Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 (2025)

A strong performer, but it doesn't feel as premium as its rivals-a fact reflected by its sub-£3,000 asking price

- ANDREWE FREEDMAN

PRICE £2,417 (£2,900 inc VAT) from scan.co.uk

No laptop costing almost £3,000 can be considered cheap, but the Aorus Master 16 is the only gaming laptop here to duck under that mark. But it does feel cheaper than its rivals. Though many gaming laptops use plastic to prevent overheating and reduce weight, Gigabyte’s implementation of the material isn’t perfect.

For instance, the lid features a lenticular material that reveals a ribbed pattern around the RGB-lit Aorus falcon logo. But the material feels like something I'd expect from a Happy Meal toy. At least on the lid, Gigabyte should have gone with premium aluminium. Then there’s the Aorus logo displayed garishly across the touchpad, spilling onto the palm rest. Mix that with the RGB keyboard (including a handful of transparent keys), and there’s no mistake that this laptop is meant for gamers. There’s plenty of RGB, including a light bar underneath the palm rest and a second on the rear of the laptop. There’s also a small RGB projection of the Aorus wordmark from the rear of the laptop.