Review Summary
Expert Rating
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is a budget-friendly thin and light laptop designed primarily for students and professionals who need a reliable machine for everyday tasks. Powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i3-1305U processor and equipped with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD, it should offer decent performance for productivity, browsing, and light multitasking.
Priced at Rs 35,990, it competes with similarly priced entry-level laptops from HP, Lenovo, and Acer. What makes the Inspiron 15 3530 stand out is the inclusion of a 120Hz refresh rate display, which is rare in this segment. The presence of MS Office 2024 pre-installed further adds value for students and office users who need a machine ready to go out of the box. But does it deliver on all fronts? Let’s take a closer look.
Table of Contents
Design and Build
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 follows Dell’s traditional design philosophy—clean, professional, and sturdy. The Platinum Silver finish gives it a premium touch, but it remains an all-plastic build, which is expected in this price range. Weighing 1.65kg and measuring 16.9mm thick, the laptop is relatively portable and can be carried around easily for work or study sessions.
Despite being a budget device, the hinge mechanism feels sturdy, and there’s minimal flex on the lid and keyboard deck. However, the glossy Dell logo on the back does pick up fingerprints quite easily. While the build quality is solid for its price, don’t expect the same level of durability as premium ultrabooks.
Compared to metal-body ultrabooks, the plastic chassis makes it slightly more prone to minor scratches over time, but it still feels robust enough to handle everyday use. The hinge also lifts the keyboard slightly when opened, improving the typing angle and airflow underneath the laptop, preventing excessive heating during prolonged use. Overall, for Rs 35,990, the build quality is respectable and should last with proper care.
I/O Options
For a budget laptop, the Inspiron 15 3530 comes with a decent selection of ports:
- 1 x USB 2.0 Port (for basic peripherals)
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Port
- 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C Port (Data Only)
- 1 x HDMI 1.4 (for external displays)
- 1 x SD 3.0 Card Slot
- 1 x RJ45 Ethernet Port (a rarity in thin laptops)
- 1 x Headset Jack (3.5mm combo)
While the presence of a USB-C port is appreciated, it only supports data transfer and not charging or even display output, which is a downside for some users who might be expecting these modern conveniences.
This means users looking to hook up an external monitor via USB-C or use it for fast charging will be disappointed. However, the RJ45 Ethernet port is a welcome addition, allowing for stable wired internet connectivity, which is increasingly rare on thin and light laptops.
Another notable inclusion is the SD 3.0 Card Slot, which I think is useful for photographers or creators who frequently transfer media files.
Display
The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080p) WVA AG panel with a 120Hz refresh rate. At around 250 nits of brightness, the screen appears more than adequate for indoor use, but I did run into a fair few struggles in bright outdoor environments. The anti-glare coating works well to reduce reflections, but it comes at the cost of colours appearing somewhat muted compared to higher-end IPS panels.
I also feel that the 120Hz refresh rate is a surprising bonus at this price point, making scrolling and animations feel smoother than on standard 60Hz displays. Also, the large screen makes watching movies and YouTube videos enjoyable, but those looking for true-to-life colours for editing work may be disappointed. That said, for general use, such as studying and office work, the display is more than sufficient.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The standard keyboard, including the numpad, is comfortable for typing, with decent key travel and good tactile feedback. However, the lack of a backlight is a major drawback for those who work in dim environments or at night.
Thanks to the well-spaced keys and standard layout, typing for long hours feels comfortable enough. However, the keycaps feel slightly cheaper than those of more premium laptops. So that is something to keep in mind. However, it is the lack of a backlight that keeps coming back to me as its omission can really hamper those (like me) who tend to work late into the night.
The trackpad is decently sized and responsive but, due to its budget nature, uses a plastic surface instead of a glass one. Even so, the multi-finger gestures work well, and the click mechanism is decent, though slightly stiff. Users who rely heavily on trackpad gestures may find it slightly limiting, especially compared to the glass trackpads found on higher-end models.
Performance and Benchmarks
The Intel Core i3-1305U (13th Gen) is an entry-level processor with 5 cores (1 performance + 4 efficiency cores), reaching a boost clock of up to 4.50 GHz. While it’s not meant for heavy workloads, it performs well in everyday tasks such as web browsing, multitasking, and office applications like Microsoft Office 2024.
