If you're looking for high performance with vibrant screen colors for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers excellent capabilities. However, its portability is limited by a shorter battery life and it has a lower resolution screen. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 17 has a larger and higher-resolution display which is better for detailed engineering work and creative tasks. It also has a slightly better battery life but is less portable due to its larger size. Both are powerful options at similar price points, so prioritize the importance of screen real estate and resolution versus better suitability for gaming and slightly higher portability when making your choice. 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 17
Very good for general use
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
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 2160
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both good for software development, though the Gigabyte Aero 17 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
9.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
283.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Gigabyte Aero 17 excels due to its high-resolution screen that provides sharp images and bright display, which enhances viewing comfort and detail. During engineering and design tasks, its wider color gamuts ensure accurate color reproduction, which is critical for precise visuals. However, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial, the lower refresh rate of both the Gigabyte Aero 17 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 may not deliver as fluid an experience as models with higher refresh rates, despite their adequate resolution and panel type.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 offers a combination of a high-end CPU and a high-refresh-rate screen, suitable for snappy performance in general use, whereas the Gigabyte Aero 17, with its high-resolution Mini LED display and a slightly less powerful but still capable CPU, is ideal for those who prioritize screen quality and detail for media consumption or creative work. While both have similar battery life, the ASUS is more portable due to being lighter and slightly smaller, but the Gigabyte Aero 17 compensates with double the storage and a better screen with higher resolution and colorspace coverage.
Gaming and AI
8.3/10
7.9/10
8.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
300Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 to be very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is equipped with a high refresh rate screen, making it ideal for smooth gaming and 3D experiences, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 boasts a Mini LED display with a higher resolution for clearer and more vibrant images, despite having a lower refresh rate. Both laptops house the same powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, which is very important for rendering detailed graphics quickly in games and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.5/10
8.8/10
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 17 and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 is equipped with a high-performance CPU and GPU, making it suitable for demanding engineering applications, though its screen offers lower resolution compared to the Gigabyte Aero 17, which has an even more capable GPU and a high-resolution Mini LED display that excels in color accuracy and clarity for design tasks. While both laptops have similar amounts of RAM and powerful GPUs, the Aero 17's superior screen and slightly larger battery give it an edge for detailed visual work; however, it is also less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.4/10
9.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Gigabyte Aero 17 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.
Battery
5.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has 5.5 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
Fair
Fair
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
5.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and Gigabyte Aero 17 both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to have very good build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,000
$2,071
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 has a price of $2,000 and the Gigabyte Aero 17 costs $2,071.
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How the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 and the Gigabyte Aero 17 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."
"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 ASUS ROG Strix Scar 15 or the Gigabyte Aero 17
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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