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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
For better portability, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is lighter and has a smaller screen size than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530. The Surface also offers a higher display resolution which can be beneficial for certain creative tasks or for sharper text. On the other hand, the Inspiron may be better for long-term use without charging, but it's heavier and not as convenient to move around. Both seem to have similar storage and memory, but the Surface has a slightly more powerful processor, which could be useful for more demanding tasks like editing or coding. The Surface also has additional features like touch screen which the Dell lacks, and it generally has a more premium build quality, so it may last longer but it comes at a higher cost. The right choice depends on whether portability, a touch screen, and build quality are worth the extra cost, or if you prefer to save money and get a larger screen and potentially better battery life with the Dell. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13".
Advantages of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Good for engineering and design
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Excellent portability
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.6
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530's screen may have adequate resolution and brightness, but it falls short in panel quality compared to the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, which offers a sharper, brighter display for better everyday viewing. In engineering and design, the Surface Laptop 5 excels with superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts, essential for precision work, whereas the Inspiron's color reproduction may not meet professional standards. When it comes to gaming and 3D, both laptops have limitations due to their lower refresh rates, but for tasks demanding high frame rates and fluid visuals, neither would be ideal.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.5in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2
7.8
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
$1,200
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.4
7.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
220.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with its larger screen, number pad, and higher refresh rate display, is suitable for general use that may include productivity tasks, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is more portable and has a higher resolution touchscreen with better battery life, making it ideal for users who prioritize mobility and screen quality. Both have comparable CPU and RAM, ensuring good performance for everyday tasks, but the Surface Laptop leads in portability and battery life which are significant for users on the go, whereas the Inspiron 15 offers a more traditional laptop feel with a full keyboard and larger display.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.1
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a better screen refresh rate which is valuable for a smoother gaming experience, while both it and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" have integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which are sufficient for non-intensive gaming and 3D tasks, but not optimal for high-end gaming or professional 3D work. The Surface Laptop 5 features a higher resolution and quality display, contributing to clearer and more vibrant images, but falls short in refresh rate compared to the Inspiron 15, which could be a noticeable difference during fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
6.9
7.1
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is well-suited for engineering and design use due to its capable Intel i5 processor with Iris Xe graphics, sizeable screen with high resolution and brightness, and ample RAM to manage multitasking and complex applications. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" also excels in similar tasks with a slightly more robust Intel i7 processor, Iris Xe graphics, higher screen resolution and pixel density, and superior portability, making it an excellent choice for professionals who need a balance of power and mobility.
Content Creation
7.3
7.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-1255U | |
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 | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 220 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 9/10 | |
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 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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 Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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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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About the laptop team
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