Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560 Comparison

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Dell Precision 5480

14 inches | March 2023

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Dell Precision 15 3560

15.6 inches | January 2021

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Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560 Comparison Overview

Dell Precision 5480

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Dell Precision 15 35...

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Dell Precision 5480

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Dell Precision 15 35...

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In this review, we will be comparing Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560, two laptops by Dell. Dell Precision 5480 was introduced to market in March 2023 and Dell Precision 15 3560 was launched in January 2021. As you can see, Precision 15 3560 is 2 years older than Precision 5480. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 are members of Dell's Precision series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell Precision Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Dell Precision 5690	February 2024	16.0"	353.68 x 240.33 x 20.5-22.17 mm	2.17 kg (4.78 lbs)
Dell Precision 5490	February 2024	14.0"	310.6 x 210.35 x 7.49-18.95 mm	1.49 kg (3.29 lbs)
Dell Precision 3490	February 2024	14.0"	321.35 x 212 x 19.06-21.04 mm	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Dell Precision 3591	February 2024	15.6"	357.8 x 233.3 x 22.7-24.7 mm	1.79 kg (3.95 lbs)
Dell Precision 3590	February 2024	15.6"	357.8 x 233.3 x 22.8 mm	1.62 kg (3.57 lbs)
Dell Precision 7680	March 2023	16.0"	356 x 258.34 x 25.05-27.45 mm	2.67 kg (5.89 lbs)
Dell Precision 5680	March 2023	16.0"	353.68 x 240.33 x 20.05-22.17 mm	1.91 kg (4.21 lbs)
Dell Precision 5480	March 2023	14.0"	310.6 x 210.35 x 18.95 mm	1.48 kg (3.26 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Precision 5480 and Dell Precision 15 3560 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Precision 5480 Key Specs

Launched in March 2023
14.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 13500H
GPU: RTX A1000 Mobile 6GB
16GB Ram
310.6 x 210.35 x 18.95 mm (12.23 x 8.28 x 0.75 inches)
Weight: 1.48 kg (3.26 lbs)

Dell Precision 15 3560 Key Specs

Launched in January 2021
15.6" TFT LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 1135G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
4GB Ram
358 x 232 x 10.8-14.4 mm (14.09 x 9.13 x 0.43-0.57 inches)
Weight: 1.58 kg (3.48 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Dell Precision 5480 over Dell Precision 15 3560

Weight	1.48 kg vs 1.58 kg	0.1 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~87% vs ~80.8%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.6 mm vs 6.3 mm	1.7 mm thinner bezels
Screen PPI	162 ppi vs 141 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1200 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 400 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU Fabrication Process	8 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	4.92 TFLOPS vs 1.41 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5 vs DDR4	Faster RAM
RAM BUS	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	4x USB 4.0 vs 2x USB 3.2	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2

Reasons to choose Dell Precision 15 3560 over Dell Precision 5480

Display Size	15.6 inches vs 14 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Response Time	25 ms vs 35 ms	Faster Response screen
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	More RAM Options
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.0 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Touchpad Size	11.5 x 6.7 cm vs 10.5 x 6.5 cm	Larger Touchpad Area

Common Strengths of Dell Precision 15 3560 and Dell Precision 5480

Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
RAM Type	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) vs PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Fast RAM type
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs Yes	Option to increase the Storage size
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Precision 15 3560 and Dell Precision 5480

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Precision 5480 and the Dell Precision 15 3560.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.48 kg (3.26 lbs)	1.58 kg (3.48 lbs)
Surface Area	653 cm2 (101.3 inches2)	831 cm2 (128.6 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~87%	~80.8%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.6 mm	~6.3 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.10 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.22 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver	Silver

Comparison of the Dell Precision 5480 and the Dell Precision 15 3560 External Dimensions

Weight

Precision 5480 weighs 1.48 kg (3.26 lbs), whereas the Precision 15 3560 weighs 1.58 kg (3.48 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Dell Precision 5480 1.48 kg

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 1.42 kg

Dell Precision 15 3560 1.58 kg

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 1.95 kg

Thickness Comparison

Dell Precision 5480 18.95 mm

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 17.12 mm

Dell Precision 15 3560 10.80 mm

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 20.17 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell Precision 5480 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Precision 15 3560 is 0.10 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 13500H Intel Core i5 13600H Intel Core i7 13700H Intel Core i7 13800H Intel Core i9 13900H	Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5 1145G7 Intel Core i7 1165G7 Intel Core i7 1185G7
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	0.9-2.4 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.7 GHz	4.2 GHz
Number of Cores	12	4
Number of Threads	16	8
L3 Cache	18 MB	8 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Iris Xe Graphics G7 80EU
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1730	1324
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	11090	4633
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1816	1355
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	14071	5087

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Dell Precision 5480 and Dell Precision 15 3560.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 13500H

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 1135G7

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	RTX A1000 Mobile 6GB RTX A2000 Mobile 8GB RTX A3000 Mobile 8GB	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
Base Clock Frequency	652 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1140 MHz	1100 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	60 W	15 W
Type	Dedicated	Integrated
FLOPS	5.837 TFLOPS	1,408 GFLOPS
Memory Size	6 GB	System Shared
Memory Type	GDDR6	System Shared
Memory Bus	192 bit	System Shared
Memory Speed	1375 MHz 11 Gbps effective	System Shared
Shading Units Cores	2560	640
TMUs	80	40
ROPs	32	20

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Dell Precision 5480 has a FLOPS value of 4.92 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Precision 15 3560 ' has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Precision 5480 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	4GB 8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	1x4 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	3200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	No	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)

With a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, the Precision 5480 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Precision 15 3560's RAM capacity of 4 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Dell Precision 5480	Dell Precision 15 3560
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✖ Not supported.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	72 Wh	42 Wh 63 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	Yes
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	100 / 130 W	65 / 90 / 130 W
Voltage	15.4 V	11.4 V
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr	2:00 hr
Cable Length	1 meters

Moreover, the Precision 5480 boasts a larger battery capacity of 72 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Precision 15 3560's42 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Dell Precision 5480 72 Wh

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 55.79 Wh

Dell Precision 15 3560 42 Wh

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 62.1 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 4 TB, the Precision 5480 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Precision 15 3560's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB	128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	Yes
Total Slots	2	1
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Precision 5480 and Dell Precision 15 3560 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Precision 5480 has a display size of 14.0".On the other hand, Precision 15 3560 has a larger15.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Precision 5480 is 568cm² / 88inch² whereas the Precision 15 3560's total usable screen area is 670cm² / 104inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Precision 5480 features a higher pixel density with 162 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Dell Precision 5480 162 PPI

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 173 PPI

Dell Precision 15 3560 141 PPI

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 144 PPI

Refresh Rate
Both Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Furthermore, the Precision 15 3560 boasts a faster response time of 25.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Precision 5480 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Dell Precision 5480 500 nits

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 383 nits

Dell Precision 15 3560 400 nits

Avg: 15.0-15.9" 319 nits

Dell Precision 5480 vs Dell Precision 15 3560 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Precision 5480 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to Precision 15 3560 (v6).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Precision 15 3560 is equipped with 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. Precision 5480 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 have USB Type-C ports. Precision 5480 has 4x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Precision 15 3560 has 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Precision 15 3560 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.0) for connecting to external monitors. Precision 5480 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Precision 5480 and Precision 15 3560 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	4x USB 4.0	2x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Optional
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	Yes
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No