Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
The Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) is the mid-range option here, boasting a powerful i7-1355U processor that excels in demanding tasks. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U offers a budget-friendly alternative with a respectable i5-1235U chip, but it shines with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it smoother for everyday use. If you’re considering a purchase in 2026, weigh the Acer's superior webcam and processing power against the Dell's value and smoother display experience. The numbers tell a compelling story, so let's dive in!
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
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Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
| Criterion | Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.3(107)Amazon | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i7-1355U (10-core: 2P + 8E), 1.70 GHz base, up to 5.0 GHz turbo | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (integrated; shared memory) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | TwinAir Cooling (dual copper thermal pipes, dual fans, air inlet keyboard) | Air (Single fan) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5 (Onboard) | 8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz |
RAM Upgrade | No (Soldered) | Yes (2x SODIMM slots, up to 16 GB officially, 32 GB unofficially) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slot) | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | IPS (LCD; LED-backlit; ComfyView; Anti-glare) | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (Typical) | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US Standard (QWERTY) | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) |
Biometrics | Fingerprint reader (Touchpad integrated) | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) | 720p HD camera |
USB Ports | 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 / Power Delivery / DisplayPort); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (one with power-off charging) | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1; 1x USB-A 2.0; (Note: USB-C is often ABSENT on i5-1235U US retail units) |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 2.1 | 1x HDMI 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery | 3-cell Li-Ion (50 Wh) | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) |
Charger | 65 W AC adapter (Barrel pin) | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) |
Weight | 1.78 kg (3.92 lbs) | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum top cover; Plastic chassis (Steel Gray) | Plastic (Carbon Black) |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U)
✓ Pros:
- • Thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket)
- • 1080p webcam with noise reduction
- • Decent port selection including HDMI 2.1
- • TwinAir cooling system improves thermal management over previous generations
✗ Cons:
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- • Display has limited color gamut (45% NTSC) and average brightness
- • No SD card slot
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Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
✓ Pros:
- • 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling than typical 60Hz budget laptops
- • Memory (RAM) is not soldered and can be upgraded via two SODIMM slots
- • Includes a full-size SD card slot (rare in modern laptops)
- • Decent port selection with three USB-A ports and HDMI
- • Lift hinge design improves airflow and typing angle
✗ Cons:
- • Most high-volume US retail configurations (e.g., Best Buy) LACK a USB-C port
- • HDMI 1.4 port cannot output 4K at 60Hz (limited to 1080p)
- • No keyboard backlight on many standard configurations
- • Plastic chassis feels budget-oriented and attracts fingerprints
- • Display colors are washed out (45% NTSC) and not suitable for photo editing
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Which one is better?
Key specs: Refresh: 60 Hz vs 120 Hz and Weight: 62.79 oz vs 58.55 oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) if: you need a powerful i7 processor for multitasking, you want a high-quality 1080p webcam for video calls, or you prefer longer battery life.
Choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U if: you want a budget-friendly laptop, you prefer a smoother 120Hz display for gaming, or you need upgradeable RAM for future-proofing.
Conclusion
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Acer Aspire 5 15 Slim Laptop (A515-58M-7570, i7-1355U) excels if you value thunderbolt 4 support (rare in this price bracket). Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U is better if you prioritize 120hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling than typical 60hz budget laptops. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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