There's a lot to like about the Acer Aspire 5 (starts at $399, $629 as tested). You get a 15.6-inch low-cost desktop-replacement laptop with a peppy Intel Core i5 processor, a generous 12GB of memory, a 128GB solid-state drive as well as a 1TB hard drive, and USB-C and Ethernet ports. The Acer's performance in our benchmark tests was sprightly, and its stamina in our battery-life test was downright impressive (nearly 12 hours). So are we recommending it? Not unless you leave it on your desk plugged into an external monitor all the time.
The Aspire 5's screen is a deal-breaker—a low-resolution (1,366-by-768), low-quality twisted nematic (TN) panel instead of the full HD (1,920-by-1,080), in-plane switching (IPS) display you should seek in an over-$600 laptop. Our Editors' Choice among budget desktop replacements, the Acer Aspire E 15, offers a better full HD (though not IPS) screen for $349. Even among 1,366-by-768 TN displays, we like that of the $199 HP Stream 11-y010nr more than the Aspire 5's, perhaps because the 15.6-inch size magnifies flaws that an 11.6-inch screen hides. The Aspire 5 may appeal to comparison-shopping consumers—"Hey, this one has 12GB of RAM versus that one's 8GB"—but we think they'd be happier with more modest specs accompanied by a superior screen, as offered by many other models in Acer's and other lineups.
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Not to belabor the screen critique, but the glossy display is passable only when you're sitting smack dab in front of it, with the tilt adjusted just right. Even then, colors are pale and details are indistinct, though brightness is adequate. Try viewing it at the slightest angle, and dark areas wash out like photo negatives while text looks pixelated. The 720p videos we watched (there isn't enough resolution for 1080p) were smooth and stutter-free, but colors fizzled rather than popped.
Otherwise Looking Good
Fifteen-inch notebooks aren't ultraportables, but our test unit (model A515-51-51LZ) is certainly able to be carried if you have a good-sized briefcase or backpack. At 0.85 by 15 by 10.4 inches (HWD), the system is about the same size, if maybe a hair thinner, than its competitors; it weighs 4.85 pounds, slotting in between the HP Notebook 15 (ba009dx) and the Asus F556UA-AB32 (4.7 and 5 pounds, respectively).
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4.0
Excellent
Acer Aspire E 15 (E5-575-33BM)
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3.0
Average
HP Stream 11-y010nr
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HP Notebook 15 (ba009dx)
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Excellent
Asus F556UA-AB32
Read Our Asus F556UA-AB32 Review
2.5
Fair
Lenovo Z50-75 Signature Edition
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4.5
Outstanding
Acer Swift 1
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Outstanding
Asus Chromebook Flip (C302CA-DHM4)
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4.0
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Lenovo IdeaPad Miix 320
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Dell Inspiron 11 3000 Series 2-in-1 (3179)
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Finished in black plastic with a crosshatched texture on the lid, the laptop announces itself with a silver Acer logo in the center of the lid and the Aspire name on the screen hinge. A chrome strip borders the base and touchpad. The system feels solidly built, with little or no flex in the screen corners and keyboard tray. Acer preloads plenty of software, ranging from the useful (the Dashlane password manager) to the commercial (eBay, Priceline, Amazon, WildTangent games).
Sound from the bottom-mounted speakers is fair—bass is largely absent and high notes are slightly tinny, but there's enough volume to fill a room and most instrumentals and vocals are clean and accurate. The webcam captures images with good contrast but fine details are fuzzed out.
Capable Connectivity
Ports are plentiful. On the laptop's left side, you'll find a Kensington lock, a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, an Ethernet jack, and an SD card slot (unfortunately, the type that leaves the card sticking two-thirds of the way out so you can't leave a card in place when stuffing the machine into your briefcase). Along the right edge are an audio jack, two USB 2.0 ports, and the connector for the AC power brick.
The backlit keyboard wins points for having dedicated (if small) Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys and loses points for its HP-style treatment of the cursor arrow keys—half-sized up and down arrows sandwiched between full-sized left and right arrows, in a row instead of an inverted T. Typing feel is crisp and quiet, with adequate travel and soft feedback. The touchpad responds well to gliding motions, gestures, and taps, though it takes a firm press on its lower half to produce a click.
A Potent Performer
The base model of the Aspire 5 costs $399 and comes with a Core i3-7100U processor, 8GB of memory, and a 1TB HDD. Our top-of-the-line unit has Intel's "Kaby Lake" Core i5-7200U, a 2.5GHz (3.1GHz turbo) dual-core CPU with Hyper-Threading, teamed with 12GB of memory and a 128GB Hynix SATA M.2 SSD plus a 1TB hard drive, giving the Aspire 5 above-average performance. The system's score in our PCMark 8 productivity benchmark was 3,286 points—higher than some Core i7 laptops we've tested, let alone the Aspire E15 (2,491) or the HP Notebook 15 (1,920). The likes of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are cake to this Acer.
