Gigabyte Aorus 15G Laptop Review

1. Introducing Gigabyte Aorus 15G 2. Checking out the hardware3. CPU Performance4. Gaming Performance5. Cooling and Battery Life6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

Gigabyte’s Aorus 15G laptop packs a 10th Gen Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX 2070 Super graphics, but while those are key features we are much more interested in the mechanical keyboard which packs Omron switches with a mere 2.5mm of travel. It may look like a regular keyboard but it sure doesn’t feel like a membrane keyboard and you can expect a good deal of clicking and clacking in this video.

Features

• World’s Lightest and Thinnest Mechanical Keyboard Laptop
• Up to 8 hours of battery life
• CS:GO World’s top Esports Team G2 Esport Certified
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Graphics
• 10th Intel Core i7 8-Core H-Series Processor
• WindForce Infinity Cooling System
• FHD 240Hz IPS Panel

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Specification

• Processor: Intel Core i7-10875H Processor 2.30GHz-5.1GHz
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q 8GB GDDR6
• Screen: 15.6-inch Sharp FHD 1,920×1,080 240Hz
• Memory: 16GB DDR4-3200MHz (2x 8GB)
• Storage: 512GB NVMe PCIe Gen3x4 SSD
• Network: Ethernet: Killer E2600
• Wireless: Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 (Powered by Intel), Bluetooth 5
• USB Ports: 3x USB3.2 Gen1 (Type-A), 1x Thunderbolt3 (Type-C)
• Card Reader: UHS-II SD
• HD Camera
• Display Ports: 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x Mini DP 1.4
• Keyboard: Aorus Fusion RGB Per-Key Mechanical Keyboard with Omron Gaming Switches
• Speakers: 2x 2W
• Battery: Lithium Polymer 94.24Wh/6200mAh
• Dimensions: 356mm(W) x 250mm(D) x 25mm(H)
• Weight: 2.2kg
• Operating System: Windows 10 Home (64bit)
• Warranty: 2 Years

We reviewed the Gigabyte Aero 15-X9 last year and while we liked that laptop well enough we advised you to wait until the Intel CPU was upgraded. In our video we put the Aorus 15G side-by-side with the Aero 15-X9 and show the two laptops use the same chassis and internal layout so to our way of thinking the Aorus 15G is the 2020 upgrade we were anticipating way back when.

Gigabyte has made some significant changes with the Aorus 15G, including a 10th Gen Intel CPU, dual channel DDR4 memory, a Super version of Nvidia graphics, a 240Hz screen panel and a change of SSD brand from Intel to Samsung. That’s a long list but Gigabyte has topped that off by claiming the Aorus 15G is the ‘World’s Thinnest and Lightest Laptop with a Mechanical Keyboard.’

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the keyboard is the use of Omron switches with a mere 2.5mm of travel means the keyboard looks very similar to a regular membrane keyboard. As we demonstrate in our video the key action makes a pleasant, light clicking sound and you will simply have to take our word for it that the action feels superb. The keyboard has per-key RGB backlighting with a total of 19 lighting effects that look good however we found this feature to be somewhat unnecessary.

Inside the laptop we have the latest 10th Gen Intel Core i7-10875H. This model has eight cores and 16 threads and while it has a nominal 45W TDP we noted that PL2 power ramps up to 80W and then drops back to PL1 which is set at 52W. CPU base speed is 2.3GHz but the CPU runs at 3.1GHz on all cores in Blender and 3.2GHz in Cinebench R20, which are very useful speeds in a laptop. More impressively, single core boost is a mighty 4.9GHz so you get instant response in lightly threaded workloads.

On the graphics side of things we have an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super chip with 8GB of GDDR6 memory. The Super version has a handy 11 percent boost in the number of CUDA cores compared to the original RTX 2070 and that gives a useful lift to performance. The CPU and GPU are backed up by 16GB of dual channel Crucial DDR4-3200MHz and a 512GB Samsung PM981a SSD.

Testing and Performance

CPU Performance Overview

The Intel Core i7-10875H does a decent job but is solidly beaten by the Core i9 in Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo, which is exactly what we would expect. The Core i7-10875H is also beaten by AMD Ryzen 7 4000 series which is something we have come to accept as the new normal. AMD's new 8-core mobile CPUs deliver loads of stomp in multi-core tests but if you look at the Cinebench R15 single-core test you will see that Intel's massive Boost speed lifts it to the top of the charts. Intel 14nm may be old and crusty but it still has some life remaining.

Gaming Performance

Gaming Performance Overview

The Gigabyte Aorus 15G delivers excellent gaming performance, which is exactly what we expect from a combination of eight cores of Intel Core i7 plus an Nvidia RTX 2070 Super Max-Q graphics chip. The charts are topped by the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo, which has a more substantial CPU and GPU, while the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 with RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics is further down the charts. There is no doubt the Aorus 15G is a fine laptop for gaming at 1080p however the 240Hz panel is unlikely to be pushed to its limits when you are playing a AAA game.

Cooling Performance

Cooling Performance Overview

Gigabyte is keen to talk about its WindForce Infinity Cooling System which uses a total of five heatpipes, two large 70mm fans and a series of exhaust vents at the back and sides. The hardware looks fairly conventional however the results are impressive.

Battery Life

Battery Life Overview

Gigabyte has employed a 94Wh battery, just as it did in the Aero 15-X9, yet it has managed to deliver the same battery life with a laptop that is noticeably more grunty. Five hours in PC Mark 8 equates to ten hours in the real world, and that is good enough for a full day of work.

Let's start by saying, in our video we told you the Aorus 15G has an SRP of £2,200 and is on sale at £2,000 in the UK, however we are now seeing the laptop on sale at £2,100. That doesn't change our opinion of this laptop, we just wanted you to know we were aware the price had crept up by £100.

The chassis of the Aorus 15G seems to be the same hardware used in the Aero 15-X9 we reviewed in 2019 however Gigabyte has changed pretty much every component. The result is a laptop that appears familiar but which is actually completely different.

We consider the 240Hz panel to be a bit of a gimmick and certainly could not say that it was running at 240Hz, rather than 144Hz or 120Hz but it looks perfectly decent and gave us no cause for complaint. The mechanical keyboard is a completely different story as it feels superb to type on and gives you that reassuring click with each key press without driving you mad from the clattering. We feel there is room for improvement with the layout of the keyboard but in general terms it works well and should be considered a success.

 

When it comes to performance the Aorus 15G delivers in spades. It packs a fast 10th Gen Core i7 and RTX 2070 Super graphics along with a decent amount of fast dual channel RAM and a Samsung SSD. Running the Intel CPU any faster would require more power which would hurt both cooling and battery life, and we feel that Gigabyte has achieved a good compromise with this laptop.

The size and weight mean it can indeed be used on your lap, although you will find a table more comfortable, and it will slip inside a backpack or shoulder bag without difficulty. Battery life is good, gamers might be able to take advantage of the 240Hz screen and everyone should love the mechanical keyboard.

You can buy the Gigabyte Aorus 15G XB-8UK2130MH from Overclockers UK for £2,099.99 HERE.

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Pros:

• Mechanical keyboard with Omron switches feels excellent.
• WindForce Infinity Cooling System keeps the Core i7 and RTX 2070 Super nice and cool, without making a din.
• Excellent gaming performance.
• Sensible price.
• Good array of ports and connectors.

Cons:

• Keyboard layout requires familiarisation.
• The speakers are fairly average.
• We could do without the AI widget.

KitGuru says: Gigabyte Aorus 15G is a capable gaming laptop that delivers solid performance and the mechanical keyboard is a delight.

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