When choosing between the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte A5, consider your priorities. If you prefer a lightweight and customizable laptop with potentially less gaming or engineering horsepower, the Framework is an environmentally conscious choice. If budget is your main concern and you need stronger performance for gaming or resource-intensive tasks, despite possibly sacrificing build quality and battery life, the Gigabyte A5 could serve you well. Remember, the Framework's higher cost is attributed to its modularity and premium build, while the Gigabyte may offer more raw power for your money at the expense of portability and battery efficiency. 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 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
490.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 offers a high-quality screen, a strong CPU, and ample RAM, ensuring smooth performance for all-around tasks along with better portability and battery life, making it a suitable choice for on-the-go users who need a reliable daily driver. The Gigabyte A5, with its robust CPU and sufficient RAM, handles general tasks well and is more cost-effective, but it lags slightly in screen quality, portability, and battery life compared to the Framework, making it a better fit for stationary use or users who prioritize performance over mobility.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A5 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 offers a high-resolution screen and modular components for easier customization and upgrades, which is beneficial for engineering and design tasks that require powerful CPU, GPU, and ample RAM, yet its portability is a bonus for users on the go. In contrast, the Gigabyte A5 provides substantial processing power with a focus on GPU performance for demanding engineering software but is less portable and may have higher operating noise, which could affect the overall user experience.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte A5 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
8.0/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Gigabyte A5 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.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Framework Laptop 16's combination of its panel type, high resolution, and brightness offers a clear and vibrant display, which enhances the viewing experience whether you're browsing the web, working with documents, or watching videos. In engineering and design, professionals value color accuracy, and this laptop excels here with its wide color coverage, giving life to detailed graphics and digital art by closely matching real-world colors. However, for gaming and running 3D applications, the Framework Laptop's lower refresh rate could lead to less fluid motion, making it less suited for fast-paced interactive content where the Gigabyte A5 with its slightly more modest display features offers a similar experience but does not specifically cater to high refresh rate demands either.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 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
8.0/10
7.2/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,699
$830
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has a price of $1,699 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Framework Laptop 16's flexibility in customization allows users to choose a variety of GPUs that can handle casual gaming and 3D tasks, but the Gigabyte A5 comes with more powerful GPUs, making it better suited for demanding game graphics and 3D rendering. While both laptops feature good screen quality, the Gigabyte A5 typically offers a higher screen refresh rate, which results in smoother visuals during fast-paced games.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte A5
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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