Dell G7 15 review
The Dell Dell G7 15 ranks as the #536 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 70. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #313-ranked performance among 240 laptops. Consider the Dell G15 5511 or Dell Inspiron 13 5310, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Dell G7 15 is a decent gaming laptop with some notable flaws. Its build quality and 4K OLED screen are highlights, but the CPU thermals are subpar, causing overheating issues at default settings. While the GPU performance is fine, the lack of CPU headroom is a significant drawback for competitive gamers. The single M2 slot and no SATA drive option also limit storage upgrades. Considering its price tag of $1,849, it's not worth the investment. However, if you can find it on sale for under $1,100, the 2070, OLED, and metal build might make it a viable option for casual gamers.
Build
The Dell G7 15-inch gaming laptop boasts a sturdy build quality with a metal finish. The design is sleek and thin, making it portable without compromising performance. The lid's metal construction feels premium, giving the impression that this laptop can withstand rough handling. However, the chassis' thinness results in thermal issues, particularly with the CPU. Overall, the G7's build is solid but flawed by its inability to effectively cool its components under heavy load. If you're after top-notch build, consider Dell Vostro 15 3500.
Display
The Dell G7 15's display is a highlight, boasting a vibrant 4K OLED screen that goes up to 400 nits in brightness. This results in a vivid and colorful visual experience, making it ideal for watching movies or playing games. However, the 60Hz refresh rate may be a drawback for those seeking smoother visuals. While this is not uncommon for gaming laptops with 4K resolutions, it's still worth noting. Overall, the display is a strong point of the G7 15, offering excellent color accuracy and brightness in a sleek and compact package. It’s worth checking out Dell Latitude 15 5520, delivering remarkable display.
Performance
The Dell G7 15's performance is marred by poor CPU thermals. Despite an 80W GPU, the Intel Core i7-10750H runs hot, exceeding 90°C during intense usage. This leads to throttling and reduced performance. The laptop's cooling solution is inadequate for a 45W chip like the 10750H. To mitigate this, I set the power limit to 30W and clock limit to 3.5GHz using Quick CPU. This improved performance in games. However, the CPU still doesn't match the GPU's capabilities, limiting overall performance. For single-player games, the laptop is decent, but for competitive gaming, its thermal issues make it less than ideal. Give Dell Latitude 15 5520 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled performance.
Battery and Charging
The Dell G7 15 has some notable drawbacks, but its battery life is surprisingly average. I experienced around 6-7 hours of use with moderate gaming and office tasks. The charging time is decent, taking about an hour to charge from empty to full. While not exceptional, the battery performance is acceptable considering the laptop's specifications. However, it falls short of expectations for a device marketed as a high-performance gaming laptop.
Connectivity
The Dell G7 15 is a solid gaming laptop with some notable drawbacks. The connectivity options are limited, with only one M2 slot and no way to add a SATA drive. This makes upgrading storage a hassle. However, the laptop's metal build and vibrant OLED screen make up for this shortcoming. With careful tweaking of settings, it can provide a great experience for single-player games, but falls short in terms of CPU thermals and high-refresh rate gaming. Consider discovering the power of Dell Vostro 15 3500, featuring the latest advancements in connectivity.
Features
The Dell G7 15-inch gaming laptop boasts a 4K OLED screen, metal finish, and thin design. It features a 6-core i10-750H CPU, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 Max-Q with 8GB Vram, and decent speakers. However, it has thermal issues and only one M2 slot. You might prefer Dell Latitude 15 5520, designed with an upgraded features for a better experience.
Support and Maintenance
The Dell G7 15's build quality is impressive, but its support and maintenance are lacking. Limited storage options and a single M2 slot require tedious upgrades. The cooling system struggles to handle CPU thermals, making performance inconsistent. Upgrade hassles detract from an otherwise decent gaming experience.
Pros
1. A really nice build quality with a metal finish
2. A 4k oled screen that is vivid, goes up to 400 nits, and is nice and bright
3. A 6 core Intel Core i7-10750H processor
4. An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 2070 Max-Q GPU with eight gigabytes of vram
Cons
1. CPU thermals are an issue due to the thin chassis design
2. The screen is only 60Hz, which may not be suitable for high-refresh games
3. There's only a single M.2 slot and no way to add a SATA drive, making storage upgrades more complicated
4. The cooling solution can't handle the CPU's default clock speed, leading to throttling
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