Among the leading gaming laptops, standing out requires a significant difference. The market is mainly filled with black, red, and RGB-themed designs. When I first saw the new Dell G15, priced at $1,659.99 (with an entry-level price of $599.99), I was genuinely impressed.

This Dell laptop offers attractive color options and features like a bright, vivid 165 Hz 1080p display. It also delivers strong performance thanks to an Intel Core i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX 4060.

If you are considering buying a Dell G15, pay close attention to the specs. Some compromises were made to keep the entry-level version affordable. Also, the vibrant colors are only available on the base models.

G15: Performance

	Basic Specs	Reviewed Specs
Price	$599	$1,659
Processor	13th Gen Intel Core i5-13450HX	Intel Core i7-13650HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
RAM	8GB DDR5-4800	16GB DDR5-4800
Storage	512 M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD	1TB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
Display	15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 165 Hz	15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 165 Hz
Ports	3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Ethernet	3x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Ethernet
Size	14.07 x 10.80 x 1.06 inches	14.07 x 10.80 x 1.06 inches
Weight	6.19 pounds (2.81 kg)14.07 x 10.80 x 1.06 inches	6.19 pounds (2.81 kg)14.07 x 10.80 x 1.06 inches
Operating System	Windows 11 Home	Windows 11 Pro

G15: Design

I had resigned myself to the idea that finding a laptop with a unique color was unlikely in 2023. However, I was genuinely surprised when I unboxed my review unit. The pastel lilac, deep purple, and mint shells give it an incredible look.

Despite offering a wide range of colors, the Dell G15 doesn’t seem as high-quality as it looks. The plastic feels flimsy and bends easily at the top shell, which doesn’t match its price. I’d be worried about dropping it, as its weight could cause the plastic to crack. However, this seems unlikely given the laptop’s size, which is unfortunate because its design is worth showcasing.

My primary concern with the Dell G15’s design is its portability. I couldn’t easily carry it to different locations. For example, during a vacation, when I tried to bring it along, it didn’t fit into my large carry-on bag. So, I used a smaller bag with a larger internal compartment that is specifically designed for laptops. I’m glad I found an alternative bag that works, but other users might have trouble if they don’t have a large enough suitcase and might have to leave the laptop behind.

G15: Display

Our review unit has a vibrant 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a quick refresh rate of 165Hz. This high refresh rate ensures smooth gameplay. Many games I tested easily surpassed 100 frames per second (FPS), offering a more fluid experience and quicker responses. Overall, this greatly improves the gaming experience.

The 3-millisecond response time is beneficial for gamers playing fast-paced games like Fortnite. Although I don’t notice slight differences in response time unless they are 20 milliseconds or more, many players might find this feature quite advantageous. Aside from that, I didn’t see many other highlights to mention about this display. 

	Dell G15	Razer Blade 14	ASUS Zephyrus G14	Alienware m17 R5
Brightness (nits)	323	465	473	435
sRGB	123%	161%	104%	107%
DCI-P3	87%	114%	74%	76%
Delta-E	0.29	0.07	0.23	0.21

The bezels were quite large, and the display hinge seemed bulky, making the overall design less sleek. The plastic shell also felt flimsy, which lowered the device’s perceived quality. Additionally, the color reproduction wasn’t as vibrant as that of the Razer Blade 14 (2023), which features a bright QHD+ display with excellent color accuracy; when gaming in dark environments, like Cyberpunk 2077 and Alan Wake 2, the screen’s ability to display dark shades worsened significantly under different lighting conditions.

G16: Gaming Performance

I have several concerns about the Dell G15, but gaming performance is not one of them. With an RTX 4060 GPU, I didn’t expect the G15 to outperform the Razer Blade 14, let alone beat my favorite gaming laptop of the year. However, I was mistaken. The highly acclaimed game of the year, Alan Wake 2—which I initially thought this laptop would struggle to run effectively—ran very smoothly. 

The game featured impressive visuals, with realistic textures and lighting effects. Although somewhat unsettling, it ran smoothly at a comfortable 147 FPS setting using custom medium-to-high configurations, DLSS 3.5 (balanced), and frame generation. A slight grain or noise was visible when quickly turning the camera, but it was not distracting.

Cyberpunk 2077 was played at 143 FPS settings with medium to high quality, DLSS 3.5, and frame generation enabled. While the Razer Blade 14, equipped with a more powerful RTX 4070 GPU, ran the game at 95 FPS, the Dell G15’s performance was unexpectedly good. 

