If you prioritize customization and repairability with a premium feel, the Framework Laptop might be the better choice, even at a higher cost. On the other hand, if budget is a major concern and you're looking for a laptop primarily for gaming or intensive tasks, the Gigabyte G5 might offer more value with its dedicated graphics card at the expense of build quality and ease of upgrades. Consider how much you value portability and battery life; the Framework is likely to be more portable and have longer battery life than the Gigabyte, which could be heavier with a shorter battery span due to its gaming-oriented hardware. 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 battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gigabyte G5
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
490.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
9.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16, with its focus on high-quality CPU, RAM, and screen, alongside its modular design for easy repairs and upgrades, excels in performance for various tasks while offering a more sustainable choice; however, its portability and battery life may not be as robust as smaller models. The Gigabyte G5, although less premium in build, provides solid CPU and RAM for everyday usage and gaming, with a slight trade-off in screen quality and battery life, yet it may be bulkier and less suitable for frequent travel.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.3/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
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 G5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Gigabyte G5's stronger GPU and higher screen refresh rate provide smoother visuals and better performance in gaming and 3D applications, making it well-suited for those needs. While the Framework Laptop 16 offers modular customization and repairability, its GPU and screen refresh rate are less optimized for the high demands of gaming and 3D tasks, although it still delivers decent quality and performance for general use and less demanding graphics tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Gigabyte G5 is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 is designed with a high-resolution screen and a premium build that includes options to equip with powerful CPUs, ample RAM, and integrated graphics suitable for engineering tasks; its modular design allows easier upgrades and repairs. In contrast, the Gigabyte G5 offers robust dedicated GPUs alongside strong CPUs and sufficient RAM for handling demanding engineering software, but with a tradeoff in screen resolution and bulkier form, which affects portability.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Gigabyte G5 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
6.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 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 G5 is only fair.
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
6.8/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
248.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Gigabyte G5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Framework Laptop 16 provides a display with high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for crisp and clear visuals needed for general use and detail-oriented tasks in engineering and design, where color accuracy is also crucial. On the other hand, the Gigabyte G5 has an adequate display for everyday tasks and technical work, but it doesn't excel in any specific area. However, both laptops fall short for gaming and 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rates necessary for smooth motion and fast-paced graphics.
Battery
9.0 Hours
3.5 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte G5 has 3.5 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 G5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,699
$868
$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 G5 costs $868.
"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 G5 KE is a midrange gaming laptop that checks most boxes. Gigabyte makes good use of the Core i5-12500H and RTX 3060 Laptop GPU combo, and we find no untoward issues with overall performance. The dual-fan quad-heatpipe cooling arrangement does well to ensure that the underlying hardware doesn't throttle under load. That being said, the display is below par when compared to 2023 standards, especially when competing devices."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Gigabyte G5
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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