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Dell Vostro 15 3568 (7200U, 256GB) Laptop Review

Blue, blue, blue are all my colors. It is not just because of its extreme blue tint that the display is not one of the highlights of the affordable 15-inch office notebook from Dell. Otherwise, the laptop is quite suited for its envisioned use in a small business with its workable input devices, TPM chip, Windows 10 Pro, and an optional SSD.

For the original German review, see here.

According to the manufacturer, Dell's latest Vostro 15 3568 is targeted towards small businesses, but might also be interesting for private office users. It is an affordable and therefore, simply designed office notebook in the 15-inch format. The tested configuration with i5-7200UIntel HD graphics 620, 8 GB of RAM, Full HD TN display, 256 GB SSD, and Windows 10 Pro was available for around 700 Euros (~$825) at the time of our testing, while the most affordable configuration was available for about 200 Euros (~$235) less. Fans of optical media are served with a DVD burner. Among other things, Dell also points out its essential security features which are implemented in the TPM-2.0 chip. The last time we had a direct predecessor of the Vostro 15 3558 in our test was the year before last. Dell does not offer any hardware configuration options on its webpage for the device.

Office laptops in this price range are quite common. When selecting the comparison notebooks for this test, we looked at the format, class, chip, our own test results as well as the price. This time, we have included the following office notebooks in our comparison that like our test unit  house the Intel Core i5-7200U:

Dell Vostro 15 3568 (Vostro 15 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U 2 x 2.5 - 3.1 GHz, Kaby Lake
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 620, Core: 1000 MHz, Shared memory, 21.20.16.4627
Memory
8 MB 
, DDR4, 2.400 MHz, single channel, 1 of 2 storage slots occupied
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, BOE0690 / NT15N41 / Dell C1JFR, TN LED, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U Premium PCH
Storage
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, 256 GB 
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm combo audio in/out , Card Reader: SD/SDHC/SDXC, Brightness Sensor
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Optical drive
HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GU90N
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 23.6 x 380 x 260 ( = 0.93 x 14.96 x 10.24 in)
Battery
40 Wh Lithium-Ion, removeable
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
2.18 kg ( = 76.9 oz / 4.81 pounds), Power Supply: 160 g ( = 5.64 oz / 0.35 pounds)
Price
749 EUR
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

You are not doing any injustice to the Vostro by calling it a "plastic bomber." The casing is entirely black while the lid and the base unit have  a very tactile, rubbery, textured surface. On the one hand, it is not very susceptible to fingerprints, but on the other hand it is also not easy to clean after you have handled the device with very sweaty hands. The design is otherwise modest, and the only visual accent, if any, is the silver Dell logo on the back.

The base, which resists pressure to a large extent, can be twisted somewhat when using some force, producing some harmless sounding creaking noises. The quite thick lid is relatively solid. However, even slight pressure on the back causes some display distortions in front. While you cannot open the lid with one hand, it bounces for about two seconds after jarring it. For the (potentially) low price, the workmanship is quite decent. Even though the gaps are not always quite even, we noticed this only because we were looking for it. Overall, there are no complaints in terms of workmanship worth the mention.

Among our test devices, only the relatively expensive Asus VivoBook makes an effort in being light and compact. With a weight of just 1.6 kg (~3.5 lb), it is significantly lighter than the three competitors, which are not only similar in not being exactly compact, but also bringing between 2.2 and 2.4 kg (~4.85 - 5.3 lb) onto the scale.

Size Comparison

379 mm / 14.9 inch 261 mm / 10.3 inch 25.4 mm / 1 inch 2.3 kg5.07 lbs380 mm / 15 inch 260 mm / 10.2 inch 23.6 mm / 0.929 inch 2.2 kg4.81 lbs381.6 mm / 15 inch 259 mm / 10.2 inch 21.6 mm / 0.85 inch 2.4 kg5.29 lbs361.4 mm / 14.2 inch 243.5 mm / 9.59 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.6 kg3.57 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The connectivity features are typical for an affordable office notebook. Of the three USB ports, one still works according to the 2.0 standard. VGA and HDMI are available, but Thunderbolt 3, DisplayPort, and USB Type-C are all missing. The positioning of the ports is likewise typical: apart from the Ethernet port, all of them are on both sides in the area towards the front, where they can easily interfere with plugged-in cables and sticks.

