The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a good balance of performance and cost, suitable for everyday tasks and general use, and it's more budget-friendly. However, the MSI Summit E16 Flip brings higher performance suitable for 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, thanks to its superior processor and dedicated graphics card, but at a higher cost. The Summit E16 Flip also features a higher resolution screen and a battery that offers longer use between charges. It's heavier and less portable than the Dell. The Dell, despite its lower price, still provides a solid screen size and battery life for regular use. 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 Summit E16 Flip.
Advantages of the MSI Summit E16 Flip
Good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.9/10
7.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The MSI Summit E16 Flip is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is suitable for engineering and design with its ample RAM and middle-tier CPU, but its integrated GPU and standard screen resolution limit more demanding graphics tasks. The MSI Summit E16 Flip, with its higher-end CPU, dedicated GPU, and superior screen resolution and quality, better supports intensive design work and might be preferred by professionals needing higher performance and detail, despite being less portable due to its larger size and slightly higher weight.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.9/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for content creation, though the MSI Summit E16 Flip is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.6/10
8.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
220.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The MSI Summit E16 Flip has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with its fair screen resolution and brightness, provides adequate display clarity and visibility for tasks like browsing and document editing, but it may lack the vibrancy needed for detailed engineering work or the refresh rate required for smooth gaming visuals. On the other hand, the MSI Summit E16 Flip's higher resolution and brighter screen excel in rendering crisp details and vivid colors for engineering tasks and general use, enhancing the experience of working with complex designs and multimedia content. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their poor refresh rates, which could lead to less fluid motion and reduced responsiveness during fast-paced action or rendering of animations.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
6.2/10
7.4/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
$1,550
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a price of $722 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip costs $1,550.
The MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.8/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 MSI Summit E16 Flip and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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.
Software Development
7.2/10
7.6/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The MSI Summit E16 Flip 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
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and MSI Summit E16 Flip both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 and the MSI Summit E16 Flip compare to other laptops
"The MSI Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop with pen, 16:10 display, and RTX 3050 Ti. The Summit E16 Flip is a 2-in-1 laptop from the business segment that primarily targets creative users. MSI combines a 16-inch touchscreen in the 16:10 format with a powerful midrange GPU. While the 2-in-1 laptop from MSI isn't meant for everybody, it should definitely attract some followers. The touchscreen display (2,560 x 1,600 pixels) covers the DCI-P3 color space. This is accompanied by stable viewing angles, a good color reproduction, short response times, and a good contrast level."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 or the MSI Summit E16 Flip
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.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,395
Recommendations made
28,253
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.