CES 2023 Hands-On: Dell G15 and G16 Gaming Laptops Bring Candy Colors (and Sweet Prices)

It’s easy to focus on the flashy, super-expensive options in the gaming laptop space, but the reality for most shoppers is a much more affordable machine. Dell's new G Series laptops, the G15 and G16, are out to prove that budget-friendly doesn’t have to mean plain or boring, with a sturdy feel and fun-and-funky design that make their prices a nice surprise.

We got a close look at the laptops ourselves at a CES 2023 preview event prior to the show and came away impressed with the well-priced systems. Watch the video above for our impressions and an up-close look at the designs, and read on for details.

Bargain Prices and Uncommon Colorways

First, let’s focus in on the cost, because that is still the most appealing aspect. The G15 starts at just $849, a breath of fresh air in today’s increasingly expensive (and lately, inflated) gaming-laptop market. That’s a fairly modest configuration with an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The G16 is more of an entry-level-to-midrange offering, starting at $1,499.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

As their names suggest, the starting prices are not the only difference: The G15’s screen is 15.6 inches, and the G16 is slightly larger at 16 inches. The actual footprints of the laptops are pretty similar at a glance, but you can tell the G16 is a touch larger overall. The G15’s display is full HD with 120Hz or 165Hz refresh rate options, while the G16’s screen is QHD+ with 165Hz or 240Hz options. If you haven’t gotten the gist yet, the G16 is a moderately upgraded version of its counterpart, in just about all aspects, to match its higher starting price.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Coming back around to the design, the pair come in a rainbow array of color options compared to most laptops. From our time with the units, it seems the designers put a lot of effort into these colorways and aesthetics to make them stand out, resulting in three colors for the G15 and two for the G16. The white G15 with the navy rear block is a personal favorite, but most shoppers will find something to like among this mix.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

Despite the budget pricing, the build is strong, and its materials feel like premium quality. They aren’t super light, though: the G16 is especially hefty at 6.01 pounds, and the G15 isn’t far behind at 5.84 pounds. They’re each just over an inch thick, too, so they’re only portable to a point for frequent travelers.

Components and Features

We can’t speak on the specifics of the components just yet, but both models will utilize 2023’s next-generation CPUs and GPUs from Intel, Nvidia, and eventually AMD. Naturally, the bottom half of these stacks will be relevant to the G15, and the G16 will offer some higher-power options, but there will be a lot of configuration choices for each. The Intel and Nvidia configurations will launch in Q1, while the AMD options will release in Q2, with pricing to be announced closer to the shipping dates.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

As for other features these two gaming laptops share, there’s a dedicated thermal boosting key, macro keys, and RGB lighting. The lighting options differ between the two, with the G15 using one-zone or four-zone RGB, and the G16 just one-zone RGB, as well as a Cherry MX keyboard option.

(Credit: Kyle Cobian)

These two G Series laptops will also see the perks of having bigger, richer cousins at Alienware, inheriting the brand’s Element 31 thermal material for improved cooling, which is usually reserved for more premium products. Likewise, a redesigned Alienware Command Center application will come to these laptops along with the 2023 Alienware machines, built to be more intuitive for managing your components, thermals, and system settings.

Check back when units become available for our full benchmark results and reviews of these budget-friendly gaming systems.