The Good: RTX 4050 Model at the Right Price
The highlight of the lineup is the RTX 4050 configuration. Priced around $739 on sale, it delivers solid Full HD gaming performance and a relatively sturdy chassis for its class. It’s lighter and thinner than many competitors, making it comfortable to carry for a 16-inch machine. Upgradeability is another strong point, with two SSD slots, two RAM slots, and replaceable Wi-Fi and battery components.
For gamers sticking to the laptop’s native 1920x1200 resolution, performance is respectable and the keyboard is surprisingly comfortable. The inclusion of a 165Hz refresh rate panel, while not perfect, at least provides smoother motion compared to budget alternatives.
Pros
- Great Pricing
- More Portable Than Most Budget Gaming Laptops
- Thin & Light
- Remains Very Cool and Quiet
Cons
- Screen has ghosting
- Colors aren't great
- Ports are far down the laptop
- Avoid RTX 5060 version (has major performance issues)
The Problems: CPU Quirks, Weak Display, and Battery Issues
Unfortunately, even the cheaper version isn’t without compromises. Both tested A16 units suffered from sluggish CPU behavior in everyday Windows tasks, sometimes locking to 2.4GHz until manually adjusted in Task Manager. While benchmarks and heavy workloads behaved normally, the inconsistency was frustrating.
The display is another weak spot. At just 1920x1200 resolution with poor color accuracy and noticeable ghosting, content looks dull compared to competitors. The screen is fine for gaming under $800 but disappointing in pricier configurations.
Battery life is technically long-lasting, but unplugged performance is abysmal. The laptop becomes almost unusable off charger, dropping below what we’d consider acceptable for basic tasks.
Ports are also awkwardly placed toward the front sides of the chassis, making cable management tricky—especially for left-handed mouse users.
The 5060 Version: A Clear Miss
Where things really fall apart is the RTX 5060 configuration. Despite expectations, this model consistently underperformed in games compared to not only other 5060 laptops but even the cheaper A16 with a 4050. GPU utilization was noticeably lower, and no performance mode adjustments fixed the issue. Thermals reinforced the suspicion that the 5060 wasn’t working as intended.
Until Gigabyte resolves this with a BIOS update, we cannot recommend the 5060 A16 at any price.
Alternatives Worth Considering
If you’re tempted by a Gigabyte with a 50 Series card, the Aero X16 is a better buy. It’s thinner, lighter, and comes with a sharper display, more efficient CPU, and higher-tier GPUs that actually deliver on their promise.
Pros
- Exceptional value for money
- Strong battery life for a laptop with a dedicated GPU
- Matt screen makes it excellent for using in bright environments
- Trackpad is great
- Plenty of performance for most users
- Its quite light for a laptop like this
- Upgradeable memory
- Very little fan noise and remains cool to the touch
Cons
- Display's colors aren't entirely accurate
- Port placement is right down the front. Left handers will struggle with this
- Other laptops this size are more powerful
- Speakers lack volume
- Keyboard feels mushy
For those prioritizing gaming, Lenovo’s Legion 5i remains a fantastic choice. It offers a sturdier build, an OLED screen, and a much better overall user experience.
Pros
- Very comfortable keyboard
- Excellent OLED display
- Compact and portable
- Well built
- Fast current gen CPU
- Powerful GPU (full wattage)
- Pricing is very competitive
Cons
- Ports are far forward and may get in your way
- Speakers aren't great
- No fingerprint reader or facial recognition
- No Advanced Optimus
Conclusion
- Buy it if: You find the RTX 4050 A16 on sale under $800. At that price, it’s one of the best budget-friendly gaming laptops available.
- Skip it if: You’re considering the RTX 5060 model or paying over $800. The weak screen, CPU quirks, and poor unplugged performance make better alternatives worth the extra investment.
Keep an eye on sales trackers for deals, but tread carefully—this is very much a laptop where price makes or breaks the value.
