The gaming laptop market is usually dominated by established manufacturers such as Asus, HP, and Dell. However, a new competitor is about to challenge the market throne. Yes, we’re talking about Gigabyte. The brand recently launched a new gaming-centric laptop called the AORUS Master 16, which brings a new perspective to gaming laptops. This latest laptop stands out from the crowd with a gaming-centric design, a flagship OLED display, top-tier Intel processors and the latest NVIDIA RTX 5080 GPU.
Add to that the hefty price of Rs. 3,15,000 units puts it in the league of high-end gaming laptops in the country. That said, does it really have a chance to compete with the established players in this space? I had a chance to spend some time with the device, and here’s what you need to know.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 laptop design: gaming atmosphere guaranteed
- Dimensions- 357 x 254 x 23~29.9mm
- Weight – 2.5kg
- Color – Undertide
AORUS Master 16 doesn’t try to blend into the overall gaming atmosphere, but rather stands out. Whether it’s the sharp edges, bold LED lighting, or matte finish, this laptop is bold in its gaming aesthetic without being tacky. I really like how the brand added just the right amount of game silhouette without making it look like an all-out LED showdown.
The GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 is available in a single color: Dark Tide.
The lid features the AORUS Falcon logo, which illuminates. You also get a light strip along the front edge and a small rear projection on the back that projects the AORUS logo onto any surface you place your laptop on. Apart from this, the laptop also comes with a customizable three-zone backlit keyboard. All lighting adds a neat touch for users who like to have a visible identity on their desk.
That said, there are some drawbacks to the design, the chief one being the heavy use of plastic. While you might not notice it at first glance, a closer look reveals that the brand has cut corners in this area. This feels bland, especially when other brands in the same price range use metal lids or brushed aluminum decks.
The laptop is equipped with various ports to provide an uninterrupted gaming experience.
As far as the IO port is concerned, it is fully stacked. You get 1 DC input, 1 RJ-45, 1 HDMI 2.1, 1 Type-A Gen 2 port, and 1 Type-C port with Thunderbolt 5 support. On the right side are a Type-A interface, a Type-C interface, a microSD card slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The ports are well spaced and spread out on both sides, making it easier to connect various devices.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 display: smooth and vibrant
- Display – 16-inch OLED display
- Resolution – WQXGA (1600×2560 pixels)
- Refresh rate – 240Hz
The display is one of this gaming laptop’s strongest points. The device features a 16-inch OLED display with a screen refresh rate of 240Hz. Additionally, you get VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, which essentially covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. Additionally, the laptop has a peak brightness of 500nits.
The laptop features a bright display that delivers vibrant colors, crisp text, and deep blacks.
In fact, the panel is as good as it looks: blacks are deep and colors are nice. Whether you’re binge-watching a series on Netflix or playing a game like Alan Wake 2 , the colors are vibrant and the contrast is just right.
The laptop also features a 240Hz refresh rate, which further aids in smooth gaming and overall visual experience. That said, this laptop also has a peak brightness of 500 nits, which is enough for you to use indoors most of the time.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 keyboard, touchpad, speakers and webcam
- Keyboard – Backlit keyboard
- Webcam – 1080p IR camera
- Speakers – Four speakers with Smart AMP + Dolby Atmos
The GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 is equipped with a customizable RGB backlit keyboard. However, it is limited to zone 3 lighting. Considering the price tag, this exceeds Rs. At $300,000, that’s a bit disappointing since most competitors do offer per-key RGB customization. That said, I like the brand’s transparent design with WASD keys.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 is equipped with a 3-zone backlit keyboard.
Additionally, the company went a step further and added Q, E, and R with the same treatment, which certainly gives it a unique look and feel. The keyboard itself is quite comfortable, whether you’re gaming or typing for long periods of time.
The key travel is good and the keys have good bounce when pressed. My only feeling is that the keycaps are a bit larger for a more comfortable experience, especially since the company decided not to go with a full-size keyboard.
The touchpad is quite large and provides a smooth experience. There is no shaking during the scrolling experience. Multi-touch gesture support also works smoothly.
Speaking of speakers, the Gigabyte AORUS Master 16 does not disappoint. In most cases, gaming laptops come with bassy speakers, which tend to ruin the gaming experience and force you to use headphones or connect speakers. However, the Master 16 is loud enough and feels well-rounded to provide a decent sound experience.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 software: GiMate needs improvement
- Operating System – Windows 11 Home Page
- Other features – GiMate
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 runs Windows 11 operating system. This is a CoPilot+ PC, which means you can use all the AI features Microsoft has to offer on this device. However, the company has also launched the GiMate app, which is also AI-enabled and can provide recommendations and help monitor the laptop’s performance. There are also physical shortcut keys for launching profiles to help easily switch between Quiet, Balanced and Performance modes.
