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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers high-end gaming and engineering capabilities with its powerful processor and graphics, but it is heavier and less portable. It has a higher refresh rate for smoother visuals in fast-paced scenarios but doesn't offer the same vibrant color quality as OLED displays. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 5 is more affordable, lighter, making it easier to carry around, and has an OLED screen with superior color and contrast, better suited for creative work where color accuracy is crucial. Both have similar storage and memory, but the difference lies in screen technology, performance, portability, and cost. If top-tier gaming and engineering performance are your priority, and you don't mind the extra weight and cost, the ASUS could be the fit for you. If you prioritize a mix of portability, display quality, and value, then the Gigabyte Aero 5 is worth considering. 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 ASUS ROG Strix G18
- Very good for general use
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 5
- The Gigabyte Aero 5 has no clear advantages over the ASUS ROG Strix G18.
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.7
7.9
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 stands out for gaming and 3D uses due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which provides smooth visuals and responsive gameplay. In comparison, the Gigabyte Aero 5, while still very capable for gaming with its Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, offers a lower refresh rate but compensates with a high-quality OLED screen for vivid colors and deep blacks.
Screen Quality
8.7
8.6
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
446.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 5 for gaming and AI, software development, and content creation, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a display that's vivid and crisp, making it suitable for everyday tasks and professional design work due to its high resolution and color accuracy. However, its lower refresh rate makes fast-paced action less smooth, which is a drawback for gaming and 3D applications. Conversely, the Gigabyte Aero 5 offers a high-resolution screen with great color fidelity, which is top-notch for general use and design tasks, but like the ASUS, its refresh rate isn't tailored for the high-speed visuals gamers and 3D designers often prioritize.
Battery
8.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 5 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
Poor
Fair
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gigabyte Aero 5 has only fair portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$2,299
$1,250
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the Gigabyte Aero 5 costs $1,250.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.3
7.9
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
446.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 to be very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use because it has a high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and a quality IPS screen with a high refresh rate, though it's less portable and has shorter battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 5 is good for general use, with a slightly less powerful CPU and an exceptional OLED screen that supports a wider color gamut, offering better portability and similar battery life compared to the ASUS.
Engineering and Design
8.9
8.7
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Gigabyte Aero 5 are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.6
8.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Gigabyte Aero 5 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
8.1
7.9
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 5 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
7.8
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Gigabyte Aero 5 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix G18 and the Gigabyte Aero 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Strix G18 | Gigabyte Aero 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,299 | $1,250 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | 14'' x 10'' x 1.08'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 6.61 lbs | 5.07 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.71" | 14" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.57" | 10" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 18" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 422 nits | 446 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.8/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 5.7/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.6/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Strix G18
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Gigabyte Aero 5
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Dig into reviews and images
The Tech Revolutionist
Zhi Cheng | May 2022
"It is unfortunate that the Gigabyte AERO notebook series have seem to lost its charm, as it’s not exactly any much different from the AORUS series now. Regardless, content creators and designers will certainly still appreciate the features on the AERO 5 XE4, which are fundamental to their work. This largely revolved around the notebook’s display, which is colour calibrated and validated, high resolution (4K) and with great AMOLED colour representation. Now that the AERO 5 XE4 has improved its performance with the latest CPU and GPU, the professionals can also appreciate the improved productivity from the notebook."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the Gigabyte Aero 5
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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