Be it a gaming laptop or desktop battlestation, there are always fixed prerequisites that users look out for to get the best out of the experience. The first is powerful hardware, offering the punch needed to run graphically-demanding games smoothly, followed by an excellent display that enhances the viewing experience through striking visuals and sharp detail. Cooling is another, proving important in preventing heat build-up and performance throttle issues.
The GIGABYTE AORUS MASTER 16/18 Series touts all of that, but raises the bar with its mastery over various artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Representing the ultimate work and play experience, the combined competence starts with top-line hardware, of up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX5090 GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX, alongside a starting 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage (upgradable to 64GB and 4TB, respectively). As the RTX 50 Series of graphics cards supports ray-time ray tracing, users can expect more photorealistic visuals, greater clarity, and truer-to-life shadow and reflection effects.
On its exterior, the AORUS MASTER 16/18 has achieved its deepest black ever, at 5° Black, which contrasts beautifully with RGB lighting in the dark.
A 16-inch OLED display feeds into the immersion, boasting WQXGA resolution (2,560 x 1,600 pixels), a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 100 percent coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Coupled with Dolby Vision and Display HDR1000 compatibility, it works to deliver vibrant images, deep blacks, and rich contrast. Fluid and responsive gameplay is also part of the package – a welcome treat from NVIDIA’s own suite of tools such as G-Sync, which eliminates stutter and artefacts on the screen. While the refresh rate remains unchanged on the 18-inch models, their panels are swapped out for the mini-LED QHD option (2,560 x 1,440 pixels).
The cinematic delight is accompanied by audio mastery. Sporting up to six speakers with dual-force woofers, the device promises 1.58 times louder volume and deeper bass, as well as Dolby Atmos support. Additionally, a smart amplifier, intelligently matched to the speaker’s physical capabilities, ensures distortion-free audio at any volume level and reliable long-term operation.
There are trade-offs to heavyweight gaming, however. Overheating may be easily glossed over by some, but it can be damaging in the long run, especially for laptops and their limited ventilation capabilities. To that end, the AORUS MASTER 16/18 comes with fortified WindForce Infinite EX cooling, comprising a frost fan, a quad-fan design, a vapour chamber, and 3D VortX air channelling that work together to support up to 270-watt total thermal power for sustained high-performance output.
Here’s how the magic works – the frost fan adopts 158 asymmetric blades to increase airflow density, while the quad-fan setup reduces core component temperatures by up to 4.7 degree Celsius and noise levels by seven per cent. Then comes the vapour chamber, boosting coverage by 50 per cent for more efficient thermal performance, with 3D VortX technology improving the heat exchange process via four exhaust outlets and 3D air channelling. The enhanced cooling efficiency is designed to last, too, so users can enjoy hours-long gaming sessions in peace without their hand feeling warm.
All of these capabilities are further optimised by a GIGABYTE special (and arguably its biggest draw), the GiMATE. Featuring an intuitive interface that extends more personal control to users, the AI-powered smart assistant is rooted in two key implementations – embedding advanced large language models (LLM) to understand and anticipate needs without encroaching on data privacy, and G-Cell, a suite of proprietary tech that optimises hardware based on user experiences.
Here’s how each of them works:
- AI Power – Smart GPU switching for up to 15 percent longer battery life
- AI Performance – One-click overclocking for GPU and fan tuning to balance performance with efficiency
- AI Cooling – Adapts to surroundings for silent operation
- AI Audio – Auto-calibrates based on laptop positioning
- AI Voice – Advanced noise cancellation and voice recognition
- AI Privacy – Automatically detects when authorised viewers approach and obscures screen
Other notable features of GiMATE include Press and Speak, which responds to user requests, query, needs, and more, and GiMate creator, an image generator that imports the latest AI models from Hugging Face and has snagged the honour of being the industry’s first mobile design hub ready for AI experimentation and deployment.
Amid the continued growth of AI, the AORUS MASTER 16/18 presents a strong case for how the tech can be neatly integrated into existing capabilities, focusing on value-added functionality instead of flashy action – such that it won the Computex 2025 Best Choice Award for Industry-Leading Innovation.
The 16-inch model retails for S$7,499 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of ROM, whereas its 18-inch sibling starts at S$6,069 for 32GB of RAM and 2TB of ROM. Meanwhile, the 64GB RAM and 2TB storage variant costs S$8,388. Both models are available for purchase now via Techyard and GamePro.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
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