If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option for general use, the Gateway 15.6" may suit your needs with its lower price. However, if you require higher performance for tasks like gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 would be the better choice despite being more expensive, due to its more advanced processor and graphics card. The Aorus 7 also has a larger screen and better build quality, but it comes with increased weight, which could affect portability. Keep in mind that higher performance often means a shorter battery life as well. 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"
Good portability
Advantages of the Gigabyte Aorus 7
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.0/10
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is somewhat better.
The Gateway 15.6" provides a solid balance for general use with a competent CPU, sufficient RAM, and a reliable IPS screen, all housed in a body that's relatively light, making it easier to carry around with satisfactory battery life. In contrast, the Gigabyte Aorus 7 boasts a newer and more powerful CPU, better graphics capabilities, and a superior screen in terms of color accuracy and refresh rate, which makes it heavier and slightly less portable, with a shorter battery life, yet it is better suited for more demanding tasks and provides an overall richer multimedia experience.
Gaming and AI
6.0/10
7.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gateway 15.6" has an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a 60Hz refresh rate, which provides an entry-level experience for gaming and 3D applications, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is equipped with a superior Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and a higher 360Hz refresh rate, delivering smoother and more visually detailed gaming and 3D performance.
Engineering and Design
6.2/10
8.1/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is very good for engineering and design because it has a high-performance Intel i5 CPU and an Nvidia RTX GPU, which are crucial for demanding tasks, along with a screen that offers high color accuracy and brightness, making it ideal for design work. The Gateway 15.6", while fair, falls short due to its less powerful Intel i5 CPU with integrated graphics and a screen with lower brightness and color coverage, which may not handle engineering software as smoothly or display colors as vibrantly.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.6/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Gigabyte Aorus 7 is somewhat better.
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
6.7/10
7.4/10
4.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
5.3/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is 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.
Screen Quality
6.1/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
351.0 nits
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vibrant, crisp display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the Gateway's screen may be acceptable but lacking in comparison to the Gigabyte, which offers higher resolution and brightness for sharper and more enjoyable visuals. For professionals in fields like engineering and design, where color accuracy is critical, the Gigabyte Aorus 7's cover of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB makes it a better choice, providing more precise color representation than the Gateway. Meanwhile, for 3D applications and gaming, where fast-moving visuals are common, the gigabyte may fall short due to a lower refresh rate, potentially resulting in less fluid motion than desired, whereas resolution and panel type are sufficient but not exceptional.
Battery
8.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life. The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
15.6in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Gateway 15.6" has good portability, while the Gigabyte Aorus 7 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.1/10
7.4/10
The Gigabyte Aorus 7 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
$1,190
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Gateway 15.6" has a price of $380 and the Gigabyte Aorus 7 costs $1,190.
"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."
"The Gigabyte Aorus 7 is a gaming laptop that is pitched at perhaps the hardest market to get right: the mid-range. So, unlike high-end gaming laptops that can throw the latest and greatest components together in a bid to attract gamers with plenty of money to spend, or budget gaming laptops that can make wise cuts that are justified as long as the price is low enough, mid-rangers like the Gigabyte Aorus 7 have to balance the two."
Get a great deal on the Gateway 15.6" or the Gigabyte Aorus 7
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.
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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