The Framework Laptop 13 is less expensive, more portable, and offers solid general use performance with its midrange specifications, which makes it a great choice for everyday tasks and travel. The Gigabyte Aero 17, while more expensive, provides a larger, high-resolution screen, more storage, and powerful components that excel in 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks, yet it is less portable and has a shorter battery life. 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 Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
Very good portability
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aero 17
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.1/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
472.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
7.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.5 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
8.8/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.6/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for general use, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
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
6.3/10
7.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is only fair.
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is limited in gaming and 3D capabilities due to its integrated Intel GPU, which is less powerful and lacks the high refresh rate screen necessary for smooth visuals that the Gigabyte Aero 17's dedicated Nvidia RTX GPU and likely superior screen refresh rate provide, supporting more graphically intensive games and software with better performance and quality. Additionally, while both laptops have capable CPUs and high-quality screens, the Gigabyte's larger screen and advanced GPU make it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.8/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for engineering and design use due to its high-end CPU, double the RAM, and superior GPU compared to the Framework Laptop 13 (2023), which makes it suitable for demanding tasks; however, the Framework Laptop offers great portability and is known for being highly customizable. The Aero 17 also has a higher quality and larger screen, which benefits detailed design work, but it is less portable and heavier than the Framework, which may matter if you frequently travel with your laptop.
Content Creation
7.5/10
8.4/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Gigabyte Aero 17 is very good for content creation, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) 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
7.4/10
9.2/10
13.5in
SIZE
17.3in
2256 x 1504
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
472.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
368.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aero 17 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Framework Laptop provides a clear and bright display with adequate resolution, ensuring comfortable everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. However, engineers and designers might prefer the Gigabyte Aero 17 for its superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts, which are crucial for professional photo editing and CAD work. While both laptops may disappoint gamers and 3D artists due to lower refresh rates not ideal for fast-paced visuals, the Aero's better resolution and panel type may offer a slight edge in detail clarity for less demanding 3D tasks.
Battery
7.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Framework Laptop 13 has 7.5 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aero 17 has 5.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Fair
13.5in
SIZE
17.3in
2.9 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has very good portability, while the Gigabyte Aero 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,079
$2,071
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has a price of $1,079 and the Gigabyte Aero 17 costs $2,071.
The Gigabyte Aero 17 and Framework Laptop 13 (2023) 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.
Build Quality
7.8/10
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte Aero 17 to have very good build quality, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) and the Gigabyte Aero 17 compare to other laptops
"If you’re thinking of investing in your first Framework, now is the time. The kinks and rough edges have all been smoothed out and this is a very nice machine with a bright, upgradable future. The only reason I can think of to wait is the AMD model, which I’ll be sure to test as soon as I can get my hands on one."
"Not only is the Aero 17 a very good laptop for gamers but also for content creators. With the upgrade to the Intel Core i9-11980HK, Gigabyte particularly improved the system performance. In addition, the hardware package is rounded by the extremely fast SSD and 32 GB of working memory in dual-channel mode. Compared to the predecessor, the battery life is reduced only moderately, and the 4K display also basically keeps its good qualities."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) or the Gigabyte Aero 17
About Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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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