If you prioritize a silent work environment and mobility, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its fanless design and lightweight form may be the right choice; it's excellent for general use and capable for media creation tasks. However, if you require superior performance for tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Gigabyte Aorus 15X, with its powerful processor and high-end GPU, is better suited despite being bulkier and having shorter battery life. Keep in mind that the MacBook comes with MacOS, which might be preferred for certain software applications, while the Aorus 15X runs Windows, offering a different range of software compatibility. 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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 15X
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
8.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020), with its Apple M1 integrated GPU, provides fair 3D performance suitable for lighter tasks but is limited by its lower refresh rate screen. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aorus 15X boasts a dedicated Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and a high-refresh-rate screen, offering top-tier gaming and 3D performance, but it's important to remember that compatibility with many popular games is limited on the MacBook due to macOS restrictions.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) holds its own in engineering and design with a high-quality screen and the efficient M1 CPU and GPU, plus it's lighter and quieter, which makes it more portable. Meanwhile, the Gigabyte Aorus 15X outshines in dealing with more demanding engineering software due to its more powerful Intel CPU, Nvidia GPU, and larger, high-refresh rate screen, at the expense of greater weight and potentially louder operating noise.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
301.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 15X for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro's high-resolution and bright Retina display ensure crisp text and vibrant images, while the Aorus 15X also offers a clear and bright display albeit with a potential focus on speed over color accuracy. The MacBook Pro shines in engineering and design due to its wide color coverage, essential for precise color work, whereas the Aorus 15X, while competent, may not provide the same level of color fidelity. When it comes to 3D work, refresh rate matters the most, and the Aorus 15X is likely to have the edge with its focus on gaming, which often includes higher refresh rates for smoother visuals, a feature the MacBook Pro typically does not prioritize.
Battery
20.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 15X has 5.5 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 15X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Gigabyte Aorus 15X and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a balance of performance and portability with its high-quality screen, good CPU and RAM for general tasks, all-day battery life, and silent operation due to its fanless design, making it well-suited for everyday use and on-the-go computing.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aorus 15X to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
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
7.8/10
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Gigabyte Aorus 15X are both good for software development.
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.
Cost
$1,249
$1,250
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Gigabyte Aorus 15X costs $1,250.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Gigabyte Aorus 15X compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"The Gigabyte Aorus 15X is a strong showing of Raptor Lake and RTX 4000 series. While the Aorus had trouble keeping up in older games like Grand Theft Auto V, it nudged past the competition in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It also flexed its next-generation muscle in Far Cry 6 and Borderlands 3. While we were impressed with the overall build quality and design of the Aorus 15X, the keyboard lacked good tactile feedback. The display performed well in real-world testing despite its on-paper shortcoming with brightness, but the speakers are lackluster at best."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Gigabyte Aorus 15X
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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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