If you prioritize battery life and higher resolution for meticulous graphics work, the Gigabyte Aero 16, with its OLED screen and longer battery life, is a solid option. However, for intense gaming or demanding engineering software, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior gaming performance with its more powerful graphics card. The Aero 16 is slightly heavier, so the ASUS is a bit more portable. The Zephyrus M16 also provides a higher refresh rate screen, better for fast-paced games. If the price is a concern, the Aero might be more wallet-friendly while still offering ample storage. Keep in mind, though, that neither is as light or thin as ultra-portable options. 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 gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
Very good for general use
Good battery life
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
7.8/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is highly regarded for gaming and 3D applications because it boasts a powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 240Hz, which are very important for these tasks, providing smooth visuals and the ability to render complex graphics quickly. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 16, while also good for these purposes, features a slightly less potent Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which may not offer the same level of gaming performance and responsiveness.
Screen Quality
9.0/10
8.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 16 for gaming and AI, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen for engineering and design.
When looking at general use, both the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 offer high resolution and bright displays which are pleasing for everyday tasks and productivity, with the ASUS providing a nice balance of features. For tasks in engineering and design, the Gigabyte Aero 16 stands out with superior color accuracy and broader color gamuts, essential for precise visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates that provide smoother visuals and better responsiveness, vital for fast-paced interactive experiences.
Battery
4.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.8/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$1,260
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 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 Zephyrus M16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a high-end CPU and plenty of RAM for smooth multitasking, making it excellent for general use, while its portable design and reasonable battery life ensure it's easy to carry around. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16 impresses with an OLED screen that delivers vibrant colors and sharp images, alongside a larger battery capacity that supports longer use away from a power outlet, also making it a good fit for general use applications.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.6/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 stands out for engineering and design due to its high-end CPU and GPU, which are superior for demanding tasks, as well as a high refresh rate screen that combines quality and fluidity for both detailed work and gaming. The Gigabyte Aero 16, on the other hand, offers a high-resolution OLED screen that excels in color reproduction and is paired with a solid CPU and GPU combo, but it may not perform as swiftly in engineering tasks that require the most powerful processing capabilities.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
7.7/10
7.9/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte Aero 16 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 Aero 16 compare to other laptops
"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."
"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 Zephyrus M16 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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