For better performance in engineering tasks with higher screen resolution, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 excels, but it's heavier and less portable. The Dell G15 5520, on the other hand, offers strong gaming capabilities and a higher refresh rate screen, at a lower price and weight, making it more portable, but compromises on screen resolution and engineering precision offered by the ThinkPad. If long battery life is essential, the ThinkPad P16 outperforms the Dell G15 5520. If cost is a concern and gaming is a priority, the Dell may be a more suitable choice, however, for demanding engineering applications and premium features, the ThinkPad may be worth the extra investment. 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 Lenovo ThinkPad P16
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Excellent speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.9/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
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 ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Software Development
7.5/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has a better screen than the Dell G15 5520 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell G15 5520, with its decent resolution and brightness, provides a pleasant visual experience for every day tasks and detailed work in engineering or design, but lacks the high refresh rate desired for smooth 3D gaming. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 steps up with better resolution and brightness, enhancing usability for general computing and precision in design, and offers wider color gamut coverage which is essential for professional-grade color work. However, despite these strengths, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which can't deliver the fluid motion graphics that these activities typically require.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
Cost
$1,000
$1,449
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 to be very good for general use, while the Dell G15 5520 is good.
The Dell G15 5520 is equipped with a robust processor and ample RAM, making it well-suited for general computing tasks, and its decent screen provides good visual quality; however, its gaming laptop appearance and lesser portability might not appeal to all users. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 offers similar CPU and RAM capabilities for various tasks, has a high-quality screen and more storage space, and its premium business laptop design with superior battery life and portability makes it a more versatile choice for professionals on the go.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Dell G15 5520 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell G15 5520 offers a robust i7 processor and an RTX 3060 GPU, which are excellent for engineering software and possibly some design work, though its lower screen resolution and color coverage might limit the quality of visual work compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, which has a higher-resolution display and superior color accuracy with an RTX A1000 GPU well-suited for professional design tasks. While both have high-quality keyboards and sufficient RAM for multitasking, the ThinkPad P16 is slightly less portable due to its greater weight but compensates with a significantly longer battery life, making it a more versatile device for extended work sessions away from power outlets.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
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How the Dell G15 5520 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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."
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Dell G15 5520 or the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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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