The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is a more powerful option, likely better suited for intensive gaming with a high refresh rate display but less portable due to battery life. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16, while still delivering considerable performance, offers a superior display with higher resolution that's ideal for creative professionals and general use. The Aero also has a slightly better battery life and is relatively more portable. Pick the ASUS if top gaming performance is a priority, or choose the Gigabyte if you need a versatile laptop with a premium screen for creative work and everyday tasks. 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 Scar 15
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
Very good for general use
Very good overall display quality
Good portability
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
7.8/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Software Development
7.4/10
7.9/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both good for software development, though the Gigabyte Aero 16 is somewhat better.
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
7.9/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 16 for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15's screen is sharp and bright, making everyday tasks like browsing the web and watching videos a pleasing experience, while the Gigabyte Aero 16's screen provides an even brighter and clearer image due to its higher resolution. When it comes to engineering and design, the Aero 16 stands out with better color accuracy and a wider range of colors, essential for professionals who require precision for tasks such as photo editing and CAD work. However, both fall short for gaming and 3D work as their refresh rates are lower than what's desired for smooth motion and fast-paced action, which can be crucial for an immersive experience.
Battery
5.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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.
Cost
$2,000
$1,260
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 costs $1,260.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 16 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers an excellent blend of performance with a high-end CPU and ample RAM, making it ideal for general use, while its IPS screen delivers good color accuracy and brightness, but it sacrifices some portability due to its weight. Conversely, the Gigabyte Aero 16, with a similar memory and powerful CPU, excels in screen quality featuring a high-resolution OLED display and has a slightly better battery life, though it too is not the most portable option. Both laptops handle heat management and have quality keyboards, but one should be mindful of their relative heft and the shorter battery life in the ASUS for highly mobile users.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
8.6/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both well-suited for engineering and design use because they have high-performance CPUs and GPUs as well as substantial RAM to handle demanding software applications. The ASUS offers an impressive high refresh rate and slightly better gaming appearance, while the Gigabyte boasts superior screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy, which is essential for detail-oriented design work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.2/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 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.
Portability
Fair
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.8in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 16 to have good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.8/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Gigabyte Aero 16 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 Scar 15 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 compare to other laptops
"Asus continues to refine the ROG Strix Scar lineup with new upgrades. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 15 offers almost everything you would expect from a gaming laptop at this price. The build quality is great, connectivity options are decent, and there is enough scope for internal upgrades as well. Asus reverts to membrane switches for the keyboard — though not as "clickety" as the opto-mechanical ones we saw with last year's model, they still make for a decent typing and gaming experience. The lack of biometrics in any form is a downer."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the Gigabyte Aero 16
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.
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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