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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is typically much more expensive than the Gigabyte A5, but it offers a more powerful Intel i9 processor, a superior Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card, and double the storage capacity. It also has a larger and higher resolution screen with better color accuracy and faster refresh rates, making it more suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering work. On the other hand, the Gigabyte A5 is a less costly option with a decent AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU, capable of handling general use and gaming. It has a marginally longer battery life and comparable build quality. The Zephyrus M16 is less portable due to its larger screen size and marginally higher weight. If you prioritize performance and are willing to invest more, the Zephyrus M16 is the better option, while the A5 is suitable for more budget-conscious users who need competent performance for general use and gaming. 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 Zephyrus M16
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- Good battery life
- Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9
7.3
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 excels with a better portability score, superior keyboard, speakers, and heat management, making it highly-suitable for various tasks while being easy to carry around. Conversely, the Gigabyte A5 offers commendable performance with decent build and keyboard quality but falls short in portability and battery life, which could be a drawback for users frequently on the move.
Gaming and AI
8.5
7.1
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 stands out for gaming and 3D due to its higher-end Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a faster 240Hz screen refresh rate, while the Gigabyte A5 features a competent Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a respectable 144Hz refresh rate, making it also suitable for gaming and 3D tasks but with slightly less graphic intensity and smoothness. The Zephyrus M16's superior screen refresh rate contributes to more fluid visuals which is crucial for fast-paced gaming and 3D modeling, and its GPU offers more power for demanding tasks compared to the A5, which has a good balance of performance and value.
Engineering and Design
8.8
7.3
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 typically has a high-end CPU, abundant RAM, a powerful GPU, and superior screen quality, essential for demanding engineering software and detailed design work; however, it may be less portable and have higher operating noise. In contrast, the Gigabyte A5 offers good performance for engineering tasks with decent CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities but might trade off some screen quality and have a lesser keyboard and speaker quality, making it a more budget-friendly yet slightly compromised option.
Content Creation
8.2
7.3
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A5 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
7.7
7.0
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte A5 are both good for software development, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
9.0
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize screen clarity and vibrant colors for tasks like browsing and productivity, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior resolution and brightness. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is vital, the M16 shines again with a wider color gamut ensuring your designs look true to life. However, for gamers and 3D enthusiasts who value fluid motion and quick response times, both laptops may disappoint due to lower refresh rates compared to specialized gaming laptops.
Battery
4.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.2
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,150
$830
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $1,150 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,150 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.83'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.69" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900H | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.5 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 627 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | 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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
Gigabyte A5
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
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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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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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