The Dell G15 5520 offers strong performance for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or engineering due to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, making it suitable for demanding applications but it is heavier and has shorter battery life, thus less portable. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is generally less expensive and lighter with longer battery life, and features an integrated graphics chip that is suitable for general use and light workloads; it is highly portable but not ideal for graphics-intensive tasks. Choose the Dell if you need high performance for specialized tasks, and the Lenovo for cost efficiency and better portability in everyday use. 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
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good overall display quality
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15"
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.2/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520 offers superior gaming and 3D performance due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, conducive to smoother visuals, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 uses an integrated GPU in the AMD Ryzen 7 processor with a lower refresh rate, resulting in less graphics processing power and potentially choppier gameplay.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" is only fair.
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
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for content creation, though the Dell G15 5520 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.
Screen Quality
7.1/10
6.5/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
341.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Dell G15 5520, with its higher resolution and brightness, provides a vibrant and sharp image that enhances the experience for general use and intricate tasks like engineering and design, where crisp visuals matter, but falls short in gaming due to a lower refresh rate which is crucial for fluid motion. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5, while offering acceptable clarity and brightness for everyday tasks and some design work, doesn't excel in any specific area due to its average color representation and might disappoint in high-paced gaming environments. For those involved in 3D work or intense gaming sessions, the lack of a high refresh rate on both models could be a significant drawback, as it prevents the smooth visual flow that such activities demand.
Battery
6.0 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has 11 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
4.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" has good portability, while the Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,000
$690
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" costs $690.
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for general use.
The Dell G15 5520 offers a strong CPU and more RAM, which can handle demanding tasks better, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life than the IdeaPad 5, which may hinder portability. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" provides a lighter and more compact option with longer battery life and a touchscreen, ideal for on-the-go use and general productivity, but has less power under the hood due to a weaker CPU and less RAM.
Software Development
7.5/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" are both good for software development.
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.
Build Quality
7.4/10
7.6/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15" and Dell G15 5520 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell G15 5520 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is convincing due to its long battery life. The device scores points especially with its large battery and long battery runtimes combined with its low consumption. The CPU and GPU perform in the test as one would expect, and in line with what was familiar from the somewhat smaller 14-inch sister model, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 14."
Get a great deal on the Dell G15 5520 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 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.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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 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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