The game looked better than ever, with smooth frame rates that rarely stuttered whether navigating streets, open areas, or crowded alleys. The main improvements came from the new 2.0 update for Cyberpunk 2077 and the upgraded DLSS 3.5, which handled most of the heavy lifting. However, I wasn’t expecting such a great gaming experience.

G15: Keyboard and touchpad

Dell has thoughtfully included a full keyboard with a number pad on the G15, providing all the keys you might need. Some keys are a bit narrow to fit everything in, but overall, it offers a comprehensive typing experience. I prefer laptops without a numpad, but if you’re into gaming, use Excel, or love customizing macros to extra keys, this setup is perfect for you.

You’ll notice some keys are packed closely together. For example, the page up and page down keys sit right next to the up arrow, which can make it tricky to locate the arrow keys by feeling alone. If you use these keys for gaming or other tasks, keep in mind that this layout might take some getting used to.

The plastic keycaps on this keyboard are of substandard quality. Dell states that the keyboard has 1.4 mm of travel, which is acceptable, but it felt shallow to me. Despite this, it didn’t affect my typing performance — I maintained a speed of 119 words per minute with a 2% error rate during a typing test.

The touchpad is not very large, but it is sufficient for Windows 11 gestures. Occasionally, I pressed the edges, and all inputs registered correctly. However, the touchpad has a somewhat plasticky feel.

G15: Audio

I wasn’t happy about paying $15 to use it, and I also wasn’t satisfied when trying to listen to Dolby Atmos-certified music on Tidal. Neither app showed whether the integration was working. On a positive note, activating a Dolby Atmos EQ profile did produce a noticeable change in sound. However, was that sound difference worth the cost? No, it didn’t improve my experience with this laptop.

G15: Verdict

Not all gaming laptops are the same. Some are designed for portability, while others are high-performance machines suitable for both work and gaming. Specific models excel in various applications, especially gaming. For example, laptops like the Dell G15 are built specifically for gaming.

However, such devices tend to be large, noisy, and fragile for portable use in professional environments. Their displays are often inadequate for video editing and features like an offset keyboard can make typing uncomfortable. Additionally, battery life is usually disappointing. If you plan to use this laptop as your main device, you’ll need to accept these limitations. Only then can you truly appreciate its capabilities and decide if it’s the right choice for you. 

The Razer Blade 14 is priced higher, but it offers a better display, unique features, and similar gaming performance, all in a portable, durable metal chassis. Alternatively, the Alienware m17 R5 is a more budget-friendly option for those who want a similarly sized laptop. It starts at $1,099 and features a last-generation RTX 3050 GPU.

The Razer Blade 18 is an 18-inch gaming laptop, succeeding the Razer Blade 18 (2023) model. This version features the Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, 4080, or 4090 GPU. It supports up to 64GB of RAM, and storage can be expanded up to 4TB. Users can choose between a 300Hz QHD+ (2560 x 1600) Mini LED display and a 200Hz 4K+ (3840 x 2400) panel. 

The Razer Blade 18 is a powerful laptop with massive gaming capabilities. Its 18-inch display appeals to many gamers who can afford a premium gaming laptop. There are plenty of ports, including a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, to ensure a high-speed internet connection during online gaming. Due to its high performance, it occasionally gets hotter, and its cooling fans can be pretty loud.

Razer 18: Cheatsheet

What is it? This is the Razer Blade 18, a high-end gaming machine.

Whose is it for? The Blade 18 is designed for those who require a powerful machine for gaming and other tasks, and can afford its price. It is also suitable for anyone who needs a replacement for their desktop with a more portable machine. 

What does it cost? The prices start at $3,099 and range up to $4,799.

What do we like? The Blade 18 boasts a magnificent display and formidable specifications, designed explicitly for gaming. Its speakers are impressive, and it also includes a wide array of ports.  

What don’t we like? The primary issue for many users is its high price. It gets a little warm during long gaming sessions, and its cooling fans produce a noticeable amount of noise.

