Gigabyte Aero 15 refresh will include the 8th gen Core i7-8750H CPU and 144 Hz/7 ms IPS panels
The first-generation Gigabyte Aero 15 knocked it out of the park in terms of performance and style when it launched last Summer. It proved to be a surprising contender against the all-popular Dell XPS 15 since it featured similar narrow bezels but with faster GPU options, a factory-calibrated Pantone-certified display, and a full-fledged Thunderbolt 3 port compared to the Dell system. The maker has since expanded its fledging Aero 15 series with the more powerful Aero 15X and it will soon refresh the system with a slightly thinner profile (19.9 mm vs. 18.0 mm) and the same new 144 Hz/7 ms IPS display option as the upcoming MSI GS65 to attract more gamers.
Major changes between the Aero 15 2017 and Aero 15 2018 are highlighted in the table below. Gigabyte has also promised to have fixed the no key rollover issue that plagued the original Aero 15.
| Gigabyte Aero 15 (1st generation) | Gigabyte Aero 15 (2nd generation) | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Quad-core Core i7-7700HQ | Hexa-core Core i7-8750H |
| Display | 1920 x 1080, IPS, 60 Hz, Pantone-certified, matte | 1920 x 1080, IPS, 144 Hz, 7 ms, Pantone-certified, matte OR 4K UHD w/ 100 percent AdobeRGB coverage |
| Ports | 3x USB 3.0, RJ-45, HDMI, mDP, 3.5 mm audio, SD reader (up to 80 MB/s), Thunderbolt 3, Kensington Lock | 3x USB 3.1, RJ-45, HDMI, mDP, 3.5 mm audio, SD reader (up to 300 MB/s), Thunderbolt 3, Kensington Lock |
| Ambient Light Sensor | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 19.9 x 356 x 250 | 18.0 x 356 x 250 |
As Gigabyte's performance- and professional-oriented series, it was only natural for the upcoming Aero 15 (GTX 1060) and Aero 15X (GTX 1070 Max-Q) refresh to also feature Intel's latest generation of CPUs. Both SKUs will carry the hexa-core Core i7-8750H CPU to better compete against the new XPS 15 and GS65. The processor swap is the last bit of new change for the Aero 15 that the manufacturer was unable to disclose until today due to Intel's Coffee Lake-H timeline. The picture is now complete for what we can expect out of the second-generation Aero 15. Other core features like the 2x DDR4-2666 SODIMM slots, selection of ports, and 2x NVMe M.2 slots have all returned from the first-generation series unscathed.
Aero 15 pre-orders begin today for $2000 to $2500 USD with shipments expected on April 16th alongside many other Coffee Lake-H notebooks. Note that a Core i5-8400H SKU is not planned and so users will be paying a premium for the sole Core i7-8750H option. Color options from the first generation SKUs will also be absent outside of standard black.
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