Left side: power, Ethernet (RJ45), fan vents, VGA, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0
Left side: power, Ethernet (RJ45), fan vents, VGA, HDMI, 2x USB 3.0
Right side: SD card reader, audio in/out, USB 2.0, DVD, Kensington
Right side: SD card reader, audio in/out, USB 2.0, DVD, Kensington

SD Card Reader

Those who frequently move large amounts of data such as a large number of photos from the storage card to the laptop might soon curse the Dell Votro 15 3568 due to its lame USB-2.0 speed. In contrast, the users of the Acer Aspire 3 will be pleased with their USB-3.0 speed which is about two-and-a-half times faster. And the Asus VivoBook proves that it can go even faster within the limits of the USB-2.0 specifications. But as we will see later, the test unit is not suitable for photo processing anyway

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
77 MB/s +247%
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
31.8 MB/s +43%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
22.2 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
86 MB/s +274%
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
33.62 MB/s +46%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23 MB/s

Communication

Dell has chosen a Qualcomm WLAN module with Bluetooth 4.1. Even though it can handle the current IEEE 802.11ac standard in the less frequented 5 GHz band, thanks to MIMO 1x1, it achieves a maximum gross data rate of "only" 433 MBit/s, thus sharing the fate of the Acer Aspire 3 module. On the other hand, the throughput in combination with our Linksys EA8500 reference router (1 meter/~3 ft distance) is okay. The slightly patchy values of the Asus and the Lenovo show what is possible with MIMO 2x2 (867 MBit/s max).

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
650 MBit/s +95%
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
490 MBit/s +47%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
345 MBit/s +3%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
334 MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
639 MBit/s +89%
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
521 MBit/s +54%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
338 MBit/s
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168
311 MBit/s -8%

Security

TPM 2.0 wherever you look. Apparently this feature, which is now  commonly found in more affordable office notebooks such as our test unit and even in gaming laptops, is not such a huge cost factor anymore. In any case, it cannot hurt. However, you will have to do without a fingerprint sensor to increase your ease of access and comfort, but no one expects it anyway. 

Accessories

With notebooks as affordable as this, you will always find only the bare essentials such as a power supply, cable, quick-start and setup instructions, and warranty papers in the box.

Maintenance

Unfortunately a rarity nowadays, the battery of the Vostro 15 3568 can really be removed from the outside. For maintenance, you will have to take off the entire bottom plate, which is secured with nine conventional Philips screws and should not be much of a problem.

Warranty

Dell offers a one-year warranty for the Vostro (collect and return). For a relatively low extra charge, you can increase the duration and extent of the service. In addition, the manufacturer's warranty of two years required by law with the reversal of the burden of proof after six month is also valid (Note that this applies only in Germany).

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

Apparently, Dell has made some effort with the input devices, which naturally will accommodate the targeted audience. While we have seen keyboards that are more pressure resistant, there were no problems during regular typing. The flat, flawlessly labeled keys have a roughened surface, but cannot be illuminated. They stand out with a good size and sufficient distance from one another. In terms of the width compared to a standard desktop keyboard, the main keyboard and the number block are each about half a centimeter smaller. Except for the Return key which is too small, we have nothing to complain about the layout, which to a large extent conforms to the standard, even if it lacks some rarely used keys such as Pause and Scroll-Lock.

The key stroke is short, the pressure point easily noticeable, and the stroke is only slightly damped, but unfortunately it does not feel the same for all keys. While the quality of the keyboard is far from a ThinkPad keyboard, even prolific writers should get their money's worth with the Vostro 15 3568 and not be impeded too much. Since the larger keys such as Space draw significant attention with their noise, the usage in noise sensitive environments is limited. 

