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Updated January 12, 2024·
The choice between the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Gateway 15.6" depends on your priorities. If you need a laptop for general use with a more reliable brand reputation and potentially better support, the Dell might be preferable. However, if you are looking for specific features that are unique to the Gateway, such as different ports or design elements, that could sway your decision. Neither machine is likely to excel in heavy gaming or intensive engineering software, but both should handle general computing tasks like web browsing, office applications, and multimedia playback. Always check reviews for real-world battery life and performance experiences, as these can vary greatly even between laptops in the same price range. Keep in mind that while the build quality and components may be similar, the Dell might offer a slightly better resale value due to brand recognition. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for software development
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Dell Inspiron 15 3511.
Key differences
General Use
7.6
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
230.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
7.0
6.2
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is generally better suited for engineering and design tasks due to its higher RAM capacity and better screen quality, essential for handling complex software and detailed visuals, while the Gateway 15.6" may fall behind with less RAM and lower screen resolution limiting its effectiveness for intensive tasks. Additionally, the Dell's more robust CPU and GPU combination offers smoother performance for demanding engineering applications, whereas the Gateway, despite sharing the CPU, has a less powerful GPU, making it more suitable for less resource-intensive activities.
Content Creation
7.5
7.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.3
6.7
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
6.0
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
230.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Gateway 15.6" have screens that provide adequate resolution and brightness, making them suitable for activities like browsing and video streaming, but the panel type may not offer the best color accuracy or viewing angles. When it comes to engineering and design, while both laptops have fair screen quality, they likely lack the wide color gamuts required for precise color work, which is essential for accurately displaying complex designs or editing photos and videos. On the other hand, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can lead to less fluid motion, and while the resolution and panel type are decent, they are not optimized for the high-speed, immersive visuals that gamers and 3D professionals seek.
Battery
6.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
6.2
5.1
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.2
6.0
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
Both the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Gateway 15.6" laptops are equipped with the same integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, and both have screens with a 60Hz refresh rate, which are fine for casual gaming but may limit performance in more demanding 3D applications and games. The similarities in CPU and screen quality also contribute to their fair assessment in gaming and 3D tasks, with neither standing out significantly over the other in these somewhat important factors.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$517
$500
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has a price of $517 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $500.
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How the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3511 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$517 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2021 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.74'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.7 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.11" | 14.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.27" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 41 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 230 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Zachary Cuevas | November 2021
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 or the Gateway 15.6"
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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