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Updated January 10, 2024·
For robust performance, especially in tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or complex engineering software, the Gigabyte Aero 17 with its high-end graphics card would be an excellent choice. However, the MacBook Pro 16 offers better battery life, making it more suitable for users who need to work on the go without frequent charging. It also has a higher build quality and better speakers but usually comes at a premium price. The MacBook is more portable and has a higher portability score, which could be crucial if you often carry your laptop around. The Aero 17, while powerful, is heavier and has a lower battery life, thus less suited for extended use away from power outlets but may be the more cost-effective option. Both lack a touchscreen but offer high-resolution displays, with the Aero 17 having a slightly larger screen. Considering the operating system, the MacBook runs MacOS which can be preferable for certain software and user experience, while the Aero 17 runs Windows 11 Pro which is more common for general 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 16 (2023)
- Excellent for general use
- Very good for software development
- Excellent for content creation
- Best in class overall build quality
- Good portability
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 17
- The Gigabyte Aero 17 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
9.1
8.1
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is revered for general use due to its robust Apple M2 Pro CPU combined with a high-quality Mini LED screen, offering sharp visuals and strong battery life, all in a highly portable design. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 17 delivers vast storage and a powerful Intel i7 processor ideal for demanding tasks, but with a larger screen and heavier build that reduces portability and battery endurance.
Gaming and AI
7.4
7.9
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) are both good for gaming and AI, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a powerful GPU integrated with the Apple M2 Pro chip, making it suitable for 3D tasks, but many popular games are incompatible with macOS. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 17 offers a dedicated Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and higher overall screen quality, appealing to gamers and 3D professionals who require top-notch graphics performance and compatibility with a wide array of games.
Content Creation
9.1
8.4
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 is very 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
8.9
7.9
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 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.
Screen Quality
9.3
9.2
16.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 17 for general use, AI, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a high-resolution Retina display with bright, vibrant colors and excellent coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3, making it suitable for precision tasks in engineering and design but its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications. The Gigabyte Aero 17 also provides a high-resolution screen with a focus on color accuracy through extended color gamut coverage, ensuring that engineering and design professionals see true-to-life colors, although it also lacks the higher refresh rate preferred for smooth visuals in 3D tasks and gaming. For general use, both laptops offer sharp, clear displays with ample brightness, making them suitable for everyday activities like browsing, document editing, and streaming video.
Battery
17.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 17 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
Good
Fair
16.2in
SIZE
17.3in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.8
8.8
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) with its Apple M2 Pro CPU and integrated GPU excels in engineering and design tasks offering high screen brightness and a long battery life, balanced with exceptional build and speaker quality, but it sacrifices some portability and expandability. The Gigabyte Aero 17, powered by an Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, provides ample storage and a keyboard with a number pad, advantageous for design, though it has a shorter battery life and higher operating noise.
Cost
$2,050
$2,071
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,050 and the Gigabyte Aero 17 costs $2,071.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte Aero 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) | Gigabyte Aero 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,050 | $2,071 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | March 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 15.6'' x 9.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 5.73 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 15.6" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (12C) | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 2048 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 5.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 487 nits | 368 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Gigabyte Aero 17
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NotebookCheck
Mike Wobker | May 2021
"Not only is the Aero 17 a very good laptop for gamers but also for content creators. With the upgrade to the Intel Core i9-11980HK, Gigabyte particularly improved the system performance. In addition, the hardware package is rounded by the extremely fast SSD and 32 GB of working memory in dual-channel mode. Compared to the predecessor, the battery life is reduced only moderately, and the 4K display also basically keeps its good qualities."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte Aero 17
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.
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