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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is budget-friendly and suitable for general use, but it may not perform as well in demanding tasks like gaming or engineering. If you prioritize cost and need a laptop for everyday tasks like browsing the web, document editing, and video streaming, the Dell is a sensible choice. The MSI Prestige 16, by contrast, offers better performance for intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming. If you require high performance and plan on using demanding applications, the MSI Prestige 16 is recommended, albeit at a higher price point. It's also worth considering that with the MSI, you're likely to get a slimmer, more portable laptop with potentially longer battery life, an important factor if you're often on the move. 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 MSI Prestige 16.
Advantages of the MSI Prestige 16
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.4
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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
7.5/10
7.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a solid CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, with respectable screen quality and battery life, which makes it a good choice for general use. The MSI Prestige 16, however, has a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, better screen resolution and quality, and a larger battery capacity, enhancing its performance and user experience for a variety of tasks, hence its very good suitability for general use.
Engineering and Design
6.9
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The MSI Prestige 16 is rated higher for engineering and design use because it features a more powerful i7 processor, double the memory, and a higher-resolution, brighter screen compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, which is equipped with an i5 processor and a standard full HD screen. However, the higher specifications of the MSI Prestige 16 come with a slight increase in weight, which may affect portability compared to the lighter Dell Inspiron 15 3530.
Content Creation
7.3
8.3
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
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
8.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Prestige 16 is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
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.
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
400.0 nits
The MSI Prestige 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 MSI Prestige 16 provides a sharper, brighter image with more vibrant colors due to its higher resolution and superior panel technology, which enhances everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. In engineering and design, the Prestige's wider color gamut support ensures more accurate color reproduction, which is crucial for tasks that demand color precision. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is key, neither laptop excels due to lower refresh rates, making them less suitable for fast-paced action and rendering.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The MSI Prestige 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
$1,611
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the MSI Prestige 16 costs $1,611.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Prestige 16 and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MSI Prestige 16 outperforms the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 in gaming and 3D tasks primarily because it has a more powerful GPU, which is crucial for rendering graphics, and a higher screen refresh rate, which provides smoother visuals. Additionally, the Prestige 16 benefits from a stronger CPU and superior screen quality, which, while less critical, further enhance its performance in these areas.
Battery
6.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Prestige 16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and MSI Prestige 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 MSI Prestige 16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3530 | MSI Prestige 16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$722 | $1,611 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.64 lbs | 4.2 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.25" | 10.18" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-13700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | 82 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 | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
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 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
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 Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
MSI Prestige 16
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Make Use Of
Paul Antill | June 2023
"The MSI Prestige 16 Evo: 2023's best value 16” thin & light laptop with i7-13700H. One of the top choices for professionals and students seeking a high-performance, portable computing solution in 2023. While the MSI Prestige 16 Evo A13M may not boast the most striking design compared to some other 16" options, its relatively "safe" styling lends itself well to professional and educational environments. Significantly, it doesn't compromise on essential features like port selection or cooling performance, ensuring seamless connectivity and efficient thermal management. The 16 Evo A13M offers an excellent combination of performance, portability, and functionality, making it a compelling choice for professionals and students alike."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the MSI Prestige 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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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