The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 laptop packs a punch for a mid-range consumer model. With a vibrant 15.6-inch full HD display, 16GB RAM, a speedy 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, and 512GB of fast SSD storage, it has enough muscle for serious multitasking and entertainment. While it lacks the premium build quality and specialized graphics capability of high-end creative and gaming laptops, the Inspiron 15 3520 offers tremendous value for general home, student, and office use.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Overview
The Inspiron 15 3000 series occupies Dell’s mid-tier lineup, sitting below the premium XPS and Alienware brands. The 3520 model provides ample power for most everyday computing in an affordable package. Some key specs:
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 Full HD LED screen
- Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 (4 cores, 6MB cache, up to 3.6GHz)
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- Memory: 16GB DDR4 2666MHz
- Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive
- Ports: 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card reader
- Wireless: WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0
- Battery: Up to 5 hours mixed usage
- Weight: 3.68 pounds
- Dimensions: 9.27 x 14.11 x 0.74 inches
With a slim 0.74 inch profile and lightweight 3.68 pound chassis, the Inspiron 15 3520 offers ample portability for users on the go. It runs Windows 11 Home out of the box for access to Microsoft’s latest operating system and software ecosystem.
The 3520’s standout features include the roomy 512GB solid state drive, 16GB of RAM, and 10th generation Intel processor. These provide lots of headroom for multitasking and running demanding applications. The Full HD display renders web pages, documents, photos and videos with excellent clarity and detail. Connectivity is robust with the latest WiFi 6 wireless and Bluetooth 5.0.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Detailed Review
Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520’s key attributes and performance.
Design and Build
The Inspiron 3520 employs a minimalist, all-black plastic construction typical of mid-range Windows laptops. The matte finish resists fingerprints while providing a solid, durable feel. There’s a bit of flex when pressure is applied to the palm rests and keyboard, but not an unusual amount for this price range. Hinge tension is just right, allowing easy one-handed opening while keeping the screen stable during use.
Although the bezels surrounding the display are not exactly slim, they’ve been narrowed down reasonably compared to past Inspiron models. The power button featuring a built-in fingerprint reader for secure logins is conveniently located on the right edge.
Measuring 14.11 x 9.27 x 0.74 inches and weighing 3.68 pounds, the Inspiron 15 3520 hits a portable sweet spot for a 15.6-inch device. It’s effortlessly portable enough for frequent transport in a bag or backpack. Those moving from a smaller 13 or 14 inch laptop shouldn’t find the size difference too onerous.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Display
The 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution screen provides ample clarity for everyday tasks. Text appears sharp, colors are vibrant, and details come through well in photos and video. Brightness rated at 250 nits is fairly typical for this class and works well in indoor environments. Screen glare could be an issue near bright natural light sources.
Since this is not a touchscreen or higher-end OLED display, blacks appear grayish rather than inky deep. Viewing angles also wash out noticeably when tilting past 45 degrees. Still, the panel Dell chose for the Inspiron 3520 delivers quality on par with competing mid-range portables. It’s even sufficient for the occasional movie binge session.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Performance
With a 10th generation Intel Core i5 quad core processor running at up to 3.6GHz, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB solid state drive, the Inspiron 15 3520 delivers smooth responsiveness for everyday tasks. System boot, program launches, file transfers, and switching between browser tabs all feel snappy.
The laptop can comfortably handle 20+ open browser tabs, office productivity programs like Word and Excel, photo editing in Photoshop, and basic video editing in Premiere Rush. More specialized creative programs with advanced features may push the limits however. The integrated Intel graphics lack the muscle of dedicated Nvidia GPUs found in premium creative laptops like the XPS 15.
Gaming is modest at best with the integrated graphics chipset. Users should temper expectations to older titles, indie games, and casual fare rather than recent AAA blockbusters. Regardless, the overall system performance should satisfy non-specialized users seeking a speedy, responsive Windows laptop for home and office environments.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Ports
The Inspiron 15 3520 carries a respectable selection of ports useful for connecting accessories and external devices. Highlights include:
- 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (aka USB 3.0)
- 1 x USB 2.0
- HDMI
- Ethernet
- SD card reader
The fastest USB 3.2 ports allow quick file transfer with external storage drives. One of these interfaces with PowerShare, meaning it can charge mobile devices when the laptop is powered off.
HDMI enables up to 4K external display output, allowing presentations or use of a larger monitor back at a desk. SD card readers come in handy for quick photo/video offload from DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The Ethernet port ensures consistently fast wired network speeds where WiFi coverage might be spotty.
