Best BudgetLaptop: Dell Inspiron 3520 Full Review - $259!
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Best BudgetLaptop: Dell Inspiron 3520 Full Review - $259!
12th Gen Intel® Core™ i3-1215U
Windows 11 Home
Intel® UHD Graphics
8 GB DDR4
256 GB SSD
15.6-in. display Full HD (1920X1080)
Starting at 3.63 lbs
0:00 Build Quality
02:35 LCD Screen
03:55 CPU Performance
04:30 SSD Speed Test
05:01 Low Quality Webcam
05:45 Disappointing Battery Life
07:04 Let`s blow some hot air to the screen!
10:35 What do you think? - Hry
What do you think about this laptop? Would you keep it or send it back to Dell?
Not sure what I would do. It looks nice!
Hey I’m new here this laptop looks good for the price. 10/10 from me
Are you able to review gaming pcs please I’d love to see like the laptops?
Is the screen matte?
Yes! @@thelegitsu81
Szia! Szívesen látnék információt a jövőben a gép bővíthetőségről, gondolok a memória foglalatok számára/hiányára/méretére (leforrasztott RAM), esetlegesen háttértár bővítési lehetőségre (mérete, van-e plusz m.2 foglalat), ez garancia vesztéssel jár-e, stb... Egyébként korrekt módon tájékoztatsz a gépről. Sokat fejlődtél, sok sikert a továbbiakban :-)
Koszi! Sajonos ki kell zakkannon ebbol a mentalitasbol amiben itt vagyunk, hogy semmit sem bovitunk, csak beszunk egy uj gepet amikor mar nem eleg gyors a regi :(
Excellent reviews- so detailed! I just got one from my school.
Great to hear! Thanks!
Hi Guys, I have this one bought it in Jan 2023. it has a i5 8GB and 128gb ssd I got it for $299 on sale. It is great for your basic computer needs like email, web browser, video calling, watching movies and basic office applications. I love the screen and has pretty much enough for most people and it can nearly replace a basic desktop PC. Things that I added on to it is a ram upgrade so I have 16gb and I bought some $60 bluetooth over ear headphones to enjoy watching movies on it. on the future I was thinking of upgrading the SSD to 512 for more built-in storage but a $25 USB flash drive is enough for storing files for me as of now.
Yes, adding 8GB more ram totalling to 16GB has significantly improved the performance and buying a decent bluetooth headphones for it is great for solo movie watching. I love this Dell.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Really appreciate it!
Great video! My question is if you've tried this model on Linux?
I saw that it comes with support for Ubuntu which would be awesome as I am not using Windoze.
Hello! Unfortunately, I have not tested Linux on it, but I don’t see any reason why would not run it well.
Great review... pleasure to watch... I may buy this laptop.
Thanks !
@@outdoorfun8780As more $800-$1200-$1600-$2000 laptops I review, I like this one even better.
As a matter of fact I was going to buy another one since I gave this one away. What’s wrong with yours?
Hi! I have a Samsung Galaxy Book2 laptop, which has the same i3 1215U processor and has the same kind of cooling system as this Dell laptop. I'm also curious if the screen won't be affected over time, from the heat emitted by the laptop's cooling system.
Hi! I looked into this recently and apparently Dell is been using this method on other Dell laptops for a while now and it caused no issues.
Further researching this topic made me realize that pretty much all major manufacturers are doing the same thing in the budget category without any problems, therefore I am no longer concerned about the heat potentially damaging the screen.
I just bought one and from the laptops I was looking at- this had about double the specs for the money, I'll deal with some plastic ty.
As long as this laptop doesn’t travel much in a backpack and you are careful as you stated above that is plastic it will last and work great! Thanks for sharing!
These things brick the battery/charger after a year of use. Thought it was just a one-time thing, but I have two of these that are totally bricked and wont charge at all. They have great battery life for maybe the first 6-10 chargers, then they just go down hill fast. Had to keep them on the charger just to use them towards the end.
Interesting. I never had a problem with Dell chargers unless it was physically damaged. I just purchased some “Dell” 65W chargers from eBay for $6 with free shipping, I can’t wait to unbox try them.
Hi i just subbed to u , can u pls tell me if the black lvl n color any decent for watching movies?
Hey, thanks for subbing really appreciate it! I just gave this laptop away to one of you about a month ago on this channel.
This is the cheapest Dell windows laptop with an intel CPU on the market. The screen is a very basic one, I watched some CZcams videos on it, and it was fine. I just ordered a $1800 laptop from Dell and that has an awesome screen , this laptop however is only $279 right now so my expectations are very different.
