Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Choosing between Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) can be tricky. Both are excellent, but they serve different priorities. This guide highlights what matters for US shoppers.
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Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Comparison: Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
| Criterion | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U | ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy | ★4.3(66)Amazon |
Processor | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS (Zen 3+, 8 cores, up to 4.75 GHz) |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU (6GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | No (Not supported on Ryzen 7 7735HS) |
Cooling | Air (Single fan) | Dual Arc Flow Fans (84-blade) with 4 exhaust vents |
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 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) | Yes (2x M.2 PCIe Gen 4 slots) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) | IPS-level (Anti-glare) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 144 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 (1-zone RGB Mini-LED) |
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 USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort); 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort/PD/G-SYNC); 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A |
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 6 (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) | 240 W AC adapter |
Weight | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) | 2,200 g (4.85 lbs) |
Build Material | Plastic (Carbon Black) | Plastic chassis with Aluminum lid (Mecha Gray) |
Operating System | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
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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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ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB)
✓ Pros:
- • Large 90Wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop
- • GPU runs at full 140W TGP for maximum RTX 4050 performance
- • Comprehensive connectivity including USB 4 and HDMI 2.1
- • 100% sRGB color coverage (significant upgrade over older TUF 144Hz panels)
- • Military-grade durability (MIL-STD-810H) with robust cooling
✗ Cons:
- • Screen brightness is limited to 250 nits, making outdoor use difficult
- • Fans can become quite loud under turbo loads
- • No biometric security (fingerprint or face unlock)
- • 720p webcam is average quality
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Which one is better?
Based on ratings and feature balance, Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U has a slight edge for quality and performance. ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) remains a strong alternative if its strengths match your needs.
Who should buy each?
Expert take:
- Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U suits buyers who need 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling than typical 60Hz budget laptops, Memory (RAM) is not soldered and can be upgraded via two SODIMM slots
- ASUS TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) suits buyers who want Large 90Wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop, GPU runs at full 140W TGP for maximum RTX 4050 performance
Conclusion
With the key differences outlined, the decision should be clearer. Both options deliver quality—choose the one that fits your priorities.
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 TUF Gaming A15 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop (FA507NU-DS74, Ryzen 7 7735HS/RTX 4050, 16GB/1TB) is better if you prioritize large 90wh battery provides excellent endurance for a gaming laptop. 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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