Notebookcheck Logo

Dell Inspiron 15 3501 laptop in review: Quiet office laptop

Entry-level office laptop. The Inspiron 15 3501 scores points with low noise levels and heat development as well as room for two storage devices. The built-in Core i7-1165G7 processor remains below its capabilities due to its low TDP.

The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 is a simple office laptop in the 15.6-inch format. Our configuration variant is available for just under 800 Euros (~$926) and is one of the top models in the series. Cheaper alternatives are available starting at around 450 Euros (~$521). Competitors include devices like the Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA, the Honor MagicBook 15, the MSI Modern 15 A11M, and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05.

Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (Inspiron 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-1165G7 4 x 2.8 - 4.7 GHz, 51 W PL2 / Short Burst, 22 W PL1 / Sustained, Tiger Lake-UP3
Graphics adapter
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Core: 1300 MHz, Memory: 1000 MHz, dual-channel, 30.0.100.9864
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR4-3200, dual-channel mode, two memory slots (both in use)
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, BOE NV15N3D (Dell P/N: N39X1), IPS, glossy: no, 60 Hz
Mainboard
Intel Tiger Lake-UP3 PCH-LP
Storage
Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1, 512 GB 
, 1x SATA slot for 2.5-inch drives, 407 GB free
Soundcard
Cirrus Logic CS8409
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: combined headset port, Card Reader: SD, TPM 2.0
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Wireless AC 9462 (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.9 x 363.96 x 249 ( = 0.78 x 14.33 x 9.8 in)
Battery
42 Wh, 3500 mAh Lithium-Ion, 3-cell
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Primary Camera: 0.9 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, McAfee Security (trial), Microsoft 365 (trial), 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.96 kg ( = 69.14 oz / 4.32 pounds), Power Supply: 276 g ( = 9.74 oz / 0.61 pounds)
Price
799 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Possible contenders in comparison

Rating
Date
Model
Weight
Height
Size
Resolution
Best Price
80.5 %
10/2021
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs
2 kg19.9 mm15.60"1920x1080
83.5 %
08/2021
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
R5 5500U, Vega 7
1.7 kg19.1 mm15.60"1920x1080
82 %
07/2021
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs
1.6 kg16 mm15.60"1920x1080
83.6 %
07/2021
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs
1.5 kg17 mm15.60"1920x1080
81.3 %
06/2021
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs
1.6 kg17 mm15.60"1920x1080

Case and connectivity - USB-C is only available optionally

Dell has chosen to use roughened surfaces for the Inspiron's slim, matte-black plastic case. The laptop doesn't show any manufacturing flaws. However, the base unit and lid can be twisted too much, and the chassis yields under pressure. The battery is firmly built into the device. You can access the interior after removing the base unit.

The Inspiron has three USB-A ports (2x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0) on board. According to the hardware manual, an additional USB-C port is optionally available. An external display can be connected via HDMI. The SD memory card reader (reference card: 128 GB AV PRO V60 SD) is of the slow variety.

The Wi-Fi data rates determined under optimal conditions (no other Wi-Fi devices nearby, short distance between the laptop and the server PC) do not meet current standards. You can quickly tell why: The built-in WLAN chip (Intel Wireless AC 9462) allows maximum transfer rates of 433 Mb/s.

Windows 10 Home serves as the operating system. However, the Inspiron also supports Linux - Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (64 bit) to be precise. Users who want to abandon Microsoft's operating system have an easy way to do so with the Inspiron. We were able to install Ubuntu without any issues, and all the hardware worked immediately after the installation.

Size comparison

363.96 mm / 14.3 inch 249 mm / 9.8 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 2 kg4.32 lbs356.67 mm / 14 inch 233.13 mm / 9.18 inch 19.1 mm / 0.752 inch 1.7 kg3.76 lbs358 mm / 14.1 inch 230 mm / 9.06 inch 17 mm / 0.669 inch 1.5 kg3.35 lbs357 mm / 14.1 inch 234 mm / 9.21 inch 17 mm / 0.669 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs357 mm / 14.1 inch 230 mm / 9.06 inch 16 mm / 0.63 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Port configuration

