Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
Choosing between Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) 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 Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
Comparison: Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H)
| Criterion | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy | ★4.6(15)Amazon |
Processor | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) | Intel Core Ultra 5 125H (14-core: 4P + 8E + 2LPE), up to 4.5 GHz, 18 MB Smart Cache |
Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) | Intel Arc Graphics (Integrated; 7 Xe-cores) |
AI Engine | No (Not supported) | Intel AI Boost (Up to 11 TOPS) |
Cooling | Air (Single fan) | Single-fan cooling system (optimized for quiet operation) |
RAM | 8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz | 16 GB LPDDR5X (Onboard; 7467 MHz) |
RAM Upgrade | Yes (2x SODIMM slots, up to 16 GB officially, 32 GB unofficially) | No (Soldered) |
Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD | 512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
Storage Upgrade | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) | Yes (1x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slot) |
Display Size | 15.6" | 14.0" |
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) | 2880 x 1800 (3K) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:10 |
Screen Type | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) | OLED (Touchscreen; Glossy; SGS Eye Care Display) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
Brightness | 250 nits (Typical) | 400 nits (SDR); 600 nits (HDR Peak) |
Color Gamut | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) | 100% DCI-P3 |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) with NumPad | US Standard (QWERTY) |
Keyboard Backlight | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) | Yes (White) |
Biometrics | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) | IR Webcam (Windows Hello Face Authentication) |
Webcam | 720p HD camera | 1080p FHD IR camera with privacy shutter |
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) | 2x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / Power Delivery / DisplayPort); 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz) | 1x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) |
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); Bluetooth 5.3 |
Battery | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) | 4-cell Li-Ion (75 Wh) |
Charger | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) | 65 W USB-C Adapter |
Weight | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) | 1.28 kg (2.82 lbs) |
Build Material | Plastic (Carbon Black) | Aluminum (Ponder Blue) |
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 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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Which one is better?
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U is stronger in overall satisfaction, but ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) could still be the better pick if you value its unique advantages.
Who should buy each?
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U excels at: 120Hz refresh rate provides smoother scrolling than typical 60Hz budget laptops, Memory (RAM) is not soldered and can be upgraded via two SODIMM slots
Watch for: Most high-volume US retail configurations (e.g., Best Buy) LACK a USB-C port
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) excels at: Stunning 120Hz OLED touchscreen with verified HDR brightness, Excellent battery life (75 Wh) for a 14-inch laptop
Watch for: Glossy screen handles reflections poorly in bright environments
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 Zenbook 14 OLED Core Ultra 5 125H) is better if you prioritize stunning 120hz oled touchscreen with verified hdr brightness. 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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