Touchpad

The large ClickPad without separate keys also knows how to please. At the outermost edges, the touch is not always recognized reliably. But otherwise there are no problems with the responsiveness and precision, and even very fast movements are recognized. Drag & Drop via double tap works reliably. The surface is slightly roughed and offers good sliding characteristics, even with moist fingers. Gestures with up to four fingers can "only" be configured via standard Windows methods.

Unfortunately, the quality of the construction does not leave the best impression. The touchpad does not quite fit cleanly and clacks when touched, since the surface is not set down tightly. The two substitute mouse keys have a short stroke but a well-adjusted resistance and offer a crisp pressure point together with a good acoustic feedback, even though they make a slightly rattly and low-quality impression. 

Display

Subpixel grid
Subpixel grid

Even though IPS panels are becoming more affordable, we mostly still find TN-based displays in 500-Euro (~$585) notebooks. Of the laptops in our test, only the VivoBook S15 has an IPS display with stable viewing angles. The users of the ThinkPad E570 (TN) even have to be content with 1366x768 pixels. With a screen-size of 15.6 inches, the Full HD resolution of the matte screen of our test unit results in a pixel density of 141 PPI, which is not very high and can leave a slightly pixelated impression for users with good eyesight upon a closer look. Otherwise there are no complaints about the image sharpness. Dell does not offer any alternate displays.

As we can already guess from the brightness values of the competitors in our test, at only 195 cd/m², the measured average brightness of our Dell is less than poor and even below average for the price range. However, there should not be any problems indoors in rooms that are not too bright. Due to the inadequate stability of the viewing angles among other reasons, a black image will not appear saturated, and depending on the viewing angle, only part of the screen will appear dark. As far as we can judge under these circumstances, the good measured brightness distribution of 89% corresponds to an image which subjectively appears to a large extent homogeneous. We did not notice any screen bleeding or clouding.

207
cd/m²
197
cd/m²
200
cd/m²
195
cd/m²
195
cd/m²
187
cd/m²
188
cd/m²
198
cd/m²
184
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
BOE0690 / NT15N41 / Dell C1JFR tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 207 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 194.6 cd/m² Minimum: 11.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 195 cd/m²
Contrast: 443:1 (Black: 0.44 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 12.23 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 13.39 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
59% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
38% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
40.69% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
59.3% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.39% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.5
Dell Vostro 15 3568
BOE0690 / NT15N41 / Dell C1JFR, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
AU Optronics AUO38ED, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Lenovo NT156WHM-N42, , 1366x768, 15.60
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
ID: LGD0573, Name: LG Display LP156WF9-SPK2, , 1920x1080, 15.60
Display
-9%
-7%
1%
Display P3 Coverage
39.39
35.97
-9%
36.79
-7%
39.9
1%
sRGB Coverage
59.3
54.1
-9%
55.4
-7%
59.5
0%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
40.69
37.17
-9%
38.01
-7%
41.11
1%
Response Times
-11%
-45%
-69%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
39 ?(21, 18)
44 ?(22, 22)
-13%
46 ?(24, 22)
-18%
38.4 ?(19.2, 19.2)
2%
Response Time Black / White *
11 ?(7, 4)
12 ?(8, 4)
-9%
13 ?(8, 5)
-18%
26.4 ?(15.6, 10.8)
-140%
PWM Frequency
28410 ?(90)
200 ?(90)
-99%
Screen
26%
-2%
35%
Brightness middle
195
241
24%
242
24%
277.5
42%
Brightness
195
229
17%
233
19%
265
36%
Brightness Distribution
89
87
-2%
73
-18%
89
0%
Black Level *
0.44
0.46
-5%
0.59
-34%
0.35
20%
Contrast
443
524
18%
410
-7%
793
79%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
12.23
3.4
72%
10.9
11%
4.8
61%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
20.85
7.61
64%
20.84
-0%
17.8
15%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
13.39
1.7
87%
13.07
2%
3
78%
Gamma
2.5 88%
2.36 93%
2.37 93%
2.39 92%
CCT
15759 41%
6750 96%
13123 50%
6854 95%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
38
34
-11%
35
-8%
37.7
-1%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59
54
-8%
55
-7%
69.3
17%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
2% / 14%
-18% / -11%
-11% / 14%

