Quick summary
- The Dell Inspiron 3520 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for students or professionals who spend long hours away from an outlet.
- The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, on the other hand, is a great option if you’re looking for a more affordable laptop with a sleek design and decent performance.
- The Dell Inspiron 3520 has a brighter and more vibrant IPS display, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a less impressive TN panel.
Choosing the right laptop within a limited budget can be a daunting task. To help you make an informed decision, this blog post will compare two popular options: the Dell Inspiron 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3. We’ll delve into their key features, performance, and overall value to determine which one is the better choice for your needs.
Design and Build Quality
The Dell Inspiron 3520 boasts a sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 3.5 pounds. Its chassis is made of durable plastic, giving it a solid feel. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, on the other hand, is slightly heavier at 3.7 pounds and features a brushed aluminum lid that adds a touch of sophistication. Both laptops offer good build quality for their price range.
Display
The Dell Inspiron 3520 sports a 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with narrow bezels, providing ample screen real estate and sharp visuals. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 also has a 15.6-inch FHD display, but it uses a TN panel, which offers narrower viewing angles and less vibrant colors compared to IPS.
Performance
The Dell Inspiron 3520 is powered by an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, which provides solid performance for everyday tasks and light productivity. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor, which offers comparable performance in most areas, but may excel in multi-threaded applications. Both laptops have 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage, which should be sufficient for most users.
Battery Life
Battery life is a crucial factor for portable devices. The Dell Inspiron 3520 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 10 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for students or professionals who spend long hours away from an outlet. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers a slightly shorter battery life of around 7 hours, which is still decent but may not be as suitable for extended use without charging.
Connectivity
Both the Dell Inspiron 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offer a good selection of connectivity options. They both feature Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, and a USB-C port that supports both charging and data transfer. The Dell Inspiron 3520 has an additional HDMI port, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a microSD card reader.
Price and Value
The Dell Inspiron 3520 starts at around $550, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 starts at a slightly lower price of $499. For the slightly higher price, the Dell Inspiron 3520 offers a brighter and more vibrant IPS display, longer battery life, and an additional HDMI port. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 may be a better choice for those on a tighter budget.
Wrap-Up: Making the Right Choice
Both the Dell Inspiron 3520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 are excellent budget-friendly laptops that offer good performance and features. The Dell Inspiron 3520 is the better choice if you prioritize a bright display, long battery life, and a more durable design. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3, on the other hand, is a great option if you’re looking for a more affordable laptop with a sleek design and decent performance.
Basics You Wanted To Know
Q: Which laptop has better overall performance?
A: Both laptops offer comparable performance, but the Dell Inspiron 3520 may have a slight edge due to its Intel Core i5 processor.
Q: Which laptop is more portable?
A: The Dell Inspiron 3520 is slightly lighter and more compact, making it more suitable for carrying around.
Q: Which laptop has better battery life?
A: The Dell Inspiron 3520 has a significantly longer battery life of up to 10 hours compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3’s 7 hours.
Q: Which laptop has a better display?
A: The Dell Inspiron 3520 has a brighter and more vibrant IPS display, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 has a less impressive TN panel.
Q: Which laptop is better for gaming?
A: Neither laptop is particularly suitable for gaming due to their integrated graphics.