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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
When comparing the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U, the main factor is performance. The MacBook Air features the speedy M3 chip, while the Dell offers a solid Intel i5 for everyday tasks. In real-world use, the MacBook shines with its 18-hour battery life, perfect for long workdays. Meanwhile, the Dell’s 120Hz refresh rate makes scrolling smoother, especially for casual gaming or browsing. However, the Dell is bulkier, weighing 58.55 oz compared to the MacBook's 43.74 oz, making it less portable but more versatile for multi-tasking with a larger screen size.
📱 Display: 13.6" vs 15.6"⚡ Refresh: 60 Hz vs 120 Hz⚖️ Weight: 43.74 oz vs 58.55 oz
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Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
★4.9
(2,424)•Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency)
Graphics:Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Passive (Fanless silent design)
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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
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
13.6"
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
15.6"Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
60 Hz
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
120 HzWinner
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHzWinner
Storage
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSDWinner
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
52.6 Wh (Lithium-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
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
1,240 g (2.7 lbs)Winner
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
1,660 g (3.65 lbs)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
macOS (Sonoma or later)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Windows 11 Home
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
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: Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) vs Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
★4.9(2,424)Best Buy
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U
★4.5(2,701)Best Buy
| Criterion | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) | Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(2,424)Best Buy | ★4.5(2,701)Best Buy |
Processor | Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency) | Intel Core i5-1235U (Alder Lake-U, 10 cores, up to 4.4 GHz) |
Graphics | Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config) | Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Integrated; requires dual-channel RAM, otherwise UHD) |
AI Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Passive (Fanless silent design) | Air (Single fan) |
RAM | 8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory | 8 GB or 16 GB DDR4-2666/3200 MHz |
RAM Upgrade | No (Unified Memory architecture) | Yes (2x SODIMM slots, up to 16 GB officially, 32 GB unofficially) |
Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
Storage Upgrade | No (Soldered) | Yes (1x M.2 2230/2280 slot) |
Display Size | 13.6" | 15.6" |
Resolution | 2560 x 1664 (Native) | 1920 x 1080 (FHD) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch) | 16:9 |
Screen Type | Liquid Retina (IPS; LED-backlit) | IPS (Anti-glare; Wide Viewing Angle) |
Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
Brightness | 500 nits | 250 nits (Typical) |
Color Gamut | Wide color (P3) | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (Magic Keyboard) | US English (ANSI) with NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (Ambient light sensor) | No (Optional/Configuration dependent; mostly No on retail units) |
Biometrics | Touch ID (Fingerprint reader) | No (Fingerprint reader is optional/configuration dependent) |
Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 720p HD camera |
USB Ports | 2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 (Up to 40Gb/s; Charging; DisplayPort) | 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 | USB-C DisplayPort (Supports 1 external display up to 6K@60Hz; OR 2 external displays with lid closed) | 1x HDMI 1.4 (Supports up to 1920x1080 @ 60Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones) | 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 | 52.6 Wh (Lithium-polymer) | 41 Wh (3-cell Li-ion) or 54 Wh (4-cell; config dependent) |
Charger | 30W (Base 8-core GPU model) or 35W Dual Port / 70W Fast Charger (Higher configs) | 65 W Barrel-pin AC adapter (4.5mm) |
Weight | 1,240 g (2.7 lbs) | 1,660 g (3.65 lbs) |
Build Material | 100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure | Plastic (Carbon Black) |
Operating System | macOS (Sonoma or later) | Windows 11 Home |
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. | Check Price on Amazon→ | Check Price on Amazon→ |
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024)
Rating:★4.9(2,424)Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 (8-core CPU: 4 performance + 4 efficiency)
Graphics:Apple M3 (8-core or 10-core GPU, depending on config)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Passive (Fanless silent design)
RAM:8 GB, 16 GB, or 24 GB Unified Memory
RAM Upgrade:No (Unified Memory architecture)
Storage:256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB SSD
Storage Upgrade:No (Soldered)
Display Size:13.6"
Resolution:2560 x 1664 (Native)
Aspect Ratio:16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch)
Screen Type:Liquid Retina (IPS; LED-backlit)
Refresh Rate:60 Hz
Brightness:500 nits
Color Gamut:Wide color (P3)
Keyboard Layout:US English (Magic Keyboard)
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (Ambient light sensor)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint reader)
Webcam:1080p FaceTime HD camera
USB Ports:2x Thunderbolt / USB 4 (Up to 40Gb/s; Charging; DisplayPort)
Video Ports:USB-C DisplayPort (Supports 1 external display up to 6K@60Hz; OR 2 external displays with lid closed)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Battery:52.6 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Charger:30W (Base 8-core GPU model) or 35W Dual Port / 70W Fast Charger (Higher configs)
Weight:1,240 g (2.7 lbs)
Build Material:100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure
Operating System:macOS (Sonoma or later)
✓ Pros:
- • Significantly faster M3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- • First MacBook Air to natively support two external monitors (in clamshell mode)
- • Completely silent fanless operation
- • Exceptional build quality with a bright 500-nit P3 display
- • MagSafe 3 charging frees up both Thunderbolt ports for peripherals
✗ Cons:
- • Base model starts with only 8GB RAM and 256GB storage (slow SSD speeds on 256GB)
- • Limited to 60Hz refresh rate (no ProMotion 120Hz)
- • Zero user-upgradeability for RAM or storage
- • Thermal throttling can occur under sustained heavy workloads due to lack of fans
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.
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Which one is better?
Key specs: Display: 13.6" vs 15.6" and Refresh: 60 Hz vs 120 Hz.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) if: you need all-day battery life for work or travel, appreciate superior display brightness at 500 nits, or want a lightweight design.
Choose the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 — Intel Core i5-1235U if: you want a larger 15.6" screen for multitasking, need a smoother experience with a 120Hz refresh rate, or prefer a laptop that allows RAM upgrades for future-proofing.
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?
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 2024) excels if you value significantly faster m3 chip with hardware-accelerated ray tracing. 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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