Lenovo Legion 5 vs Dell G15:
Mid-Range Gaming Laptop Showdown

Display Quality: OLED vs LCD Makes a Huge Difference

The most significant difference between these two laptops is the display technology. The Lenovo Legion 5's 15.1" OLED panel delivers a dramatically superior visual experience compared to the Dell G15's traditional IPS LCD.

Lenovo Legion 5 OLED Advantages:

• Infinite Contrast Ratio: OLED pixels emit their own light, achieving true blacks and infinite contrast. This creates stunning visuals in dark scenes and HDR content.
• 2.5K Resolution (2560×1600): 67% more pixels than Full HD means sharper text, more screen real estate, and better clarity in games.
• Vibrant Colors: OLED typically covers 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, making colors pop compared to the Dell's ~60-70% sRGB.
• 165Hz Refresh Rate: Smooth gaming performance for competitive titles.
• No Backlight Bleed: Each pixel controls its own brightness, eliminating the backlight bleed common in LCD panels.

Dell G15 IPS LCD:

• Full HD (1920×1080): Standard resolution, adequate for gaming but less sharp than 2.5K.
• 165Hz Refresh Rate: Matches the Legion's smoothness.
• Good Viewing Angles: IPS technology provides decent off-axis viewing.
• No Burn-in Risk: Unlike OLED, LCD panels don't suffer from burn-in with static images.
• Lower Power Consumption: Contributes to the Dell's better battery life.

Display verdict: The Lenovo Legion 5's OLED display is in a completely different league. If you value visual quality, the Legion 5 is the clear winner. The Dell G15's LCD is functional but can't match OLED's contrast, colors, or clarity.

Graphics Performance: RTX 5060 vs RTX 4060

The Lenovo Legion 5 features the newer NVIDIA RTX 5060 (Blackwell architecture), while the Dell G15 has the previous-generation RTX 4060 (Ada Lovelace architecture).

Lenovo Legion 5 RTX 5060 Performance:

• Newer Architecture: Blackwell brings improved efficiency and performance per watt
• 115W TGP: Lower power consumption than Dell's RTX 4060
• DLSS 4 Support: Latest frame generation technology for better performance in supported games
• 8GB VRAM: Adequate for 1080p and 1440p gaming
• Estimated Performance: Comparable to or slightly better than RTX 4060 in most titlesSource: NotebookCheck

Dell G15 RTX 4060 Performance:

• 140W TGP: Higher power limit means better sustained performance under load
• Proven Performance: Consistently delivers 60-90 FPS in AAA titles at 1080p high/ultra settingsSource: Tom's Hardware
• Gaming Benchmarks:
  • Shadow of the Tomb Raider: 103 FPS (highest settings)Source: Tom's Hardware
  • Far Cry 6: 87 FPS (ultra settings)Source: Tom's Hardware
  • Cyberpunk 2077: 75 FPS (1080p ultra, no upscaling)Source: Tom's Hardware
• 8GB VRAM: Same as RTX 5060

Graphics verdict: Both GPUs deliver excellent 1080p gaming performance. The RTX 5060 brings newer technology and better efficiency, while the RTX 4060's higher 140W TGP provides proven sustained performance. For most gamers, the difference will be negligible at 1080p resolution.

Processor Performance: Ryzen 7-260 vs i7-13650HX

The Lenovo Legion 5 uses the AMD Ryzen 7-260 with 8 cores, while the Dell G15 features the Intel Core i7-13650HX with 14 cores (6P + 8E).

Intel i7-13650HX Advantages (Dell G15):

• 14 Cores (6 Performance + 8 Efficiency): Superior multi-threaded performance
• Better for Productivity: Video rendering, compiling code, running VMs
• Higher Multi-Core Performance: ~40% faster than Ryzen 7-260 in multi-threaded workloads
• Proven Track Record: 13th Gen Intel processors are mature and well-optimized

AMD Ryzen 7-260 Advantages (Legion 5):

• 8 Cores (Zen 5 architecture): Adequate for gaming and general use
• Better Power Efficiency: Lower power draw extends battery life slightly
• Single-Thread Performance: Competitive with Intel in gaming scenarios
• Integrated Graphics: Can handle light tasks without discrete GPU

CPU verdict: For gaming only, both processors perform similarly (within 5% in most games). If you do heavy multi-threaded work (video editing, 3D rendering, streaming), the Dell G15's i7-13650HX is significantly faster. For pure gaming, the difference is minimal.

Battery Life: Dell G15 Wins by 1-2 Hours

Battery life is one area where the Dell G15 has a clear advantage:

Dell G15 Battery Performance:

• 6-7 hours of web browsing and productivity useSource: Tom's Hardware, LaptopMedia
• 86 Wh battery capacity: Larger battery than Legion 5
• LCD display: Uses less power than OLED
• Excellent for portability: Can last through a full work/school day with moderate use

Lenovo Legion 5 Battery Performance:

• ~5 hours (303 minutes) of web browsingSource: PCWorld
• 80 Wh battery (estimated): Slightly smaller capacity
• OLED display drain: OLED consumes more power, especially with bright content
• Acceptable for moderate use: Sufficient for shorter sessions away from outlet

Battery verdict: The Dell G15's 1-2 hour advantage makes it better for students, professionals, or anyone who needs longer unplugged runtime. The Legion 5's battery life is still acceptable for a gaming laptop but requires more frequent charging.