Razer 18: Specification

Price	from $3,099 – $4,799
Processor	Intel Core i9-14900HX (14th Gen)
GPU	NVIDIA RTX 4070-4090
RAM	up to 64GB
Storage	Up to 4TB
Display	18-inch 300Hz QHD+
Ports	3x USB-A, 2x USB-C, HDMI 2.1, SD Card Reader, Ethernet, and 3.5mm audio port
Weight	6.80 Pounds
Size	15.74 x 10.83 x 0.85 inches
Operating System	Windows 11 Home

These specifications distinguish Razer from its competitors. Razer provides only one processor, the 14th-generation Intel Core i9-14900HX, which runs at 2.4 GHz. It features 24 cores and can boost up to 5.8 GHz. This processor is one of the fastest from Intel and is suited for a laptop of this calibre.  

Razer 18: Game Testing

We ran games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator, along with high-power-consuming software such as Blender. While playing Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080, this laptop averages 63.63 FPS (frames per second). However, when shifting to 4K resolution, the average FPS drops to 18.42. Finding a portable machine capable of running Cyberpunk 2077 at 4K can be challenging, as this game requires significant power. Nonetheless, the performance of the Blade 18 was not surprising. 

While playing Microsoft Flight Simulator at 1080p (Full HD), the average frame rate ranges from approximately 80 to 120, depending on the complexity of the scenery and weather conditions. A key point to remember is that, at 1080p, the game relies more on the CPU, especially in densely populated areas. In contrast, at 4K (Ultra HD) resolution, the frame rate hovers around 60; at times, it drops to 55 frames per second in heavily populated and modern cities like New York City.

While testing Blender, the RTX 4090 laptop’s graphics card achieves a benchmark score of around 7,100. The GPU render time is about 3 seconds when using OptiX acceleration. In contrast, the CPU render time is roughly 1.5 minutes. 

Note: GPU rendering is usually faster than CPU rendering, particularly when using OptiX acceleration. While the Intel Core i9-14300HX is a high-performance processor, GPU rendering proves to be more efficient in complex scenes. 

Razer 18: Display

If the specification becomes the primary reason to buy this laptop, then the display could become the secondary reason. Razer offers the display in two options: a 300Hz QHD+ mini LED and a 200Hz 4K model that lacks mini LED technology. Both displays are 18 inches; this is the 18 from which the Razer Blade 18 comes.

When comparing its display to those of other laptops, you’ll notice the difference in display quality, especially considering its price tag. The display is the second main factor that enhances your gaming experience; obviously, the first is performance. Imagine paying a hefty amount for a gaming laptop, only to discover that its performance is excellent, but its display is lacking; this would ruin your gaming experience. Nevertheless, Razer keeps this in mind.

Razer 18: Ports

Razer didn’t return to the field of ports, offering everything you need. An incredible Thunderbolt 5 port that allows for transferring data and connecting devices at a massive speed of up to 250 Gbps. This port can support three 4 K displays at 144Hz, which is impressive. 

In addition to this powerful port, Razer offers three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an HDMI port, a 3.5 mm audio port, and a card reader port. 

Razer 18: Drawbacks

The Blade 18 is a very potent laptop, but it also comes with some drawbacks that prevent it from being a perfect laptop. Thankfully, none of them are at such a level that would prevent you from buying this laptop.

Size:

The most apparent thing you noticed earlier when you pointed your eyes on it. This laptop is large due to its 18-inch display and numerous other components. The size is 15.74 x 10.83 x 0.85 inches, and it weighs about 6.80 pounds. The size is approximately the same as last year’s model, although this one is lighter, weighing around 7 pounds. However, compared to a computer, this is still adjustable to a certain extent. If we assume Blade 18 as a portable computer rather than a traditional laptop, this would not be incorrect.

Expensive:

Indeed, the Razer Blade 18 provides substantial power, but its price is also rather steep. Its cheapest model sells for $3,099 and the most expensive one sells for $4,799.

This price tag is out of reach for many gamers, but regardless of which version you choose, you will receive an Intel Core i9 processor. The main difference lies in the GPUs, and the worst you can expect is RTX 4070.

Keyboard:

Despite its large size, Razer doesn’t include a number pad on its keyboard. This space is utilized for more efficient speakers, but personally, a number pad can be a valuable tool for users in their daily lives. 

The keyboard is positioned at the center, which creates a significant amount of space along the keyboard. Sometimes, I will not find the correct position of the keyboard while typing. 

Many gamers use an external keyboard for a better gaming experience, often opting for a high-quality mechanical keyboard. If you purchase an external keyboard, you may not need to worry about the built-in one. However, those who prefer using a mouse and a standard keyboard, like me, often face difficulties while typing. 

