Why not buy a laptop that you may also use for gaming during your lunch hour if you’re trying to get a new work computer? In a productivity PC outfit, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is a gaming-level laptop with specs. The Aero line has actually been advertised as a gaming system. The new Gigabyte Aero has a stunning glossy silver finish that matches the workplace, in contrast to the previous all-black design. It’s also the company’s sole 16-inch laptop.
Gigabyte Aero 16 is a creator-specific series that the company has long promoted. I’ve always had my doubts about it. Despite their branding, Aero models, contrary to popular belief, do not look all that different from the company’s Aorus gaming lineup.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has Intel’s latest 12th Gen Alder Lake CPUs, as well as Nvidia’s GeForce RTX series graphics cards and specifications that we’ve seen in some of the best gaming laptops. The reduced bezels on the new display improve upon the previous display by fitting it to a 16:10 aspect ratio.
But Gigabyte Aero 16 has just a few ports available. The refresh rate of the 4K screen, meanwhile, is ideal for watching movies, although it is insufficient for gaming or other activities. Aero is a capable hybrid solution for those who want to play games and work because it’s difficult to argue against Aero’s ability to deal with productivity and gaming at a decent pace.
Desain Gigabyte Aero 16
Thanks to its solid aluminum alloy body, the Gigabyte Aero 16 appears stunning and feels exceptional. It is comparable in size to the 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro, measuring 0.88 by 14.02 by 9.78 inches (HWD), although it is somewhat thicker and heavier, weighing 5.05 pounds compared to the MacBook Pro’s 4.85 pounds. While it weighs a bit more due to its aluminum construction, it also has a really high-quality feel. The Aero 16 has a perception of luxury and quality that other materials and composites don’t have.
The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers a new look from the previously all-black Gigabyte Aero 15. The silver chassis, black trackpad, and white keyboard provide some contrast to the muted design. When the engine starts, the Aero logo on the lid lights up, and the same all-white illumination behind the keyboard is also activated. The 720p webcam is kept in an inverted nook on the laptop’s lid, protruding out so you can open it with ease.
After you’ve unwrapped the Aero 16, you may see a little mound above the narrow bezel screen. The laptop’s HD webcam, which includes a dual microphone array and IR sensing for Windows Hello, is housed in a small protrusion above the screen that serves as a helpful tip for easy cover opening and closing. It also opens the webcam, and it virtually ensures that fingerprints and wrinkles will accumulate on the webcam and pinhole microphone every time you use the system. It’s as easy as opening a laptop lid for use.
Read Also : GIGABYTE AERO 17
Performance
The unlocked Intel Core i9-12900HK CPU is the star of the Aero 16. It has a maximum speed of 5GHz, and it comes with 14 cores and 20 threads. The version in the Aero 16 performs well, despite only having been tested in one other laptop, the MSI GE76 Raider.
The Aero 16 delivered a nearly identical performance in all of the tests I conducted compared to the Raider GE76. Cinebench’s multi-core test, which pushes the CPU to its absolute limit, was the only exception. The Aero 16’s power limits are evident due to the form factor, as seen in comparison to the Raider GE76.
Intel is far out in front of AMD when it comes to performance. The flagship Ryzen 5000 mobile CPU isn’t available on the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Pro, but it’s so far behind the Aero 16 that it hardly matters. Nevertheless, AMD’s Ryzen 6000 mobile CPUs are on the way, which may restore Team Red to the top.
The MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro, on the other hand, stands out. The M1 Pro is nearly identical to the Aero 16 I reviewed, save for a $2,000 price difference. The M1 Max model is still the best deal around, and it outperforms everything else. Apple seems to be a very attractive option right now if you’re concerned about raw processor performance.
Gigabyte Aero 16 Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core i7-12700H |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti 16GB,GDDR6, 1125 MHz BC,105W Max Graphics Power |
| Memory | 16GB DDR4-3400 |
| Storage | 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Display | 16-inch UHD 3840×2400 Samsung AMOLED, 16:10 |
| Networking | Wi-Fi 6E AX210, (802.11ax, a/b/g/n/ac/ax compatible), Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C), 1x 3.5 mm Audio |
| Camera | 720p webcam |
| Battery | 99 WHr |
| Power Adapter | 230W |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 14.02 x 9.78 x 0.88 inches / 356 x 248.4 x 22.3 mm |
| Weight | 5.07 pounds (2.30 kg) |
| Price (as configured) | $2,349 |
Display
Together with machines like the Asus ZenBook 14X OLED, the Aero 16 joins a small but growing list of laptops that have VESA’s DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification. OLED is the magical word. The Aero 16 features an OLED screen that is extremely bright and dynamic, as well as a display with true black levels.
