Dell Inspiron 15.6" i3520-5117BLK-PUS Black
The Intel Core i5-1235U 10-core processor and 512GB NVMe SSD handle everyday multitasking and file storage without lag. Its 15.6-inch 120Hz VA display and ergonomic lift hinge design improve viewing comfort and typing posture for long sessions. Best for a student or home user who needs a reliable, eco-conscious laptop for web browsing, office work, and video calls.
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Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A 120Hz screen on a budget laptop is cool, but 8GB of RAM in 2025 is a crime. Buy it only if it's on sale and you promise to never open more than five tabs.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 120Hz display is rare at this price 93rd
- 512GB SSD gives you decent storage
- Lift hinge design is genuinely comfortable
- Recycled plastics and waterborne paints are a nice touch
Cons
- 8GB RAM is a serious bottleneck
- Integrated UHD graphics are weak, 14th percentile
- WiFi 5 in 2025 feels like a time capsule
- Windows 11 S Mode locks you into the Microsoft Store
What owners think
The Word on the Street
The proof
Performance
The Core i5-1235U has 10 cores, which sounds impressive until you realize they're split between 2 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores. It handles everyday tasks fine, but our database puts this CPU in the 36th percentile, which is mediocre for a modern laptop. The real bottleneck is the 8GB of DDR4 RAM, sitting at the 6th percentile. That's rough. You'll feel it the moment you open more than a dozen Chrome tabs. The 512GB NVMe SSD is solid, about average, but Windows 11 S Mode will frustrate anyone who wants to install apps outside the Microsoft Store.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i5 1235U |
| Cores | 10 |
| Frequency | 1.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 12 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Type | Integrated |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Panel | VA |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Brightness | 250 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 3 |
| HDMI | HDMI 1.4 |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 5 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.7 kg / 3.7 lbs |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
vs Competition
The MacBook Air M4 absolutely demolishes this in every category except price, but that's not a fair fight. The more relevant comparison is the ASUS Zenbook UX3405CA, which offers better build quality, a brighter screen, and 16GB RAM for not much more. Even the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition, while pricier, gives you a far better display and battery life. If you're on a strict budget, the Inspiron competes with Chromebooks more than it does with these premium machines, and honestly, a good Chromebook might serve you better.
| Spec | Dell Inspiron 15.6" i3520-5117BLK-PUS | Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403WW-G14.R95080 | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 | MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 1235U | Apple M4 Max | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX | Intel Core i9 14900HX | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 64 | 32 | 64 | 32 | 64 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 4096 | 2000 | 2048 | 2048 | 1024 |
| Screen | 15.6" | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 2880x1800 | 16" 2560x1600 | 16" 3840x2160 | 15" 2496x1664 |
| GPU | Intel UHD Graphics | Apple (40-Core) | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 | Qualcomm Adreno GPU |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Pro |
| Weight (kg) | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 1.7 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | - | - | 100 | 66 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Screen | Portability | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dell Inspiron 15.6" i3520-5117BLK-PUS | 36.3 | 13.6 | 6.5 | 53.1 | 31.7 | 48.7 | 51.7 | 32.9 | 93 |
| Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max Compare | 92.3 | 85.1 | 95.9 | 74.4 | 99.2 | 69.1 | 98.5 | 97.6 | 89.2 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 GA403WW-G14.R95080 Compare | 88.6 | 94.2 | 91.4 | 90 | 96.2 | 74.3 | 88.9 | 60.1 | 98.4 |
| Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 Compare | 96.1 | 92.3 | 98.6 | 99.7 | 95.3 | 7.3 | 97.3 | 81 | 87.4 |
| MSI Raider RAIDERGE6814247 Compare | 91.7 | 88.1 | 86.9 | 98.7 | 97.7 | 9.1 | 94 | 60.1 | 54.5 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition Compare | 98.7 | 28 | 98.6 | 59.6 | 90.8 | 57.4 | 79.7 | 81 | 80 |
Price
Value & Pricing
At $525 USD, this is a tough sell. You're getting a 120Hz screen and a decent CPU, but the 8GB RAM and S Mode restrictions undercut the whole experience. For the same money, you can find laptops with 16GB RAM and WiFi 6. The UK price of £799 is even harder to justify. This isn't a bad laptop, but it's not a good value either.
We started tracking prices for this product on Jul 7, 2026. The chart appears once we have more data.
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Overview
The Dell Inspiron i3520-5117BLK-PUS is a budget laptop that tries to look more premium than it is. The 120Hz display on a sub-$600 machine is a nice touch, but it's paired with 8GB of RAM and integrated graphics that'll choke on anything beyond web browsing and spreadsheets. The one thing to know: this is a fine basic laptop for students or office work, but the specs are already dated.
Common Questions
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM?
Yes, the Inspiron 3520 has accessible RAM slots, so you can bump it to 16GB. Do it. 8GB is not enough for Windows 11.
Q: Can I exit Windows 11 S Mode?
Yes, you can switch out of S Mode for free through the Microsoft Store. It's a one-way switch, but you'll want to do it if you plan to install anything outside the Store.
Q: Is this good for gaming?
No. The integrated UHD graphics are in the 14th percentile. You can play Solitaire and maybe some light indie games, but anything 3D will be a slideshow.
Who Should Skip This
If you're looking for a gaming laptop or anything that can handle video editing, this isn't it. Go get a Lenovo Legion 5i or even a used gaming laptop with a dedicated GPU. If you just need a cheap machine for browsing and typing, a Chromebook will give you a better experience for less money.
Verdict
Skip this one unless you find it heavily discounted. The 120Hz display is a nice spec on paper, but the 8GB RAM and S Mode restrictions make this feel like a laptop from 2020. If you need a basic machine for school or light office work and can get it under $450, it's passable. Otherwise, save up a bit more and get something with 16GB RAM.