* ... smaller is better

The combination of limited brightness, mainly the black values of up to 0.59 cd/m², which are too high, are responsible for the measly contrast ratios of the Dell, the Acer, and the Lenovo. With its lower black value, the relatively (!) bright Asus can push ahead here, yet it still only achieves a suitable 793:1. In this price range of the entry level configurations, you cannot expect much more in general. In terms of color space coverage, the candidates also do not cover themselves in glory, and coverages of the small standard sRGB color space from 54% (Acer) to 69% (Asus) prohibit even halfway ambitious image processing.

It continues with a disastrous color deviation of 12 (ColorChecker) and 13 (Grayscale) Delta-E, which are similarly bad in the ThinkPad E570 and very far from the targeted ideal values of Delta-E < 3. In this respect, the Aspire and the VivoBook do very well. But anyone thinking that it cannot get any worse is wrong. You can almost call a color temperature of 15759 a crime when the target is 6500, and our tester has never seen a notebook with such an extreme blue tint. The improvement by installing the color profile linked in the box should be huge. In our opinion, this extreme failure could even be a reason for returning the device and getting a refund. 

CalMAN Grayscales
CalMAN Grayscales
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN Color Saturation
CalMAN Color Saturation
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB

Due to its low brightness, the outdoor suitability of the Dell Vostro 15 3568 is quite limited. We took the photos to the right on a dark day with a cloudy sky and thus under very easy conditions. The only reason that you can still see something on the left image is that we pointed the screen towards the sky. On brighter days, it is absolutely necessary to look for a shady place with the notebook, and even then the low contrast should have some negative effects. The right photo shows ideal conditions with a doorway in the back. 

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
11 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 7 ms rise
↘ 4 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 24 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
39 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 21 ms rise
↘ 18 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. » 53 % 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 28410 Hz ≤ 90 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 28410 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 28410 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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

TN displays always offer a much lower stability of the viewing angles than their IPS counterparts. The vertical freedom of movement in front of the screen of the Dell Vostro in particular is severely restricted, and even from slight angles, the usual display problems such as a milky image (looking from the top) or a strong inversion effect (looking from the bottom) occur. The range on the sides is much larger, and you are spared any significant color distortions from viewing angles up to 45°, but there is still a visible loss of brightness and contrast. However, this is only the case if the vertical viewing angle is exactly 90°.

Performance

Processor

The Intel Core i5-7200U (2x 2.5 to 3.1 MHz, TDP 15 W) is an energy efficient ULV dual-core processor with Hyper-Threading from the current Kaby Lake generation, which like its direct predecessors can be found in numerous laptops, Ultrabooks, and convertibles of the office and multimedia types. The Turbo runs at 3.1 GHz even during load of both cores. A DDR4 storage controller and the Intel HD Graphics 620 GPU, which shares the main memory and the low TDP with the CPU, are integrated. The processor can handle the standard office software up to more demanding programs such as Adobe Photoshop and multimedia applications without any problems, but reaches its limits with software that would benefit from four or more physical cores, such as the current games. 

 
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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Even though the Asus VivoBook fares slightly better in Cinebench R15, we can attest the i5-7200U with the performance one would expect. The CPU cannot maintain the two-core Turbo for long, and already in the second run, the clock speed falls below 3.1 GHz from time to time, and the Cinebench score drops from 321 to about 315 points which corresponds to a minus of almost 2%. Away from the power grid, the core speed behavior does not change.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel Core i5-7200U
131 Points +2%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Intel Core i5-7200U
128 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel Core i5-7200U
125 Points -2%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel Core i5-7200U
108 Points -16%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel Core i5-7200U
335 Points +4%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Intel Core i5-7200U
321 Points
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel Core i5-7200U
318 Points -1%
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel Core i5-7200U
316 Points -2%
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
321 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
128 Points
Help

System Performance

The fact that the Vostro is beaten by the ThinkPad by 7% to 9% in PCMark 8 can be traced back to a much faster NVMe SSD in the Lenovo. This explanation is not valid for the VivoBook, which is up to 12% faster and also has a relatively slow SSD. Instead, the higher Cinebench multicore score is probably relevant here, which points towards a much better Turbo usage of the i5-7200U in the Asus.

