Aorus X7 Pro v5 review: A 4K gaming monster

Battery life

Sadly, the battery life on the Aorus X7 Pro v5 is resoundingly poor, as its 94.24Wh battery managed just 2 hours and 23 minutes in our continuous video playback test with the screen set to our standard brightness measurement of 170cd/m2.

Of course, given its relative size and weight, it’s unlikely you’ll be hauling this anywhere to use on the move, but sometimes it’s reassuring to know a gaming laptop has at least a little bit of stamina if you do need to use it away from the mains. Unfortunately, you’ll almost definitely need to be tethered to the wall with the X7 Pro v5, with the battery likely running out much faster when performing high level tasks and playing games.

Ports and speakers

You’re well provided when it comes to ports on the X7 Pro v5, as you get one USB3.1-Type C port, one regular USB3 port, and HDMI 2.0, mini DisplayPort and DVI connections. There’s also a Gigabit Ethernet port, an SD card reader and separate headphone and microphone jacks.

The dual front-facing speakers, meanwhile, are very loud and punchy, and are arguably some of the best laptop speakers I’ve ever tested. Audio was clear and crisp and its bass was surprisingly full-bodied, so you might not necessarily need to use headphones while gaming or kicking back with a film to get the best audio experience.

Keyboard and touchpad

Thanks to the generally cooler temperatures of the X7 Pro v5, the keyboard is much more pleasant to use than the one on the X5s v5 Camo. They keys are nicely cushioned, and provide excellent feedback. There isn’t much rattle here, either, but I did notice a bit of flex in its plastic housing. Still, it didn’t really affect my typing speed, and gamers will be pleased to see there are also five customisable macro keys running down the side.

The touchpad is equally brilliant, and its generous size means there’s plenty of space for your fingers. It felt very responsive during my time with it, and Windows 10 gestures worked like a charmed. Its integrated buttons did occasionally mistake left and right clicks from time to time, but it’s a small complaint overall.

Conclusion

With its super fast performance, excellent speakers and great keyboard, the Aorus X7 Pro v5 really does represent the very best in gaming laptops. Of course, there’s no getting away from the X7 Pro v5’s extortionately high price of £2,100, but when you put it side by side with the equally expensive Asus ROG G752VY, it’s immediately clear which laptop is better value for money.

It might not have the best display in the world, but when it can deliver flawless Full HD gaming performance and a highly respectable 4K innings as well, even its lacklustre screen isn’t enough to dampen its overall appeal. Regardless of whether you’re after a brilliant Full HD machine or a 4K monster, the X7 Pro v5 delivers on every count, and rightfully earns itself a Recommended award.

Buy the Aorus X7 Pro v5 now from Scan