The Dell XPS 15 offers a more budget-friendly option and is lighter, making it easier to carry around, with a decent battery life and performance suitable for general use. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 16, while heavier and with shorter battery life, provides superior screen resolution and color accuracy, larger storage, and a powerful graphics card that makes it better suited for intensive tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering. If portability and cost are your priorities, the Dell XPS 15 is a suitable choice, but if you need high performance for demanding applications and a top-notch display, the Gigabyte Aero 16 is the better option. 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 15
Very good for software development
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 16
Good for gaming and AI
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.8/10
4.4/10
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
9.1/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The Gigabyte Aero 16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell XPS 15 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 comes with a powerful GPU that supports gaming and 3D applications smoothly, and though its screen refresh rate is suitable for many games, it is not the highest available. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aero 16 not only has a robust GPU for these tasks but also boasts a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing the gaming experience, while also featuring a high-quality screen that benefits design professionals, albeit at a higher cost.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.6/10
9.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 16 and Dell XPS 15 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Gigabyte Aero 16 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.4/10
8.4/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
606.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aero 16 for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Dell XPS 15 suits general users well due to its balanced resolution and brightness, making it comfortable for everyday tasks, but its refresh rate isn't high enough for the smooth visuals gamers crave in fast-paced scenes. The Gigabyte Aero 16 offers even better visibility and vibrant colors thanks to its superior resolution and color range, making it ideal for professionals in engineering and design who require precision in color-critical applications. However, like the Dell, it lacks a high refresh rate, which means gamers and those working with 3D applications won't experience the fluid motion needed for an optimal experience.
Battery
10.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Dell XPS 15 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
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
4.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Dell XPS 15 and Gigabyte Aero 16 both have good portability, though the Dell XPS 15 has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.8/10
The Dell XPS 15 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
$1,000
$1,260
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell XPS 15 has a price of $1,000 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 costs $1,260.
The Dell XPS 15 and Gigabyte Aero 16 are both very good for general use.
The Dell XPS 15, with a more portable design and longer battery life, is very good for general use and can handle everyday tasks well thanks to its competent CPU and ample RAM, though with moderate storage and a less vibrant screen compared to the Gigabyte Aero 16. Conversely, the Aero 16, with its superior screen quality, substantial storage, and a more powerful GPU, is also good for general use but better suited for tasks that benefit from high-quality visuals and graphics performance, albeit at the expense of greater weight and reduced battery life.
Content Creation
8.3/10
8.2/10
9.0/10
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 Dell XPS 15 and Gigabyte Aero 16 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
8.1/10
7.9/10
9.0/10
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
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 15 to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aero 16 is good.
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 15 and the Gigabyte Aero 16 compare to other laptops
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
"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 15 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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