Gigabyte Aero X16 Review: A Value-Packed Portable Performance Laptop

While the Gigabyte Aero X16 has clear shortcomings for professional creators like limited color accuracy and the absence of an SD card reader, it still delivers an impressive amount of performance for the money.

If you’re looking for a laptop capable of programming, gaming, and video editing, with good portability and battery life, the Aero X16 is worth serious consideration.

Chassis & Build Quality

The Aero X16’s design won’t win style awards, but it’s practical. Its matte finish doesn’t pick up fingerprints easily, and it’s lighter than many competitors in the 16-inch category. Compared to a MacBook Pro 16 or Razer Blade 16, it’s only slightly larger but noticeably lighter—especially when factoring in its compact 150W charger.

The build feels sturdy, though the keyboard deck does have some flex. Its edges can also dig into your wrist a bit during long typing sessions.

Ports & Connectivity

Port placement is one of the Aero X16’s weakest points. Most ports are located toward the front, which makes cables interfere with mouse use—especially problematic for left-handed users.

Here’s what you get:

• 1x USB-C Thunderbolt 4 that is charging capable
• 1x Barrel-pin charging port
• 3x USB-A (one very slow)
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Gigabit Ethernet
• 1x Headphone/mic combo jack

Notably absent: an SD card reader. For a laptop marketed at creators, that’s a frustrating omission.

Display

Our unit featured a 16-inch 2560 × 1600 matte panel at up to 165Hz with just under 500 nits brightness. The matte finish is excellent for use in bright environments, avoiding reflections that plague glossy competitors like the Blade 16.

However, Gigabyte clearly cut corners on color reproduction. Side-by-side with more premium panels, the Aero X16’s colors look muted. For most users this won’t matter, but it’s not suited for professional color-sensitive work.

Other notes:

• Supports AMD FreeSync (not G-Sync)
• No PWM flickering (good for eye comfort)
• Some backlight bleed present
• Alternate panel option: 1920 × 1200 at 300 nits (not recommended unless significantly cheaper)

Keyboard & Trackpad

The keyboard has a standard layout with well-spaced arrow keys, but typing feels a bit mushy due to shallow key feedback and deck flex. There’s also a small rattle if you type forcefully. Still, it’s serviceable for everyday use.

Backlighting is single-zone RGB, adjustable via Gigabyte’s GiMate software. While the software includes AI features, it’s inconsistent—good for simple tasks like changing keyboard color, but unhelpful for deeper settings.

The trackpad, on the other hand, is a standout. It’s one of the best mechanical trackpads we’ve tested, offering smooth tracking and accurate clicks. Left-handed users may even prefer it over a mouse.

Performance

CPU

The Aero X16 is available with either a Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 processor. Our Ryzen 7 unit performed respectably in benchmarks but lagged behind true creator-class laptops. Cinebench results in particular showed its lower sustained power draw, keeping it closer to ultrabook territory than high-end workstations.

That said, everyday performance is snappy, and you won’t feel limited for general tasks, coding, or light editing.

GPU

With an RTX 5070 (85W) in our test unit, the Aero X16’s GPU performance is solid. In creative apps like Premiere Pro, it keeps up with pricier machines, though DaVinci Resolve lags due to the lack of Intel QuickSync support.

Gaming benchmarks show it outperforming RTX 5060-equipped laptops and competing well against similar-class machines:

• Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra, native resolution): Playable above 60 fps with upscaling, though 1% lows dip.
• Forza Horizon 5: Smoother performance, even without DLSS.

You can game comfortably at its native resolution with some settings tweaks.

Heat, Fan Noise & Battery Life

Gigabyte has improved thermal design significantly. In balanced use, the Aero is nearly silent and stays cool to the touch. During gaming, fans get loud—especially in “Gaming” mode—but the system stays cooler than rivals like the Blade 16.

One quirk: hot air exhausts from side vents, particularly on the right, which may bother mouse users.

Battery life is a highlight. For a laptop with a dedicated GPU, it’s among the best we’ve tested, with only a small performance drop when unplugged.

Speakers, Webcam & Extras

• Speakers: Average. Not particularly loud or bassy but serviceable.
• Webcam: Includes Windows Hello support.
• Upgradeability: Excellent. RAM, Wi-Fi card, and both SSD slots (1x PCIe 4×4, 1x PCIe 4×2) are accessible.

Pricing & Value

At launch, the Aero X16 RTX 5060 model retailed for $1,499 but has been on sale for $1,099. The RTX 5070 model dropped from $1,649 to $1,299.

Unlike many laptops, the Aero X16 is actually worth its MSRP. On sale, it’s one of the strongest value propositions in its class—undercutting premium competitors by hundreds while delivering competitive performance. Its closest rival, Lenovo’s IdeaPad Pro 5 16, caps out at a weaker RTX 5050.

Conclusion

The Gigabyte Aero X16 isn’t a perfect laptop. It has awkward port placement, a lackluster screen for creators, and a mushy keyboard. But these drawbacks are easy to forgive when you factor in its price, portability, strong GPU performance, and excellent battery life.

For shoppers in the $1,000–$1,300 range, it’s in a league of its own. If you want a portable performance laptop without breaking the bank, the Aero X16 is one of the best options available in 2025.