Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) Review
Table of Contents
In the realm of budget laptop hunting, compromise often becomes a familiar companion, especially when your budget falls within the $300 to $500 bracket.
Yet, amidst this landscape of trade-offs, Dell’s Inspiron 3000 series emerges as a beacon of exceptionality, consistently delivering quality laptops at remarkably affordable prices.
Take, for instance, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3505) we examined earlier this year, and now its successor, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511).
Priced at a modest $323, it embodies many of the attributes we prize in a budget-friendly laptop: a spacious 15.6-inch screen, the latest rendition of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 11, and an enticingly accessible price point.
While certain facets of the display hint at the laptop’s economical origins, it still manages to present a compelling proposition for those prioritizing a Windows environment over a Chromebook alternative.
Well-Equipped and Well-Built
Equipped with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of solid-state drive storage, an integrated Intel UHD graphics chip, and powered by an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) offers a modest yet functional setup.
While it may not boast the most impressive graphics capabilities or the expansive memory typically associated with premium laptops, its processor represents a notable upgrade from the basic Celeron CPU found in lower-tier models.
Starting at $323 for our base configuration, the Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) provides an entry point into the realm of affordable computing.
However, for those willing to invest a bit more, configurations offering up to 12GB of RAM, an Iris Xe graphics solution, and up to 512GB of storage are available, providing enhanced performance and storage options for users with more demanding needs.
While the 3511 iteration may not visually depart much from its predecessor, the 3505, this similarity is far from a drawback.
Boasting a robust and well-constructed chassis, the laptop exudes a sense of solidity, enhanced by its sleek carbon-black hue which lends it a refined and uncluttered aesthetic.
Weighing in at a mere 3.8 pounds, it positions itself towards the lighter end of the 15-inch laptop spectrum, although there are even airier options available, such as the 15-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 4.
With dimensions measuring at 0.7 by 14.1 by 9.2 inches (HWD), the 3511 strikes a balance, offering an average size for its weight class.
While it may possess width, its handling remains comfortably manageable, rendering it far from cumbersome.
Dell’s commitment to sustainability extends to its laptop lineup, with efforts to integrate post-consumer recycled plastics into their construction.
While the exact extent of this integration within individual laptops remains unspecified, the company emphasizes the incorporation of recycled materials, signaling a step towards reducing environmental impact.
Furthermore, Dell demonstrates eco-consciousness in its packaging practices, utilizing packaging trays and materials crafted predominantly from recycled paper, further aligning with sustainable initiatives.
Beyond its commendable chassis and design, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) continues to shine in its user experience.
The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience, with subtle yet discernible feedback, enhancing overall typing efficiency.
Additionally, the inclusion of a dedicated number pad enhances functionality, while the spill-resistant feature provides added peace of mind, albeit untested in my usage.
The generously sized, buttonless touchpad further contributes to user comfort, providing ample space for hand placement without the risk of inadvertent contact.
More Pixels, But Not Brighter Ones
A notable divergence between the current 3511 model and its predecessor, the 3505, lies in the display specifications.
Sporting a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel full-HD, 15.6-inch anti-glare screen, the 3511 represents a significant upgrade from the 1,280-by-720-pixel resolution of its forerunner, adding another feather to its cap as an adept budget performer.
While a touch-screen option is absent, its omission is unsurprising given the price bracket. However, the display’s brightness falls short, reaching a maximum of 261 nits in our evaluations.
Consequently, despite the enhanced resolution compared to its precursor, the laptop struggles to deliver vibrant images and videos due to its dimness.
A notable divergence between the current 3511 model and its predecessor, the 3505, lies in the display specifications.
Sporting a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel full-HD, 15.6-inch anti-glare screen, the 3511 represents a significant upgrade from the 1,280-by-720-pixel resolution of its forerunner, adding another feather to its cap as an adept budget performer.
While a touch-screen option is absent, its omission is unsurprising given the price bracket. However, the display’s brightness falls short, reaching a maximum of 261 nits in our evaluations.
Consequently, despite the enhanced resolution compared to its precursor, the laptop struggles to deliver vibrant images and videos due to its dimness.
Positioned underneath the laptop, the speakers of the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) deliver surprisingly loud and clear audio, considering the device’s budget-oriented nature.
However, at maximum volume, the chassis does exhibit some vibration—a minor trade-off for the volume achieved.
In terms of audio quality, it’s acceptable, albeit slightly tinny, yet still within manageable bounds, not reaching an unbearable level.
While the Inspiron 15 3000 offers an array of ports, the absence of a USB-C port is a notable downside. Positioned on the right side, you’ll discover an SD card slot, a USB 2.0 port, and an audio jack, which serves as a combo-style headphone/microphone port.
On the left side, you’ll find two USB 3.2 ports (Type-A), an HDMI 1.4 port, and the power-adapter connector, offering a comprehensive selection of connectivity options for your various peripherals and devices.
In terms of software, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 boasts Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 11, as its primary feature.
Out of the box, it runs Windows 11 S, a version that restricts app downloads to the Microsoft Store. However, this limitation can be swiftly removed with a few simple steps within the Microsoft Store app, granting access to the full functionality of Windows 11. Notably, the laptop is refreshingly devoid of excessive pre-installed software, with only a McAfee antivirus app standing out as an addition.
Testing the Inspiron 15 3000: Bit of a Budget Brawler?
As the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 demonstrates solid performance in everyday usage, the real test lies in how it fares against competitors in benchmark tests.
