Conclusion
...the performance increase over previous models arguably isn't enough to command such a lavish fee...High-performance laptops are being given an Nvidia Ampere makeover in the first quarter of 2021 and Gigabyte is fast out of the gate with its refreshed Aero 15 OLED.
Our top-end review model, priced at a jaw-dropping £4,199, pairs a 10th Gen Intel Core i9 processor with a GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, 64GB of DDR4 memory, twin 1TB M.2 SSDs and, as before, an eye-popping 15.6in OLED display.
A potent mix for any system, let alone a 20mm-thick laptop, yet shoehorning such hardware into tight confines inevitably introduces caveats to which Gigabyte isn't immune. Nvidia's best mobile GPU is scaled down to 105W - putting it somewhere between Max-Q and full-fat territory - the Core i9 is built on last-generation tech, and fan noise, as expected, can be bothersome.
Our first taste of mobile Ampere ultimately suggests that while Nvidia's latest architecture proved revolutionary on desktop, similar gains are going to be tough to achieve within the tighter confines of a laptop. As powerful as Gigabyte's Aero 15 OLED is, the performance increase over previous models arguably isn't enough to command such a lavish fee, and we'd like to see the manufacturer be clearer in outlining its GPU specifications.
Accurate 4K AMOLED display
Hardware suited to gaming and creativity
Strong all-round performance
Broad selection of ports
Gets pricey with top spec
Webcam position still terrible
Fan noise noticeable at all times
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The Gigabyte Aero 15 OLED with RTX 3080 Laptop is available to purchase from Scan Computers.
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