The Dell G15 5520 is better suited for gaming and tasks requiring a powerful GPU due to its RTX 3060 graphics card. It has a higher refresh rate display, which is great for fast-paced games but has less vibrant colors and lower battery life compared to the Dell XPS 15. The XPS 15, with its Intel Arc A370M GPU, offers a better battery life and a superior display with more colors and higher resolution, making it ideal for general use and work that involves color grading or editing. Both have similar price and processor performance, but the XPS 15 is lighter and therefore more portable, while the G15 5520 has a bulkier gaming laptop appearance. 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 G15 5520
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell G15 5520 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520 excels in gaming and 3D tasks with its Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and high screen refresh rate suitable for fast-paced visuals, while the Dell XPS 15, despite having a capable Intel Arc A370M GPU for good gaming and 3D performance, has a lower screen refresh rate, therefore less optimum for fast-moving scenes but benefits from a higher screen quality and battery life for extended use and better visual experience. The CPU in both laptops supports gaming and 3D applications well, but the XPS 15’s CPU is slightly newer, potentially offering a marginal performance increase for some tasks.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Dell G15 5520 is good.
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
7.1/10
7.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 15 for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Dell G15 5520 and Dell XPS 15 have panels with sufficient resolution and brightness, providing a clear and vibrant viewing experience. With a focus on engineering and design tasks, both laptops offer screens that cover a broad range of colors, ensuring accuracy and depth needed for professional creative work. However, the screens on these laptops have a lower refresh rate, which is less ideal for 3D applications and gaming where smoother motion and quicker image updates are critical for an optimal experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 has 10 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell XPS 15 has good portability, while the Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Dell G15 5520 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for general use, while the Dell G15 5520 is good.
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
8.2/10
8.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for content creation, while the Dell G15 5520 is good.
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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,000
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
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How the Dell G15 5520 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and John Peroramas | April 2023
"The Dell G15 (2022) is a 15.6-inch budget gaming laptop, and is great for gaming. You can configure the laptop with powerful Intel 12th Gen. CPUs and various NVIDIA dedicated GPUs, all of which deliver a smooth gaming experience at 1080p. There's also a QHD 240Hz display option if you want better visuals, though you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti to get good frame rates. It doesn't get overly hot or loud under load, and there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU. Unfortunately, the 120Hz panel has a slow response time, causing noticeable ghosting, and it doesn't support variable refresh rate."
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the Dell G15 5520 or the Dell XPS 15
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.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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