Gigabyte AORUS Gigabyte 16" AORUS MASTER 16 Gaming Laptop Review
The Gigabyte AORUS MASTER 16 packs a desktop-crushing RTX 5090 into a laptop, but its high price and low portability make it a niche powerhouse.
Overview
The Gigabyte AORUS MASTER 16 is a desktop replacement that doesn't pretend to be anything else. It's packing the absolute latest top-tier hardware, from the Intel 275HX CPU to the brand new RTX 5090 GPU. This thing is built for one purpose: to be the fastest gaming and creator laptop you can buy right now, and it doesn't hold back.
Performance
Let's be real, the RTX 5090 is a monster. It lands in the 95th percentile for GPU performance, so you're getting desktop-level power in a (relatively) portable form. The 24-core Intel chip keeps up, and the 32GB of DDR5 RAM is plenty for anything. Games will run maxed out on that gorgeous 240Hz OLED screen without breaking a sweat. Just know you'll be plugged in a lot, because that kind of power drains the 99Wh battery fast.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong port (100th percentile) 100th
- Strong gpu (95th percentile) 95th
- Strong cpu (95th percentile) 95th
- Strong storage (93th percentile) 93th
Cons
- Below average reliability (3th percentile) 3th
- Below average compact (13th percentile) 13th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Cores | 24 |
| Frequency | 2.7 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 36 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | RTX 5090 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 24 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR7 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage 1 | 2 TB |
| Storage 1 Type | NVMe SSD |
Display
| Size | 16" |
| Resolution | 2560 (QHD) |
| Panel | OLED |
| Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 2 |
| USB Ports | 4 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 1x HDMI 2.1 Output |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 7 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.4 |
Physical
| Weight | 2.5 kg / 5.5 lbs |
| Battery | 99 Wh |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
The price is the big question mark, because it swings wildly from $2300 to $4400 depending on where you look. At the low end of that range, it's a steal for this level of hardware. At the high end, it's a tough sell unless you absolutely need the latest specs the day they come out. Shop around hard.
vs Competition
Compared to a MacBook Pro M4 Max, you're trading Apple's insane battery life and sleek design for raw Windows gaming power and way more ports. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or MSI Vector will get you similar last-gen performance for less money, but you miss out on the RTX 5090 and that OLED screen. The ASUS Zenbook Duo is in a different, more portable league. This AORUS is for the person who wants the new GPU, no compromises.
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Screen | Compact | Storage | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte AORUS Gigabyte 16" AORUS MASTER 16 Gaming Laptop | 94.7 | 95.1 | 91.1 | 99.9 | 90.2 | 13.4 | 93.1 | 3.1 |
| Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M4 Max, Space Black) | 87.4 | 17.9 | 98.7 | 94.7 | 94.9 | 71.1 | 99.6 | 95.9 |
| Lenovo Legion Pro Series Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 (16 83F50019US | 94.7 | 95.1 | 98.1 | 85.1 | 90.2 | 8.1 | 93.1 | 75.3 |
| ASUS Zenbook ASUS 14" Zenbook Duo UX8406CA Multi-Touch Laptop | 82.9 | 59.3 | 92.2 | 99 | 91.5 | 76.2 | 78 | 51.4 |
| MSI Vector MSI 16" Vector 16 HX AI Gaming Laptop | 94.7 | 94 | 81.4 | 94.7 | 84.7 | 8.5 | 93.1 | 51.4 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft 13.8" Surface Laptop for Business | 57.5 | 59.3 | 81.4 | 51.1 | 79.5 | 88.3 | 78 | 75.3 |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a hardcore gamer or pro creator who needs the absolute fastest mobile graphics right now, and you don't plan on moving it far from an outlet. It's a powerhouse with a stunning screen. But if portability or all-day battery are priorities, look at the MacBook Pro or a last-gen gaming laptop instead.