Dell G3 15 3590 Gaming Laptop Review

At the recent Computex 2019 event in Taipei, Taiwan, Dell unfurled a bagful of surprises for gaming enthusiasts. Apart from additions to its classic Alienware line-up, Dell has also announced the all-new 15” Dell G3 15 3590. This affordable gaming series has swiftly become the darling of the masses, and the latest launch, with its sleek and stylish design and the optional 144Hz display, looks set to continue the reign.

It comes with the innovative Game Shift technology that enables you to turbo-boost with a single key-press. Available in the U.S. since May 28 this year, the new Dell G3 has a starting price of $799.

In this exclusive review, we dig into the various offerings of Dell’s most recent offering. Let us understand just how capable the Dell G3 15 is as a starter gaming laptop, especially in a marketplace that is quickly becoming overcrowded.

Inside the Processing Chamber

The latest Dell laptop offers up to a ninth-gen Intel i7-9750H processor—a CPU that betters the performance of the previous generation significantly. But the icing on the cake is the infusion of the “Game Shift” technology that lets you turbo-boost your system in a blink. All you got to do is press the G-key (or F7) on the keyboard to witness the magic: the processor works harder; the fans go the extra mile. It is a brilliant way to prep your laptop for high-adrenaline gaming without having to abandon your gameplay and spend several minutes fiddling with system settings.

What is a tad disappointing is the RAM support: only 8GB. The available storage capacity, however, is better: a maximum of 128GB SSD coupled with 1TB SATA. Arguably, this is not enough to store your entire world of gaming paraphernalia, but at the budget-friendly price point, it is not a bad deal. The SSD ensures quick booting and loading, while the Windows 10 operating system ups the prowess for multitasking. Battery backup is up to the mark, but what really stands out is the quick-charging feature. (You can use the 51Whr battery if unplugged usage is one of your priorities.) Overall, the performance is ample to fuel standard gaming endeavors at moderate settings.

The Alienware Command Center remains as helpful as ever, letting you calibrate the controls and access gaming libraries and profiles at will. A special word for the heat dissipation system: it is ultra-efficient! Dell employs a dual-fan mechanism and prominent venting to ward off the heat generated and keep the laptop functioning at its finest for several hours in one go. The noise levels are also on the lower side.

Display, Graphics & Sound

Driving the A/V performance on this gaming device is an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 discrete graphics card with 4GB of dedicated memory. The best display specs you can opt for are an FHD monitor (1920 x 1080) equipped with an anti-glare panel and support for In-Plane Switching. The brightness levels are satisfactory at 300 nits. A narrow bezel design keeps outside interference low, realizing a compelling viewing and gaming experience.

Optionally, you can choose to get the 144Hz display for smoother gaming. The merits of a high refresh rate need to be experienced to be believed, but let us just say this: you will get an edge at any games that entail rapid movements or demand quick reaction times.

In the audio department, Dell has utilized a Nahimic 3D Audio system for sound clarity. The laptop comes equipped with two speakers designed to deliver distortion-free and louder sound. Whether you plan to use this laptop for gaming or multimedia content editing, you are likely to be satisfied with the acoustics.

Build & Construction

Weighing just over 5lbs (5.18lbs, precisely) and measuring 0.85”, this laptop manages to be quite portable and easy to carry. The profile is lean enough to let the chassis fit comfortably in backpacks.

Suffice it to say, this Dell offering can double up as both: a useful everyday companion with a distinct multimedia edge and a gaming computer that doesn’t balk at the thought of outdoor gaming marathons or competitive events.

The coloring is particularly appealing: a deep-black (“eclipse-black”) accented with blue. The alpine-white alternative is also quite a stunner.

A well-built keyboard is a prerequisite for any gaming laptop, and here, Dell does not disappoint. Not only is the keyboard full-purpose and spill-resistant, but it also offers optional RGB backlighting (4-zone) to keep you playing uninterrupted in all kinds of settings. Plus, it comes with a dedicated numeric keypad—quite a premium feature for a budget-friendly laptop.

A Wide Array of Connectivity Options

Dell has persevered to provide you with a workstation-like experience even when you are on the move. This laptop offers an entire spectrum of ports to connect your devices and peripherals such as mice, controllers, and external displays. So, you can use an in-built USB 3.1 port, two USB 2.0 ports, a USB-C display port, an HDMI, as well as an SD card reader. The S-curve design deserves the accolades for this excellently connected machine.

How about getting onto the internet? Well, the 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard promises a consistent signal, depending, of course, on the strength of your connection. You also stand to benefit from the SmartByte technology that makes streaming more fluid by prioritizing multimedia content as per your needs.

Aye or Nay?

The Computex 2019 event proved to be the canvas for multiple innovations from participating brands. Dell announced not only various forays into the gaming world—including more powerful Alienware laptops and headsets—but also business laptops and home installation services.

• Read: 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $1000

With the Dell G3 15 3590, Dell has strengthened its footing in the budget-gaming world. Here is a device that succeeds at being lightweight, portable and inexpensive while providing ninth-gen processing, discrete graphics, and a 144Hz display.