Right side: Memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type-A), cable lock slot
Right side: Memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type-A), cable lock slot
Left side: Power supply, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), combo audio
Left side: Power supply, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Type-A), combo audio
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
168.7 MB/s +756%
Average of class Office
  (8 - 196.8, n=49, last 2 years)
55.8 MB/s +183%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
35 MB/s +78%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
28.2 MB/s +43%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
  (AV Pro SD 128 GB V60)
19.7 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
171.3 MB/s +521%
Average of class Office
  (25 - 173.2, n=43, last 2 years)
65.6 MB/s +138%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
  (AV PRO microSD 128 GB V60)
36.5 MB/s +32%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
36.5 MB/s +32%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
  (AV Pro SD microSD 128 GB V60)
27.6 MB/s
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1462 (533min - 1586max) MBit/s +1439%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1400 (1264min - 1496max) MBit/s +1374%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
RealTek Semiconductor RTL8852AE
890 (431min - 988max) MBit/s +837%
Average Intel Wireless AC 9462
  (95 - 365, n=13)
287 MBit/s +202%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Wireless AC 9462
95 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1623 (1565min - 1675max) MBit/s +387%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201
1385 (910min - 1612max) MBit/s +316%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
RealTek Semiconductor RTL8852AE
621 (506min - 708max) MBit/s +86%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Wireless AC 9462
333 (320min - 336max) MBit/s
Average Intel Wireless AC 9462
  (119 - 360, n=13)
308 MBit/s -8%
05010015020025030035040045050055060065070075080085090095010001050110011501200125013001350140014501500155016001650Tooltip
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø333 (320-336)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø621 (506-708)
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1622 (1565-1675)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1384 (910-1612)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø876 (431-988)
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1444 (533-1586)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø1400 (1264-1496)
ColorChecker
18.8 ∆E
17.4 ∆E
22.2 ∆E
18.9 ∆E
21.1 ∆E
18 ∆E
16.7 ∆E
24.9 ∆E
13.5 ∆E
14.9 ∆E
14.9 ∆E
18.2 ∆E
20 ∆E
16.7 ∆E
19.3 ∆E
8.4 ∆E
18.3 ∆E
22.2 ∆E
2.3 ∆E
11.4 ∆E
17.8 ∆E
17.8 ∆E
14.4 ∆E
4.3 ∆E
ColorChecker Dell Inspiron 15 3501: 16.36 ∆E min: 2.28 - max: 24.86 ∆E

Input devices - 3501 without keyboard backlighting

The flat, roughened keys of the chiclet keyboard have a short travel and a clear pressure point. The key resistance is acceptable. The keyboard bounces a bit during typing - more in the center than at the sides. Overall, Dell delivers a keyboard that is suitable for everyday use here. We would've liked it to be backlit, though. This is an optional feature within the Inspiron 3501 series.

The smooth surface of the multitouch-capable ClickPad (approx. 10.5 x 8 cm) makes it easy for fingers to glide on it. It also responds to input in the corners. The pad has a short travel and a clear pressure point.

Inspiron 15 input devices
Inspiron 15 input devices

Display - IPS on board

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

While the matte 15.6-inch display (1920x1080 pixels) delivers a good contrast (1,807:1), its brightness (263.3 cd/m²) is too low. This value drops a bit further on battery power. We consider values beyond 300 cd/m² to be good.

The display flickers at a frequency of 1,000 Hz at brightness levels of 90% and below. Due to the quite high frequency, sensitive users should be spared from headaches and/or eye problems.

273
cd/m²
267
cd/m²
253
cd/m²
265
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
253
cd/m²
254
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
260
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE NV15N3D (Dell P/N: N39X1) tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 274 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 263.3 cd/m² Minimum: 20.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 246 cd/m²
Contrast: 1807:1 (Black: 0.15 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.83 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.36 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
40.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
58.7% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.56
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
BOE NV15N3D (Dell P/N: N39X1), IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Lenovo LEN156FHD, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
CEC PANDA LM156LF5L03, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
BOE TV156FHM-NH2, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
AU Optronics B156HW02, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-3%
65%
-9%
Display P3 Coverage
39.4
65.4
66%
sRGB Coverage
58.7
59
1%
96.3
64%
56
-5%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.7
38
-7%
67.5
66%
36
-12%
Response Times
39%
32%
19%
13%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
43 ?(21, 22)
29 ?(13, 16)
33%
29 ?(13, 16)
33%
36 ?(18, 18)
16%
40 ?(18, 22)
7%
Response Time Black / White *
32 ?(17, 15)
18 ?(9, 9)
44%
22 ?(12, 10)
31%
24.8 ?(14, 10.8)
22%
26 ?(14, 12)
19%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(90)
Screen
-77%
-34%
-13%
5%
Brightness middle
271
376
39%
325
20%
332
23%
269
-1%
Brightness
263
341
30%
297
13%
318
21%
251
-5%
Brightness Distribution
92
78
-15%
86
-7%
87
-5%
86
-7%
Black Level *
0.15
0.66
-340%
0.445
-197%
0.27
-80%
0.18
-20%
Contrast
1807
570
-68%
730
-60%
1230
-32%
1494
-17%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.83
6.4
-33%
3.48
28%
3.3
32%
3.5
28%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7
20.45
-192%
8.07
-15%
7.8
-11%
5.49
22%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.36
4.59
-37%
5.27
-57%
5.2
-55%
2.01
40%
Gamma
2.56 86%
2.26 97%
2.41 91%
2.07 106%
2.38 92%
CCT
6764 96%
6819 95%
7769 84%
7370 88%
6806 96%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
44
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
70
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
1
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-14% / -45%
-1% / -21%
24% / 10%
3% / 4%

* ... smaller is better

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
32 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 17 ms rise
↘ 15 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 84 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
43 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21 ms rise
↘ 22 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 67 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 1000 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 1000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 90 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 1000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18071 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The display shows a decent color reproduction out of the box, but colors deviate a bit from the target - the whole situation is still within an acceptable range, though. The display doesn't suffer from a blue tint. Furthermore, it can't fully reproduce the AdobeRGB (41%), sRGB (59%), and DCI-P3 (39%) color spaces.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Grayscales
CalMAN - Color saturation
CalMAN - Color saturation

The viewing-angle stable IPS panel can be read from any position. Reading the screen's content outdoors is possible when the sun is not too bright.