Even though there is a subjective difference to the much more expensive (gaming) notebooks with Quadcore, 16 GB of dual-channel RAM and NVMe-SSD, the operation of the Dell appears smooth. The OS and programs start without any delay worth mentioning, and the Vostro also handles some not too extensive multitasking (only 8 GB of RAM) without any problems.

PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
3831 Points +12%
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3714 Points +9%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3417 Points
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3295 Points -4%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4857 Points +7%
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
4746 Points +4%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4544 Points
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
4541 Points 0%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3417 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4544 points
Help

Storage Solution

Despite the affordable price, the Vostro comes with an SSD, which even has 256 GB capacity. Instead, Dell foregoes an additional HDD. The overall AS-SSD score of the Micron storage, which is connected via SATA III, is very low. The less important write speed in particular remains significantly behind the faster SSDs, and even the 23 MB/s when reading small distributed data blocks remain significantly below the 30 MB/s, a point from which you could call it a decent performance. In terms of the very limited budget, you can be happy that there is an SSD at all, and the effects that are noticeable in practice remain mostly within tight limits.

Dell Vostro 15 3568
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
53%
237%
21%
Read Seq
469.3
485.8
4%
1589
239%
503
7%
Write Seq
179.7
456.1
154%
1217
577%
396
120%
Read 512
359.6
328
-9%
1155
221%
417.7
16%
Write 512
183.7
446.8
143%
783
326%
342
86%
Read 4k
26.01
26.95
4%
59.7
130%
19.48
-25%
Write 4k
68.7
86.7
26%
148.8
117%
64.6
-6%
Read 4k QD32
242.4
245.9
1%
473.6
95%
250.3
3%
Write 4k QD32
147.1
300.2
104%
428.7
191%
94.3
-36%
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Sequential Read: 469.3 MB/s
Sequential Write: 179.7 MB/s
512K Read: 359.6 MB/s
512K Write: 183.7 MB/s
4K Read: 26.01 MB/s
4K Write: 68.7 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 242.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 147.1 MB/s

Graphics Card

We would like to spare the reader longer explanations on the well-known Intel HD 620 shared memory processor graphics here, pointing instead to our corresponding FAQ article on the GPU. The HD 620 handles all the 2D tasks that come up during office operation effortlessly and efficiently, and H.265/HEVC can now be decoded via hardware. As all the current Intel-HD graphics, the GPU benefits from fast dual-channel RAM, but the Vostro only uses one storage channel.

You can easily see the difference in the comparison with the only dual-channel competitor in the test in the form of the Asus VivoBook. Overall, the performance is within the expected limits and also remains constant in battery operation.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1587 Points +11%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1424 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1401 Points -2%
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1067 Points -25%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
8861 Points +30%
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
7152 Points +5%
Dell Vostro 15 3568
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
6794 Points
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
5790 Points -15%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1055 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
822 Points
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
605 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
1532 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5611 points
Help

Gaming Performance

As you can see in the small table below, the Intel HD Graphics 620 completely fails in graphically demanding 3D games. In the visually not very demanding "Farming Simulator 17," in medium settings it still achieves 43 FPS, which corresponds to about the average for this GPU. Laptops where the same GPU can use dual-channel RAM manage up to 61 and 25 FPS, which does not make much of a difference though. The GPU has less problems with isometric games such as "Diablo III" or "StarCraft II," where in parts even high presets are displayed smoothly.

low med. high ultra
The Witcher 3 (2015) 13.3
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 13.1
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 42.7 16.6

Emissions

Noise Emissions

Noise
Noise

At the beginning of the test, with the system cooling guideline active (high performance power profile), we were wondering why the fan would turn on from time to time even during idling situations or during low loads, but that might have been due to updates in the background. When we continued the test, some light peaks such as those when opening programs did not always lead to the fan revving up, but a run through the Kraken 1.1 browser benchmark did. If you activate the power saving mode with the system cooling guideline passive, the likelihood of an unnecessary revving up is significantly lowered according to our observations.

