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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerDell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7 is the better buy for most people, thanks to its powerful i7-13650HX CPU that hits up to 4.9 GHz versus the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U's 4.4 GHz. This performance leap makes it a no-brainer for gaming or demanding tasks. The ASUS's 165Hz refresh rate makes gaming a smoother experience, perfect for fast-paced action games. You'll feel the difference in every frame.
📱 Display: 15.6" vs 16"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 165 Hz⚖️ Weight: 58.55 oz vs 88.19 oz
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Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
★4.5
(2,701)•Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz)
Graphics:Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Air (Single fan)
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ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
★4.6
(31)•Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13650HX (Raptor Lake, 14 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:ROG Intelligent Cooling (Tri-Fan technology, Liquid Metal on CPU)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
15.6"
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
16"Winner
Refresh Rate
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
120 Hz
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)Winner
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Storage
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent)
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
Design1 specs
Weight
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
1,660 g (3.65 lbs)Winner
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
2,500 g (5.51 lbs)
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
★4.5(2,701)Best Buy
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
★4.6(31)Best Buy
| Criterion | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U | ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy | ★4.6(31)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) | Intel Core i7-13650HX (Raptor Lake, 14 cores, up to 4.9 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Air (Single fan) | ROG Intelligent Cooling (Tri-Fan technology, Liquid Metal on CPU) |
RAM | 8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz | 16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) |
RAM Upgrade | Yes (2x SODIMM slots, up to 16 GB officially, 32 GB unofficially) | Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB officially) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) | Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen4 slots) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 16" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 1920 x 1200 (FHD+) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 |
Screen Type | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) | IPS-level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 165 Hz (G-SYNC supported) |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) | 100% sRGB |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) with NumPad | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) | Yes (4-Zone RGB) |
Biometrics | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) | No (Not supported) |
Webcam | 720p HD camera | 720p HD camera |
USB Ports | 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1; 1x USB-A 2.0; (Note: USB-C is often ABSENT on i5-1235U US retail units) | 1x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort); 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort / Power Delivery / G-SYNC); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz) | 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) |
Battery | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) | 90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion) |
Charger | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) | 280 W AC adapter |
Weight | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) | 2,500 g (5.51 lbs) |
Build Material | Plastic (Carbon Black) | Aluminum (Lid) / Plastic (Chassis) |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Rating:★4.5(2,701)Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz)
Graphics:Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Air (Single fan)
RAM:8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x SODIMM slots, up to 16 GB officially, 32 GB unofficially)
Storage:512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot)
Display Size:15.6"
Resolution:1920 x 1080 (FHD)
Aspect Ratio:16:9
Screen Type:IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle)
Refresh Rate:120 Hz
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB)
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units)
Biometrics:No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent)
Webcam:720p HD camera
USB Ports: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 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1
Battery:41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent)
Charger:65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm)
Weight:1,660 g (3.65 lbs)
Build Material:Plastic (Carbon Black)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ 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
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7
Rating:★4.6(31)Best Buy
Processor:Intel Core i7-13650HX (Raptor Lake, 14 cores, up to 4.9 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:ROG Intelligent Cooling (Tri-Fan technology, Liquid Metal on CPU)
RAM:16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB officially)
Storage:512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen4 slots)
Display Size:16"
Resolution:1920 x 1200 (FHD+)
Aspect Ratio:16:10
Screen Type:IPS-level (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
Brightness:250 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:100% sRGB
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (4-Zone RGB)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:720p HD camera
USB Ports:1x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort); 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort / Power Delivery / G-SYNC); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 FRL
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.3; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:90 Wh (4-cell Li-ion)
Charger:280 W AC adapter
Weight:2,500 g (5.51 lbs)
Build Material:Aluminum (Lid) / Plastic (Chassis)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ Pros:
- • High-wattage RTX 4060 (140W) and i7-13650HX deliver excellent gaming performance
- • Tri-Fan cooling system and liquid metal ensure sustained performance
- • Large 90Wh battery is exceptional for a gaming laptop in this class
- • Comprehensive port selection including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet
- • 16:10 FHD+ display covers 100% sRGB, suitable for gaming and general content
✗ Cons:
- • Display brightness is limited to 250 nits, which is dim for well-lit rooms
- • Chassis is primarily plastic (except for the lid) and can be bulky
- • 720p webcam is low resolution and lacks biometric (Windows Hello) support
- • Fans can get loud under load due to the high-performance tuning
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7 is the better buy for most people - its i7-13650HX CPU crushes the i5-1235U in performance. That said, grab the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 if you need a lighter laptop for everyday tasks - it weighs 58.55 oz compared to the ASUS's 88.19 oz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U if: you want a lighter laptop for daily tasks, you need an upgradeable memory option, or you prefer a smoother display at 120Hz.
Choose the ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7 if: you need serious gaming performance, you want longer battery life for gaming sessions, or you require a laptop for intensive tasks like video editing. (16" display, 165 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U excels if you value 120hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling than typical 60hz budget laptops. ASUS ROG Strix G16 — Intel Core i7 is better if you prioritize high-wattage rtx 4060 (140w) and i7-13650hx deliver excellent gaming performance. 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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