The Inspiron outdoors
The Inspiron outdoors

Performance - Core i7 at Core i5 level

With the Inspiron 15 3501, Dell has a 15.6-inch office laptop in its lineup that provides enough computing power for office and Internet applications. 

Test conditions

Dell's Power Manager provides profiles that affect the laptop's temperature and performance development. We couldn't determine any differences in terms of performance in the case of the 3501. All four profiles use the same power limits (PL1: 22 watts, PL2: 51 watts).

Dell Power Manager
Dell Power Manager

Processor

The Core-i7 1165G7 quad-core processor (Tiger Lake) operates at a base clock speed of 2.8 GHz. An increase to 4.1 GHz (four cores) or 4.7 GHz (one core) is possible via Turbo. Hyper-Threading (two threads per core) is supported. The CPU provides enough computing power for office and Internet use, but it remains below the 1165G7's average due to a low TDP of 13 watts.

The Cinebench R15 benchmark's multithread test is processed at 3 to 3.3 GHz. The single-thread test is run at 1.7 to 4.7 GHz. The clock rates are significantly lower on battery power.

CPU-Z
CPU-Z
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
HWiNFO
HWiNFO

We verify if the CPU Turbo is consistently used when plugged in by running the Cinebench R15 benchmark's multithread test in a continuous loop for at least 30 minutes. Turbo is used to a small extent. Three of the four CPU cores operate at an average speed that is below the base speed.

Cinebench R15 Multi endurance test

0651301952603253904555205856507157808459109751040110511701235Tooltip
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 Intel Core i7-1165G7: Ø737 (725.22-798.11)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 AMD Ryzen 5 5500U: Ø1208 (1173.12-1266.74)
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA Intel Core i5-1135G7: Ø824 (808.51-862.42)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5-1135G7: Ø699 (681.19-922.04)
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062 Intel Core i7-1165G7: Ø929 (850.21-948.86)
CPU clock speeds while running the CB15 loop
CPU clock speeds while running the CB15 loop
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
158 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
798 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
85 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help
Cinebench R23
Multi Core
Average of class Office
  (1056 - 15743, n=121, last 2 years)
8030 Points +58%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
7221 Points +42%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (2525 - 6862, n=64)
5110 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
5069 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
3717 Points -27%
Single Core
Average of class Office
  (529 - 1995, n=120, last 2 years)
1451 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (1110 - 1539, n=59)
1425 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
1412 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1350 Points -4%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
1149 Points -19%
Cinebench R20
CPU (Multi Core)
Average of class Office
  (356 - 5904, n=119, last 2 years)
3085 Points +61%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
2758 Points +43%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
2472 Points +29%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
2105 Points +10%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (1060 - 2657, n=81)
1967 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
1922 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1448 Points -25%
CPU (Single Core)
Average of class Office
  (181.3 - 764, n=119, last 2 years)
558 Points +3%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
557 Points +3%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (442 - 589, n=81)
552 Points +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
541 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
514 Points -5%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
456 Points -16%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
442 Points -18%
Cinebench R15
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=119, last 2 years)
1392 Points +74%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
1267 (1173.12min - 1266.74max) Points +59%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
949 (850.21min - 948.86max) Points +19%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
922 Points +16%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
862 (808.51min - 862.42max) Points +8%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (553 - 1027, n=86)
846 Points +6%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
798 Points
CPU Single 64Bit
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
224 Points +42%
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=117, last 2 years)
216 Points +37%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (115 - 230, n=78)
212 Points +34%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
201 Points +27%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
195 Points +23%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
194 Points +23%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
177 Points +12%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
158 Points
Blender - v2.79 BMW27 CPU
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
711 Seconds * -18%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (468 - 1138, n=80)
618 Seconds * -3%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
602 Seconds * -0%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
602 Seconds *
Average of class Office
  (214 - 2844, n=119, last 2 years)
535 Seconds * +11%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
489 Seconds * +19%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
418 Seconds * +31%
7-Zip 18.03
7z b 4
Average of class Office
  (4226 - 62349, n=120, last 2 years)
34626 MIPS +54%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
33768 MIPS +50%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
25395 MIPS +13%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (15347 - 27405, n=80)
22935 MIPS +2%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
22772 MIPS +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
22489 MIPS
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
17591 MIPS -22%
7z b 4 -mmt1
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
5214 MIPS +6%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (4478 - 5507, n=80)
5182 MIPS +5%
Average of class Office
  (2233 - 6687, n=120, last 2 years)
5007 MIPS +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
4929 MIPS
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4728 MIPS -4%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
4323 MIPS -12%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
3924 MIPS -20%
Geekbench 5.5
Multi-Core
Average of class Office
  (1018 - 11980, n=121, last 2 years)
6590 Points +42%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
5367 Points +16%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (3078 - 5926, n=77)
5155 Points +11%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4876 Points +5%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
4742 Points +2%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
4649 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
4630 Points
Single-Core
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (1302 - 1595, n=77)
1524 Points +5%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
1492 Points +3%
Average of class Office
  (510 - 1974, n=121, last 2 years)
1468 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
1455 Points
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1405 Points -3%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
1401 Points -4%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
1116 Points -23%
HWBOT x265 Benchmark v2.2 - 4k Preset
Average of class Office
  (1.55 - 17.4, n=119, last 2 years)
9.18 fps +57%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
8.24 fps +41%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
7.61 fps +30%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (1.39 - 8.47, n=80)
6.3 fps +8%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
6.15 fps +5%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
5.86 fps
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
5.66 fps -3%
LibreOffice - 20 Documents To PDF
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
67.3 s * -39%
Average of class Office
  (31.3 - 117.5, n=119, last 2 years)
56.7 s * -17%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
54.4 s * -12%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
54.3 s * -12%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
52.9 s * -9%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (21.5 - 88.1, n=78)
49.2 s * -1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
48.5 s *
R Benchmark 2.5 - Overall mean
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7
0.639 sec * -5%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
0.635 sec * -4%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7
0.622 sec * -2%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7
0.609 sec *
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7
  (0.552 - 1.002, n=80)
0.594 sec * +2%
Average of class Office
  (0.4244 - 1.397, n=118, last 2 years)
0.588 sec * +3%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7
0.583 sec * +4%