See How We Test Laptops
You wouldn't want to do much video or photo editing on a 1,366-by-768 display, but the Aspire 5 crunched through our Handbrake video encoding benchmark in 2 minutes and 12 seconds compared with 2:54 for the Asus F556UA and 3:41 for the Lenovo Z50-75 . The laptop's time in our Adobe Photoshop image-editing exercise was just over 4 minutes, versus a bit under 6 minutes for the Aspire E 15 and the Asus.
Its battery life could be the Aspire 5's best feature, as the laptop lasted nearly half a day—a real day, not a workday (11 hours and 54 minutes)—in our rundown test, easily beating its stablemate's 9:49 and the Asus' 7:31. Its worst feature apart from the screen would be its gaming prowess, as it lost to the humble Z50-75 in our Fire Strike Extreme subtest and managed only 10 frames per second, despite its low resolution, when running Heaven and Valley at top image quality. Like its integrated-graphics peers, the Acer is meant for casual and solitaire games, not the latest top-rated titles.
Achilles' Eye
Are we being overly fussy, insisting that you should insist on a full HD and IPS display in this price range? Maybe, but we know that such a screen will make you a lot happier than having 12GB versus 8GB of RAM or a hard drive in addition to an SSD. For those willing to sacrifice some power and storage for a better display, the Asus F556UA-AB32 and the Editors' Choice Acer Aspire E 15 are both solid desktop-replacement alternatives, with their 1080p screens and under-$500 price tags.
Acer Aspire 5
2.5
(Opens in a new window)
See It $399.00 at Acer(Opens in a new window)MSRP $399.00
Pros
-
Ample memory and storage including SSD.
-
USB-C port.
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Great battery life.
Cons
-
Dismal display.
The Bottom Line
The Acer Aspire 5 is a 15.6-inch desktop-replacement laptop that gives you a lot for your $629, but tops it with something you should never settle for at this price: a 1,366-by-768 non-IPS screen.
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FAQs
Acer Aspire 5 Review? ›
The Acer Aspire 5 (available at Amazon for $604.30) has been one of our favorite budget laptops for years. Its specs are a great deal for the price, its body is thin and light, and it comes with a lot of ports—including Ethernet and HDMI.
Is Acer Aspire 5 laptops good? ›The Acer Aspire 5 (available at Amazon for $604.30) has been one of our favorite budget laptops for years. Its specs are a great deal for the price, its body is thin and light, and it comes with a lot of ports—including Ethernet and HDMI.
Why is my Acer Aspire 5 laptop so slow? ›If your Acer Aspire laptop is running very slow, you can check whether you are running too many Apps at the same time. If yes, you can end the process of unnecessary Apps which take up too much memory so as to speed up your laptop. This operation can be also executed in Task Manager.
What year did the Acer Aspire 5 come out? ›The Aspire series was introduced in 2017 with four main models: 1, 3, 5 and 7.
Is Acer a good computer laptop? ›Acer is a computer brand that sells laptops among other things. Acer is known to have great performance and quality laptops, as well as good battery backups.
How long do Acer laptops last? ›The same concerns apply to laptops. Most experts estimate a laptop's lifespan to be three to five years. It may survive longer than that, but its utility will be limited as the components become less capable of running advanced applications.
Is Acer laptop good or HP? ›HP has more powerful processors that allow users to multitask without any lags or slowdowns. On the other hand, Acer boasts longer battery life and portability features that make them ideal for students on-the-go. Both provide great value for money when compared side by side.
What is the failure rate of Acer? ›Acer and Gateway came in just under 24 percent, and Hewlett-Packard, which is the world's largest producer of PCs, came in last, with a 25.6 percent failure rate over three years.
Why is my Acer Aspire 5 so hot? ›The most common reason for overheating is inadequate airflow within the device. Some other potential reasons why your laptop might overheat are: Blocked air vents. Placing your laptop on a soft or uneven surface like a bed, rug, or couch reduces airflow as the vents are covered.
Is Acer Aspire 5 good for Windows 11? ›The Acer Aspire 5 is one of the cheapest Windows 11 laptops you can buy right now, and it does allow you to run (most) Windows 11 applications – something Chromebooks can't. However, its low price means there are compromises, especially when it comes to performance and screen quality.
Does Acer Aspire 5 have Microsoft Office? ›
Acer Aspire 5 A515-56 Thin and Light Laptop | 15.6" Full HD Display | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor | 8GB DDR4 |512GB SSD | HD Webcam|Backlit KB| WiFi 6| Windows 10 Home | MS Office | 1.65Kg.
Is the Acer Aspire 5 good for college? ›While Acer Aspire 5 may not match the high-end laptops mentioned in the list, it does a pretty good job handling basic college work, making it a hot favorite amongst students of all kinds. The device is available in both AMD and Intel configurations, leaving enough room for you to pick the right one.
