ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) is the premium option, and it really shines with its stunning 14" 3K OLED display, delivering 600 nits peak brightness. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U offers a budget-friendly alternative but with a lower 15.6" FHD display at only 250 nits. This means you can rely on the Zenbook for all-day tasks without worrying about finding an outlet, while the Inspiron may require more frequent charging during intense work sessions.
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ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
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: ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
| Criterion | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.6(15)Amazon | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (14-core: 4P + 8E + 2LPE), up to 4.5 GHz, 18 MB Smart Cache | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics (Integrated; 7 Xe-cores) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) |
AI Engine | Intel AI Boost (Up to 11 TOPS) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Single-fan cooling system (optimized for quiet operation) | Air (Single fan) |
RAM | 16 GB LPDDR5X (Onboard; 7467 MHz) | 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 | 14.0" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 (3K) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | OLED (Touchscreen; Glossy; SGS Eye Care Display) | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Brightness | 400 nits (SDR); 600 nits (HDR Peak) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 100% DCI-P3 | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US Standard (QWERTY) | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (White) | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) |
Biometrics | IR Webcam (Windows Hello Face Authentication) | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD IR camera with privacy shutter | 720p HD camera |
USB Ports | 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / Power Delivery / DisplayPort); 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 | 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 (TMDS) | 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 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery | 4-cell Li-Ion (75 Wh) | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) |
Charger | 65 W USB-C Adapter | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) |
Weight | 1.28 kg (2.82 lbs) | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum (Ponder Blue) | Plastic (Carbon Black) |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
✓ Pros:
- • Stunning 120Hz OLED touchscreen with verified HDR brightness
- • Excellent battery life (75 Wh) for a 14-inch laptop
- • Premium all-metal build that is extremely lightweight (2.82 lbs)
- • Full Thunderbolt 4 support + USB-A and HDMI (rare in this thinness class)
✗ Cons:
- • Glossy screen handles reflections poorly in bright environments
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded later
- • Fingerprint magnet chassis (Ponder Blue colorway)
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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?
Grab the Dell if you need an upgradeable RAM option - it's lighter at 3.78 lb.
Who should buy each?
Choose the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) if: you want a brilliant OLED display for photo editing, need all-day battery life, or value a premium build. (14" display, 45.15 oz weight)
Choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U if: you want to save money, need upgradable RAM for future-proofing, or prefer a larger display for multitasking. (15.6" display, 58.55 oz weight)
Conclusion
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) 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?
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) excels if you value stunning 120hz oled touchscreen with verified hdr brightness. 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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