A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 21, 2024·
The Dell G15 5520 typically offers more power suitable for gaming and demanding tasks, but it's bulkier and has a shorter battery life, so it's less convenient if you need to move around a lot. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, on the other hand, is more portable with better battery life, making it ideal for business professionals or students on the go, but it might not handle high-end gaming or intensive tasks as smoothly as the Dell. Choose the Dell for performance-heavy applications or the Lenovo for better mobility and longer work sessions away from a power outlet. 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
- Good overall display quality
- Very good speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
8.4
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
251.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Dell G15 5520 is good.
The Dell G15 5520 offers powerful CPU and RAM options suitable for intensive tasks, but it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for on-the-go users compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, which provides a balance of good CPU performance, screen quality, and portability, along with longer battery life for everyday mobility. While the ThinkPad also offers a superior keyboard and durable design, the Dell might have advantages in storage and gaming or engineering tasks due to its robust build but could run louder and hotter under heavy use.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.7
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
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
7.5/10
The Dell G15 5520 is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520 has a more powerful graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D rendering, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, with less emphasis on the GPU and refresh rate, focuses more on portability and enterprise features. Although the ThinkPad X13 offers satisfactory performance and screen quality for general use, the G15's superior GPU and refresh rate make it a better fit for those specific to gaming and 3D tasks.
Software Development
7.5
8.1
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
6.9
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Dell G15 5520 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offer screens with suitable resolution and brightness, making them clear and comfortable for daily tasks like browsing and productivity software. In engineering and design, both laptops have panels that cover a significant part of the color gamuts, ensuring that colors are accurately represented for professional work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of these laptops' screens can make fast-moving visuals less smooth, which is less optimal for these use cases compared to screens with higher refresh rates.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good portability, while the Dell G15 5520 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4
8.5
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
$1,459
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Dell G15 5520 has a price of $1,000 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,459.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.0
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Dell G15 5520, with its more powerful CPU, larger RAM, and superior GPU, handles demanding engineering software and multitasking more efficiently, and its screen displays crisp visuals essential for design work. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while offering a high-quality keyboard and greater portability for on-the-go users, may not deliver the same level of performance for resource-intensive tasks but excels in regular engineering applications and environments where a quieter operating noise and speaker quality are appreciated.
Content Creation
7.9
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell G15 5520 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell G15 5520 | Lenovo ThinkPad X13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,000 | $1,459 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2022 | September 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.7'' x 1.06'' | 11.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.63'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.55 lbs | 2.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.06" | 11.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.74" | 8.46" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-12700H | AMD Ryzen 7 7840U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 56 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 251 nits | 321 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.4/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 8.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1440p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Dell G15 5520
See more
Dig into reviews and images
Rtings
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."
Lenovo ThinkPad X13
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Benjamin Herzig | September 2023
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Dell G15 5520 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Dell G15 5520 vs. LG Ultra 16
VS
Compare Dell G15 5520 vs. ASUS Vivobook 16X
VS
Compare Dell G15 5520 vs. ASUS TUF Gaming F17
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Lenovo Legion Slim 5
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
VS
Compare Lenovo ThinkPad X13 vs. Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro 360
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
130,695
Recommendations made
28,318
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