Build Quality and Design

Lenovo Legion 5:

• Plastic and metal chassis with Legion branding
• 5.65 lbs (2.56 kg) - slightly heavier
• Lenovo Legion Coldfront 5.0 cooling system
• 4-zone RGB TrueStrike keyboard with good key travel
• Modern gaming aesthetic with subtle Legion logo
• 1080p FHD webcam with E-shutter for privacy

Dell G15 5530:

• Plastic chassis with "retro" design inspiration
• 5.39 lbs (2.44 kg) - lighter by 0.26 lbs
• Dual-fan cooling system with large vents
• 4-zone RGB keyboard
• Less aggressive gaming design
• 720p HD webcam

Build verdict: The Dell G15 is lighter and more portable. The Legion 5 has a better webcam (1080p vs 720p) which matters for video calls. Both have solid build quality for the price range.

Connectivity: Thunderbolt 4 vs Standard USB-C

Lenovo Legion 5 Advantages:

• Thunderbolt 4: Supports external GPUs, 40 Gbps data transfer, daisy-chaining displays
• Wi-Fi 7: Latest wireless standard for faster speeds and lower latency
• 4× USB-A ports: More legacy device connectivity

Dell G15 Advantages:

• 3× USB-A ports: Sufficient for most peripherals
• Wi-Fi 6: Mature standard with excellent compatibility
• Standard USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (no Thunderbolt)

Connectivity verdict: The Legion 5's Thunderbolt 4 and Wi-Fi 7 are significant advantages for future-proofing and power users who want external GPU support or ultra-fast wireless.

Value Analysis: Which Laptop Gives You More?

Lenovo Legion 5 ($949) Advantages:

• $50 cheaper than Dell G15
• OLED display: Worth $200-300 upgrade alone
• 2.5K resolution: 67% more pixels than FHD
• RTX 5060: Newer generation GPU
• Thunderbolt 4: Premium connectivity
• Wi-Fi 7: Future-proof wireless
• 1080p webcam: Better for video calls
• Exceptional value: Premium display and features at mid-range price

Dell G15 5530 ($999) Advantages:

• Better battery life: 6-7 hours vs 5 hours (20-40% longer)
• More powerful CPU: 14 cores vs 8 cores (40% faster multi-threading)
• Higher TGP GPU: 140W vs 115W (better sustained gaming performance)
• Lighter weight: 5.39 lbs vs 5.65 lbs
• No OLED burn-in risk: LCD technology more durable long-term
• Better for productivity: Intel's extra cores shine in multi-threaded work

Value verdict: The Lenovo Legion 5 offers incredible value at $949 thanks to its premium OLED display and newer RTX 5060. The Dell G15 costs $50 more but delivers better battery life, more CPU power, and proven performance. Both are excellent values in different ways.

Who Should Buy the Lenovo Legion 5?

The Lenovo Legion 5 is perfect for:

• Visual quality enthusiasts who want the best-looking display for gaming and media
• Content creators who need accurate colors for photo/video editing
• Movie watchers who want infinite contrast and true blacks for HDR content
• Budget-conscious buyers who want premium features (OLED, WiFi 7, Thunderbolt) at $949
• Gamers who value visuals over maximum battery life
• Future-proofers who want latest GPU generation and connectivity
• Home/dorm users where battery life is less critical

Check Legion 5 Price on Amazon

Who Should Buy the Dell G15 5530?

The Dell G15 5530 is perfect for:

• Students who need 6-7 hour battery life for full-day classes
• Professionals who game after work but need productivity performance
• Multi-taskers who run heavy workloads (video rendering, VMs, compiling)
• Travelers who appreciate lighter weight and longer battery
• Conservative buyers who prefer proven Intel 13th Gen and RTX 4060 performance
• Long-term owners who want to avoid OLED burn-in concerns
• Gamers who prioritize battery over display technology

Check Dell G15 Price on Amazon

Final Verdict: Two Excellent Mid-Range Gaming Laptops

Both the Lenovo Legion 5 and Dell G15 5530 represent outstanding value in the mid-range gaming laptop category ($900-1000 price bracket).

Lenovo Legion 5 Wins:

• Display quality (OLED vs LCD - massive difference)
• Price ($50 cheaper)
• GPU generation (RTX 5060 vs RTX 4060)
• Resolution (2.5K vs FHD - 67% more pixels)
• Connectivity (Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 7)
• Webcam quality (1080p vs 720p)

Dell G15 5530 Wins:

• Battery life (6-7h vs 5h - 20-40% longer)
• CPU performance (14 cores vs 8 cores)
• GPU TGP (140W vs 115W - better sustained performance)
• Weight (5.39 lbs vs 5.65 lbs - more portable)
• Longevity (no OLED burn-in risk)

Your choice depends on whether you prioritize visual quality and value (Legion 5) or battery life and productivity power (Dell G15). Both deliver excellent 1080p/1440p gaming performance and are solid investments.

Our overall pick: The Lenovo Legion 5 wins for most gamers. The OLED display is a game-changer, and at $949, it's exceptional value. Choose the Dell G15 if you specifically need longer battery life or more CPU cores for work.