Gigabyte claims that the monitor covers 100% of the professional DCI-P3 color space, and it has a 16:10 display with a resolution of 3,840 x 2,400. While my color meter only detected 73% of the DCI-P3, Even more perplexing, the Gigabyte display was factory calibrated, but my first tests revealed that the calibration had thrown the hues off. The display achieved a Delta-E value of 1.5 after I went back to the default color option, which is appropriate for colorwork, thanks to a profile that Gigabyte has enabled by default.
I admire the way this display looks even if it’s not quite right. My color meter calculated a contrast ratio of 788,400:1 and brightness greater than 600 nits at full brightness. Even the Asus Vivobook Pro 16X OLED, which has a superb OLED display, fails to do so.
The Aero 16 looked fantastic while watching films and playing games. I was practically drooling over how superb the LG OLED samples were when I pulled them up. A smaller LED display option with a lower resolution and a much greater refresh rate is also available from Gigabyte. If you want to play games on the Aero 16, that might be a good option, but when it comes to picture quality, the OLED is king.
However, the refresh rate is a problem. The frequency is locked to 60Hz on this panel. The Aero 16 was missing that extra smoothness due to the fact that machines like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7 Carbon are using 90Hz OLED displays.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Gigabyte Aero 16’s full-size chiclet keyboard has a great feel and responsiveness, making it a joy to type on. Because it’s the only color option for illumination here, the white backdrop on the keyboard is also attractive to look at.
The 4.7 x 3.0-inch touchpad on the Aero 16 is big and comfortable to use. In Windows 11, I have no problem running gestures. The trackpad, on the other hand, acquired four of my fingerprint marks after just a few uses, and they would not come off no matter how hard I tried.
I can use gestures to browse websites and various windows since it supports Windows Precision drivers. The Aero 16 trackpad is excellent, however, it pales in comparison to the MacBook Pro’s superb, clunky hardware.
Battery Life
Make room for the 230W power brick if you want to transport this five-pound 16-inch workstation to and from the office. While connected to Wi-Fi and the screen set to 150 nits of brightness, the Gigabyte Aero 16 lasted five hours and four minutes in our battery test, continuing to browse the web, stream video, and run OpenGL tests. Legion 7 came in fourth at 4:39, while Aorus came in fifth at 4:06. Razer lasted the second longest at 4:54.
Battery life on the Aero 16 is short. Honestly, for any serious work, you’ll want to keep the machine plugged in, just removing it from the charger for brief, undemanding work.
The Aero 16 features a 99-watt-hour battery, which is the biggest permitted on an aircraft. Machines with identical hardware continue to outperform it. In our web browsing tests, the Raider GE76 lasted around 6% longer than Intel’s 12th generation CPUs. In just three hours and 11 minutes, the Aero 16 was in operation.
The Aero 16 lasted four hours and nine minutes in our local video playback test, putting it well behind the rest. Right now, Apple is the best bet for battery life concerns. The MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro lasted 23 hours during this test.
Audio Gigabyte Aero 16
The audio amplifier can reach high volumes and send sound to the listener thanks to the Gigabyte Aero 16’s well-placed speakers along the sides and top. We had to, however, adjust the audio quality settings in order to get a louder sound. The default sound is a little disappointing at first; everything is murky with limited or no dynamic range.
I played “Deep Down” by Winter Kills when I launched Spotify. In the song, I noticed how muddy the high treble was. Other 16-inch laptops with comparable audio placement, such as the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, have music that is not as loud.
I saw an option to increase audio and upgrade the format to a 24-bit 192000Hz frequency response for better range in the Windows 11 sound settings. The track quality improved significantly after I did that. The music hits the high volumes I’d hoped for, and the clarity I’m used to hearing from tracks shines.
The sound of waves breaking against ancient Mesopotamia’s rocky shores was deafening, and the little noises locals made while hunting and fishing were clear as I watched The Eternals.
