Our Verdict If you're looking to save some cash on your next gaming laptop,
Our Verdict If you're looking to save some cash on your next gaming laptop, the Dell G3 15 will deliver a competent gaming experience while costing significantly less than the...
11/01/2022
Our Verdict
If you're looking to save some cash on your next gaming laptop, the Dell G3 15 will deliver a competent gaming experience while costing significantly less than the competition. p>
For
Affordable
Great performance for the money
Versus
Build flimsy
No USB-C
Introduction, price, design and display
Performance, battery life, features and verdict
There has been a huge trend among
p>best gaming laptops
over the last year or so: make them as thin and light as possible, while delivering as much power as possible. And, if you have the money, laptops like the
Razer Blade
and
MSI GS65 Stealth
really worth it.
For many people, however, these options can be expensive. So, if you're looking for a cheap laptop, where do you go? Well, budget options like the Dell G3 gaming laptop can deliver competent gaming performance at affordable prices - just don't expect too many bells and whistles.
For example, you won't get Thunderbolt 3 or Windows Hello on the Dell G3 gaming laptop, but with a Coffee Lake H-series processor, Nvidia GTX 1050 Ti graphics card and keyboard that's too good to be true - it's worth it the low entry price?
Technical sheet
Here is the Dell G3 15 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU:
Intel Core i5-8300H (quad-core, 8MB cache, up to 4.0GHz with Turbo Boost)
Graphics:
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5); Intel UHD Graphics 630
RAM:
8GB DDR4 (2666MHz)
Screen:
15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) anti-glare LED-backlit
Storage:
128GB SSD: 1TB 5400 rpm hard drive
Ports:
1 x USB 2.0, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x SD reader
Battery:
56 Wh, 4-cell battery (built-in) p>
Connectivity:
Intel Wireless 9462AC (802.11ac + Bluetooth 5.0)
Camera:
widescreen HD (720p) webcam; dual array digital microphone
Weight:
5.57 pounds (2.53kg)
Cut:
Newest Dell G3 15.6″ FHD High Performance Gaming Laptop | Intel Quad-Core i5-8300H Upto 4.0GHz | 16GB RAM | 256GB S… https://t.co/DJbWUJNXJq
— Legit Gamers Gaming Thu Aug 12 19:41:15 +0000 2021
14.96 x 10.16 x 0.89 inches (380 x 258 x 22.7 mm; W x D x H)
Price and availability
Like most laptops today, the Dell G3 gaming laptop is available in a wide range of configurations. Today the US, UK and Australia all have different options available in a bunch of different price points.
In the US, the Dell G3 gaming laptop starts at $749. That gets you an Intel Core i5-8300H, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB 5400rpm hard drive, and a GTX 1050 graphics card. If you want to give it your all, you can get a GTX 1050 Ti, a Intel Core i7-8750H, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for $1199.
Still, the configurations on offer are a little clunky. . You can pick up the same model we reviewed on the right, with a more powerful graphics card for an extra $150 (about £110, AU$200). This is the model we recommend to anyone in the United States.
Things are a little strange in the UK: the entry model is much the same as the US version, only with Ubuntu Linux instead of Windows 10, priced at £748. You can upgrade to a model running Windows 10 for around £50 more. The UK model is superior to the configuration we've used here, but with a Core i7 8750H, and it can be yours for £949.
In Australia, you can grab the exact setup we reviewed here for AU$1599. Or, you can beef it up with a Core i7-8750H, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for AU$1,999 (about $1,475, £1,115).
The Dell G3 gaming laptop is a bargain, especially compared to other budget gaming laptops. Take a look at the $799 (£649, around AU$1,082) Asus TUF FX504 with a weaker GPU. The Dell G3 also compares favorably at $999 (£749, AU$1,149)
Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming
.
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Design
Every time you buy a budget laptop, you're going to create concessions somewhere to make up for the lower price. With the Dell G3 15, the concessions are all in the build quality and gigantic bezels.
This laptop is built entirely out of plastic, and while that's usually not a bad thing, there's a fair amount of flex under the keyboard, and the unit we received had a warped section near the power button. food. Fortunately, the Dell warranty will cover all defects as long as you don't cause them yourself.
The device has a good aesthetic though, with a blue striped design accentuated by the blue lighting on the keyboard. It's not quite the same as some of the gold designs of some high-end gaming laptops, but you won't need to hide it out of shame either.
And, well, that's not the case. exactly what we would call "thin and light", it's also not too bulky. It weighs 5.57 pounds (2.53 kg) and measures 0.89 x 14.96 x 10.16 inches (H x W x D). You should be able to take it with you everywhere, but it might start to weigh you down for long drives.
Then there is the keyboard. There's no way a keyboard this good could be on such a cheap laptop. The keys offer deep, satisfying travel and plenty of tactile feedback. The layout is also top-notch, accommodating a full-size keyboard without having to resort to odd key placements. We can comfortably type on this laptop for hours, which is rare in a laptop in this price range.
The trackpad, however, is just fine. It does what it should and is accurate enough that we didn't really encounter any real issues while using it. The only issues are that it's too small for a 15-inch laptop and has that kind of textured surface that we haven't really thought of – your mileage may vary.
As for the display, you're looking at a 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display with a matte finish, so you can comfortably game in bright environments. That matte finish is particularly important, as the screen isn't exactly very bright. Back when we used this machine to play games and watch YouTube videos, the screen allowed us to do everything we needed to do without any real complaints other than the bezels.
Yes, even in 2018 when thin bezels are making their way onto virtually every device under the sun, the Dell G3 15 looks a little outdated with its massive bezels. Now, while they won't really impinge on your day-to-day use, it's impossible to ignore the fact that the laptop's footprint could have been significantly reduced by using smaller bezels. It's a bit of a niggling complaint but, from the makers of the XPS 13, it's just a bit of a shocker.
First review in June 2018
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Bill Thomas
Bill Thomas (
) is the IT publisher of TechRadar. They are fat, queer and extremely online. Computers are the devil, but they just happen to be a Satanist. If you need info on computer components, pc gaming, or the best laptop on the market, feel free to message them on Twitter or email.