When deciding between laptops like the Framework Laptop 16 and the Gigabyte A7, consider that the Framework is designed for upgradeability and repairability, offering long-term value with the ability to swap out parts. Its premium build often demands a higher price. The Gigabyte A7, on the other hand, may offer more immediate bang for your buck, especially in performance for gaming or heavier tasks, but might not match the Framework's build quality or ethical stance on sustainability. If portability and future-proofing are priorities, the Framework could serve you well, whereas if upfront cost and performance are your focus, the Gigabyte might be the better bet. 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
Good portability
Good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte A7
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
318.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16, with its higher-quality screen and efficient CPU, offers a crisp display and smooth performance for everyday tasks, along with better portability and battery life, making it ideal for users on the go who need their laptop to last. In contrast, the Gigabyte A7, while offering solid general performance, is bulkier and has a shorter battery life, but may come at a more accessible price point for those who primarily work from a single location and don't mind plugging in more frequently.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.3/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Gigabyte A7 offers a more powerful graphics card, which is critical for gaming and 3D applications, and it also features a higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother visuals in fast-paced games. The Framework Laptop 16, while offering decent performance, prioritizes modularity and repairability over top-tier gaming specs, thus its graphics and refresh rate may not be as optimized for high-end gaming and 3D tasks as the Gigabyte A7.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
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 A7 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
7.4/10
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 A7 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
7.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
318.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte A7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering the Framework Laptop 16 and the Gigabyte A7 for general use, the Framework's display might have superior resolution and brightness, contributing to better clarity and ease of viewing in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design tasks, the Framework might offer a wider range of colors with its color gamuts, which is crucial for accuracy in visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops may fall short due to a lower refresh rate, which is essential for smooth motion but less critical for the other use cases.
Battery
9.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte A7 has 4.5 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
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.1in
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability, while the Gigabyte A7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.2/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte A7 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,699
$940
$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 A7 costs $940.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte A7 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 is designed with a focus on customization, allowing users to upgrade the CPU, RAM, and GPU, which is crucial for resource-intensive tasks in engineering, paired with a high-quality screen for detailed design work. The Gigabyte A7, on the other hand, offers strong performance with robust build components, but is less portable and produces more operating noise, which might be less ideal for users sensitive to sound or who frequently move around.
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How the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte A7 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."
"In terms of looks, the Gigabyte A7 X1 is certainly not a trendy, slim, and ultra-mobile gaming laptop. But it does what it's supposed to do, namely bringing games smoothly onto the screen, very well. Both the processor and the GeForce RTX 3070 are able to unleash their performance without restrictions thanks to the well-ventilated case. The Gigabyte A7 X1 brings modern games smoothly onto the screen and offers excellent maintenance options."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte A7
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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