The Dell G15 5520, with its powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics, is better for gaming and intensive engineering tasks. However, it is heavier and bulkier which makes it less portable. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offers an AMD Ryzen 7 processor with integrated Radeon graphics which is suitable for general use and some engineering work; it's also more lightweight and has a higher-resolution screen in a more compact form, making it better for portability and business use. If you need higher performance for gaming or engineering, consider the Dell, but if you value portability and a sharp display for productivity tasks, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 could be more appropriate. 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
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.7/10
6.3/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
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 Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is only fair.
The Dell G15 5520, with a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, is better equipped for demanding gaming and 3D tasks, offering smoother visuals and faster response times, essential for immersive gameplay. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, while having a capable CPU and good screen quality, doesn't match the Dell's performance in gaming due to a less powerful GPU and lower refresh rate, but it still provides adequate power for general use and less graphics-intensive applications.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell G15 5520 is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 is good.
The Dell G15 5520 stands out for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 processor, substantial GPU capabilities with an Nvidia RTX 3060, and larger screen, which offers a high-quality display; however, it's heavier and not as easy to carry around.
Screen Quality
7.1/10
7.0/10
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
251.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
379.0 nits
The Dell G15 5520 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
For general use, both the Dell G15 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 offer clear and bright displays with high resolutions, making text and images sharp and easy to read. In engineering and design, they provide a wide range of colors, ensuring that designs appear accurately and vividly with good coverage of professional color spaces. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens fall short due to lower refresh rates, leading to less fluid motion and potentially less immersive experiences compared to panels designed specifically for these purposes.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Dell G15 5520 has 6 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
5.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 has excellent 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 Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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.
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both good for general use.
The Dell G15 5520 satisfies general use with its ample storage, capable CPU, and RAM adequate for multitasking, though it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, impacting portability for on-the-go users. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13, while having less storage, compensates with a high-quality screen, exceptional portability due to lightweight build and long battery life, making it suitable for those prioritizing mobility and screen detail.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell G15 5520 and Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 are both good for content creation.
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.
Software Development
7.5/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 and Dell G15 5520 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.
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 Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 costs $1,000.
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How the Dell G15 5520 and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 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."
"In the premium ultraportable space, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13 competes with the best of the best, and still manages to shine. The design is an impressive departure from the bland bare-metal laptop that's become so popular in recent years, and the AMD-powered system has performance that's just as impressive. It's a stark alternative to the Intel-based majority, and it stands up well enough to the impressive Apple M2 processor."
Get a great deal on the Dell G15 5520 or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z13
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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