Aorus Master 16 Review: High-Performance Gaming Laptop With A Loud Cooling System

Kenji Nakamura

4 min read

Post on May 06, 2025

4.6

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Performance and Specifications

The Aorus Master 16 packs a serious punch in terms of raw power. Our review unit featured an Intel i9-13900HX CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU – a combination designed for top-tier gaming performance. This powerful hardware ensures smooth frame rates even at maximum settings in demanding games.

• CPU & GPU: Intel Core i9-13900HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080. This combination delivers exceptional performance for demanding games and applications.
• Gaming Benchmarks: In our testing, we achieved consistently high frame rates. Cyberpunk 2077 at max settings averaged 75fps, while Elden Ring delivered a smooth 90+ fps. These results are indicative of the laptop's powerful hardware. Further benchmarks in other popular titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Horizon Zero Dawn showed similarly impressive results.
• RAM and Storage: Our review unit came equipped with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a blazing-fast 2TB NVMe SSD. This ensures smooth multitasking and rapid load times, crucial for a seamless gaming experience.
• Unique Features: The Aorus Master 16 boasts overclocking capabilities, allowing you to push the performance even further (though this will likely increase the already-noticeable fan noise).
• Competitive Comparison: Compared to other high-end gaming laptops in its price range, the Aorus Master 16 generally sits at the top for raw performance. However, this performance comes at the cost of increased noise.

Display and Design

The Aorus Master 16 features a stunning 16-inch display with a QHD (2560 x 1600) resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. This combination results in incredibly smooth visuals and vibrant colors, enhancing the immersive gaming experience.

• Screen Specifications: 16-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) display with a 240Hz refresh rate. The panel type is an IPS display offering excellent color reproduction and viewing angles.
• Visual Quality: Color accuracy is excellent, with vibrant and rich colors. Brightness levels are also very good, making the display easily viewable even in brightly lit environments.
• Build Quality: The laptop boasts a robust magnesium alloy chassis which feels premium and durable. It’s also relatively slim and light for a gaming laptop of this caliber, enhancing portability.
• Design Aesthetics: The design is sleek and modern, with a subtle but stylish aesthetic. It avoids the overly aggressive gamer-aesthetic found in some competing laptops.
• Portability: While not ultra-portable, the Aorus Master 16 is reasonably lightweight and slim for its performance class, making it suitable for carrying to LAN parties or other events.

Cooling System and Noise Levels

This is where the Aorus Master 16 shows its biggest weakness. While the cooling system is effective at keeping temperatures under control, it's undeniably loud.

• Cooling System Design: The laptop utilizes a sophisticated cooling system with multiple fans and heat pipes to dissipate heat generated by the powerful components.
• Noise Levels: Under heavy load (e.g., demanding games), the fan noise becomes very prominent and can be disruptive. Even during less intensive tasks, the fans are noticeable.
• Temperature Under Load: Despite the noise, the cooling system does an admirable job of maintaining reasonable temperatures, preventing thermal throttling.
• Cooling System Effectiveness: While effective at cooling, the aggressive fan speeds result in a significant noise penalty.
• Noise Comparison: Compared to competing laptops with similar performance, the Aorus Master 16’s noise levels are notably higher.

Battery Life and Other Features

Battery life is a common trade-off with high-performance gaming laptops, and the Aorus Master 16 is no exception.

• Battery Life: Expect around 4-5 hours of battery life during less demanding tasks, but considerably less during gaming. It's primarily a desktop replacement laptop.
• Keyboard and Touchpad: The keyboard is comfortable and responsive, with good key travel. The touchpad is equally responsive and smooth.
• Ports and Connectivity: The Aorus Master 16 offers a good selection of ports, including USB-A, USB-C (Thunderbolt 4), HDMI, and an Ethernet port.
• Audio Quality: The audio quality is decent but not exceptional; external speakers or headphones are recommended for a truly immersive audio experience.

Conclusion

The Aorus Master 16 delivers exceptional performance, thanks to its powerful components and vibrant display. However, the significant fan noise is a drawback that cannot be ignored. It's a high-performance machine, but users should be prepared for a potentially loud experience.

If you're a gamer who prioritizes raw power and doesn't mind a louder cooling system, the Aorus Master 16 might be worth considering. But, if noise is a major concern, explore other high-performance gaming laptops before making your final decision. Read more detailed Aorus Master 16 reviews and compare specifications to find the perfect gaming laptop for your needs.