When it comes to gaming laptops, Dell’s Alienware division typically receives the most attention. The new G15 and G16, however, show you don’t need to spend a tonne of money to acquire an awesome-looking system thanks to their updated designs.
In contrast to Alienware laptops, which look as if they were beam down from space, Dell’s most recent G-series gaming notebooks appear to be inspired by technology from 80s sci-fi movies. You get strong two-tone paint treatments with neon/pastel highlights and simple lines with sharp corners. I want to play F-Zero and turn on some synthwave when I hear this kind of music. I really like that Dell even took the effort to paint tiny features like the radiator fins inside each laptop’s vents, even though the colours may vary on the final retail devices.
The way Dell set up the ports on the G-series is another wonderful touch. The back of the device has connectors for things like power and HDMI 2.1 that you probably won’t need to modify very often, which reduces clutter. In addition, you have access to two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, Ethernet, and a 3.5mm audio socket on the sides, allowing you to quickly plug in accessories like a mouse, headphone, or flash drive. For even improved usability, I only wish Dell had switched the locations of the back-mounted USB-C port and the side-mounted Ethernet jack.
Given their costs, both systems have good specifications. With a 13th-generation Intel Core i5-13450HX processor, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 120Hz FHD non-touch display, the G15 will start at $849. Additionally, Nvidia offers a variety of RTX 40-series GPUs with extra features like a slightly faster 165Hz screen and up to 2TB of NVMe storage.
A bigger G16 with the same Intel Core i5-13450HX processor, a higher-resolution 165Hz 2560 x 1600 screen, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and 256GB of storage will start at $1,499. You can also update elements like the GPU, memory (up to 32GB), or the display, just like its smaller sister (to a faster 240Hz panel). In the event that the usual 56 WHr batteries are insufficient, both systems can also be fitted with bigger 86 WHr batteries.
The G15 and G16 are a little on the heavy side, weighing 5.84 and 6.01 pounds, respectively. This is one of its two minor drawbacks. Additionally, I’m a little disappointed that Dell chose 720p webcams for both versions. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: regardless of price, all new laptops need to include cameras that are at least 1080p in resolution.
Unfortunately, the devices Dell demonstrated were non-operational pre-production versions, so I was unable to test out the single-zone RGB backlit keyboard or how smoothly games performed. However, I believe Dell has struck a really excellent mix between design and performance for devices that are still reasonably priced.
Although there is no information on pricing yet, the G15 and G16 are both anticipated to go on sale some time in Q1 2023. Additionally, the business claims that variants of both systems with AMD chips would be made available a little later in Q2 for people looking for non-Intel configurations.