The fan does not produce a high volume of noise. It remains a gentle whirring which can be heard from at most 3 to 4 meters (~10 to ~13 ft), depending on the speed, which is adjusted smoothly. Unfortunately, at higher speeds this is accompanied by a slight high-pitched noise. The tests were performed in a quiet single office with a PC running. 

Noise Level

Idle
30.2 / 30.2 / 30.2 dB(A)
DVD
35.2 / dB(A)
Load
36.4 / 36.5 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.2 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper HighsF(Hz) SPL(dB)202531405063801001251602002503154005006308001000125016002000250031504000500063008000100001250016000SPL 36.44 30.22 36.50 36.44N(Sone) 2.35 1.38 2.34 2.35Delta3230.529.129.834.331.131.628.731.230.931.231.130.830.432.231.53028.928.930.242.74129.429.443.228.628.425.827.82826.826.225.725.925.525.725.724.727.124.325.524.224.324.924.823.823.623.424.223.526.62322.622.526.823.121.721.421.523.123.922.221.120.724.123.72120.220.223.121.419.419.119.221.621.719.318.318.421.723.92017.718.123.826.321.517.617.525.924.42017.917.224.123.718.917.317.523.524.518.717.517.324.22218.117.617.321.621.217.917.717.620.919.617.717.817.619.319.317.817.817.719.418.517.91817.918.618.41818.21818.418.318.418.318.218.318.218.618.318.218.318.418.818.818.318.534.531.230.230.134.32.11.51.41.42.1median 23.1median 19.3median 18.3median 18.2median 23.12.51.91.31.52.334.235.533.135.534.234.436.133.538.634.43640.34248.23636.23637.935.636.233.133.536.13433.131.532.831.832.231.529.228.926.828.229.226.726.127.62726.726.526.426.424.326.523.823.82423.223.8232423.122.82322.222.422.522.322.221.121.52221.521.120.920.82120.220.92020.42019.22019.319.619.718.919.32019.118.918.42020.119.519.417.920.119.819.2191819.819.61919.417.619.620.819.719.617.520.820.319.219.517.920.318.918.418.51818.918.518.218.518.218.518.618.418.518.518.618.618.518.618.618.618.818.918.818.818.818.918.818.918.718.919191918.91919.219.219.219.119.231.731.431.430.731.71.61.61.61.51.6median 20median 19.2median 19.4median 18.8median 201.11.21.221.1hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00

Temperature

Clock speeds Prime95 + FurMark
Clock speeds Prime95 + FurMark

There is no need for concern at all in terms of the surface temperatures of the Vostro 15. Even during constant high load, the laptop does not reach body temperature anywhere. 

Now for the stress test: after the start of Prime95 + FurMark, the i5-7200U was able to maintain its Turbo for only a few seconds, after which it quickly leveled out at frequencies between 2.3 and 2.7 GHz (2.4 GHz average). So in terms of the basic clock speed, there can be some minimal throttling in this practically irrelevant scenario. The CPU never got warmer than 60 °C (140 °F). In contrast, the Intel HD 620 was able to maintain its maximum speed of 1000 MHz consistently. However, in practice you can count on unthrottled performance. 

 25.1 °C
77 F
24.5 °C
76 F
22.7 °C
73 F
 
 25 °C
77 F
24.6 °C
76 F
22.8 °C
73 F
 
 24.6 °C
76 F
24.4 °C
76 F
23.4 °C
74 F
 
Maximum: 25.1 °C = 77 F
Average: 24.1 °C = 75 F
22.7 °C
73 F
24.4 °C
76 F
25.1 °C
77 F
22.2 °C
72 F
24.7 °C
76 F
26.1 °C
79 F
22.5 °C
73 F
23.5 °C
74 F
24.1 °C
75 F
Maximum: 26.1 °C = 79 F
Average: 23.9 °C = 75 F
Power Supply (max.)  27 °C = 81 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 28.8 °C / 84 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 35.6 °C / 96 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 35.3 °C / 96 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.1 °C / 75 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 30.2 °C / 86.4 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 (-2.5 °C / -4.5 F).
Temperatures top idle
Temperatures top idle
Temperatures bottom idle
Temperatures bottom idle
Temperatures top load
Temperatures top load
Temperatures bottom load
Temperatures bottom load

