The Dell XPS 13, more affordable and lightweight, is excellent for general use with good battery life and portability, making it ideal for on-the-go usage. If you're looking for a machine with a higher resolution screen and more storage, consider the Gigabyte Aero 16. The Gigabyte is better suited for more resource-intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering, given its powerful graphics card and processor. However, the Aero is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may impact its portability. Both are premium laptops, but the Gigabyte may also handle intensive gaming better. Consider how you balance price, performance needs, battery life, and portability. 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 Dell XPS 13
Very good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 13 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 13, with an Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate, is fair for gaming and 3D tasks, handling lighter loads effectively. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is equipped with a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and also has a standard refresh rate, making it better suited for more demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.2/10
8.6/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell XPS 13 is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
7.7/10
8.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is very good for content creation, while the Dell XPS 13 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.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
8.4/10
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
442.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen than the Dell XPS 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Dell XPS 13 offers a balance between resolution and brightness, making it suitable for daily activities like browsing and productivity software, but its standard refresh rate and panel type limit its appeal for fast-paced gaming or high-end 3D rendering. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is equipped with a high-resolution display that boasts extensive color coverage, satisfying the precise needs of professionals in engineering and design fields; however, similar to the Dell, its refresh rate isn't ideal for gaming or creating fluid 3D animations where smoother motion is a priority. For both laptops, users focused on general and professional applications get an excellent visual experience, but gaming and 3D graphics enthusiasts should consider other options tailored to meet the demands of high frame rates.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 13 has 10 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.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.4in
SIZE
16.0in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 13 has excellent portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.8/10
The Dell XPS 13 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
$850
$1,260
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell XPS 13 has a price of $850 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 Dell XPS 13 is good.
The Dell XPS 13 shines in portability and battery life, making it great for general use when you need a lightweight laptop with respectable performance provided by its advanced CPU, sufficient RAM, and high-quality screen, although the smaller screen might be less suited for tasks requiring a larger display. On the other hand, the Gigabyte Aero 16, while not as portable due to its larger size and weight, compensates with a superior, larger high-resolution OLED screen, powerful CPU, plenty of RAM, and high-end graphics capability, ideal for more demanding applications and better visual experiences.
Software Development
7.5/10
7.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Dell XPS 13 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.
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How the Dell XPS 13 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 compare to other laptops
"In the past, the XPS 13 was a hands-down contender for the best laptop on the market. But the Apple-silicon MacBook has since barrelled onto the scene, and it wipes the floor with most of the ultraportable Windows laptops that cross my desk on a daily basis. This XPS is no exception. Compared to the M2 MacBook Air, battery life is worse."
"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 Dell XPS 13 or the Gigabyte Aero 16
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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