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Once again, Gigabyte offers one of the best values you can find in a gaming laptop. Thinner than the competing MSI GS60 Ghost Pro 3K, even with a swappable 2.5-inch drive bay inside, it's something of a marvel.
Now, this laptop doesn't sport the super premium build of, say, a Razer Blade. But the P35W v2 offers more hardware for the price than its competitors could ever hope to. An 802.11ac Wi-Fi chip would have sweetened the deal and future-proofed this machine even more, though. It's a regrettable omission.
We liked
The P35W v2 is a better value than its competitors. It may not be much of a looker, but knowing that you spent less for more should more than make up for it.
The performance displayed by the components inside left me confident that this gaming laptop will be able to keep up with the advances of PC gaming for at least a few years. Keeping in mind that comparably-priced desktop systems will always outpace their mobile counterparts, the P35W v2 should serve mobile-focused PC gamers well throughout 2015 and likely beyond.
Finally, I'm just going to say it again. Gigabyte managed to cram an extra swappable 2.5-inch bay into an 0.83-inch system. That's a big deal. Also, 4 hours of battery life is tough to find in a gaming laptop. You can get it here.
We disliked
While there isn't much to complain about with the P35W v2, the most notable omission here is 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The far faster networking standard only stands to grow more popular in the coming years, and this machine only stands to be left behind.
Also, for being so thin, this laptop is quite heavy at just over 5 pounds. You'll most definitely notice this one in your backpack or shoulderbag. In the same vein, I could do without the plastic base (underneath the aluminum palm rest) and bezel. And finally, Gigabyte: enough with the gaudy stickers, at least the ones you aren't obligated to slap on every unit.
Final verdict
If you're dead set on buying a gaming laptop instead of a desktop system, you'll be hard-pressed finding a better value than the Gigabyte P35W v2. Simply put, this gaming laptop offers more hardware and better performance than its competitors for less money.
You will miss out on the niceties of more premium systems, like the attractive chassis and 3K displays of the Ghost Pro 3K and Razer Blade. You'll also lack the latest in wireless networking tech, if you opt for this system.
Regardless, in terms of pixels pushed per penny, the P35W v2 represents one of the best buys in gaming laptops today. Of course, you'll always get even more power for the money in a desktop gaming PC, but in terms of gaming laptops, I'd say the P35W v2 is the one to beat.
