming or engineering, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics card and a Ryzen processor that are better suited for those needs. However, it is heavier and may have shorter battery life due to its higher performance components. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 with its integrated Intel graphics and Intel processor offers lower performance but might be adequate for general use, and it is likely lighter and potentially more portable with better battery life. Choose the Dell for everyday tasks and optimal portability, or the Lenovo if you need more power for specialized applications despite a higher price and less 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
Good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.7/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has an Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, which are suitable for some engineering and design tasks, and it's lighter, which makes it more portable. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5, on the other hand, offers a more powerful AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia graphics, plus a higher quality display, making it better suited for more intensive engineering and design work, albeit with a tradeoff in portability due to increased weight.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
7.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell's screen may offer sufficient clarity and brightness for everyday tasks, but its resolution and panel type do not stand out, whereas the Lenovo's better resolution and panel quality can provide sharper, clearer visuals. In engineering and design, the Lenovo likely offers wider color gamuts, which are crucial for precise color work, but the Dell provides modest color accuracy, which might not meet professional standards. For 3D and gaming, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, rendering them less smooth for fast-paced visuals, even though Lenovo's better resolution may slightly benefit detail in 3D environments.
Portability
Good
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.4/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is suitable for general use due to its capable Intel processor, ample RAM, decent screen quality, lightweight design, and reasonable battery life, making it easy to carry and use for everyday tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 combines a powerful AMD CPU with a high-performance Nvidia graphics card, more RAM slots, and a higher resolution display with better color coverage, catering to those who need extra power for gaming or demanding applications, while also offering a larger battery, though at the expense of increased weight and size.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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.
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 compare to other laptops
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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