The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is pricier but offers higher performance with a better processor, graphics, and double the storage and RAM, suitable for intensive tasks like engineering, gaming, or 3D rendering. It also has a larger, higher-resolution screen with a greater refresh rate, enhancing visual work and gaming experience. In contrast, the Gigabyte G5 is more affordable, with a lower-end processor, graphics, and half the storage and RAM, but still capable of general use and gaming. Consider the ASUS for more demanding tasks and if budget allows, or opt for the Gigabyte if seeking a more cost-effective option for everyday use. 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
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte G5
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Gigabyte G5 are both good for general use, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
7.3/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
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 G5 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.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.6/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is superior for engineering and design because it is equipped with a more powerful CPU and GPU, has more RAM, and offers a higher quality screen which is vital for detailed design work; in contrast, the Gigabyte G5 has a less powerful CPU and GPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution display, which makes it less ideal for demanding engineering tasks despite being slightly more portable and having a better keyboard. However, both laptops share good build quality, and while the Zephyrus M16 has a better speaker system and less operating noise, which can be beneficial for multimedia use and quieter work environments, the G5's lower speaker and operating noise performance might be less suitable for such scenarios.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte G5 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
7.7/10
6.8/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good for software development, while the Gigabyte G5 is only fair.
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
9.0/10
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte G5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a high-resolution display with vibrant colors, making it excellent for general use and engineering design due to its wide color gamuts which ensure accurate color representation. However, for gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops means less smooth motion. In contrast, the Gigabyte G5 offers a fair screen for everyday tasks and sufficient color accuracy for some design work, but similarly lacks a high refresh rate for optimal gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
4.5 Hours
3.5 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 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
8.5/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte G5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,842
$868
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $1,842 and the Gigabyte G5 costs $868.
"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 G5 KE is a midrange gaming laptop that checks most boxes. Gigabyte makes good use of the Core i5-12500H and RTX 3060 Laptop GPU combo, and we find no untoward issues with overall performance. The dual-fan quad-heatpipe cooling arrangement does well to ensure that the underlying hardware doesn't throttle under load. That being said, the display is below par when compared to 2023 standards, especially when competing devices."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the Gigabyte G5
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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