* ... smaller is better

System performance

The fast and smooth system didn't present any issues. The CPU provides enough performance for office and Internet applications. This is complemented by good PCMark results.

Although Dell equips the Inspiron with DDR4-3200 RAM, it only works at a memory clock rate of 2,666 MHz. As a result, RAM remains below its potential. In comparison: The DDR4-3200 memory in the Honor MagicBook 15 achieves overall better transfer rates and access times.

RAM runs in dual-channel mode.
RAM runs in dual-channel mode.
PCMark 10 Score
4891 points
Help
PCMark 10 / Score
Average of class Office
  (2325 - 7157, n=104, last 2 years)
5340 Points +9%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
5218 Points +7%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (4531 - 5454, n=50)
4959 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
4891 Points
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
4691 Points -4%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
4690 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Lite-On CL1-8D512
4668 Points -5%
PCMark 10 / Essentials
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (8997 - 11505, n=50)
10014 Points +2%
Average of class Office
  (5095 - 20841, n=104, last 2 years)
9828 Points 0%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
9795 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
9666 Points -1%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Lite-On CL1-8D512
9224 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
9125 Points -7%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
9087 Points -7%
PCMark 10 / Productivity
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
7942 Points +20%
Average of class Office
  (3041 - 10198, n=104, last 2 years)
7453 Points +13%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (5570 - 7136, n=50)
6711 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
6618 Points
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
6339 Points -4%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Lite-On CL1-8D512
6151 Points -7%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
6140 Points -7%
PCMark 10 / Digital Content Creation
Average of class Office
  (1912 - 9056, n=104, last 2 years)
5782 Points +18%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
5320 Points +9%
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (4083 - 5550, n=50)
4937 Points +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
4899 Points
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Lite-On CL1-8D512
4866 Points -1%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
4864 Points -1%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
4719 Points -4%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
Average Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
 
AIDA64
1%
13%
37%
Memory Write
35973
31943
-11%
40918
14%
51281 ?(21736 - 66791, n=41)
43%
Memory Read
37436
42872
15%
43385
16%
49975 ?(23033 - 64524, n=41)
33%
Memory Latency *
91.9
99.4
-8%
80
13%
77.4 ?(71.4 - 110, n=46)
16%
Memory Copy
31351
34196
9%
34501
10%
48355 ?(20032 - 65446, n=41)
54%

* ... smaller is better

DPC latencies

Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
Latency Monitor
DPC Latencies / LatencyMon - interrupt to process latency (max), Web, Youtube, Prime95
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
1311 μs * -49%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, Lite-On CL1-8D512
1267 μs * -44%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
882 μs *
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Vega 7, R5 5500U
874 μs * +1%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
649 μs * +26%

* ... smaller is better

Storage

A 512 GB NVMe SSD (M.2 2230; 2280 models also fit) from Samsung serves as the system drive, and it delivers good transfer rates overall. The laptop also offers space for a 2.5-inch storage medium. The mounting frame and SATA slot are found inside the housing.

An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.
An NVMe SSD serves as system drive.
An additional 2.5-inch storage drive can be installed.
An additional 2.5-inch storage drive can be installed.
Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 3115 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1918 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 671 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 516 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 2009 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1571 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 52.7 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 170.7 MB/s
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
 
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Lite-On CL1-8D512
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Kingston OM8PCP3512F-AB
Average Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1
 
