If you prioritize upgrading and customizing your laptop, the Framework Laptop 16 is designed with modularity in mind, allowing you to replace components easily. However, if you're looking for top-notch gaming performance or need to run highly demanding applications, the Gigabyte Aorus 17 often offers more powerful graphics and processing capabilities, which might be worth the extra investment. The Aorus typically has shorter battery life and is less portable due to its size and weight, so if you need a laptop that's easy to carry around and has longer battery life, the Framework would be a better choice. 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 software development
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 17
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.1/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17, with its superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, provides a smoother and more immersive gaming and 3D experience than the Framework Laptop 16, which, while still capable, offers less graphical performance and a lower refresh rate. Although both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the Aorus 17's emphasis on gaming specs makes it more suited for graphic-intensive tasks.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
8.0/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte Aorus 17 for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
The Framework Laptop 16's higher resolution and panel type offer crisp and vivid visuals, which along with great brightness, make it excellent for general tasks and detailed engineering work. Its color coverage suits professional design needs, displaying a wide spectrum of accurate colors. However, for gaming and 3D, its lower refresh rate might not deliver as smooth an experience as some gamers prefer, despite its decent resolution and panel technology.
Battery
9.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 17 has 6 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
5.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.4/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 offers strong performance with a quality CPU and sufficient RAM, a high-resolution screen, and is built for portability with its lightweight design and longer battery life, making it a solid choice for general use where mobility and screen clarity are prioritized. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aorus 17, while also providing good CPU performance and ample RAM, leans towards a heftier build, often trading off some portability and battery life for a larger screen and potentially more power, better suited for users less concerned about mobility who may also do more resource-intensive tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 17 and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Gigabyte Aorus 17, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-end GPU, excels in handling demanding engineering software and has a screen that delivers crisp and accurate visuals, making it a prime choice for intensive tasks, albeit at the expense of portability. In contrast, the Framework Laptop 16 offers solid performance with a focus on customization and repairability, good screen quality and a balance of key components suited for engineering and design work, though not as high-end as the Aorus, it's easier to carry around.
Content Creation
8.1/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and Gigabyte Aorus 17 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
8.0/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the Gigabyte Aorus 17 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.
Cost
$1,699
$1,700
$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 Aorus 17 costs $1,700.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Gigabyte Aorus 17 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."
"The Gigabyte Aorus 17 is a powerful high-end gaming machine. The Aorus 17 is a potent gaming notebook in a 17.3-inch format designed for FHD gaming at maximum settings. A Core i7-12700H processor and GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Laptop GPU make this possible. A lightning-fast PCIe 4 SSD (1 TB) provides the necessary storage space and ensures short loading times. With the Aorus 17 XE4, Gigabyte delivers a well-rounded, high-performance gaming notebook."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte Aorus 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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
98,295
Recommendations made
21,298
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.