Laptop

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Review & Price

Overall review summary

Expert Rating: 6.9/10

Dell Inspiron 15 3520

LENOVO LOQ 15IAX9 Laptop

CPU / Performance     ⭐7.5/10
Graphics/Light Gaming⭐5.5/10
Display                         ⭐6.0/10
Build/Design/Portability⭐7.0/10
Storage/SSD/I/O speed⭐7.5/10
RAM & Multitasking      ⭐7.0/10
Battery & Charging       ⭐6.0/10
Ports & Connectivity     ⭐5.5/10
Value for Price              ⭐7.0/10

Pros

  • Good balance of features, performance, and affordability
  • Decent weight and form factor for a 15.6″ laptop
  • Upgradeable RAM / storage in many variants
  • Comfortable keyboard and daily usability
  • Touchscreen option adds flexibility
  • Solid value for general computing, studying, office work

Cons

  • Modest display brightness and colour for demanding visual tasks
  • Battery life is average
  • limiting modern connectivity options
  • Under sustained heavy use
    Not ideal for heavy gaming 
  • Inconsistent memory behavior 

Introduction & Positioning

The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is part of Dell’s mainstream Inspiron line targeting students, office users and general consumers who want a 15.6-inch workhorse without breaking the bank. It offers flexibility in configuration (from modest Core i3 / i5 to more capable i7 SKUs) and is designed to balance performance, portability, and features.

Let’s dive into how it fares in real life.

Dell Inspiron 15 3520

Design, Build, & Form Factor

  • The laptop measures roughly 358.5 × 234.9 × 15.5-19.6 mm and weighs about 1.63 kg in its Intel variant. 
  • For a 15.6-inch laptop, that’s reasonably light-Dell has managed to keep the chassis relatively slim and compact. 
  • Bezels are fairly thin for its class. The screen-to-body ratio is quoted around ~79.7 % in some reviews. 
  • Build materials are typical for this class: plastic lid and bottom chassis, with a slightly textured finish. Nothing premium like metal, but solid enough for daily use.

Overall, it doesn’t scream luxury, but it doesn’t feel cheap either. For day-to-day portability, it checks the box.

Display & Visuals

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 display
  • The Inspiron 15 3520 comes in different display options: non-touch FHD (1920×1080), touch variants, and lower-res 1366×768 models. 
  • Some reviews note that brightness is modest in many of the units (e.g. ~220 nits in one review). 
  • Colour reproduction is okay for typical usage (web browsing, movies, documents), but not ideal for colour-critical work (photo/video editing).
  • The matte (anti-glare) option helps reduce reflections, which is nice in well-lit rooms. 
  • One user noted their model’s display “is great” in daily use. 

Verdict on display: Good for general use, but not a standout.

Performance & Hardware

Performance & Hardware

CPU / Processing

  • The Inspiron 15 3520 supports a range of Intel processors: Pentium Gold, Core i3, Core i5 12th/13th Gen etc. 
  • In basic to moderate workloads-office, web, coding, multitasking-it handles smoothly. Many users report that for student or development tasks it's adequate. 
  • However, pushing it hard (heavy video rendering, 3D modeling) will expose its limitations, especially on lower-tier processors or limited RAM + thermal constraints.

Memory & Storage

  • Users have reported quirks with memory speeds: one user compared two 3520 units where one ran RAM at 3200 MHz, another at 2667 MHz-even with identical modules. 
  • The laptop generally allows for upgrade of RAM and SSD, depending on your variant. 
  • It ships with NVMe SSD storage in many configurations, giving fast boot and app load times.

Graphics

  • Integrated Intel graphics (e.g. Iris Xe) are standard in most variants. These are fine for light gaming, video playback and basic graphics tasks. 
  • Don’t expect heavy performance in high resolution gaming or advanced rendering. Some users explicitly state “this is not a gaming laptop.” 

Thermal / Throttling & Behavior

  • According to user feedback, heating is not a frequent complaint—but one user speculates it might become so over time. 
  • Because of the balanced design, under sustained heavy load, performance may throttle to protect temperatures.

Connectivity & Ports

Dell Inspiron 15 3520 connectivity
  • Port options include USB-A, HDMI, possibly a USB-C in some SKUs (though not always) 
  • Wireless: WiFi 6 + Bluetooth is common in modern configurations. 
  • One major drawback raised by a user: a high-end i7 variant was shipped with zero USB-C ports, which hurt their ability to connect multiple monitors via USB hubs/adapters. 
  • Some hinge or port durability complaints appear in user reviews (e.g. hinge feeling weak, wanting stronger port layout) 

Keyboard, Touchpad & Input

  • The keyboard is generally comfortable to type on; many users praise it for day-to-day usage. 
  • Some models have backlit keyboards, depending on SKU. 
  • Trackpad is serviceable. One user suggested using a mouse when precision or comfort is important. 

Battery Life & Charging

  • Battery capacity is on the modest side in many units (e.g. 41 Wh). 
  • Real-world battery backup tends to be moderate-many users report roughly 2-4 hours under mixed usage. 
  • Charging times are fair; during lighter usage, it can last decently if managed well (brightness down, fewer heavy apps).

User Feedback & Real-World Use

  • One user (engineering student) used the i5/16 GB version for ~4 months and had no major issues. They used it for coding, note taking, meetings, etc. 
  • Many best-buy / marketplace reviews highlight the touchscreen option, “ease of use,” and value for price. 
  • On the negative side: hinge complaints, port selection (lack of USB-C in some SKUs), and lower battery life crop up occasionally. 
  • A disgruntled buyer who got an i7 variant complained about being unable to connect multiple external monitors due to lack of USB-C / supporting standards. 

Final Verdict & Suitability

The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is a solid all-rounder in its class. For students, office users, coders, and general productivity use, it offers more than enough performance at a reasonable price. It’s not a powerhouse, but it's not trying to compete with gaming laptops or pro workstations either.

If your needs lean toward multimedia editing, 3D work, long battery autonomy, or extensive display setups, you might want to look at more premium alternatives. But for its intended bracket, it delivers well.

Also View : If you looking for a smartwatch is a flexible accessory designed for both men and women. Smart watch offers fitness tracking, notifications, and customizable features, with latest technology. Whether you need asmartwatch for men or smartwatch for women, it’s good for health monitoring, productivity, and making it is an essential gadget for modern lifestyles.

SupremeMobiles


Previous
LENOVO LOQ 15IAX9 Review & Price
Next
ASUS TUF Gaming F15 - AI Powered Gaming Laptop Review & Price