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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerLenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX is the premium option here, bringing a serious gaming experience with its powerful RTX 4060 graphics. This laptop delivers a stunning 165Hz refresh rate on its 16" WQXGA display, perfect for gamers and creatives alike. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U is a budget pick, more suitable for casual users who need something lighter and easier on the wallet. So, if you're looking for gaming or heavy multitasking, the Legion Pro is worth the investment.
📱 Display: 16" vs 15.6"⚡ Refresh: 165 Hz vs 120 Hz⚖️ Weight: 89.95 oz vs 58.55 oz
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Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
★4.5
(18)•Amazon
Processor:Intel Core i7-13700HX (Raptor Lake, 16 cores, up to 5.0 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No dedicated NPU (Uses Lenovo LA1 AI chip for system optimization)
Cooling:Legion Coldfront 5.0 (Dual fans, hybrid heat pipes, massive intake/exhaust)
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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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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
16"Winner
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
15.6"
Refresh Rate
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)Winner
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
120 Hz
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz
Storage
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
80 Wh (Li-Polymer)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent)
Design1 specs
Weight
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
2,550 g (5.6 lbs)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
1,660 g (3.65 lbs)Winner
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1
+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: Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
★4.5(18)Amazon
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
★4.5(2,701)Best Buy
| Criterion | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.5(18)Amazon | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy |
Processor | Intel Core i7-13700HX (Raptor Lake, 16 cores, up to 5.0 GHz) | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) |
Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) |
AI Engine | No dedicated NPU (Uses Lenovo LA1 AI chip for system optimization) | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Legion Coldfront 5.0 (Dual fans, hybrid heat pipes, massive intake/exhaust) | Air (Single fan) |
RAM | 16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM) | 8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz |
RAM Upgrade | Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB officially) | 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 (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots) | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) |
Display Size | 16" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:9 |
Screen Type | IPS (Anti-glare) | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) |
Refresh Rate | 165 Hz (G-SYNC supported) | 120 Hz |
Brightness | 300 nits (Typical) | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | 100% sRGB | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (ANSI) with NumPad | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (4-Zone RGB) | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) |
Biometrics | No (Not supported) | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) |
Webcam | 1080p FHD camera with E-shutter | 720p HD camera |
USB Ports | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, 140W Power Delivery); 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4); 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (1x Always On) | 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 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz) | 1x HDMI 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45) | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery | 80 Wh (Li-Polymer) | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) |
Charger | 300 W Slim Tip adapter | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) |
Weight | 2,550 g (5.6 lbs) | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) |
Build Material | Aluminum (Top) / PC-ABS (Bottom) | Plastic (Carbon Black) |
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→ |
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Rating:★4.5(18)Amazon
Processor:Intel Core i7-13700HX (Raptor Lake, 16 cores, up to 5.0 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No dedicated NPU (Uses Lenovo LA1 AI chip for system optimization)
Cooling:Legion Coldfront 5.0 (Dual fans, hybrid heat pipes, massive intake/exhaust)
RAM:16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB officially)
Storage:512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots)
Display Size:16"
Resolution:2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)
Aspect Ratio:16:10
Screen Type:IPS (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
Brightness:300 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:100% sRGB
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (4-Zone RGB)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:1080p FHD camera with E-shutter
USB Ports:1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, 140W Power Delivery); 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4); 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (1x Always On)
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:80 Wh (Li-Polymer)
Charger:300 W Slim Tip adapter
Weight:2,550 g (5.6 lbs)
Build Material:Aluminum (Top) / PC-ABS (Bottom)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ Pros:
- • High-wattage RTX 4060 (140W) delivers top-tier performance for its class
- • Sharp 16:10 WQXGA display with 100% sRGB coverage and G-SYNC
- • Excellent thermal management with the Coldfront 5.0 cooling system
- • Wide port selection including 4x USB-A and 140W USB-C charging support
- • Sturdy build with an aluminum lid and 180-degree hinge
✗ Cons:
- • Battery life is average despite the 80Wh capacity due to high-power HX CPU
- • Bulky and heavy power brick (300W)
- • No biometric security (fingerprint or IR face unlock)
- • The 165Hz panel is 300 nits (the brighter 500-nit panel is reserved for the 240Hz SKU)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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→
Which one is better?
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX is the better buy for most people - its RTX 4060 GPU crushes the Intel Iris Xe Graphics in the Dell.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX if: you play demanding games, need high-resolution graphics for design work, or value a high-refresh display. (16" display, 165 Hz refresh)
Choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U if: you want an affordable laptop for web browsing, need something lightweight for travel, or prefer a basic setup for document work. (15.6" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX excels if you value high-wattage rtx 4060 (140w) delivers top-tier performance for its class. 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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