Verdict
The AERO 15 Classic XA is a hardworking machine that brings power and portability to both creators and gamers alike. The displays were versatile, being able to provide great color accuracy that my work demands as well as fluidity for my gaming needs. Hopefully there will be a change in design language, as that’s the only consistent thing the AERO series has kept with them that is starting to stale.
To Love
- 240Hz Ultra Smooth Panel
- Very tactile Keyboard
- Speedy memory card reader
- All-day battery life without charging
What didn’t work for me
- Very loud Fan during heavy use
- Same design as previous generation, the AERO 15 X9
- Webcam has no privacy shutter
Price : RM 7599
Minimalistic Design
Gigabyte’s AERO 15 Classic XA screams a low-profile and minimalistic design language. An all-aluminum case (in black) makes things light, coming in at a respectable 2KG. At the back you’ll see the Gigabyte logo that lights up in white when powered on. It barely attracts fingerprints and it’s thin enough to slot into most bags (356.4(W) x 250(D) x 18.9(H) mm)).
Popping open the lid, you’ll see a full keyboard that’s slightly smaller to fit the numpad. It’s rather blocky in design, and it’s actually nice to type on. The keyboard has full-RGB lighting which you can configure using the pre-installed ControlCenter app.
The touchpad is just below the keyboard. It is decent in size, and has a satisfying click. On both sides you’ll be greeted with a barrage of stickers. On the left, the standard component partner stickers, followed by a large sticker on the right showing their top features located at palm rest area. ( I want to peel it off so bad)
A display to be reckoned with
Coming in strong with a native 240hz by Sharp, this IGZO panel offers buttery smooth experience with colors to boot. Certified by Pantone X-Rite, the Classic XA’s display is able to adapt itself to the contents of the screen. Colors were vivid when watching shows, and accurate during color sensitive moments on Adobe Photoshop and Filmora. It’s okay to be worried about colors when there’s a high refresh rate panel, but in this aspect, the AERO 15 Classic XA is able to deliver the best of both worlds in one slim package. It’s definitely going to be enjoyed by both gamers and creators alike.
Workhorse Specs
The laptop’s internals are no certainly no slouch, offering a strong line of hardware from respectable brands:
- 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IGZO 240Hz display
- Intel Core i7-9750H processor
- 16GB DDR4-2666 dual-channel Samsung RAM
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q
- Intel 760p 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD
- 94.24Wh Li-polymer battery
A Good Number of Ports
Even with a slim profile, there’s really a good number of ports to cater to all your auxiliary needs:
- Thunderbolt 3 x 1
- USB 3.1 (Gen-1) x 2
- USB 3.1 (Gen-1) x 1
- USB 3.1 (Type-C) x 1
- HDMI 2.0 x 1
- DisplayPort 1.4 x 1
- LAN RJ-45 Port x 1
A highlight here is the single UHS-II SD card reader provided, which boasts fast read/write speeds for those crucial moments where fast media transfers are needed.
Work
If you’re getting this for work, the AERO 15 Classic XA is a great addition to your loadout. The high-end 9th Gen Core i7-9750H navigates through everything with ease, from Spreadsheets to Post Production. The 512GB Intel SSD is fast, achieving up to 2.8 gigabytes per second in Sequential reading and 1.55 gigabytes per second in Writing. 512GB may not be enough if you’re working with large footage files, so I do recommend populating the laptop with an additional 512GB/1TB SSD depending on your needs. Gigabyte claims up to 8 hours of battery life on a single charge thanks to a big 94Whr battery pack. I charged it overnight and started my day @ 100% from 9:30am. I purposely didn’t bring my charger out to see.
My typical day is writing proposals, reviews and youtubing, and after going through a day of it and checking back home about 10:30pm I managed to still have 12%. I pretty much spent cumulatively about almost 6 hours with the screen on, including times I had to put it to sleep to go somewhere else to work again. Realistically, I’d say you’d get about 5 hours and 45mins on medium usage on a single charge.
So, if productivity is a concern, here’s what I use daily, that performed great on the AERO 15 Classic XA :
- Microsoft Office
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere Pro
- Filmora Pro
- Lightroom
Storage
2x M.2 SSD slots (Type 2280)
1x NVMe PCIe & SATA
1x NVMe PCIe (Already Occupied)
Play
If you’re getting this for gaming, then you’re in for a treat. The AERO 15 Classic XA is able to deliver desirable performance for most AAA titles on FHD. The challenge here is whether it can push enough FPS to justify that 240Hz Refresh Rate.
Temperatures can be a little on the high side, with Modern Warfare Multiplayer/Warzone reaching a peak of 84 degrees and Resident Evil 3 reaching about 80, and this is in an air-conditioned environment. This is the drawback of having such a slim profile, even with the fans spinning at max-rpm. The only way to cool it down further is with the use of a notebook cooler and probably dialing down some graphical details.
Here are some of the my gaming benchmark results:
Battlefield V
- 1080P Ultra [110 FPS – Single Player] [96 FPS – Multiplayer, Conquest]
- 1080P Medium [145 FPS – Single Player] [ 110 FPS – Multiplayer, Conquest]
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019
- 1080P Ultra with Ray-tracing [ 90 FPS – Single Player] [~80 FPS – Multiplayer, Team Deathmatch Hackney Yard]
- 1080P Medium without Ray-tracing [134 FPS – Single Player] [ ~110 FPS – Multiplayer, Hardcore Domination St. Petrograd]
Apex Legends
- 1080P Ultra Max [85 FPS]
- 1080P Medium [139 FPS]
Resident Evil 3
- 1080P Ultra [~80 FPS]
- 1080P Medium [140 FPS]
Conclusion: The All-rounder Creators would love
AERO 15 Classic XA is a well-equipped PC carrying an ambitious All-Intel Inside label, complete from processor and matching SSD manufacturer. It has the recipe to be a great every day laptop, with high quality components such as Samsung RAM and Sharp IGZO panels.
The Pantone Certified Display is helpful for those looking to the utmost color accuracy, and if that’s not your thing, you can always turn it off in Gigabyte ControlCentre and pick whatever Gerent that suits your eyeballs. I do notice the change in colors, with blacks being darker and more natural, and even the FB webpage blue looked different when looking on my PC monitor and on this screen. Whether for work or play, it has something to offer for everyone.