You can also use the HDMI cable to connect this laptop to TV or monitor if the qualaty is important to you or have to change your budeget.
Yeah i am also concerned about the screen. I think that for short term there should not be any issues. But my concern is that will this screen last when 5- 7 years from now on the processor is going to produce more heat.
Vostro 3510 came out about 2 years ago with the same cooling system, hot air hitting the screen at the same spot. I see failed hinges and cracked screen repair videos, but no other failed screens due to heat . So at least that is a good sign …
You could just buy a replacement lcd screen when that happens.
That would be an option! I looked into this more after the video and found out that Lenovo & Acer are doing the same thing in the budget category, and they are fine. @@tumultoustortellini
Does lowering the screen refresh rate to 60hz help the battery? Can't see why a computer with that processor wouldn't sip power and last longer than it did in your experience.
It’s a small capacity battery, it’s the cheapest windows based laptop at Dell.
I am looking at reviews at Dell from the same laptop and other owners are reporting even worse battery life. Otherwise it’s a great machine.
i wonder if the computer can be modified (open a vent...) so hot air is redirected away from the screen?
Hi! I looked into this recently and apparently Dell is been using this method on other Dell laptops for a years and it caused no issues at all.
Further researching this topic made me realize that pretty much all major manufacturers are doing the same thing in the budget category without any problems, therefore I am no longer concerned about the heat potentially damaging the screen.
Very good review. It actually made me decide against buying this laptop because how detailed and fiar the review is.
Thank you!
What laptop would you recommend for a budget of around $500? Is it better to buy Dell or Thinkpad? Thank you !
Hello,
They can be both good options, but if you can tell me about what you are looking for in a new laptop, I can narrow it down to a few models:
Are you planning to do anything besides browsing & emails in general? Watching movies, playing games, editing photos, working from home?
Does a long battery life important to you, how about the screen size? 14” (small light weight) is preferable if you travel a lot, 15-16” (larger, heavier) if you are planning to work from home, watch movies, things like that.
Do you need a touchscreen feature, are you planning to use it outside or mainly just inside, do you need a large storage drive for files and pictures, phone backups, etc.
Hi Scott!! How do you compare this one with Dell Vostro 3520/3530 model? Also about hot air. I believe most of the new dell models & other brands are having the hot air blowing section just near the screen isn't it? Old models use to have it in the sides. Is there a good budget dell model that has a better cooling system among the new models?
The Vostro 3530 is a much nicer model for sure, it has a nicer keyboard & touchpad, nicer screen, it is a step up from the Inspiron for sure, but it also cost significantly more. The good news is that there are no issues with the hinges just like we had with the previous 3510 generations of Vostro’s. When you open the lid the Vostro will raise itself up a bit to give you better typing experience and better air flow.
You are absolutely right about blowing hot air to the screen, unfortunately this is a premium feature now where you have a side hot air went out. This will not damage the screen but will have an impact on the performance because of throttling.
I am about to release a video where we compare a Lenovo E15 to a L15 where the ram, SSD, CPU are completely identical but theL15 has a side went and its significantly faster under benchmarks. Unfortunately, now we are talking about a $1300 dollar laptop where we have a side went. I would not worry too much about this “issue” or method. I have business clients with very cheap Inspiron laptops in a medical office, 6 days a week, browsing, typing notes, shutting the lid down and opening it multiple times and it’s holding up great. If you need something for this the Inspiron is great and a Vostro is just nicer.
( In this price category I would stay with an i3- i5CPU would not go with an i7)
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. Thanks Scott for your detailed explanation. Good to hear Vostro is a better model. In the country I live the Vostro 3520 i5 12 Gen Laptop is cheaper than the Inspiron 3520 model. The vostro 3530 is more expensive than the Inspiron 3520 & Vostro 3520. I have been leaning towards the Vostro 3520 i5 8GB 512SSD model due to my affordability. I hope this Vostro 3520 12 Gen don't have any issues with the hinges like in the previous models. I have been using a Dell Inspiron 5559 7 Gen i5 model since 2016 so time has come to buy a new one. It had some issues with ram & HDD storage. Dell & HP are the brands that I have been using right along.
I think its good that you pointed out about the cooling vents. Haven't seen many people commenting on this concern. Look forward to the L15 video and will just check the price range here. Lenovo & Asus main concern in this part of the world is that spare parts are not freely available like Dell & HP. Due to that any repair might cost a bit more than HP or Dell. Good that you are saying hot air blowing vent position of the Vostro or Inspiron is not a big concern to worry about. I basically need a good laptop for small business operation in the real estate sector like some photo editing on Lightroom, Posting listings on facebook,websites, watching movies, youtube, browsing etc.
