Gigabyte AORUS 16X ASG Review

The Gigabyte AORUS 16X ASG is one of the many gaming laptops that aims to provide a high-quality gaming experience on the go. This device is equipped with plenty of powerful hardware, including an Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop graphics card. In addition, the AORUS 16X ASG includes a range of features and design choices that aim to enhance the portable gaming experience.

To determine whether this gaming laptop should be considered by those looking for a high-quality gaming experience, we’ll evaluate the design, performance, and features of the AORUS 16X ASG. Also, we’ll be running a series of gaming benchmarks in a selection of titles.

Specification

In terms of performance, the AORUS 16X ASG is packed with plenty of high-end components for a gaming laptop. As the flagship variant within the Gigabyte AORUS 16X range of laptops, it is designed to impress, showing off the best of what this system has to offer.

Though this gaming laptop is available in multiple configurations, the model we tested featured an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor. With 24 cores and 32 threads, this CPU lets the AORUS 16X ASG comfortably handle competitive 1440p gaming, as well as enough firepower to deal with other productivity-based applications.

In a similar fashion to the CPU, the RAM and SSDs included will vary in each model, with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory and 4TB of storage available. However, the AORUS 16X ASG we tested included 32GB of RAM and a pair of 1TB SSDs. This combination should be enough to support the performance offered by the CPU, particularly for gaming, as both the RAM and SSD will be fast enough to keep gameplay feeling responsive.

That being said, the main driving force of the AORUS 16X ASG’s performance in the latest titles is determined by the GPU, which in this case is NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4070. Not to be mistaken with the desktop variant of the same name, this graphics card includes 8GB of VRAM and 4608 CUDA cores. This is arguably the weakest point of this system, as a jump up to the RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 laptop GPUs would provide more reliable performance at higher settings.

Better performance at higher resolutions is important on this laptop in particular, as the display is a 1600p display instead of the conventional 1440p resolution that is typically used as a parameter for gaming on desktop PCs and consoles. This is due to the AORUS 16X ASG boasting a screen that has a 16:10 aspect ratio instead of the typical 16:9, providing greater height to the field of view in games and other applications, as well as higher pixel density for better image quality compared to 1440p.

Design

By taking one look at the AORUS 16X ASG, there’s no hiding the fact that this laptop is designed for gaming. Boasting a healthy dose of RGB lighting, Gigabyte AORUS insignia throughout, and lots of ventilation, this gaming laptop is by no means subtle in its approach.

That being said, the focus on appealing to a gaming audience does not have a major impact on the quality of the design, as the ‘Midnight Gray’ colourway offers a distinct tone that works well alongside the RGB. The AORUS 16X ASG is also available in a glossier ‘Aurora Gray’ design, but only in specific regions.

As a 16″ design, this laptop sits towards the larger end of the scale, which also takes a toll on the overall weight. Coming in at 2kg (5lbs), the AORUS 16X ASG is less than ideal when having to carry it around on a regular basis. However, the AORUS 16X ASG is considerably thin for a gaming laptop of this size, making it easier to slot into a bag or laptop sleeve.

Opening up the design, the gaming influence continues, as the trackpad and keyboard are surrounded by various details. Most notably, the W, A, S, D, Q, E, and R keys are all transparent, which allows the RGB lighting to shine through and illuminate the most important gaming inputs. On top of this, the trackpad is covered by multiple dashes, with the words ‘team up’ and ‘fight on’ alongside it.

The keyboard and trackpad themselves both feel very comfortable to use. The trackpad in particular is very soft to the touch, leading to an ergonomic experience when navigating through menus.

Although, we would never recommend relying on a trackpad when playing games on a laptop, and this design is a prime example of why. Whilst the trackpad feels comfortable to use, it does create a lot of friction, making it harder to move your fingers around.

Overall, the AORUS 16X ASG is a very appealing design with gaming in mind, as the RGB-heavy aesthetic and ergonomic feel are crucial ingredients for a luxurious gaming experience. However, there are some caveats that come with it, mainly the larger form factor and weight.

