If you prioritize a lighter and more compact design for better portability, the Acer Swift X 16 is the preferable option and it still offers good performance with its AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics for general use and lighter engineering tasks. On the other hand, if you require a laptop with a higher performance for demanding applications, such as advanced engineering software, 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Gigabyte Aero 16, with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics, would be a better choice despite being heavier and thicker. The Gigabyte also features an OLED screen with higher resolution, which is more suitable for creative professionals who need precise color accuracy and crisp visuals. Both have similar battery life and RAM, so those aspects should not greatly affect your decision. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Swift X 16
Very good for software development
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has no clear advantages over the Acer Swift X 16.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
7.8/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Unknown
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Acer Swift X 16 are both good for gaming and AI, though the Gigabyte Aero 16 is somewhat better.
The Acer Swift X 16, with an AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, is conducive for gaming and 3D tasks due to its high screen refresh rate and solid performance hardware, though its graphics card isn't top-of-the-line. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 16's combination of an Intel i7 CPU and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU offers superior graphics performance and an OLED display, ideal for high-fidelity visuals, but with a lower refresh rate which may affect fast-paced gaming experiences.
Screen Quality
8.2/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
402.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Acer Swift X 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 16 for gaming and AI, and software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16's panel type, resolution, and brightness combine to deliver a crisp and vibrant display for everyday tasks and professional design work, ensuring clarity and color accuracy that are essential for these areas. However, it falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a lower refresh rate, which is imperative for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16 enhances the engineering and design experience with a wider color gamut, presenting more precise shades for detailed projects, but similarly lacks the high refresh rate needed for optimal gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Swift X 16 has 8 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 16 has 7 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Swift X 16 and Gigabyte Aero 16 both have good portability, though the Acer Swift X 16 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
The Acer Swift X 16 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for general use.
The Acer Swift X 16 offers a solid balance for general use with its sufficient RAM and CPU for mainstream tasks, an IPS screen that provides good color representation and brightness, and a more lightweight design for better portability, at the expense of having half the storage of the Gigabyte Aero 16 and a less powerful GPU. While the Gigabyte Aero 16 boasts a superior OLED display with higher resolution and color accuracy, making it excellent for creative professionals, it is heavier and thus less portable, with slightly lower battery life despite its larger battery capacity.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Acer Swift X 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Swift X 16 is preferred for engineering and design due to its adequate RAM and high-performance AMD Ryzen CPU coupled with an Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, which together deliver sufficient power for demanding tasks and a high-refresh-rate IPS screen providing clear visuals. The Gigabyte Aero 16, on the other hand, stands out with its more powerful Intel i7 CPU and superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, paired with a high-resolution OLED screen, offering exceptional color accuracy and detail for precision work, although it's heavier and less portable than the Swift.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Acer Swift X 16 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Swift X 16 to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.8/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Acer Swift X 16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,250
$1,260
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Acer Swift X 16 has a price of $1,250 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 costs $1,260.
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How the Acer Swift X 16 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 compare to other laptops
"Acer’s Swift X 16 is an excellent choice for shoppers who want a 16-inch laptop and care more for performance than attractive design or long battery life. The Swift X 16’s gorgeous OLED display, spacious keyboard, and big touchpad make it pleasant to use in basic day-to-day tasks. It also has an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which combine to deliver good performance in a wide variety of productivity applications and games. A few minor mistakes, like poorly-placed USB-C ports that lack DisplayPort, will turn off some shoppers, but those who can accept its shortcomings will find the Swift X 16 a versatile daily driver."
"The Gigabyte Aero 16 is a workstation laptop for light gaming. It's design is still muted, with a silver chassis alongside a black keyboard and trackpad that provides some contrast. The Gigabyte Aero’s full-size chiclet-style keyboard is enjoyable to type on thanks to its snappy feel and responsiveness. The 4K+ AMOLED display is good, but it could be better. It doesn’t handle true black very well and suffers from strong reflections and glare. The Gigabyte Aero excels at productivity performance and can keep up with other gaming laptops in 1080p. But it has very few ports and its refresh rate leaves a bit to be desired."
Get a great deal on the Acer Swift X 16 or the Gigabyte Aero 16
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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