Media consumption, including Netflix and YouTube, runs smoothly, and for casual users, the laptop remains responsive and reliable. However, for more demanding workloads like video editing or gaming, the processor struggles, which is expected for a budget laptop powered by a Core i3 processor.
Benchmark tests reveal a mixed performance. In Cinebench R23, the laptop scores 4815 points in multi-core tests and 1481 points in single-core performance, which aligns with entry-level expectations. Cinebench 2024 results follow the same trend, with 4 points in multi-core tests and 94 points in single-core performance.
Geekbench 6 shows a single-core score of 2039 and a multi-core score of 4059, alongside OpenCL and Vulkan scores of 8248 and 9877, respectively. In productivity-focused testing, PCMark 10 scores 4306, while the PCMark 10 Extended test returns 3335, reinforcing that this laptop is best suited for light-to-moderate workloads.
The performance is acceptable for Rs 35,990, but users seeking more power for demanding workloads may need to consider higher-end models.
Graphics
The Intel Integrated Graphics (UHD Graphics) is capable of handling basic graphical tasks such as casual gaming, video playback, and light design work. However, as expected, it struggles with demanding applications and modern AAA games. Casual titles such as Minecraft and CS:GO run decently on lower settings, and HD streaming works well without major stutters. Basic graphic design applications like Canva and Photoshop can be used, but performance is noticeably slower when handling complex layers or high-resolution images.
Benchmarking the graphics performance paints a clear picture of its limitations. 3DMark Time Spy scores 809, with Time Spy Extreme at 332. Fire Strike tests result in 1786 points, with Fire Strike Extreme and Ultra scoring 828 and 459, respectively. The Night Raid test, designed for entry-level GPUs, scores 7930, showing that the laptop is optimised for light workloads. Gaming tests confirm this—GTA V (1080p, low settings) averages around 13-14 FPS, which is pretty much unplayable. Valorant (1080p, low settings) maintains a more reasonable 48-50 FPS, allowing for casual gaming at lower resolutions.
Audio and Webcam
In our audio tests, the Waves Maxx Audio speakers deliver crisp sound, adequate for casual video calls, YouTube, and Netflix streaming. While the mids and highs are well-balanced, the lack of bass means that the audio can sometimes feel a bit thin, especially when playing music with deep lows. At maximum volume, the speakers are loud enough to fill a small room, but I did notice some distortion at peak levels.
As for the webcam, for those who rely on virtual meetings, the HD webcam is serviceable but not exceptional. The video quality is acceptable but only in a well-lit environment. In dim lighting, it struggles with graininess and reduced detail. Unlike some higher-end models, there is no privacy shutter, which I think can be a bit of a concern for users who prioritise security. As such, buyers might want to consider adding an external webcam, especially those who must attend frequent video conferences.
A 3.5mm combo jack delivers clean audio output, making it a good option for wired headphones. Even so, there is a distinct lack of high-end audio enhancements like Dolby Atmos or spatial audio, meaning the experience remains fairly standard. Overall, while the audio performance is sufficient for casual media consumption, power users may want to invest in external speakers or quality headphones for an improved experience.
Battery Life
The 3-cell, 41Whr battery is average in terms of endurance. With normal usage (browsing, document editing, streaming), expect around 5-6 hours on a full charge.
Battery Test Results:
- PCMark 10 Video Playback Test: 5 hours 35 minutes
The included charger is a basic 65W adapter, and it takes 1.5 to 2 hours to charge fully. Fast charging is not supported on the device, and overall, the battery life on the laptop is nothing to write home about.
Final Verdict
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is a good budget laptop for students and professionals who need a reliable device for basic productivity and web browsing. Its strong points include a sturdy build, a smooth 120Hz display, and decent connectivity options. However, the lack of a backlit keyboard, unimpressive battery life, and basic integrated graphics may be deal-breakers for some. Even so, I have to emphasise that the target audience will likely be pretty satisfied with the laptop’s offerings.
Editor’s rating: 7.5 / 10
Pros
- 120Hz smooth refresh rate
- Sturdy, lightweight build
- Decent port selection
- Good everyday performance
- MS Office pre-installed
Cons
- No backlit keyboard
- Underwhelming battery life
- Limited colour accuracy