To gauge its standing, we conducted a comparative analysis against four other budget-friendly systems evaluated in 2021: the Asus VivoBook 15 and Laptop L410, the HP Laptop 14-dq2020nr, and the MSI Modern 14. Despite variations in memory capacities, all these laptops fall within the $300-to-$600 price range and boast similar CPU and GPU configurations.
Test System Configurations
Usually, our initial benchmark test involves UL’s PCMark 10, a comprehensive suite that emulates various Windows programs to generate an overall performance score, particularly for office-related workflows. However, it’s worth noting that budget laptops often lack sufficient memory to execute these tests adequately, preventing us from quantifying performance for a direct comparison as we typically do.
However, the Inspiron 15 3000 managed to yield some results, scoring 3,818 on the PCMark 10 overall test.
Typically, we aim for a score between 4,000 and 5,000 for a robust mainstream machine. While it doesn’t quite hit the mark, it also doesn’t stray too far from it. Unfortunately, the PCMark 10 Storage Test failed to run.
Additionally, we omitted our usual PugetBench for Photoshop benchmark, as it doesn’t function properly on systems with less than 8GB of memory.
Our comparison kicks off with the HandBrake 1.4 benchmark test, a renowned open-source video transcoder utilized for converting multimedia files into various resolutions and formats.
Given its intensive CPU requirements, it’s common for budget laptops, equipped with less powerful processors featuring fewer cores, to yield modest results in this test.
In this test, the Inspiron 15 3000 performed suboptimally, securing the second-to-last position, surpassed only by the MSI Modern 14.
It’s worth noting that undertaking substantial multimedia tasks on a budget laptop is improbable regardless.
Moving on, our next examination entails Cinebench R23, a multi-core benchmark designed to thoroughly stress a processor’s cores and threads.
While the Inspiron’s Intel Core i3-1115G4 chip performed adequately, it was outperformed by the HP Laptop 14’s Intel Core i3-1125G4.
However, the Asus VivoBook 15 was excluded from this test as Cinebench failed to run on its hardware.
Completing our suite of productivity assessments is the Geekbench benchmark, serving as another CPU stress test aimed at simulating real-world applications. While the HP Laptop 14 claims the lead spot with its processor performance, the Dell Inspiron still surpasses much of the competition in this arena.
Integrated graphics have undoubtedly made strides, yet conducting graphics tests remains challenging on budget laptops due to their weaker GPUs and limited memory. Nonetheless, we managed to successfully execute one 3DMark benchmark test.
In this assessment, the Inspiron 15 3000 performed commendably, emerging as the leader among its budget counterparts, whereas the Asus VivoBook 15 fell short. Night Raid, the less demanding of the two test workloads, proved suitable for laptops equipped with integrated graphics.
However, Time Spy, the more rigorous benchmark, failed to run on any laptop within our comparison group.
The Inspiron 15 3000 stood out as the sole laptop in the group to successfully complete GFXBench 5.0, an additional graphics stress test designed to assess GPU performance through low-level routines such as texturing and high-level tasks like game-like image rendering.
While the other budget laptops faltered, the Dell achieved 15 frames per second (fps) in the 1440p Aztec Ruins test, doubling its frame rate during the 1080p Car Chase test.
While it doesn’t qualify as a gaming laptop, the Dell could handle some less demanding games at 1080p with approximately 30fps, provided they’re not overly graphics-intensive.
Adequate Battery Life
In our battery assessment, we employ a locally stored iteration of the open-source Blender movie Tears of Steel, playing it continuously in a loop.
The laptop operates at 50% brightness and maximum volume, accompanied by several other adjustments tailored for battery testing.
Should the device lack sufficient storage, we utilize an external drive to play the movie. Furthermore, we disconnect Wi-Fi entirely, activating Airplane mode to isolate battery performance.
The Inspiron 15 3000’s battery performance fell slightly behind the competition, albeit not drastically, remaining on par with most of the other laptop selections.
The exception to this trend was the HP Laptop 14-dq2020nr, which outperformed the Inspiron in this aspect.
Concluding our evaluation, we focus on the display, employing Datacolor’s SpyderX Elite calibrator tools to assess performance.
We measure screen brightness output levels at both 50% and 100% brightness settings, while also scrutinizing gamut settings for the three primary color spaces relevant to laptop users: sRGB, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 standards.
In this conclusive evaluation, the Inspiron exhibited a slight edge in performance. While results were closely matched across the board, none reached the 500-nit level achievable by the brightest premium laptops.
Money Well-Spent
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) emerges as a dependable, albeit not particularly standout, option within the 15-inch budget laptop category.
Addressing several concerns from its predecessor, the 3505 model, the 3511’s integration of Windows 11 elevates its appeal above competing models.
While drawbacks such as the absence of a USB-C port, subpar speakers, and a dim display warrant consideration, it remains one of the stronger contenders in the sub-$400 range for 15-inch budget laptops.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid choice for budget-conscious consumers seeking a dependable 15-inch laptop. It addresses previous model issues, incorporates Windows 11 for enhanced usability, and offers respectable performance for its price range.
Despite drawbacks like the absence of a USB-C port and subpar speakers, its affordability and overall performance make it a competitive option in the budget laptop market.
DELL INSPIRON 15 3000 (3511) SPECS
| Laptop Class | Budget |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-1115G4 |
| Processor Speed | 3 GHz |
PROS
- Comes with Windows 11
- Large 15-inch full HD display
- Solid build
CONS
- No USB Type-C ports
- Low maximum screen brightness
- Weak speakers
price $519.00
