A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
For general use, the Gateway 15.6" is often less expensive and can handle everyday tasks well. However, if you need better performance for gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Gigabyte A5, with its more powerful AMD Ryzen 5 processor and Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, is better suited for you. This enhanced performance comes with slightly higher pricing and a tradeoff in battery life. Both laptops offer similar portability, but the Gigabyte A5 has a higher refresh rate display, which is beneficial for fast-motion visuals like gaming. If budget is less of a concern and performance is a priority, the Gigabyte A5 is the recommended 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 Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte A5.
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Good for software development
- Good overall display quality
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.0
7.1
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 is better suited for gaming and 3D applications due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 144Hz, while the Gateway 15.6" has a less capable Intel Iris Xe GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which makes it only fair for these tasks. The Gigabyte A5's GPU and faster refresh rate are very important for a smoother and more immersive gaming experience, plus its screen might offer better quality with a higher contrast ratio, which is also favorable for gaming and multimedia.
Engineering and Design
6.2
7.3
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" has a less powerful Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics, which are sufficient for lighter tasks but may lag behind in demanding engineering applications, whereas the Gigabyte A5's AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU better handle intensive tasks like 3D modeling and simulation with improved performance. Additionally, the Gigabyte A5 boasts a higher-quality screen and a more effective cooling system to manage the heat generated during heavy use.
Screen Quality
6.1
7.2
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Gateway's screen may suffice for basic tasks due to its resolution and brightness, but its limited color gamut and lower refresh rate hold it back in specialized fields like engineering, where color accuracy is critical, and gaming, where smooth motion is key. The Gigabyte A5's higher resolution and brightness level make it suitable for both everyday use and demanding design tasks, with a color gamut that supports more precise color work. However, its screen's lower refresh rate may disappoint gamers looking for fluid visuals in fast-paced games.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 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
5.1
7.2
The Gigabyte A5 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$380
$830
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Gigabyte A5 costs $830.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.3
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
281.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte A5 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Gateway 15.6" is equipped with an Intel processor and Iris Xe graphics, providing reliable performance for general use, along with a good portability score and longer battery life, but with screen color and heat management that are less than ideal. On the other hand, the Gigabyte A5 benefits from a more powerful AMD processor and Nvidia graphics card, making it suitable for more demanding applications, and has a better-quality screen but comes with less battery life and is slightly heavier, potentially impacting portability.
Content Creation
7.0
7.3
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte A5 and Gateway 15.6" are both 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
6.7
7.0
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gigabyte A5 to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gateway 15.6" and Gigabyte A5 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Gateway 15.6" and the Gigabyte A5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Gateway 15.6" | Gigabyte A5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$380 | $830 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | August 1, 2021 | February 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | 14.2'' x 10.2'' x 1'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.8 lbs | 4.68 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.75" | 14.21" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.5" | 10.15" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1135G7 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 8 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | Unknown | 49 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 281 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.1/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 5.3/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Gateway 15.6"
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Gigabyte A5
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | September 2022
"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 Gateway 15.6" or the Gigabyte A5
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
98,595
Recommendations made
21,363
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.
Featured in