Connectivity
This gadget is really a vent, despite the fact that it appears to have numerous USB-A ports on the side. Two Thunderbolt 4s, one USB-C 3.2, one DC-in, and one audio jack are the only options available. Those who need USB-A or SD will be stuck with a dongle, which is sad.
Camera and Security
The Aero 16 doesn’t include the extra webcam features that productivity-oriented computers like the HP Spectre x360 do, so it focuses on performance. You get a two-microphone 720p webcam, as well as an infrared sensor for Windows Hello, and you also get a background noise cancellation microphone.
This is a webcam that will only be used in extreme situations. Even under decent illumination settings, it seems to be extremely distracting, and lowlight shots make the camera seem like it has even lower quality than 720p. The webcam sits in its own location on top of the display, so there isn’t a privacy shield, which feels like a missed opportunity.
The microphones’ audio quality is equally terrible. They seek to silence extraneous sounds but instead make voices sound like they’re drowning. The fans’ noise was also picked up by the microphones. Mind the sound that fans make while actually spinning, rather than fan noise.
If you intend to attend meetings on the Aero 16, you’ll want a separate webcam or at least a pair of earbuds. The bundled software includes a meeting mode, which reduces the fan speed and thus produces less noise.
The machine has firmware TPM to meet Windows 11’s system requirements, and you have the option for Windows Hello on the security front. Unfortunately, there isn’t a fingerprint reader, nor are there any webcam security methods beyond taping over the camera.
Software and Warranty Gigabyte Aero 16
Our review unit came with the Gigabyte Control Center software pre-installed, but I didn’t find it very useful. Eventually, I discovered it was a desktop shortcut, but I spent far too long hunting for it in the Start menu.
You may check usage, temperatures, fan speeds, and other information with the Control Center software. It also contains a handful of additional settings, as well as a feature that alters how much power goes to the CPU or GPU using AI. You may cycle through the AI’s multiple settings or turn it off without installing the software by pressing the Fn Key and F12.
Disney Plus, TikTok, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Video is among the usual Windows 11 bloatware. The Aero 16 XE5 comes with a one-year warranty and is sold by Gigabyte.
Pricing
The Gigabyte Aero 16 YE5, which costs $4,400 and is the most expensive model, is being reviewed. The unlocked Core i9-12900HK is only available in this model, whereas the Core i7-12700H is available in five of the other six. With the cheapest model going from an RTX 3080 Ti to an RTX 3060 in core components, the most significant distinction is the graphics card.
Outside of the processor and graphics card, you should pay close attention to which model you choose. DDR5 memory support is only available on the top three models (YE5, XE5, and KE5), with DDR4 support being offered on the rest.
In the United States, I was able to find the cheapest model. The XE4 variant (the second-lowest in the series) clocked in at $2,350. MSI’s Creator Z16P, which costs $3,000, isn’t a bad deal. The MSI Raider GE76, for example, is a good gaming laptop that costs less than $2,000 and has the same features.
Gigabyte is putting a premium on DDR5 like many other 12th-generation machines. Even if you configure the computer with powerful specs otherwise, this computer falls in the midrange price range with certain configurations. However, to unlock DDR5, you’ll need to go into the high-end.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the specs of the Aero 16?
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a portable workstation, compact gaming notebook, and laptop for creatives that combines features of all three. A Core i9-12900HK (Alder Lake) and a GeForce RTX 3080 Ti are used to power it.
What makes the Aero 16 creator laptop unique?
Past generations and designs, evolutionary thinness, and humanism aesthetics are all inspirations for Gigabyte’s Aero 16 Creator Laptop. The classics are well entrenched in it. The Intel Core i9 12th Generation CPU, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 Series GPUs, and a fantastic 4K+ HDR ultra-wide display have all been squeezed into a small chassis.
Are Gigabyte Aero 16 laptops good?
In general, yes. Most laptop brands offer a range of models that are tailored to different needs and budgets. So if you’re looking for a powerful machine that’s also portable, there’s a good chance you’ll find what you’re looking for from one of these brands.
Conclusion
Overall, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is a high-end laptop with many features that go beyond what you’ll find in other brands. The battery life may not be as great as some others on the market, but overall it’s an excellent choice for people who want powerful performance and portability.
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