Dell Inspiron 1525 review

Great performance from a laptop which looks good and doesn't empty your wallet

Dell Inspiron 1525
The stunning 15.4-inch screen on the 1525 is bright and vibrant

TechRadar Verdict

An impressive package at the price, there's plenty to like about this superbly specced laptop

Pros

  • +

    Fantastic screen

  • +

    Good price

  • +

    Great portability

  • +

    Powerful

Cons

  • -

    Limited storage

  • -

    Integrated graphics

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Dell's Inspiron range is aimed at consumers and covers a range of needs and prices. The Inspiron 1525 effortlessly combines style, performance and usability at an affordable price.

The 2.7kg chassis is light enough for basic travel. Its 278-minute battery life further aids mobility.

The silver chassis is made from plastic and the lid can be customised from a choice of colours, adding a touch of style.

Superb screen

We found the usability of the 1525 to be outstanding. The keyboard is well-spaced with a comfortable typing action. Media keys above the main keyboard let you browse music and video files. The wide touchpad is equally easy to use.

The stunning 15.4-inch screen is bright and vibrant, and ideal for home use. The integrated Intel GPU lets you edit photos and videos and play older games, but is limited for more demanding tasks.

Home and office performance is more capable. The dual-core Intel processor and 2048MB of memory keep all applications running quickly, including office applications, photo editing software and even anti-virus scans.

Impressive feature set

The 160GB hard drive is doubled by several rivals, but is fine for most uses.

The built-in card reader supports eight of the most common Flash storage formats, and the DVD rewriter lets you create CDs and DVDs.

The pre-installed software is ideal for first-time buyers. Roxio Easy Media Creator Suite can be used to copy and label your discs, and Microsoft Works provides entry-level office tools.

Brilliant budget laptop

There's little not to like about the Inspiron 1525. It's stylish, affordable, powerful and portable.

Add the pin-sharp screen and great usability, and you've got a great laptop ideal for a variety of tasks.

TOPICS
Cameron Faulkner

Cameron is a writer at The Verge, focused on reviews, deals coverage, and news. He wrote for magazines and websites such as The Verge, TechRadar, Practical Photoshop, Polygon, Eater and Al Bawaba.

Latest in Windows Laptops
Asus Vivobook S laptop on yellow background with price cut text overlay
I've looked through hundreds of laptop deals in the Spring sales - this $599 Asus Vivobook has them all beat
The Surface Laptop 7 on a cyan background with a TechRadar deals badge.
This Windows laptop is 31% off in Amazon's Spring Sale and we scored it 5 stars – so why is Amazon putting a warning label on it?
The Microsoft Surface Laptop on a blue background with text saying Lowest price next to it.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop is our best-rated model and right now it's close to half price with this massive $700 discount
Dell XPS 13 Laptop in graphite on yellow background with big savings sign
Save $400 on the top-rated Dell XPS 13 - one of the best laptops money can buy
The Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro on a blue background next to text saying Don't Miss.
This half-price Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro is easily the best Presidents' Day laptop deal
Microsoft Surface Pro on a blue background
Best Buy has a huge $350 discount on this excellent high-end Surface Pro bundle
Latest in Reviews
Product shots for the Xiaomi Poco X7 Ultra review
I spent a month testing the Xiaomi Poco F7 Ultra, a top-end mid-ranger that masquerades as a flagship
The Kiwi design K4 Boost Battery strap being worn by Hamish
I test VR headsets for a living, and this affordable headstrap is the first Meta Quest 3 accessory you should buy
Both Kiwi design G4 Pro Performance Controller Grips
I thought VR controller grips were pointless until this Meta Quest 3 accessory proved me wrong
The Kiwi design H4 Boost Halo Battery Strap
Want to upgrade your VR headset? Look no further than my new favorite Meta Quest 3 headstrap
WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR main image
I tested the WithSecure Elements EPP and EDR - read how I rated this Endpoint Protection for small business
The RIG M2 Streamstar.
I wanted to love the new RIG M2 Streamstar, but this pricey gaming microphone fails to deliver