Dell Inspiron 15 3501 review

Dell Inspiron 15 3501 (2020): a Pentium with a high-tier CPU reading

The Dell Inspiron 15 3501 is one of the more surprising sheets in this batch: a $339, 2020 machine whose Intel Pentium Gold 7505 posts a best CPU score of 70 — a high-tier reading, 18.7 percent above the general-laptop class median, on a chip nobody expects to chart. The composite uscomp score of 61 also clears its class median, and the value index of 78.55 is high-tier.

Where it holds up

For the money, the everyday fundamentals are solid: office at 60.41 is mid-tier, gaming at 64 is mid-tier — better than several far newer machines in this batch — and the 32GB of memory doubles what this class typically shipped in 2020. Engineering CAD at 39 and photo design at 26 bracket the modest middle. As a budget document-and-media machine bought late in its life, the value reading of 78.55 says the price is right.

Where it falls short

The named weakness is graphics: 14.08, roughly half the class median of 27.24 — office-class integrated graphics that cap anything visual. 3D modeling at 21 and photo design at 26 sit in the low band. Portability at 41.2 is mid-tier, and performance at 45.41 is honest mid-band: the Pentium's high-tier-for-class CPU reading reflects its class, not flagship speed. Buyers should also note the 10.39 percent depreciation pace applies to a machine already near the bottom of its curve.

Price and depreciation

No baseline price exists in the ledger, so the projection runs rate-only at a modeled 10.39 percent per year. On $339 that is roughly $35 of expected first-year loss — the cheapest absolute exposure in this batch, which is precisely the point of buying hardware this far down its curve.

Alternatives to consider

The Inspiron 15 3505 (2020) at the same $339 is the AMD twin-chassis with a weaker sheet (CPU 39.86, reliability 31) — the 3501 is the better of the pair. The Inspiron 15 5502 (2020) at the same price adds a Core i3 and a GeForce MX330 with photo design at 67 versus this machine's 26, while keeping the 339-dollar ask; strictly more machine. The Inspiron 14 5402 (2020), also $339, matches the value reading at 78.55 in a lighter 1.4kg frame.

Bottom line

Fairly priced for the class. The 3501 is a genuine budget-value machine with a surprisingly strong CPU reading for its class and mid-tier gaming, capped by office-class graphics and two low-band creative axes. Within its own price club, though, the 5502 sibling offers more capability for identical money.