Gigabyte Aero 16" X16; 165Hz Review

The Gigabyte AERO X16 is a Copilot+ PC that tries to be a jack-of-all-trades. It packs an AMD 350 CPU and an RTX 5050 GPU into a 16-inch frame, promising solid performance for gaming and creative work. With a 165Hz screen and a touchscreen, it's aiming for versatility right out of the gate.

The RTX 5050 GPU lands in the 78th percentile, so it's a capable 1080p gaming card that can handle the 165Hz display in lighter titles. The AMD 350 CPU is decent but sits in the 68th percentile, so don't expect top-tier multi-core performance for heavy video editing. The 16GB of RAM is fine now, but it's in the 63rd percentile and might feel limiting in a year or two.

At $1279, it's priced like a mid-range contender. You're getting a great screen and decent GPU power for the money. But that rock-bottom reliability score is a huge concern. It makes the value proposition shaky, because a good deal isn't a deal at all if the laptop doesn't last.

Compared to the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, you'll likely get better raw gaming performance and build quality from Lenovo. The ASUS Zenbook Duo offers far more innovation for creators with its dual-screen design. And while the MacBook Pro M4 is in another price league, its efficiency, battery life, and creator performance are untouchable. This AERO sits in an awkward middle ground.

Consider this if you absolutely need a touchscreen on a gaming-capable laptop and found it on a deep sale. For most people, the abysmal reliability rating is a deal-breaker. Look at the Legion Pro 7i for better gaming or the Zenbook Duo for more creative flexibility instead.