Hot:

As with the previous version, this model also tends to get hot during gaming. While playing games, the hottest part of the laptop reached 134 degrees. However, Razer did a great job by moving the hottest parts away from where you rest your hands; the touchpad only gets hot upto to 82 degrees. 

The heat is not a bad thing—after all, all gaming laptops get hot. However, the Razer 18 should have a better cooling system to prevent overheating. 

Razer 18: Verdict

While the Razer Blade 18 is an expensive machine, it is worth every penny if you know how to utilise it effectively. If you’re looking for a gaming powerhouse with portability, this laptop is an ideal choice. The primary motivation for developing this machine is to enhance the gaming experience through portability. You can play games even at coffee shops. 

If you love portable machines, then you don’t need to worry about the price. The Blade 18 is one of the best laptops available, and it is worth every penny. 

Meet the ROG Strix Scar 16, a fantastic 16-inch gaming laptop packed with power. It features an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, 32GB of RAM, and an RTX 5080 graphics card, making it an excellent choice for gamers. Although the RTX 5080 isn’t the highest-tier GPU in NVIDIA’s laptop lineup, it still offers impressive performance. Keep in mind that achieving this requires a considerable investment, priced at $3,299 as tested, to access the latest NVIDIA features.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 offers a solid foundation, featuring a robust chassis, multiple ports (such as 2.5 GbE), Wi-Fi 7 support, a quick SSD (using PCIe 5.0-enabled M.2 slots for future-proofing), and a bright 1600p Mini LED display.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16:Price

The base price for the ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025) starts at $3,299. It boasts a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and a GeForce RTX 5080, making it an excellent choice for high-performance tasks. After NVIDIA launched its new 50 series, all gaming laptops now adopt it, and this model is no exception—only the 50 series is used here. Its design clearly shows it’s a pure gaming laptop, and in gaming laptops, RGB lighting is standard, something ASUS always impresses us with. 

You can buy it from Here.

Although this is a gaming laptop designed for gamers, you’ll find a more upgraded version featuring NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 for an extra $1000. The most appealing feature of the ROG Strix Scar is the LED screen on the back, which you can control through built-in software.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Specs

	Reviewed Configuration	Top Configuration
Price	$3,299	$4,299
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX	Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX
GPU	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
RAM	16GB DDR5-5600	16GB DDR5-5600
Storage	2TB NVMe M.2 SSD	2TB NVMe M.2 SSD
Display	2.5K (2560 x 1600) 16:10 aspect ratio Anti-glare display	2.5K (2560 x 1600) 16:10 aspect ratio Anti-glare display
Ports	1x 3.5mm Audio Jack1x HDMI 2.1 FRL3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps)1x 2.5G LAN port2x Thunderbolt 5	1x 3.5mm Audio Jack1x HDMI 2.1 FRL3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (10Gbps)1x 2.5G LAN port2x Thunderbolt 5
Size	35.4 x 26.8 x 2.28 ~ 3.08 cm	35.4 x 26.8 x 2.28 ~ 3.08 cm
Weight	2.80 Kg (6.17 lbs)	2.80 Kg (6.17 lbs)
Operating System	Windows 11 Pro	Windows 11 Pro

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Design

When you take the laptop out of the box, the first thing you’ll see is the ROG logo on the lid. At first, it looks like a simple, shiny chrome badge. But as soon as you turn on the laptop, it lights up with vibrant RGB colours, bringing a lively splash of colour to its sleek black exterior.

A vibrant RGB light ring elegantly encircles the entire bottom half of the enclosure, while the keyboard is beautifully illuminated with per-key RGB lighting. You can personalise the lighting of the ROG Strix Scar 16 to reflect your style using Aura Sync in Armory Crate.

The ROG Strix Scar 16 features a beautiful 16-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, complemented by slim side bezels that enhance your viewing experience. The top bezel is wider to house the 1080p webcam and infrared sensors for Windows Hello, positioned centrally. The bottom bezel is even larger, about twice the width of the top bezel, and features the ROG STRIX branding.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Ports

The ROG Strix Scar 16 is a spacious laptop, and Asus optimally utilises the available space by incorporating an extensive array of ports for connectivity. On the right side, there are only two USB 3.2 Type-A ports. 