Average of class Office
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-27%
-31%
22%
-30%
-10%
18%
Write 4K
170.7
82.7
-52%
102.4
-40%
208.5
22%
215.1
26%
158.3 ?(119.9 - 184.4, n=3)
-7%
157 ?(50.1 - 291, n=68, last 2 years)
-8%
Read 4K
52.7
39.96
-24%
36.27
-31%
51.6
-2%
47.9
-9%
50.5 ?(45.3 - 53.5, n=3)
-4%
61.2 ?(20.6 - 90.2, n=68, last 2 years)
16%
Write Seq
1571
1273
-19%
1134
-28%
2579
64%
965
-39%
1528 ?(1235 - 1777, n=3)
-3%
2400 ?(315 - 5030, n=52, last 2 years)
53%
Read Seq
2009
1601
-20%
1841
-8%
2476
23%
1149
-43%
1820 ?(1686 - 2009, n=3)
-9%
2610 ?(507 - 5559, n=52, last 2 years)
30%
Write 4K Q32T1
516
360.4
-30%
495.5
-4%
602
17%
335.3
-35%
459 ?(374 - 516, n=3)
-11%
403 ?(162.5 - 809, n=68, last 2 years)
-22%
Read 4K Q32T1
671
410.4
-39%
322.6
-52%
680
1%
303.4
-55%
574 ?(503 - 671, n=3)
-14%
514 ?(184.2 - 899, n=68, last 2 years)
-23%
Write Seq Q32T1
1918
1589
-17%
930
-52%
2706
41%
968
-50%
1557 ?(1201 - 1918, n=3)
-19%
3044 ?(259 - 6207, n=68, last 2 years)
59%
Read Seq Q32T1
3115
2652
-15%
1988
-36%
3392
9%
1986
-36%
2815 ?(2216 - 3115, n=3)
-10%
4251 ?(454 - 7123, n=68, last 2 years)
36%
AS SSD
-5%
-72%
39%
-62%
-10%
5%
Seq Read
2596
2549
-2%
1780
-31%
2960
14%
1747
-33%
2593 ?(2555 - 2629, n=3)
0%
3148 ?(508 - 5796, n=101, last 2 years)
21%
Seq Write
1847
1571
-15%
843
-54%
2371
28%
909
-51%
1782 ?(1708 - 1847, n=3)
-4%
2054 ?(304 - 5880, n=101, last 2 years)
11%
4K Read
48.12
41.92
-13%
24.25
-50%
46.48
-3%
40.89
-15%
44.2 ?(37.8 - 48.1, n=3)
-8%
56.3 ?(18.7 - 91.1, n=101, last 2 years)
17%
4K Write
147.8
110.3
-25%
102.2
-31%
143.6
-3%
75.6
-49%
131.6 ?(86.7 - 160.2, n=3)
-11%
158.3 ?(35.4 - 350, n=101, last 2 years)
7%
4K-64 Read
1253
1086
-13%
369
-71%
1470
17%
163.6
-87%
1117 ?(824 - 1273, n=3)
-11%
1047 ?(182.3 - 2713, n=101, last 2 years)
-16%
4K-64 Write
1012
1083
7%
717
-29%
1806
78%
262.6
-74%
899 ?(760 - 1012, n=3)
-11%
1474 ?(132.3 - 3394, n=101, last 2 years)
46%
Access Time Read *
0.079
0.119
-51%
0.076
4%
0.088
-11%
0.134
-70%
0.1287 ?(0.079 - 0.164, n=3)
-63%
0.08048 ?(0.022 - 0.295, n=101, last 2 years)
-2%
Access Time Write *
0.026
0.034
-31%
0.124
-377%
0.026
-0%
0.048
-85%
0.03133 ?(0.024 - 0.044, n=3)
-21%
0.0646 ?(0.017 - 0.619, n=101, last 2 years)
-148%
Score Read
1560
1383
-11%
571
-63%
1812
16%
379
-76%
1421 ?(1137 - 1566, n=3)
-9%
1419 ?(252 - 3364, n=101, last 2 years)
-9%
Score Write
1345
1351
0%
904
-33%
2186
63%
429
-68%
1209 ?(1091 - 1345, n=3)
-10%
1837 ?(320 - 4111, n=101, last 2 years)
37%
Score Total
3672
3398
-7%
1726
-53%
4899
33%
976
-73%
3323 ?(2774 - 3672, n=3)
-10%
3939 ?(704 - 9204, n=101, last 2 years)
7%
Copy ISO MB/s
1938
1286
-34%
2520
30%
1667 ?(1163 - 1938, n=3)
-14%
1648 ?(230 - 3489, n=87, last 2 years)
-15%
Copy Program MB/s
300.6
574
91%
790
163%
376 ?(282 - 547, n=3)
25%
509 ?(80.4 - 1049, n=87, last 2 years)
69%
Copy Game MB/s
835
1133
36%
1879
125%
894 ?(835 - 993, n=3)
7%
1166 ?(142.7 - 2780, n=87, last 2 years)
40%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-16% / -13%
-52% / -55%
31% / 33%
-46% / -49%
-10% / -10%
12% / 9%

* ... smaller is better

Continuous load read: DiskSpd Read Loop, Queue Depth 8

No graph data

Graphics card

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs GPU supports DirectX 12 and reaches an operating clock rate of up to 1,300 MHz, which can also be maintained over a longer period of time (see our The Witcher 3 test). The 3DMark results are clearly below-average compared to the measurements that we've made so far for this graphics core. Both the low TDP and the relatively slow memory connection have an impact here.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Night Raid
Night Raid
Wild Life Extreme
Wild Life Extreme
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
3DMark 11 Performance
6135 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
74626 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
15932 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3404 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
1405 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (2867 - 7471, n=193)
6342 Points +4%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
6092 Points
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
6072 Points 0%
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=113, last 2 years)
5932 Points -3%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
5517 Points -9%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
5391 Points -12%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
5257 Points -14%
3DMark
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (2286 - 6143, n=206)
4903 Points +29%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
4704 Points +24%
Average of class Office
  (712 - 8815, n=115, last 2 years)
4125 Points +9%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
3790 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
3566 Points -6%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
3395 Points -10%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
3113 Points -18%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
26468 Points +14%
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (13162 - 38040, n=171)
26309 Points +14%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
24916 Points +8%
Average of class Office
  (5681 - 58068, n=96, last 2 years)
24181 Points +5%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
23118 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
22903 Points -1%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
20212 Points -13%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (707 - 1871, n=203)
1494 Points +18%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
1408 Points +11%
Average of class Office
  (242 - 3186, n=111, last 2 years)
1341 Points +6%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
1266 Points
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs, Intel Core i5-1135G7
1159 Points -8%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Radeon RX Vega 7, AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
1057 Points -17%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs, Intel Core i7-1165G7
994 Points -21%

