Is the Inspiron 3521 good for everyday use?

Yes for browsing, email, documents and video. The Pentium 2127U and 4GB of RAM keep up with a few light tasks at once but slow down with many browser tabs or heavy apps.

Only very light or older titles on low settings. Intel HD Graphics is integrated and shares the 4GB of system RAM, so modern games are out of reach.

Does it have a DVD drive?

Yes. A built-in DVD-RW optical drive lets you play and burn discs, which most current budget laptops have dropped.

Is the screen good for watching video?

It is usable but not sharp. The 15.6-inch panel runs at 1366x768, so full-HD video is scaled down and text looks less crisp than on a 1080p screen.

Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?

The Inspiron 3521 has accessible memory and drive bays, so adding RAM and swapping the hard drive for a solid-state drive are common upgrades that noticeably speed it up.

Is the touchscreen worth having?

It helps with tapping, scrolling and simple apps, especially for family use. It does not change performance, and the panel's low resolution is the bigger limitation.

Where is the Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch cheapest?

At ModuVault, for $52.82, as of our latest check.

Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch

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$52.82at ModuVaultChecked 2 h ago

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Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch

Best price now

$52.82at ModuVaultChecked 2 h ago

Prices are checked against each store and labelled with when.

Visit ModuVault

Dell discount code →

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Price facts

Lowest price today: $52.82 at ModuVault (checked Nov 15, 2026).

Our take on the Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch

The Dell Inspiron 3521 is a 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop from Dell's budget Inspiron line, built around an Intel Pentium 2127U, 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB 5400RPM hard drive. Its 1366x768 LED-backlit touchscreen, full-size keyboard with numeric keypad and built-in DVD drive cover basic browsing, documents and disc playback. It suits students, families and light home users who want a simple, sturdy machine rather than speed. Against newer budget laptops it is dated: the low-resolution panel, spinning hard drive and 4GB of RAM make it slower and less crisp than rivals with solid-state storage and full-HD screens.

Best forStudents on basic schoolworkFamilies sharing a home laptopLight web browsing and emailWatching DVDs and stored media

Pros

Touchscreen adds easy tapping and scrolling
Full-size keyboard with numeric keypad
Built-in DVD drive for discs
500GB hard drive holds plenty of files
Simple design that is easy to live with

Cons

Pentium 2127U and 4GB RAM slow under heavy multitasking
1366x768 panel looks soft next to full-HD screens
5400RPM hard drive makes startup and loading sluggish
Integrated Intel HD Graphics handles no serious gaming

Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch prices at every store

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About the Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch

The Dell Inspiron 3521 is a 15.6-inch touchscreen laptop. It has an LED-backlit WXGA display with a resolution of 1366 x 768. It runs Windows 10.

It uses an Intel Pentium 2127U dual-core processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics. It has 4GB of DDR3 RAM and a 500GB hard drive. The built-in DVD±RW drive is tray load.

The chassis is black with a textured finish. The full-size keyboard includes a numeric keypad. Stereo speakers with Waves MaxxAudio, an integrated microphone and an HD webcam are built in.

Display: 15.6-inch LED-backlit touchscreen, 16:9
Resolution: 1366 x 768 (WXGA)
Processor: Intel Pentium 2127U, 1.9 GHz base clock, 2MB cache
Cores/Threads: 2 cores / 2 threads
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics (integrated)
RAM: 4GB DDR3, 1600MHz
Max RAM: Expandable up to 8GB
Storage: 500GB SATA HDD, 5400 RPM
Optical drive: DVD±RW, tray load
Operating system: Windows 10
Ports: 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45 Ethernet, 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack, 1 x SD card reader
Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Audio: Stereo speakers with Waves MaxxAudio, integrated microphone
Webcam: HD (720p)
Keyboard: Full-size with numeric keypad
Chassis: Black, textured finish

Questions and answers

Is the Inspiron 3521 good for everyday use?: Yes for browsing, email, documents and video. The Pentium 2127U and 4GB of RAM keep up with a few light tasks at once but slow down with many browser tabs or heavy apps.
Can it run games?: Only very light or older titles on low settings. Intel HD Graphics is integrated and shares the 4GB of system RAM, so modern games are out of reach.
Does it have a DVD drive?: Yes. A built-in DVD-RW optical drive lets you play and burn discs, which most current budget laptops have dropped.
Is the screen good for watching video?: It is usable but not sharp. The 15.6-inch panel runs at 1366x768, so full-HD video is scaled down and text looks less crisp than on a 1080p screen.
Can I upgrade the RAM or storage?: The Inspiron 3521 has accessible memory and drive bays, so adding RAM and swapping the hard drive for a solid-state drive are common upgrades that noticeably speed it up.
Is the touchscreen worth having?: It helps with tapping, scrolling and simple apps, especially for family use. It does not change performance, and the panel's low resolution is the bigger limitation.
Where is the Dell Inspiron 3521 15.6" WXGA Touch cheapest?: At ModuVault, for $52.82, as of our latest check.