Sections
- Page 1 Aorus X7 v6 Review
- Page 2 Performance, Screen and Sound Review
- Page 3 Keyboard, Trackpad, Battery and Verdict Review
Aorus X7 v6 – Keyboard & Trackpad
The Aorus’s chiclet keyboard is a mixed bag. I like its row of six macro keys, but I’m less keen on the single-height Return button or the closed-in cursor keys.
The keyboard also suffers from familiar foibles. Its buttons are comfortable, with a consistent action and a cushioned base, but that’s not great for gaming – it’s far better for typing. The keys are quiet, but their modest design means they don’t have the speed required from a gaming keyboard.
The Scan 3XS LG17 Carbon Extreme proved far better here. Its traditional keyboard offers far more snap and speed, which makes it excellent for gaming.
Related: Best Gaming Keyboards to Buy
The AorusFusion app controls the RGB lighting beneath every key. The lighting can be static or made to follow more patterns than I’ve seen on any other notebook – some respond dynamically to individual key touches, while others glow, pulse and wave, no matter what’s going on.
Macro recording is easy, and the keys can also be assigned to open individual applications or perform common PC and media functions.
It’s a shame the keyboard is too soft and underwhelming to excel in games, because the trackpad is excellent. The surface is slick, and the buttons are great – fast and with a rapid clicking motion that’s reminiscent of proper gaming mice.
Aorus X7 v6 – Battery Life
The Aorus delivered middling longevity from its 94Wh battery. That’s a huge capacity, but it’s tempered by the high-end GPU, powerful CPU and copious overclocking.
In the standard application test the Aorus lasted for two hours and 53 minutes. That’s almost an hour more than the Scan, with its desktop processor, but the Gigabyte P35X v6 lasted for more than five hours – no surprise given its more modest components.
That middling result was followed by an hour-long lifespan in a gaming test, which is entirely ordinary for gaming notebooks.
Should I Buy the Aorus X7 v6?
The 17.3-inch Aorus has inventive features, but they’re hamstrung by more conventional limitations.
The overclocked CPU and GPU deliver fantastic speeds, and the Aorus has top-notch design and build quality. Its keyboard lighting and macro recording are welcome, the trackpad is excellent, and the speakers are great.
However, the keyboard and screen are both middling, and the laptop proves far too loud and hot through most of its numerous fan and overclocking options.
This is a desirable piece of tech with several upsides, but I’d still opt for alternatives that combine powerful components with designs that can properly cope with their heat and noise demands.
Verdict
The Aorus looks great and the innovative overclocking options help it to perform really well. But the screen’s underwhelming, and this machine is simply too hot and loud.
How we test laptops
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Trusted Score
Score in detail
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Performance 10
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Keyboard 6
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Design 9
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Screen Quality 7
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Build Quality 8
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Value 7
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Touchpad 8
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Heat & Noise 5
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Battery Life 6
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
