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Updated January 12, 2024·
If you prioritize a laptop with higher graphics performance for tasks like gaming or video editing, the Lenovo Slim 7 16 is equipped with a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card. This contrasts with the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, which uses integrated graphics and may not perform as well in these areas. However, the Dell is lighter and may be easier to carry around. The Lenovo also offers a higher resolution and brighter screen, which can be beneficial for creative work or entertainment, but could lead to shorter battery life compared to the Dell. The Lenovo comes with Windows 11 Pro, offering additional features over the Windows 11 Home of the Dell but at a potential additional cost. If you require longer battery life and portability over higher performance and a superior display, the Dell might be the favorable option. 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 Slim 7 16.
Advantages of the Lenovo Slim 7 16
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Good speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530's Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics make it a competent choice for engineering and design tasks, particularly where good screen quality and battery life are prioritized over top-tier performance. In contrast, the Lenovo Slim 7 16, with its more powerful AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card, offers greater performance for demanding engineering applications, benefits from a higher resolution touch display, and boasts better battery life and screen quality, albeit with a slight tradeoff in increased weight and potentially higher operating noise.
Screen Quality
6.6
8.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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 Inspiron's screen may provide enough clarity and brightness for everyday tasks, while the Lenovo Slim 7 offers higher resolution and superior brightness, making for a sharper and more vibrant display. In engineering and design, the Lenovo stands out with its wider color gamut, ensuring more accurate color representation crucial for detailed work. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D due to their lower refresh rates, which could lead to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenes.
Battery
6.5 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Slim 7 16 has 9.5 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
7.8
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
$1,440
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Lenovo Slim 7 16 costs $1,440.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 boasts a capable Intel CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, with a full HD screen that ensures decent visual clarity for everyday tasks, though its portability and battery life are just satisfactory, making it a solid choice for users needing a general-purpose laptop. On the other hand, the Lenovo Slim 7 16 offers a more powerful AMD processor paired with higher RAM, a high-resolution screen that's brighter and has a wider color range, and significantly longer battery life, but it's slightly heavier which could be a minor compromise for users requiring a laptop that's also suitable for more demanding applications and occasional content creation.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.6
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a fair performance for gaming and 3D, primarily due to its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which can handle some modern games but isn't as powerful as dedicated GPUs, and its decent screen refresh rate. However, the Lenovo Slim 7 16 offers a better gaming and 3D experience with its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, leading to smoother visuals and improved rendering for gaming and 3D tasks.
Content Creation
7.3
7.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Slim 7 16 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
7.6
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.2/10
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 Slim 7 16 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
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and Lenovo Slim 7 16 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 Slim 7 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | Lenovo Slim 7 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $1,440 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | June 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.69'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 4.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 9.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | AMD Ryzen 7 6800HS | |
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 | 9.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 75 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 500 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
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 | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Lenovo Slim 7 16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | March 2022
"At $1,011, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro is a real bargain among full-sized laptops, with a handsome 16-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio touch screen, a speedy CPU, a comfortable keyboard, ample memory, and a roomy solid-state drive. It's not a blazing gaming rig or mobile workstation, but it doesn't pretend to be. Its biggest negative is that it may be hard to find—during our review, it sold out and was marked "Temporarily Unavailable" on Lenovo's site."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Lenovo Slim 7 16
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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