Gaming performance

The Inspiron is certainly not a gaming laptop. Nevertheless, the built-in hardware can run many games smoothly - at low resolutions and low quality settings. Titles with moderate hardware requirements allow you to select better settings. The frame rates are below the average of the Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs GPU. 

The Witcher 3 - 1024x768 Low Graphics & Postprocessing
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (28.9 - 110, n=181)
83.8 fps +31%
Average of class Office
  (8.4 - 149, n=101, last 2 years)
72.1 fps +12%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
70 fps +9%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
65 fps +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
64.2 (27.8min, 32.1P0.1, 43.6P1 - 127max) fps
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
59.4 fps -7%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
52.6 fps -18%
Dota 2 Reborn - 1920x1080 high (2/3)
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (23.2 - 88.1, n=206)
53.8 fps +28%
Average of class Office
  (8.9 - 110.4, n=122, last 2 years)
50.1 fps +19%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
48.9 (44.8min) fps +16%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
47.9 (23.2min) fps +14%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
42.1 (25.7min) fps
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
35.7 (26.2min) fps -15%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
33.7 (24.2min) fps -20%
X-Plane 11.11 - 1280x720 low (fps_test=1)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
51.7 fps +60%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
44.3 fps +37%
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (13.4 - 88.4, n=206)
41.2 fps +27%
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
40.8 fps +26%
Average of class Office
  (9.12 - 109.9, n=122, last 2 years)
40.3 fps +24%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
32.4 fps
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
25.2 fps -22%
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark - 1280x720 Lite Quality
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
39.7 fps +22%
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (14.9 - 56.5, n=174)
39.2 fps +21%
Average of class Office
  (5.42 - 94, n=114, last 2 years)
35.4 fps +9%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
32.5 fps
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
30.8 fps -5%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
24.7 fps -24%
GTA V - 1366x768 Normal/Off AF:4x
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
84.3 (0.4206min, 47.6P1 - 157max) fps +44%
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (24.1 - 137, n=158)
82.2 fps +40%
Average of class Office
  (7.47 - 153.1, n=102, last 2 years)
81.8 fps +39%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
59.9 (12.4min, 37P1 - 97max) fps +2%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
58.7 (15.4min, 37P1 - 276max) fps
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
45.5 (5.89min, 28.6P1 - 80.9max) fps -22%
Strange Brigade - 1280x720 lowest AF:1
Average Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
  (48.5 - 107.3, n=160)
84.6 fps +25%
Average of class Office
  (16.3 - 173.8, n=109, last 2 years)
79 fps +17%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
78.7 (18.5min, 25.2P1 - 282max) fps +16%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
67.7 (16.5min, 22.1P1 - 222max) fps
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
64.2 (13.1min, 21P1 - 266max) fps -5%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
54.4 (13.1min, 17P1 - 281max) fps -20%

In order to verify whether the frame rates remain largely constant over a prolonged period of time, we let the game The Witcher 3 run for about 60 minutes at Full HD resolution and maximum quality settings. The character is not moved. A drop in frame rates wasn't found.

The Witcher 3 FPS diagram

8910111213Tooltip
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs Iris Xe G7 96EUs, i7-1165G7, Samsung PM991a MZ9LQ512HBLU-00BD1: Ø11.9 (9-13)
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs Iris Xe G7 80EUs, i5-1135G7, WDC PC SN730 SDBPNTY-512G: Ø9.48 (8-11)
GPU measurements during our The Witcher 3 test
GPU measurements during our The Witcher 3 test
low med. high ultra
GTA V (2015) 70.9 58.7 17.7 6.72
The Witcher 3 (2015) 64.2 40.5 18.8 10.6
Dota 2 Reborn (2015) 77.4 69.8 42.1 39.3
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 32.5 17.5 13
X-Plane 11.11 (2018) 32.4 22.6 20
Strange Brigade (2018) 67.7 26 21.6 17.6
Watch Dogs Legion (2020) 28.1 16.6 14

Emissions and energy - Inspiron with low emissions

Noise emissions

The Inspiron only produces a low amount of noise over the entire load range. In everyday use (office, Internet), the fan is often idle and silence prevails. The sound pressure level is only 35.8 dB(A) during the stress test. However, it's possible to reach higher sound pressure levels: Using the "FurMark" application alone causes the level to rise to 42.9 dB(A). Overall, the Inspiron produces slightly less noise than the competition under load.