Speakers

Pink noise
Pink noise

We cannot attest a very high maximum volume of the sound system with its two small speakers which point downward at an angle, but it should be sufficient for medium-sized rooms. The mid-heavy sound is completely lacking any bass and tends to sound flat, slightly tinny, and not so clean, depending on the track. In high-volume music such as Metal, the instruments tend to sound muddy, and the beginnings of any dynamic that are present disappear completely.

However, you are spared any shrill distortions and volume fluctuations. At lower volumes, the situation becomes more relaxed, as is often the case. Apart from what is offered by Windows, there are no other configuration options. Overall, we have heard worse even in more expensive devices, and you simply cannot expect more for the price.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.531.732.5253035.1303130.734.730.74029.934.629.95034.437.634.46327.42827.48026.827.126.810027.925.227.912535.323.835.316042.223.542.220042.722.642.725053.72253.731555.220.755.240054.620.254.650053.719.253.763058.21858.280063.217.863.2100071.118.171.1125068.917.568.9160066.517.266.5200066.917.566.9250063.617.663.6315061.217.561.2400063.517.963.5500063.51863.5630065.818.165.880006118.3611000058.618.358.61250064.218.264.21600068.618.368.6SPL77.430.277.4N38.91.438.9median 61.2median 18.2median 61.2Delta6.21.56.230.829.830.831.131.231.130.230.430.231.328.931.343.229.443.228.327.828.325.825.925.825.627.125.626.524.926.530.824.230.832.722.532.741.321.541.347.120.747.153.420.253.451.119.251.154.818.454.86518.1657217.57269.717.269.762.117.562.164.417.364.46117.36162.317.662.364.117.664.162.617.762.654.617.954.657.31857.355.518.255.560.718.260.760.418.360.476.730.176.734.71.434.7median 57.3median 18.2median 57.38.61.58.634.635.534.634.738.634.742.748.242.736.835.636.837.43437.43532.2352928.22930.62730.635.624.335.647.823.247.853.922.853.951.922.351.950.421.550.462.420.262.462.219.262.259.718.959.764.318.464.364.117.964.170.31870.369.517.669.571.417.571.465.317.965.363.81863.867.418.267.466.218.566.267.318.667.359.918.859.959.618.759.651.218.951.246.719.146.778.830.778.843.11.543.1median 62.2median 18.8median 62.27.827.836.339.837.136.934.936.233.934.632.934.232.633.931.733.229.931.830.334.429.544.628.347.928.45326.956.526.358.62660.925.362.62560.825.156.924.46023.9632461.323.657.123.755.623.559.123.466.523.562.323.365.923.363.723.362.923.362.136.473.92.733.8median 24.4median 601.65.3hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Vostro 15 3568Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
Dell Vostro 15 3568 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 18.4% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (11% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.9% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 39% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 50% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 49% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 43% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (72 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 23.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (13.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.6% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (27.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 86% of all tested devices in this class were better, 3% similar, 11% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 82% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 15% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00 audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (71.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.1% 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
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 38% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 51% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 47% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (66.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 15.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 1.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 18%, worst was 45%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 48% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency comparison (Checkboxes selectable!)