Features We Like

16″ 165Hz Display

The display is one of the biggest advantages the AORUS 16X ASG has over other gaming laptops of a similar calibre. Most gaming laptops stick to either a 1080p or 1440p resolution in order to achieve optimal performance. However, this laptop comes with a 1600p display, allowing for improved visual fidelity while on the go. One factor that would have influenced this bump in resolution is the 16:10 aspect ratio used for the AORUS 16X ASG screen, as it maximises the advantages of the additional height.

Despite the higher resolution, this 16″ display can still generate a refresh rate of up to 165Hz, with a 3ms response time. This results in fairly smooth gameplay that can compete with what you’d expect from most 1440p desktop gaming monitors. Plus, the inclusion of NVIDIA G-Sync means the image will be clear and consistent.

RGB Lighting

As mentioned when discussing the AORUS 16X ASG’s design, this gaming laptop does not shy away from RGB lighting. Almost every area of the design includes a splash of colour, creating a vibrant and colourful device worthy of any portable gaming setup. Though RGB is perhaps less desirable on a laptop than a desktop that will sit in a designated gaming setup, the effects can also be managed and customised in the supporting software.

Gigabyte Control Center

Speaking of software, the Gigabyte Control Center can be used to control several variables on the AORUS 16X ASG, including performance, lighting, and cooling. All of these settings have their own designated areas, which provide a great amount of customisation options. Overall, the application is very easy to use thanks to its simple yet clear user interface.

Along with the typical settings found on most gaming software, the Gigabyte Control Center also provides access to the AI Nexus technology, which automatically generates the best performance settings depending on the task or game being played.

Rear IO & Connectivity

With gaming laptops being considered a portable alternative to PC builds, the connectivity on these devices needs to be versatile enough to support a range of accessories and external devices. Luckily, the AORUS 16X ASG includes a wide range of ports that aim to enhance the gaming experience.

For example, the Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C ports both offer an easy way to extend the display onto a gaming monitor, as well as being able to support high-end gaming peripherals. On top of this, the USB 3.0 ports offer more connectivity options for accessories, the HDMI 2.1 port is useful for TVs, and the 1Gb LAN can provide a stable online gaming connection.

Features We Don’t Like

AORUS Beacon Projector

Plenty of features on the AORUS 16X ASG contribute to the device’s overall look and functionality. However, the AORUS Beacon Projector feels like nothing more than a gimmick. This feature adds a small projection behind the screen, meaning anyone using this laptop can’t see it. Even when the projection is visible, it often appears small and blurry. Simply put, this feature adds very little to the design, making us question whether the time and resources used for it would have been better placed elsewhere.

Gaming Benchmarks

After assessing all the features provided by the AORUS 16X ASG, it’s time to test this gaming laptop in a number of popular titles. This will provide a better look at how this gaming laptop compares to the other models we’ve tested. For each test, we decided to use the default settings for this device, as it provides the best indication of the raw gaming performance.

Apex Legends

In Apex Legends, the AORUS 16X ASG had no issues providing competitive performance at 1600p. Staying fairly close to the 144FPS throughout our benchmarking run, the gameplay provided a suitable balance of performance and visual fidelity. As a competitive title, the fact that the output was shy of the 165Hz limit on this display is worth considering, but the increased height made the HUD and other important prompts crystal clear.

Halo Infinite

As one of the most visually pleasing first-person shooter games available, it was no surprise to see a decrease in performance in Halo Infinite. The AORUS 16X ASG averaged out at around 80FPS, which is not as bad of a score as it might look on paper, as it is similar to the performance output of mid-range desktop GPUs. The increased resolution also benefitted visual quality, making the Spartan armour and weapons look fantastic.

Fortnite

In our Fortnite benchmarking run, we dropped the visual fidelity to 1200p (1920 x 1200) to see how the AORUS 16X ASG would handle more competitive settings. Our results showed the AORUS 16X ASG had no issues maximising the performance output, with frame rates staying well above the 165Hz limit on the display. In fact, the performance was constantly between 200FPS and 300FPS, resulting in buttery smooth gameplay.