The majority of the connectivity options are positioned on the left side, which includes a proprietary power connector, a full-size 2.5 GbE LAN port, an HDMI 2.1 port, an additional USB Type-A port, 2x Thunderbolt 5 ports, and 1x 3.5mm audio jack. The ROG Strix Scar 16 features an Intel BE200 card that enables Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for wireless connectivity.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Display

Asus has thoughtfully outfitted the ROG Strix Scar 16 with a vibrant 16-inch display boasting a 2560 x 1600 resolution and stunning Mini LED backlighting. Perfect for gaming enthusiasts, the panel refreshes at an impressive 240 Hz, making it a fantastic choice for the RTX 5080.

Our assessments demonstrated that the ROG Strix Scar 16’s display covers 81.2% of DCI-P3 and 114.7% of sRGB, underscoring its remarkable colour gamut. Thanks to the Mini LED backlighting, the laptop shines brightly, with brightness reaching 457.2 nits with SDR content. When displaying HDR content, brightness exceeds 1,200 nits, perfectly matching Asus’s claim of 1,200 nits.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Gaming Performance

The ROG Strix Scar 16 boasts impressive high-end hardware, including an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, and 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. The Core Ultra 9 275HX boasts eight performance cores that operate at a steady 2.7 GHz and can ramp up to an exciting 5.4 GHz with turbo speeds. It also includes 16 efficiency cores with a 2.1 GHz base clock, capable of turbo boosting to 4.6 GHz. This makes the laptop an excellent choice for gaming and other demanding applications. 

Let’s review how these gaming laptops performed in our Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark. The ROG Strix Scar 16 achieved a performance of 177 fps at 1080p, although this decreased to 112 fps at 16:00. The Aorus Master 16 (Core Ultra 9 275HX, RTX 5080) led with a score of 185 fps at 1080p and narrowly outperformed the Asus at 1600p, which recorded 114 fps. Meanwhile, the Blade 16 attained 166 fps at 1080p and excelled at 1600p with 161 fps. The Alienware x16 was marginally behind, with 117 fps at 1080p and 79 fps at 1600p.

Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing Ultra settings) was the latest game incorporated into our benchmark suite; accordingly, the x16 configuration did not meet the threshold for testing. Nevertheless, we have a comparative analysis between systems equipped with Blackwell GPUs. The ROG Strix Scar 16 reached 61 fps at 1080p and 35 fps at 1600p resolution. The Aorus Master 16 demonstrated comparable performance, with 62 fps at 1080p and 38 fps at 1600p. The Blade 16 outperformed these results by about 10 per cent at both resolutions, achieving 66 fps and 43 fps at 1080p and 1600p, respectively.

In the assessment of Far Cry 6 at Ultra settings, a notable shift occurred within the rankings, with the Aorus Master 16 now occupying the primary position, surpassing the Blade 16 equipped with the RTX 5090. The Aorus Master 16 attained an average of 120 fps at 1080p and 113 fps at 1600p. The ROG Strix Scar 16 was slightly behind, achieving 112 fps and 103 fps at 1080p and 1600p, respectively.. The performance of the Blade 16 at 1080p was comparable to that of the x16, both reaching 97 fps, while its achievement of 94 fps at 1600p secured it the second position.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Keyboard & Touchpad

 The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 features a full-sized keyboard with 2mm key travel. On the right, it has four media keys—Play, Pause, Previous Track, and Next Track. Additionally, five programmable “M” keys are located at the top of the keyboard deck, allowing control over volume, microphone, power modes (Silent, Performance, Turbo), and providing quick access to Armoury Crate. Users can customize each key’s functions through Armoury Crate.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16: Verdict

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is built on a solid foundation with a sturdy chassis, multiple ports including 2.5 GbE, Wi-Fi 7 support, a fast SSD with PCIe 5.0-enabled M.2 slots available for future upgrades and a vibrant 1600p Mini LED display.

Ultimately, the ROG Strix Scar 16 endured for 6 hours and 30 minutes, securing the second position following the Blade 16, which lasted for 7 hours and 21 minutes.

This laptop’s primary highlight is the RTX 5080 graphics card. Although it offers strong overall performance, persistent driver issues can cause occasional gameplay problems with certain popular games. Future driver updates are expected to address and resolve these performance and compatibility issues. Still, when investing over $3,000 in a gaming laptop, you expect seamless play across your entire game library without obstacles.