@druviceylontea6304 Are you planning to travel with the laptop daily since you mentioned real estate? If you do travel a lot there are some models I would not recommend. Also do you have a Dell refurbished store in your country?
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. Hi Scott, There isn't much travel involved. Only occasionally I would need it for travel. Basically I will be doing all the work in my laptop from one location. Unfortunately there isn't a Dell refurbished store in my country. Btw what are the models you would not recommend for frequent travel?
Latitude 3500 series are falling apart, they are three years old, they were $800 ish, pretty much every single client who brings them in asking not to fix them. Keyboard, touchpad, hinges, plastic case everything breaks. Unfortunately the new latitude 3540 is exactly the same.
I am editing a video about a Lenovo E15 & L15 , they have a same amount of ram same exact cpu, pretty much the same cooling system.
The E15 is blowing the hot air on the screen where the L15 is blowing on the side.
The L15 is 10-40% faster depending o the application, just because of the side went. The build quality is way above Dell’s hard to see as a Dell fan how much better Lenovo made those laptops regards of engineering and materials.
Thanks for the review. Is it an Inspiron or Latitude model?
It’s the Inspiron!
Read the video title, it says “Inspiron”
@@Loneranger670 Was looking for a Latitude battery replacement video on YT so I can confirm the small size battery model number for someone.
The video was titled Latitude battery replacement, the guy was saying Latitude every 2 minutes, but he was working on an Inspiron for sure. 😊 So, you never know.
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. 👌🏻 thanks for clarifying
Dell on its website mentions this screen as 'WVA'. Is it IPS panel or TN panel?
Neither. VA means Vertical Alignment. Let me link this article, to explain if I can:
www.rtings.com/monitor/learn/ips-vs-va-vs-tn
The full hd 120 hz is ips 600:1 contrast , u can check this on nanoreviews , google it
a pretty good machine for entry level stuff , pretty nice value by dell
Indeed! Just not sure how the LCD screen will hold up in the future.
Ya , but at this price it's honestly understandable
im thinking about getting one of these just to do may taxes and email so that information isn't on my main pc. seems like a decent deal for the price. i can get it for 429.99 cad
Sounds about right, not sure if any Canadian Holidays is in reach, in that case they might lower the price a bit more.
how is the speaker sounds, where is it on the sides?
Speakers are located on the bottom of the laptop on each side. For me they are loud enough. Even at maximum volume ( if the quality of the source is good )there is no distortion at all.
Hi, did you notice any backlight bleed issue on the screen? I found a little on mine
Yes, it’s not perfect for sure, I also noticed some but it`s $279.
Just had a customer with a brand-new higher end Inspiron, she accidently broke the screen on day two, just the screen replacement costed $275 by itself. On a $700-$1000+ laptop I would complain , but its fine here , the laptop is great what it cost.
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. Thanks a lot for sharing the feedback. I absolutely agree with the price and quality. I had a higher end laptop MSIGS74VR7RF. The display broke and was looking for something inexpensive where I can easily transfer the rams and other vital things, this dell 3250 was the perfect avatar for the dead laptop, haha. Loved your content and looking forward to see more informative posts!
Thanks! Really appreciate it!
I still own my Dell Inspiron 1501 with no problem. I done a lot of upgrades to it and fancy tricks to get tiny win11 on it. Where talking about a Dell from 2007! I was looking at the new i5 Inspiron 15 seeing how awesome the specs are. And it’ll be a great alt for me when I don’t want to use my gaming tower.
They are much nicer than people think, they last a long time and they can be super affordable.
In a business environment where people carry their laptops room to room, opening and closing the lid 5 times a day; the hinge will appro. Last 2 years. Thinkpad will survive. If the keyboard is damaged, there is no way of really fixing it with inspiron, thinkpad is easy.
So, many corporations choose thinkpads and in the past latitude and probooks and not inspirons and vostros. Dell inspirons have hinge problems since 2000s. It was really never fully addressed
I have two large clients who switched completely (from Dell & HP) to Lenovo, and they are super happy, they said they would never go back to those manufacturers.
I also have a business client mentioned in this video at 13:05 where the cheapest Inspiron laptops are still holding up after three years. It also depends on the employees, and they are super gentle with their laptops.
is the battery upgradable ?
