Dell Inspiron G5 5505 (15.6-inch, 2019)

Excellent CPU performance ; Great game performance for the price ; Solid value across configurations ; 144Hz refresh rate

Bulky ; No FreeSync validation

Excellent CPU performance ; Very affordable for a gaming laptop ; Quick and vibrant display

Gets pretty hot under strain ; "Meh" design ; Plastic build feels flimsy ; Graphics are good, but not great

Incredibly capable for the price ; It can run most games at 60 frames per second ; Great selection of components and ports

Clunky, all-plastic design ; Light bleed on display ; Occasional performance issues

Dell’s G5 15 SE gaming laptop has the required components to run most games at a steady 60 frames per second. And notably, it’s able to accomplish that while undercutting some Intel-powered competition.

Sturdy build ; AMD CPU delivers superior multimedia performance ; Capable of 60fps in AAA games ; 144Hz display ; Good port selection ; Relatively long battery life

Underwhelming design ; A bit heavy ; Slightly cramped storage capacity for modern games

A capable and affordable gaming laptop, the Dell G5 15 SE checks plenty of the right boxes. But some questionable design and feature choices keep it from standing out.

Blistering CPU performance ; Strong graphics (compared to budget gaming) ; Great battery life ; Colorful and bright 144Hz display ; Competitive pricing

Middling graphics (compared to mainstream gaming) ; Dim and dull 60Hz display ; Chunky design ; Sharp speakers

The Dell G5 15 SE (2020) sports a super fast CPU and great battery life, but its middling graphics performance and chunky design weigh it down.

Slight bump on the S key helps you center on the WASD keys faster

Backlight bleed on the screen

Good Performance ; The price tag is affordable for most ; It is a sturdy gaming machine ; The variant has improvements over the previous version ; Noise-free Operation is an advantage

The GPU is slightly outdated ; The laptop tends to heat up very often ; Lower variants miss some necessary features ; Only an ; is present, and an internal hard disk cannot be added ; Frame rates suffer when the battery is low due to thermal throttling

Strong productivity and gaming performance for the price ; Long battery life

Runs hot ; Keyboard caps feel cheap ; Mediocre speakers

The Dell G5 15 SE is the first SmartShift laptop on the market, and delivers strong performance for the money. But it runs hot and could offer better sound.

If you’re willing to shell out an extra $250, the Asus Zephyrus G14 is the best gaming laptop available and delivers even better battery life within a more premium design. But if you’re looking for great gaming performance within the $1,000 ballpark,...