Power Management

Power Consumption

In the test comparison with the competitors that have a similar form format and are equipped with identical or similar core components, the Dell Vostro 15 3568 turns out to be the efficiency king in every single partial discipline. If we filter our database for 15-inchers with the i5-7200U, the test unit is also one of the most efficient laptops, at least in the load states from maximum idle to maximum load. That is great! The 45-watt power supply is equal to its task in any situation and offers sufficient reserves to charge the device on the side even under load. We have collected some tips on the right treatment of Lithium-Ion batteries in our special article on the subject.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.24 / 0.31 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3 / 5.5 / 5.7 Watt
Load midlight 27 / 27.4 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.
Dell Vostro 15 3568
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, TN LED, 1920x1080, 15.60
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, TN LED, 1366x768, 15.60
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba HG6 THNSNJ128G8NY, IPS, 1920x1080, 15.60
Power Consumption
-27%
-6%
-38%
Idle Minimum *
3
4.1
-37%
2.9
3%
4.6
-53%
Idle Average *
5.5
7.5
-36%
5.8
-5%
7.6
-38%
Idle Maximum *
5.7
8.9
-56%
6.6
-16%
7.7
-35%
Load Average *
27
28.1
-4%
29
-7%
35.1
-30%
Load Maximum *
27.4
28.3
-3%
29.4
-7%
36.2
-32%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

In practice, the battery life of all the test candidates can be compared easily, since at 40 (test unit), 37, 42, and 42 Wh, the battery capacities of all the involved devices are very similar. Apparently, our Dell benefits from its low power consumption and lasts the longest overall, together with the Lenovo, while the Asus is clearly weaker. In the practically relevant WLAN test (how we test), the Vostro 15 3568 lasts a good 6 hours, and with this remains 13% behind the ThinkPad E570 which has a marginally larger battery.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
14h 34min
WiFi Websurfing
6h 19min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 49min
Dell Vostro 15 3568
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 40 Wh
Acer Aspire 3 A315-51-55E4
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 37 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad E570-20H6S02M00
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Asus VivoBook S15 S510UA
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
Battery Runtime
-12%
8%
-33%
Reader / Idle
874
855
-2%
1083
24%
614
-30%
WiFi v1.3
379
350
-8%
430
13%
259
-32%
Load
109
81
-26%
95
-13%
70
-36%
H.264
387

Verdict

Pros

+ very affordable
+ non-slip case
+ TPM 2.0
+ battery can be removed easily
+ suitable to good input devices
+ very energy efficient
+ good battery life for the price
+ quiet and cool

Cons

- relatively large and heavy
- cannot be opened with one hand
- slow USB 2.0 card reader
- overall low-quality TN display
- color temperature of 15759 K (target: 6500 K), extreme blue tint
- only 1 year warranty
- high-pitch noise during higher fan speeds
The Dell Vostro 15 3568 - provided by cyberport
The Dell Vostro 15 3568 - provided by cyberport

The really crummy display with its extreme blue tint in the delivery state, the likes of which we have not seen before, is the only component of the new Dell Vostro 15 3568 which we can hold against the manufacturer even considering the very low price of the entry-level configuration. The best part of the display is really the matte surface. All the other disadvantages we collected in our contra list carry much less weight.

If you can ignore the display (as surprisingly many users can do), you get a simple office notebook with limited mobility, which handles its tasks suitably. The battery can be switched easily, a TPM module is built-in for security, and Windows 10 Pro levels the path towards hard drive encryption and expanded administrative options in the company network. On the positive side, we should also mention the decent input devices and the cool and normally quiet operation.

The highlights of our version of the Dell Vostro 15 3568, which is to a large extent successful, are its 256 GB SSD and W10 Pro, which can make up for the bad screen in the eyes of some users.

An SSD and the Pro version of Windows 10 are only available at an extra charge, which drives the price more towards that of the competitors in the test. Anyone who chooses the minimum variant will still have enough performance for the office. Because of the display alone, we are unable to bring ourselves to give a purchase recommendation. 

Dell Vostro 15 3568 - 12/12/2017 v6(old)
Sven Kloevekorn

Chassis
74 / 98 → 76%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
44 / 80 → 55%
Weight
62 / 20-67 → 89%
Battery
88%
Display
73%
Games Performance
55 / 68 → 81%
Application Performance
84 / 92 → 91%
Temperature
95%
Noise
91%
Camera
42 / 85 → 50%
Average
72%
81%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Vostro 15 3568 (7200U, 256GB) Laptop Review
Sven Kloevekorn, 2017-12-16 (Update: 2020-05-19)