The GIGABYTE AERO 15 KC-8US5130SP offers fantastic value for money for both creators and gamers. Although its looks are pointing more to the gaming side of things, its specs will surely appeal to both categories. It has a full-sized UHS-II SD card reader which is extremely useful for photographers to quickly transfer their photos. It features one of the best looking displays I’ve seen on a “non-professional” laptop. The Aero 15 is hard not to like, especially since it’s rather aggressively priced for what it has to offer.
One thing though, make sure to also replace the memory modules this laptop comes with if you’re serious about unlocking its full potential. In my opinion, 16 gigabytes don’t go that well with its Core i7-10870H CPU and its RTX 3060 GPU.
Check availability and prices at Amazon »
This rig will handle almost all games without a sweat. Furthermore, 3D rendering and faster graphics processing has been made available thanks to NVIDIA’s DLSS technology. There are plenty of available ports to connect your peripherals and external monitors. The AERO 15 KC-8US5130SP will get hot when pushed, but not overly so thanks to its new WINDFORCE Infinity cooling system (5 heat pipes, 2 71-blade fans).
For what it’s worth, this laptop isn’t as heavy as I anticipated. It weighs just 4.4 pounds, which is actually great for such a workstation. Battery life is decent when used lightly, but will drop sharply when put to actual heavy duty work. Expect around 6 hours of video playback and 90 minutes of gaming.
As an alternative, I’d suggest the more affordable Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-53-71HN. But only if you’d trade display quality for a higher refresh rate (144 Hz vs 60 Hz) and won’t mind the extra weight. Otherwise go for the Aero.
GIGABYTE AERO 15 KC-8US5130SP tech specs
| Processor | Intel Core i7-10870H |
| CPU core count | 8-core, 16 threads |
| CPU cache size | 16 megabytes |
| CPU frequency | 2.2 GHz up to 5.0 GHz |
| System memory | 16 gigabytes |
| Memory technology | DDR4-2933 |
| Memory configuration | 2 x 8-gigabyte modules |
| Maximum memory | 64 gigabytes |
| Storage capacity | 512 gigabytes |
| Storage drive type | Type 2280 M.2 NVMe PCIe SSD |
| Additional storage slots | Yes, M.2 form factor |
| Screen size | 15.6 inches |
| Touch enabled | No |
| Display technology | AMOLED, IPS, 400nit, Delta E < 1, Pantone certified |
| Display resolution | FHD (1920 x 1080) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile |
| GPU Type | Dedicated |
| GPU Specs | 6GB GDDR6, up to 1703 MHz frequency |
| Interface options | 1 x Type-C Thunderbolt 3 3 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 1 HDMI 2.1 mini DP 1.4 UHS-II SD card reader Audio combo jack RJ-45 |
| Networking | Intel AX200 Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Gigabit Ethernet |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 + LE |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes, RGB |
| Webcam | HD webcam |
| Operating system | Windows 10 Pro |
| Battery type | 99 Whr Lithium-Polymer |
| Expected battery life | up to 6 hours |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs. |
| Dimensions | 14.0″ x 9.8 ” x 0.78″ |
GIGABYTE AERO 15 KC-8US5130SP
