Buzz
The AERO 16 is a new laptop model from Gigabyte this year, just unveiled at CES 2022. It serves as the transition between the AERO 5 (formerly AERO 15) and AERO 17. Designed specifically for content creators, it offers tailored features such as an OLED display, RTX card with pre-installed Studio driver, and the latest Intel 12th gen Alder Lake H processor.Design
Upon laying eyes on the AERO 16, one immediately perceives a remarkably beautiful laptop, impeccably finished with its own distinctive language, exuding an industrial, robust, and masculine appeal. The aesthetics of the AERO 16 bear a striking resemblance to the HP ZBook Studio G8, both boasting an industrial design that exudes strength and power.
It is precisely this industrial charm that underscores the excellence in the craftsmanship of this machine, evident in meticulously crafted details, intricately designed heat vents, and precisely cut connection ports. The entire device is crafted from a solid block of aluminum, a material choice that Gigabyte has masterfully utilized, resulting in a chassis with considerable thickness and zero flex.
Despite employing a thick aluminum frame, the AERO 16 weighs a mere 2.3kg. In comparison to other high-performance 16' laptops, its weight is inconsequential, fitting snugly into backpacks thanks to Gigabyte's ingenious reduction of the screen bezels, ensuring that the overall profile of the machine does not deviate significantly from that of a 15' laptop.
On the front panel and surrounding frame, AERO has incorporated numerous ventilation slots, speaker systems, and air intakes to enhance the machine's power. On the A side, only the AERO logo with LED lights below illuminates, serving as a distinctive highlight and brand identifier.
Unlike other machines, Gigabyte has extended the front edge of the device to accommodate a webcam cluster with facial recognition unlocking via Windows Hello. This clever design choice allows for minimizing screen bezels without sacrificing display real estate for a MacBook-like notch. This design not only facilitates easier machine access but also preserves the aesthetic and integrity of the screen.
In terms of design, there's little to fault, from Gigabyte's meticulous frame finishing to the smallest details. If one were to nitpick, perhaps the imperfect aspect lies in the connectivity ports. Despite the machine's size and adequate thickness, Gigabyte has opted for USB-C with 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports on the right side and 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 port.
A machine geared towards a specific audience—creative users and content developers—would greatly benefit from an SD card slot, yet GIGABYTE seems to overlook this necessity, for reasons unknown. However, GIGABYTE does provide users with a USB-C hub, comprising a miniDP, an HDMI, an RJ45 port, as well as a USB-A 3.0 port for usage.Display
The display is the standout feature of this machine, boasting exceptional beauty, sharpness, and detail. Basic specifications reveal a Super AMOLED screen from Samsung with a 4K resolution at a 16:10 aspect ratio. It covers 100% of both the DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamuts, holds the VESA DisplayHDR 500 True Black certification, and offers options for X-Rite and Pantone color accuracy certifications, with a Delta E value of less than 1.
The screen bezels of the AERO 16 are incredibly thin, measuring only 3mm, as evident in the images. Thin screen bezels enhance the user experience.
In my personal experience over the past 3 days, I've found that while the AERO 16's display is a premium AMOLED panel from Samsung, its colors are not as vibrant as OLED screens on laptops I've used previously. It maintains the neutrality of high-end IPS panels while retaining the undeniable advantages of AMOLED, such as deep blacks, high contrast, and brightness. This is undeniably a quality panel from GIGABYTE that will satisfy creative users. The downside is its refresh rate, capped at 60Hz.
For those seeking something more technologically advanced and faster, GIGABYTE offers the option of a MiniLED 165Hz display, which is more suitable for HDR content work and provides smoother motion thanks to its higher refresh rate.Specifications
For a high-end creative user machine, its specifications correspondingly match. Specifically, the configuration of the version in my hands is as follows:- CPU: Intel®️️️️ Core™️ i7-12700H, featuring 14 cores and 20 threads, comprising 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores. Base clock speed is 2.3GHz with a maximum P-core boost of 4.7GHz and E-core boost of 3.5GHz.
- Integrated graphics: Intel®️️️️ Iris®️️️️ Xe Graphics.
- GPU: NVIDIA®️️️️ GeForce RTX™️ 3070 Ti with 8GB DDR6 memory clocked at 1035MHz, with a maximum TGP of 105W.
- RAM: 16GB DDR5 Dual-channel clocked at 4800MHz (official version will feature 64GB RAM).
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD.
The standout feature of this configuration is the pre-installed RTX 3070 Ti GPU Studio driver, optimized for 2D graphics, image editing, and video editing software. Having the driver pre-optimized by the manufacturer saves users time and ensures seamless compatibility. The difference between Studio and Game Ready drivers when working with graphics software, and even games, is noticeable. This configuration easily handles gaming needs, requiring only a driver update for optimal performance.As my current version is a trial, I haven't evaluated its performance yet, but this configuration undoubtedly has the capability to meet all graphic design needs.The machine's upgradeability allows users to add more RAM and an additional PCIe 4.0 SSD slot for setting up RAID configurations.Keyboard & Touchpad
The keyboard and touchpad of the AERO 16 are designed in black to stand out from the rest. It's rare to see a black touchpad on a silver laptop chassis, but the AERO 16 defies convention in this aspect. Gigabyte has enlarged the touchpad compared to the 15' version and coated it with glass for a smooth touch experience.
The backlit keyboard with two levels of brightness and just the right key travel offers a satisfying typing experience with quick responsiveness, requiring no adjustment period.Battery & Operating System
The AERO 16 is equipped with a maximum capacity battery of 99Wh, meeting the maximum capacity limit for air travel safety. It comes with a 230W power adapter. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports support PD 100W.The AERO 16 will be available with a choice of Windows 11 Pro or 11 Home operating systems, depending on your preference.
Overall, the AERO 16 stands out as a premium laptop in terms of both finish and design. Attention to detail elevates the overall user experience. The pricing for the AERO 16 from GIGABYTE has not been disclosed yet, but it will undoubtedly reflect the quality this laptop brings to the table.