One downside is the omission of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports increasingly common on premium laptops. Their absence limits connectivity with higher-resolution displays, advanced docking stations, and fast external storage solutions. But USB-C adoption in the budget friendly Inspiron line may still be another product generation away.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Keyboard and Touchpad
The Inspiron 3520’s backlit keyboard follows the established aesthetic of past Inspiron models. Key sizes hit a good balance between cramming in a full layout and retaining enough surface area for comfortable typing. Key travel depth feels neither too shallow or deep. Dell’s quiet, snappy scissor switch mechanism returns satisfying tactile feedback.
As expected, the keyboard exhibits minor flexing during stronger keystrokes, and lacks the sturdy solidity of more premium metal-bodied laptops. But none of this meaningfully impacts typing accuracy or comfort for general use. Even longer typing sessions should remain fatigue free. The white backlighting at two brightness levels works well in dim environments.
The touchpad surface feels smooth and responsive to tracking finger movements and multi-touch gestures. Clicks emit quiet, subdued feedback. As with most Windows touchpads, the experience still falls a bit short of the expansive, silky-smooth trackpads of MacBooks. But the Inspiron 3520’s is certainly adequate for basic needs.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Battery Life
Dell rates the 4-cell 41Wh integrated battery at up to 5 hours of mixed usage. In practical terms, users can expect between 4 to 5 hours of continuous work involving web browsing, office apps, streaming media and other common tasks at default screen brightness levels.
Battery runtimes fall predictably shorter with intensive workloads. Playing demanding 3D games or editing video in complex software likely cuts usable time on battery to the 2.5 – 3 hour range at most. Regardless, the Inspiron 3520 delivers battery life comparable to competing mid-range 15 inch Windows laptops. Carrying the relatively compact AC adapter makes topping up during pit stops easy enough.
Special Features
Being a consumer model, the Inspiron 3520 lacks business-centric functionality like enterprise management tools. However, it does come with a few special features helpful for individuals and families.
The built-in fingerprint reader integrated with Windows Hello enables quick, secure logins with a tap versus typing passwords. There’s also Dell’s Mobile Connect app, which allows receiving calls and texts from iOS/Android mobile devices directly on the laptop. A few other preloaded Dell utilities provide battery management, system diagnostics, and incremental backups to external drives.
As a final touch, Dell preinstalls its Cinema streaming service for accessing movies and videos without any subscription needed. Note that Cinema does show advertisements, which some users may find intrusive.
Who It’s For
The Inspiron 15 3000 laptops including the 3520 model target value-focused mainstream consumers and students seeking good everyday performance. College students should find it a great portable for crunching through papers, doing research online, participating in remote lectures and collab sessions, and enjoying media during downtime without breaking the bank.
Younger students can deploy it for homework assignments and exploring personal passions like coding, video editing, image manipulation and more using approachable creative software packages.
Home users can easily cover needs like web access, shopping, banking, social networking, Zoom calls with friends and family. Road warriors will appreciate the adequate portability mixed with a screen size that won’t strain the eyes for long hours. Retirees and seniors may also welcome these strengths for keeping up with interests and hobbies.
While capable of handling moderate content creation and gaming, buyers wanting specialized laptops focused purely on stellar graphics performance, blazing rendering speeds, and ultra high-res display capability should look elsewhere. But those tasks likely take a backseat for the target Inspiron demographic.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop Pros and Cons
Pros
- Great performance for everyday multitasking and productivity
- Large 512GB SSD
- Lots of RAM (16GB)
- Vibrant 15.6″ Full HD display
- Lightweight and portable chassis
- Respectable battery life (up to 5 hours mixed use)
- Robust port selection (USB 3.2, HDMI, Ethernet, SD card)
- WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5 wireless
- Windows Hello fingerprint reader for fast secure logins
Cons
- Plastic build and design lacks premium metal/glass aesthetic
- Screen exhibits some glare and viewing angle washout
- No USB-C or Thunderbolt ports
- Battery drains faster with intensive gaming/creative workloads
- Speakers sound thin and can distort at max volume
- No touchscreen option
Conclusion
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 hits a sweet spot for consumers wanting ample computing muscle for juggling daily tasks without a premium price tag. A vibrant 15.6-inch Full HD display renders web pages, documents, and media with crisp quality while the slim, 3.68 pound chassis retains ample portability.
Top specs like a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 16GB RAM and a roomy 512GB solid state drive supply speedy performance for years. Battery life works for most travelers while abundant ports allow easy connectivity with peripherals and external displays back home. And Windows 11 delivers the latest OS experience out of the box.
For shoppers wanting a sturdy, everyday Windows laptop with strong specs that works both at home and on the go, the Inspiron 15 3000 series warrants a close look. And with frequent Dell sales dropping the price lower still, the Inspiron 15 3520 supplies tremendous value.