The Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG might just redefine value for gaming laptops. Or, maybe not. Regardless, it’s a damn good deal as you get a 14th-gen i7 CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, along with 16GB of RAM, for $1,249.00 / £998.31 / AU$1,899.00.
And, if you’re in Australia, you can find an even cheaper related version, known as the G6X 9MG, that is mostly differentiated by the fact that it boasts a less-powerful 4050 GPU for AU$1,699.00.
Now, Gigabyte is not alone in this mid-range performance meets budget pricing (well, budget for gaming) category but is one of the best values. The Acer Nitro 16 AMD
Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG: Specs
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
If you don’t count the slightly cheaper G6X 9MG, which comes with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, the only real variation in configuration comes in how much RAM and storage space you order, ranging from 16GB to 32GB and 1 to 2TB.
Of course, this laptop’s RAM slots and M.2 SSD slots are easily swappable so you can upgrade to 64GB and some retailers in Australia offer upgrades during purchase to both the RAM and storage.
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Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG specs
Header Cell – Column 0 Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG review configuration
Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG max configuration
Price: $1,249.00 / £998.31 / AU$1,899.00
$1,499.00 / AU$2,157.00
CPU: Intel Core i7-13650HX
Intel Core i7-13650HX
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
RAM: 16 GB DDR5
32 GB DDR5
Screen: 16.0″ 16:10 WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 165Hz FHD
16.0″ 16:10 WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 165Hz FHD
Storage: 1 TB SSD
2 TB SSD
Ports: 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45 Ethernet, Audio jack
2x USB-C, 2x USB-A, HDMI 2.1, RJ-45 Ethernet, Audio jack
Wireless: Bluetooth, WiFi 6E 802.11ax
Bluetooth, WiFi 6E 802.11ax
Camera: 720p webcam
720p webcam
Weight: 8.7 pounds
8.7 pounds
Dimensions: 14.21 x 10.2 x 1.13 inches
14.21 x 10.2 x 1.13 inches
Beyond that, there’s only one choice when it comes to the screen, which is a 16:10 16-inch panel with a 1920 x 1200p resolution (essentially 1080p but in that 16:10 aspect ratio) and speedy 165Hz refresh rate.
Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG: Design
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Sleek, subdued gaming design Decent keyboard and mouse Thermals are pretty good except underneath
Physically, the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG is fairly smart looking. Its all-black colorway with some subtle gray designs on the lid and body’s top plate, both of which are aluminum, are the main indicators that this is a gaming laptop.
Otherwise, it’s a somewhat subdued, almost minimalist look that won’t rat you out if you pull it out at a cafe to work on (though once we get to battery life, you might think twice about doing this anyway).
The panel is basically a 1080p one but in a 16:10 aspect ratio (1920 x 1200p) and runs at a blazing-fast 165Hz refresh rate. It also provides a decent amount of screen space as this is a 16-inch laptop.
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(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Since there is plenty of space, the keyboard is a full-sized one, complete with a separate numpad. There are plenty of hotkeys for different shortcuts as well as a dedicated key to pull up Window’s new AI Copilot.
Since this is a gaming laptop, there’s also RGB backlighting. Unfortunately, it’s as basic as it comes as you can just pick one color for the whole thing. At least you can create macros for the keyboard, which is pretty cool. More importantly, typing on the keyboard is a nice experience, if nothing special.
The touchpad works well and is fairly sizable. The only minor complaint is its center-left placement – something that’s not unique here but that I never quite understood. Of course, that’s me being nit-picky, not to mention the fact that you’ll still need to use an external mouse for any gaming you do.
As far as ports go, the selection is decent with two USB-C and two USB-A along with an HDMI 2.1 port so you can keep a fast refresh rate with an external monitor. My only issue is that some of the ports are on the back – a design choice I’ve always disliked when I come across it.
When it comes to thermals, there’s a lot going on internally from heat piping and thermal intakes and outtakes to the two fans that get pretty loud whenever the laptop is under duress. While those fans can get distracting if you’re not using headphones, there aren’t too many issues with heat as long as you’re not touching the bottom of the laptop.
Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Very solid gaming performance Screen is not the best for colors Audio is not bad for a laptop
Benchmarks
Here is how the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG performed in our suite of benchmark tests :
3DMark Speed Way: 2,422; Fire Strike: 25,197; Time Spy: 10,228GeekBench 6.3: 2,596 (single-core) ; 14,287 (multi-core) 19.1 secondsHandbrake 1.6.1: 4:40 MinutesCrossMark: Overall: 1,996 Productivity: 1,894 Creativity: 2,114 Responsiveness: 1,966F1 23 1080p (Ultra) 39 fpsCyberpunk 2077: 1080p (Ultra) 32.13 fpsWeb Surfing (Battery Informant): 3:43:53 hoursPCMark 10 Battery Life (Gaming): 1:11 hours
I was duly impressed with the performance on the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG. And if you’re okay adjusting some settings or taking some slight performance hits, you’ll be very happy with what this laptop can do.
Powered by a 14th-gen i7 – specifically, one of the new HX chips with AI capabilities – and a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 (and 32GB of RAM for the test unit), I never felt inhibited by the hardware, whether I was playing Hogwarts Legacy , Cyberpunk 2077, Battlefield 2042 . Now, the hardware included is meant to power that 1920x1200p screen at 165Hz and it certainly does.
While I mentioned earlier that I feel there’s not a huge difference performance-wise between a laptop like this and something sporting more powerful internals, you are going to have to adjust settings a little bit, particularly on the ray-tracing front. As you can see with the benchmarks below, it’s not going to touch something like the Acer Predator Helios 18 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 .
Whether it’s from some of the backend AI functions closing the gap, my actual subjective experience, as opposed to just looking at the number, felt like I wasn’t missing anything. Sure, there was some texture popping here and there or light screen tearing, especially when the POV has moved around quickly, but anyone who’s limited by their budget is not going to be frustrated with the experience here.
On top of that, the screen looks good enough. However, you’re not going to be able to leverage that under-the-hood power for video or photo-editing. At least not if you want accurate results. The sRGB coverage is 67% while the DCI-P3 is 48. This also means that games aren’t going to pop with as much vibrancy as with some other laptops. Also, there’s no HDR on hand.
Regarding sound, Gigabyte advertises this laptop to simulate a 5.1.2 system using Dolby Atmos. While you still end up with that somewhat boxy audio that almost all laptops seem to end up with, there is a little more of a soundstage and a tiny bit more space to what I hear when playing, say, Cyberpunk 2077 , thanks to the virtual spatial audio.
Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG: Battery life
Not very good battery life Charging is okay
We’ve seen some gaming laptops start to break the mold in terms of battery life. That’s not the case here. The battery life is, to speak plainly, not very good. Yes, this is the case for a lot of gaming laptops still, but you still get under four hours of regular use per our web surfing benchmark and just a little over an hour of gaming per the PC Mark 10 battery life benchmark.
If you do have to use the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG untethered, charging it back up is not going to be a speedy affair. It’s not slow necessarily as you’ll get 10% more battery every ten minutes or so, but this is not fast charging.
Should you buy the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG?
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
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Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG scorecard
Value This might be one of the best values in gaming laptops right now.
5 / 5
Design A sleek look, a full keyboard and fairly good thermals make for an attractive gaming laptop proposition.
4 / 5
Performance There might be some compromises, but you’ll be able to play just about anything on here. Just don’t expect the most vibrant screen.
4 / 5
Battery Life The battery life is not very good here.
3 / 5
Total There are some cut corners, but if you’re on a budget, this is a laptop that will probably make you very happy.
4 / 5
Buy the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider How I tested the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG
Tested for a week Pushed it as hard as possible gaming-wise Played with various settings
I used the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG for a week, playing a number of demanding games like Hogwarts Legacy, Battlefield 2042 and Cyberpunk 2077 . While doing so, I ran the games at various settings, particularly at the highest ones with ray tracing on wherever possible, and took note of the results. I also tested each aspect of the laptop from the keyboard and touchpad to the webcam and speakers.
After spending time with the Gigabyte Aorus G6X 9KG, it’s clear that this is ideal for any gamer on a budget, as it delivers a lot of performance for its price tag.
I’ve spent the last few years reviewing tech gear for gaming and otherwise, where I’ve gotten a feel for what to look for and how to put a piece of kit through its paces to see whether it’s worth the recommendation.
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