It is , there is a 56Wh version at Dell for $117, maybe that is a good future option.
It was $269 with the i5 & a 250 SSD yesterday, but sold out already .
(Not affiliated link!)
www.microcenter.com/product/678640/dell-inspiron-15-3520-156-laptop-computer
Firsttt!!! Not active on social media platforms anymore cause of college. Very nice the first video my feed recommend is you BWAHAHAHAHA
What do you think about this laptop? Would you keep it or send it back to Dell?
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy.Im still debating about that actually, after watching the biggest redflag for me is the battery. 2hrs of youtube video use? Something is not right but for less than 300$ might consider it. The only solution for this is modify/replace the battery for around 100to 200$ i think. You can get away with the airflow by using laptop coolers(if you are stationary) here in ph where the area is hot by default(haha) that is not good since it will heat up fast and reduce performance.
If someone is looking a laptop at this price range they should consider used/2nd hand laptops. They can find cheaper and more powerful specs, the only risk is the condition of laptop, if the laptops shows wear and tear by using or almost bnew condition.
I will release a video this week about this Dell i3 VS a 3 and a 5 years old business class laptop. I think replacing the battery makes no sense here, the cost is just too high. I would not use a cooling pad either, maybe I will just return this and pick another laptop.@@imrobie8035
Amazing review Thank you 😊.
I just purchased this exact laptop today. It should be here by Monday. Im so excited also happy with my purchase as watching your review.
Sucks about the battery but i dont mind keeping it plugged in i guess !
@@megganm1059 does it heat while doing normal activities and coding (not gaming obviously)?
Hows it now ? Hows the display is the black lvl n color any decent for watching movies/youtube...
Hope you enjoy it! I still like it a lot especially after reviewing a $1400 Dell business class laptop.
About to release a new $1400 business class laptop review where the battery last 5 hours, so I have even more respect for this Inspiron.
Decided to order this laptop, from the outlet, it was a bit more, (no sale, but slightly discounted). Added 2 year warranty and backpack, cost was $560. It will be a replace for my gaming laptop, as a non gaming laptop, my Alienware 15 battery does not last more then 30 mins.
How is ir for gaming im thinking of getting it
Problem with the battery life is that the screen refresh rate is 120hz, you can change it in settings to 60hz and the battery life will be 50% better
That would be awesome! Thanks for the info! Will try it next time, not even sure why this super low budget laptop has a 120hz screen!
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. yea, 120hz screen is super smooth. Dell really surprised me. Best laptop I ever bought
Where did you get it from?
From Dell.com
Dell is keep changing the price on pretty much everything. Every few days the price goes up and down.
Right now it’s $299 but with a larger 512 SSD. It was $269 with the 250 SSD a couple weeks ago.
Aqui no Brazil um de 16gb - i5-12 com 512 GB SSD esta R$ 3.000,00 -> $ 600,00 '-'
I am sorry, we had a first laptop winmner from India and I could not belive how much more expensive this same laptop was there as well.
Custom & import fee and tax are a lot!
Does it have S mode?
Windows 11 home not in S mode
Does it have backlight?
It does not have a backlit keyboard. This is a super basic laptop but for what it cost, it’s totally worth it .
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. Thanks 😊
Where you get $259? This is a $400 laptop at Best Buy.
Head over microcenter it’s $267 with the i5 cpu right now .
I just checked, it was $269 yesterday but sold out already , same laptop i5 and 512 SSD -> $299
(Not affiliated link!)
www.microcenter.com/product/678640/dell-inspiron-15-3520-156-laptop-computer
I prefer my trusty old Inspiron E1505. Runs windows 11 without issues. Of course I’ve added in an SSD,CPU and more ram. These new laptops are built bad and can’t be upgraded.
That`s crazy that you have still have that Inspiron! This Inspiron is still upgradable regards the ram and the SSD, but you are right we are moving to fully integrated hardware way faster than I would like to see. Based on my experience if you are careful and keep in mind that this is a low budget laptop, you can still get a good amount of time out of them.
@@Scott.The.IT.Guy. yes they are still decent depending on what brand/model you buy. but for me I just use what I have till I can’t anymore. They all do about the same thing anyway.
i don´t believe this price! so i have a gift for dad😊
It`s $299 at Dell right now but with the larger, 512 SSD. Would you buy it?
well that´s better i guess i don´t have to upgrade it myself thank you for mention it@@Scott.The.IT.Guy.
Dell is The Toyota of Laptops
That’s how I feel!
Toshiba was the Toyota of laptops.
Thats a shame about the battery