Noise Level

Idle
26 / 26 / 26 dB(A)
Load
35.9 / 35.8 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 26 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2030.228.627.928.530.22533.433.734.432.733.43141.638.438.336.941.64033.433.129.935.233.45031.73029.83331.76329.327.4302729.38020.420.120.121.620.410019.719.920.518.719.712520.82521.819.120.816018.620.517.316.318.620019.620.517.115.719.625020.422.617.213.920.431522.127.717.814.422.140020.524.116.411.820.550019.823.816.211.319.863019.323.515.611.219.380020.125.116.310.920.1100023.528.718.411.523.5125024.529.919.112.124.5160022.72818.511.922.7200024.929.3201324.9250027.732.920.813.527.7315027.73618.713.627.7400021.731.715.613.321.7500020.828.815.313.320.8630023.131.915.713.623.1800021.130.41613.721.11000019.629.416.41419.61250017.726.314.913.617.71600013.917.312.912.313.9SPL35.942.93025.135.9N2.241.20.62.2median 20.8median 27.7median 17.1median 13.5median 20.8Delta1.73.41.41.81.7hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseDell Inspiron 15 3501
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Noise
-4%
4%
-8%
-11%
off / environment *
26
26
-0%
24.6
5%
26
-0%
26
-0%
Idle Minimum *
26
26
-0%
24.6
5%
26
-0%
28.8
-11%
Idle Average *
26
26
-0%
24.6
5%
26
-0%
28.8
-11%
Idle Maximum *
26
26
-0%
24.6
5%
26
-0%
28.8
-11%
Load Average *
35.9
42.6
-19%
33.9
6%
43.3
-21%
34
5%
Load Maximum *
35.8
37.4
-4%
36.5
-2%
45.7
-28%
48.2
-35%
Witcher 3 ultra *
33.9

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

The Inspiron in the stress test
The Inspiron in the stress test

In everyday use (office, Internet), the case temperatures remain clearly within the green range. The laptop doesn't heat up excessively even during higher hardware load. The competition is on par with the Dell review unit.

The CPU and GPU begin the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark run for at least an hour) at 2.8 GHz and 800 MHz, respectively. As the test progresses, the CPU clock rate drops to values between 500 MHz and 1,600 MHz. The GPU clock rate seems stable, and it even increases a bit as the CPU clock speed decreases. The stress test represents an extreme scenario. We use it to check whether the system remains stable under full load.

Max. Load
 33.2 °C
92 F
45.6 °C
114 F
28.2 °C
83 F
 
 35.9 °C
97 F
31.2 °C
88 F
26.9 °C
80 F
 
 24 °C
75 F
24.1 °C
75 F
22.8 °C
73 F
 
Maximum: 45.6 °C = 114 F
Average: 30.2 °C = 86 F
30.6 °C
87 F
37.5 °C
100 F
41 °C
106 F
22.5 °C
73 F
31.2 °C
88 F
31.6 °C
89 F
21.9 °C
71 F
22.2 °C
72 F
23.1 °C
74 F
Maximum: 41 °C = 106 F
Average: 29.1 °C = 84 F
Power Supply (max.)  47.8 °C = 118 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 45.6 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 41 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.6 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 24.1 °C / 75.4 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (+3.6 °C / 6.5 F).
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (load)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Top (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (load)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Heat development - Bottom (idle)
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Heat
4%
11%
-2%
-0%
Maximum Upper Side *
45.6
40.5
11%
35.4
22%
46.5
-2%
41.4
9%
Maximum Bottom *
41
42
-2%
40.8
-0%
44.8
-9%
49.1
-20%
Idle Upper Side *
28.2
26.5
6%
25.4
10%
27.8
1%
27.8
1%
Idle Bottom *
29.1
29
-0%
26
11%
28.3
3%
26.6
9%

* ... smaller is better

Speakers

The stereo speakers produce a decent sound that barely has any bass, though.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2033.828.533.82539.332.739.33140.436.940.44035.335.235.35036.13336.16332.42732.48021.321.621.310022.218.722.212526.719.126.716033.816.333.820037.215.737.22505013.95031556.614.456.640058.811.858.850058.611.358.663064.511.264.580067.710.967.7100069.211.569.2125064.212.164.2160069.511.969.5200070.91370.9250069.613.569.6315069.613.669.6400073.213.373.2500072.313.372.3630067.513.667.5800067.613.767.61000080.31480.31250082.413.682.41600074.212.374.2SPL84.225.184.2N54.40.654.4median 67.6median 13.5median 67.6Delta7.71.87.742.230.142.24831.94844.136.944.135.228.735.236.429.936.435.634.435.627.219.527.229.518.129.533.417.933.436.716.236.741.315.641.347.414.847.454.414.954.461.713.961.762.413.462.463.612.863.662.712.262.76112.36165.212.465.265.612.465.665.912.565.961.412.961.462.913.362.960.513.360.557.213.657.257.813.757.854.913.754.957.313.657.356.413.456.453.612.753.674.425.374.433.60.733.6median 57.8median 13.4median 57.87.61.27.6hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Inspiron 15 3501Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 47% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 54% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 39% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (65.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.7% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (4.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 56% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 37% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 40% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 53% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy consumption

The laptop doesn't show any problems in terms of energy consumption. The rates are at a normal level for the hardware installed here. At its peak, the laptop is more frugal than the competition. In the course of the stress test, the demand decreases because the CPU clock rate sinks. Power consumption is relatively constant during our The Witcher 3 test. The rated output of the included power adapter is 45 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight / 0.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.6 / 6.4 / 7.9 Watt
Load midlight 39 / 41.8 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Energy consumption during The Witcher 3 / stress test

