A Brief Analysis of the GIGABYTE AERO 14
The Gigabyte Aero 14, manufactured by Gigabyte, a Taiwanese company specialising in PC components and gaming laptops, has traditionally been recognized as a highly functional device. Despite its sleek and lightweight design, this Ultrabook caters to professional needs with its impressive internal specifications.
The 14-inch 3K OLED display exhibits exceptional brightness, surpassing other laptop screens, even OLED displays. Consequently, it is unsurprising that this display is capable of delivering vivid colors and high contrast. In addition to its capabilities in managing creative workloads, this device boasts a professional video color gamut that offers accurate color fidelity.
The integration of the 14-core Intel 13th generation central processing unit (CPU) and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics processing unit (GPU) yields a substantial amount of computational power suitable for highly demanding creative tasks. If an individual requires a substantial amount of RAM, it may be necessary to explore alternative options as the 16GB of non-upgradable DDR5 may not suffice. However, for the majority of users, this amount should be plenty and is appropriately aligned with the overall capabilities of the machine.
The physical design of the product is commendable, as it exhibits meticulous attention to detail in both the CNC unibody chassis and the selection of ports. Additionally, I found Gigabyte’s Control Center software to be noteworthy due to its distinct advantage of featuring a driver update center that assists in managing software updates beyond the scope of Windows 11.
Regrettably, the central processing unit (CPU) exhibits a performance deficit of approximately 20 percent compared to Apple’s M2 Pro or Max processors. Moreover, the 90W maximum power consumption results in the depletion of the 63Wh battery within a duration of 4 to 5 hours, contingent upon the specific computational workload. The limited battery life of this device poses a challenge in marketing it as a portable creative tool. Despite being one of the most compact and lightweight workstations for creative tasks, its practicality is mostly restricted to individuals who have consistent access to a power source in their work environment.
The present inquiry pertains to the price and availability of the GIGABYTE AERO 14
- $1599 (USD) / £2,384 (GBP) / $2,999 (AU)
- Currently accessible
- The product is accessible in the United States and Australia, with restricted availability in the United Kingdom
Gigabyte has an obvious preference for the US market by offering the Aero 14 OLED for a price of $1599. However, it is worth noting that the UK and Australia face a substantial tax burden, resulting in the device being priced at £2,384 and AU$2,999, respectively.
The observed variations in prices across different regions are disheartening. It is important to note that the scores provided are exclusive to the US market. For the Australian market, a deduction of around half a mark is necessary, while the availability of the product in the UK market is deemed unsatisfactory.
The specifications of the GIGABYTE AERO 14 laptop are as follows
The Gigabyte Aero 14 OLED (2023) is universally available in a singular variant. The 13th-generation Intel Core CPU serves as a distinguishing factor between the current iteration and its predecessor.
The specifications for the available model can be observed below.
The following specifications pertain to the Gigabyte Aero 14 OLED (2023) model.
- The Gigabyte Aero 14 OLED (2023) is equipped with an Intel Core i7-13700H CPU and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
- The Random Access Memory (RAM) of the system is 16 gigabytes (GB) of Double Data Rate 5 (DDR5) memory.
- The storage capacity of the device is 1 terabyte (TB) solid-state drive (SSD).
- The device is equipped with three USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports of Type-C, one USB 3.2 port of Type-A, one HDMI port, a MicroSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack.
- The screen of the device is a 14-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels. It has a refresh rate of 90Hz and covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color space. The display is capable of producing true black levels and meets the Display HDR 600 standard. Additionally, it has a Delta E value of 1, indicating high color accuracy.
- The wireless technology known as Wi-Fi 6E, also referred to as 802.11ax, is being discussed.
- The camera has a Full High Definition (FHD) resolution of 1080p.
- The weight of the object in question is 3.28 pounds, which is equivalent to 1.49 kilograms.
- The dimensions of the object are 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.67 inches (311 x 220.8 x 1.7mm).