The app basically acts as a control center for your laptop. The app’s home screen looks simply structured and looks small, but navigating between the different menus can be a bit difficult. Also, during my testing, I did notice some issues with the laptop’s graphics switching.
This is especially true when you unplug the adapter, as it automatically turns off the dGPU to save energy. You need to go to the Scene>Power>AI Power Gear menu and then enter Game Mode, which needs to be changed to Optimus to fix this issue. Overall, the GiMate app seems a bit mediocre compared to any other app from Armory Crate or other brands, which offer better customization options.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 Performance: Class-leading performance
- Chipset – Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX Processor
- Memory – 32GB DDR5 5600MHz
- ROM – 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
- GPU – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 (12GB GDDR7)
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, which provides an acceleration frequency of up to 5.4GHz, 24 cores, 24 threads and 36MB cache. In addition, the gaming laptop is equipped with the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card. It has 32GB LPDDR5X 5600 RAM and 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD storage.
| benchmark | GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 | HP Omen Max 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinebench R23 single core | 2198 | 2183 | Chapter 1275 |
| Cinebench R23 multi-core | 26543 | 32895 | 30974 |
| Geekbench 6 single core | 3054 | 3015 | 2948 |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 19658 | 15335 | 18373 |
| Geekbench AI (quantification) | 15362 | 8429 | 8436 |
| Computer Mark 10 | 9010 | not applicable | not applicable |
| 3DMark Night Raid | 83976 | not applicable | not applicable |
| 3DMark CPU Profile | 16098 | not applicable | not applicable |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad Light | 18976 | not applicable | not applicable |
| 3DMark Steel Nomad | 8659 | not applicable | not applicable |
| 3DMark Port Royal | 10564 | not applicable | not applicable |
| crystal disk mark | 6973.59 MB/sec (read)/5766.89 MB/sec (write) | not applicable | not applicable |
When it comes to performance, you get one of the most solid combinations at this price point. A flagship Intel processor paired with the latest RTX graphics can handle almost any task you throw at it. Whether it’s for work or gaming, this is a versatile machine that offers the best of both worlds.
It performs quickly in daily life and can handle loads when multitasking. I had about 20+ Chrome tabs open with videos playing in the background and it handled the load with ease.
This laptop offers flagship-level performance and can handle most heavy-duty AAA games.
In terms of gaming performance, the laptop is capable of running the latest AAA games. When playing Alan Wake 2 with native resolution, DLSS and 4X Frame Gen enabled. During gameplay, I easily hit around 110 fps. Additionally, while playing Cyberpunk 2077 on ultra settings, the laptop’s frame rate was around 38 fps, while playing Shadow of the Tomb Raider on maximum settings, I was able to get around 110 to 114 fps of the game.
The thermals are the most interesting thing. The laptop offers better cooling during intensive workloads. The laptop comes with a dual-fan setup, which the brand calls Windforce Infinity EX. The fans spin pretty fast, but that also means they’re pretty loud, so you can say goodbye to those late-night gaming sessions.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 Laptop Battery: Average
- Battery Capacity – 99Wh Lithium Polymer (Typical)
- Fast charging – 330W adapter
The GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 comes with a 99Wh battery and comes with a 330W fast charger. That said, all that high performance does take a toll on battery life. Using Balanced mode, you can easily get around 4 to 5 hours of battery backup, depending on usage. However, when used for heavy tasks like editing, battery life in battery mode is expected to be less than 3 hours.
GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 Verdict
All in all, the GIGABYTE AORUS Master 16 strikes a good balance between gaming-centric design and powerful performance. This laptop stays true to its gaming DNA, although the excessive use of plastic may make it a bit bland compared to other gaming laptops in this segment. This monitor is one of the best in the segment, with smooth visuals suitable for gaming or streaming.
This laptop features a bright OLED display, flagship-level performance, and average battery life.
The performance is top-notch and you can easily play most heavy-duty games without any throttling issues or frame drops. Thermal management is spot on, although the fan can become unapologetically loud under sustained load. That said, if you prioritize raw performance and a good OLED screen, and don’t mind managing noise or carrying a heavier machine, then you can certainly consider the AORUS Master 16.