05101520253035404550556065Tooltip
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs; Witcher 3 ultra: Ø37.6 (35.8-42.9)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 R5 5500U, Vega 7; Witcher 3 ultra: Ø41 (39.4-44.3)
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs; Witcher 3 ultra: Ø36.7 (35.7-54)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7 i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs; Witcher 3 ultra: Ø33.9 (32.8-45.6)
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062 i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs; Witcher 3 ultra: Ø26.4 (24-32.9)
Dell Inspiron 15 3501 i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø42.4 (39-48)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05 R5 5500U, Vega 7; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø43.4 (41.8-53.2)
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7 i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø46.5 (36.1-65.4)
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062 i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs; 1280x720 Prime95 28.10 and Furmark 1.25: Ø24.7 (23-54.6)
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, AMD Radeon RX Vega 7
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
Intel Core i5-1135G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EUs
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
Intel Core i7-1165G7, Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 96EUs
Power Consumption
-14%
-8%
-7%
-47%
Idle Minimum *
3.6
3.7
-3%
3.4
6%
3.5
3%
8.8
-144%
Idle Average *
6.4
7.9
-23%
7.7
-20%
8
-25%
11
-72%
Idle Maximum *
7.9
9.3
-18%
8.3
-5%
9.4
-19%
15.5
-96%
Load Average *
39
41
-5%
32
18%
37.8
3%
26.4
32%
Witcher 3 ultra *
37.6
41
-9%
33.9
10%
36.7
2%
26.4
30%
Load Maximum *
41.8
52.2
-25%
65.2
-56%
45
-8%
54
-29%

* ... smaller is better

Battery life

The Inspiron 3501 achieves a runtime of 6:50 hours in our real-world Wi-Fi test. A script is used to reproduce the load caused by accessing websites.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 94)
6h 50min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05
R5 5500U, Vega 7, 70 Wh
839 min +105%
Samsung Galaxy Book NP750XDA
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 54 Wh
607 min +48%
Average of class Office
  (300 - 1137, n=106, last 2 years)
594 min +45%
Honor MagicBook 15 i5 1135G7
i5-1135G7, Iris Xe G7 80EUs, 42 Wh
451 min +10%
MSI Modern 15 A11M-062
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 52 Wh
414 min +1%
Dell Inspiron 15 3501
i7-1165G7, Iris Xe G7 96EUs, 42 Wh
410 min

Pros

+ matte IPS display
+ NVMe SSD
+ room for a 2.5-inch storage device
+ RAM can be expanded/replaced
+ low noise levels
+ hardly heats up

Cons

- dim display screen
- plastic case lacks rigidity/stability
- DDR4-3200 memory only runs at 2,666 MHz
- no USB-C (optional)
- no keyboard backlight (optional)
- slow memory card reader
- slow Wi-Fi transfer rates
- below-average battery life
- only a one-year warranty
- expensive

Verdict - The Dell Inspiron 3501 is a basic office laptop

The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (5FTCX), provided by:
The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (5FTCX), provided by:

The built-in Core i7-1165G7 processor delivers enough performance for office and Internet applications, but it falls short of its capabilities overall. Dell opted for a low TDP of 13 watts. The RAM, which doesn't run at full speed, takes a toll on performance as well.

The Inspiron 15 3501 is not built for high performance.

The laptop produces low noise levels and barely heats up. Battery life is moderate: Dell manages to get a Wi-Fi runtime of 6:50 hours out of the 42 Wh battery. The competition has more to offer in this regard.

The matte display (Full HD, IPS) scores points with stable viewing angles, good contrast, and decent color reproduction. Brightness and color space-coverage are too low. In addition, Wi-Fi transfer rates are slow, there's only a one-year warranty, and the plastic case is not sturdy enough.

On the whole, Dell charges a lot of money at just under 800 Euros (~$926) for a basic office laptop that has its share of weaknesses. The Core i7 CPU, the 16 GB of RAM, and the 512 GB SSD drive the price up. If you're really interested in the Inspiron, a model with a Core i5 or Core i3 processor is recommended. The price and performance should correlate better here. The RAM and SSD can easily be expanded if necessary.

An alternative to the Inspiron would be the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15ALC05. The laptop offers more CPU performance, a stylish aluminum case, and excellent battery life. The IdeaPad's greatest weakness: Its RAM is soldered.

Price and availability

At the time of writing, you can find the Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (Core i7-1165G7, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD) on Amazon for around $999 with Windows 10 Pro.

Dell Inspiron 15 3501 - 10/01/2021 v7
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
74 / 98 → 75%
Keyboard
72%
Pointing Device
86%
Connectivity
47 / 80 → 58%
Weight
64 / 20-75 → 79%
Battery
73%
Display
83%
Games Performance
64 / 78 → 82%
Application Performance
89 / 95 → 94%
Temperature
92%
Noise
95%
Audio
77%
Camera
41 / 85 → 48%
Average
74%
81%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 1 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Inspiron 15 3501 laptop in review: Quiet office laptop
Sascha Mölck, 2021-10-10 (Update: 2021-10-10)