The design of the GIGABYTE AERO 14 is a notable aspect to consider
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Gigabyte AERO 14 - The OLED screen is quite impressive.
- The aluminum chassis exhibits a high level of durability and resilience.
- The port selection is commendable.
It has been a considerable amount of time since our previous discussion on the Aero series by Gigabyte. It appears that the series, which was previously characterized by vibrant orange and green accents on its exterior, has now evolved into a sophisticated silver design that embodies a reliable and unobtrusive device suitable for professional environments.
Nevertheless, it is pleasing to observe that the firm is charting its own course in laptop design by incorporating distinctive and intricate features. These include an HDMI port positioned at the rear of the device, resembling the exhaust of a racing car, as well as a visually striking arrangement of heat vents.
The laptop possesses a CNC machined aluminum chassis, which provides substantial structural integrity despite its sleek and lightweight construction. The preference may have leaned towards a more understated silver hue rather than the ostentatious platinum option, nevertheless the final result still exudes an overall sense of elegance.
Undoubtedly, the screen stands out as the most prominent design aspect. The gadget has been equipped with an OLED display that possesses Vesa HDR 600 True Black certification, rendering it the most luminous of its category that I have observed. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M1) has a peak brightness of 1000 nits, while the recently introduced M2-powered Pros showcase a remarkable peak brightness of 1600 nits. However, it is important to note that both panels do not employ OLED technology, hence complicating a direct comparison.
However, the Aero 14 OLED features a 90Hz display that provides a high resolution of 2880 by 1800 pixels and a wide DCI-P3 color gamut typically employed in professional video production. Consequently, this luminous OLED screen exhibits remarkable vibrancy, making it a great option.
One could mistakenly assume that the Aero 14 exclusively incorporates contemporary connectors, considering its assortment of three Thunderbolt / USB-C ports, one microSD card reader, and one headphone jack located on the sides. However, it also discreetly includes a traditional USB-A port at the rear, adjacent to the HDMI port, which is likely to prove useful.
The GIGABYTE AERO 14 and its Performance
- The central processing unit (CPU) exhibits satisfactory performance.
- The graphical processing unit (GPU) exhibits commendable performance.
There are many aspects to consider when evaluating the performance of the Gigabyte Aero 14 OLED gadget. However, a primary observation is that it possesses a robust central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU), which synergistically facilitate seamless execution of resource-intensive creative tasks.
When considering the competitive landscape, it is difficult to avoid drawing comparisons between the subject in question and the MacBook Pro 14, particularly in the Australian market where their prices are closely aligned. The Intel Core i7-3700H has a performance deficit of around 20 percent when compared to the Apple M2 Pro or Max processors in equivalent central processing unit (CPU) operations. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 exhibits comparable graphical performance to that of the leading processor found in the MacBook Pro.
Individuals desiring to engage in gaming activities subsequent to their creative endeavors might anticipate a minimum frame rate of 60 frames, or more, when playing contemporary video games at a resolution of 1080p with the graphics settings set to the highest level, commonly referred to as “Ultra” settings. The slightly higher refresh rate of 90Hz can be employed to enhance visual smoothness on titles that require less computational resources.
The battery life of the GIGABYTE AERO 14
Despite the potential adoption of a processor such as the AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS by Gigabyte, it would have been challenging for the company to attain battery longevity comparable to that of Apple MacBook Pro devices without compromising performance. Consequently, Gigabyte’s accountability for the unsatisfactory battery life is limited. However, it is plausible that incorporating additional battery capacity, equivalent to around 200g, might have extended the battery life of the device, so mitigating the limitation of its 3 hours and 38 minutes endurance observed during regular work testing.
This corresponds to a total duration of 4 hours and 45 minutes for movie playback, which is deemed sufficient for watching a movie and acceptable for a gaming laptop. However, it falls approximately between half and one-third of the battery life provided by Apple silicon.
The work lifespan is 3 hours and 38 minutes, while the movie playback duration is 4 hours and 45 minutes.
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