Is Acer a low end laptop? ›Acer laptops are very popular for their high quality and low price. They have a wide range of products, from the most basic to the highest end models. The acer laptop is also known as one of the best brands in terms of performance/price ratio.
Which brand of laptop is best? ›| Best Laptops Brands In India | Price |
|---|---|
| Honor MagicBook 15 | Rs 39,990 |
| Apple 2021 MacBook Pro | Rs 2,96,894 |
| HP Victus Gaming | Rs 56,960 |
| Lenovo Ideapad 3 | Rs 43,900 |
Lenovo and Acer are both excellent options for buying laptops. Your choice should depend on your budget and use case. You should go with Lenovo if you want better performance and battery life and Acer if you have a low budget.
Should you keep your Acer laptop plugged in all the time? ›Leaving your laptop plugged in will not cause short-term damage, but if you only ever use it on AC power, you'll almost certainly find that after a year, the battery's capacity has been significantly reduced. Similarly, if you only ever use it on battery power, you'll get through the battery's discharge cycles quicker.
Can I leave my Acer laptop plugged in all the time? ›Laptop Batteries
Once your battery is charged to full capacity, it will simply stop charging, so keeping your laptop plugged in will not cause any issues to your battery.
That means it's important to know how long laptops last, so you can make decisions about price versus longevity. Experts estimate you should get at least four years from a laptop purchase, though 10 to 12 years is the upper limit for any portable.
Which is the best laptop in Acer? ›| Name | Amazon Rating | Amazon Price |
|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 3 | 3.9 / 5 | Rs. 18,690 |
| Acer Extensa 15 | 4 / | Rs. 18,990 |
| Acer Nitro 5 Gaming Laptop | 4.2 / 5 | Rs. 20,490 |
| Acer Aspire 5 Gaming Laptop | 4 / 5 | Rs. 22,490 |
Side-by-Side Comparison
The Acer is a better laptop overall, as it's the same size as the HP but is more compact, it has a better-quality metal chassis, and its battery lasts significantly longer.
Who makes Acer laptops? ›
(/ˈeɪsər/ AY-sər) is a Taiwanese multinational hardware and electronics corporation specializing in advanced electronics technology, headquartered in Xizhi, New Taipei City.
Does Acer have a bad reputation? ›Is Acer a good laptop brand, quality wise? In general, no. Their laptops tend to have good specs and low prices, but plasticky design and low build quality. The laptops I've owned, in ascending order of build quality, have been Acer, HP, Dell, and Asus.
Is Asus better than Acer? ›Both Acer and Asus have quite amazing build qualities with its gaming abilities. One has a good price range; the other has slightly more to offer. Therefore, you cannot decide which one is the best but you can at least decide which one is right for you according to your needs and budget.
Why is Acer so popular? ›It has become one of the top contenders for laptop manufacturers around the world, making it a reliable choice for consumers. Let's look at why Acer is so popular: 1) Quality – Acer laptops are designed to be durable and long-lasting; they offer great performance and value for money.
Which laptop has the lowest failure rate? ›Consumer Reports: Apple laptops have lowest failure rate, best tech support. Apple laptops are far less likely to need repairs than other brands, according to Consumer Reports' survey of more than 58,000 of its subscribers.
Can Acer last long? ›The Acer laptops on average last for up to 5 to 6 years only when you handle and maintain it properly.
Is Acer a good computer for school? ›Best Mid-Range Laptop For College
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) is our pick for the best laptop for students in the mid-range category. This 2-in-1 Chromebook has a nice 14-inch display, giving you just enough screen real estate for multitasking, and it supports pen input so that you can take notes with a stylus.
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HWD) | 0.7 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches |
| Weight | 3.9 lbs |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes) | 11:32 |
There's no risk of damaging the battery by charging it over its capacity. Having a battery fully discharged for an extended period can put it into a deep discharge state, from which it might never recover.
Why is my Acer Aspire 5 fan so loud? ›You don't need to fix it, maybe due to some background task, the CPU is heating for which it is blowing fast. its no problem. Acer Laptop fans are programmed to run according to pc load and temperature. The most likely cause why a laptop fan is running is because your processor is heating.
Is Acer Aspire 5 a business laptop? ›
Aspire 5 - Acer Laptops for Home, Business, Gaming, Creators & More.
Is Windows 11 better than Windows 10? ›The answer to the question, “Is Windows 10 or 11 better?” depends on your unique needs. Windows 10 is a solid operating system that can allow you to work, play, and interact with useful apps. And Windows 11 can help you in the same way, but with enhanced features for gaming and interface layouts.
Does the Acer Aspire 5 have a touch screen? ›Acer Aspire 5 A515-55T-53AP, 15.6" HD Touch Display, 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1, 8GB DDR4, 256GB NVMe SSD, WiFi 6, HD Webcam, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 Home.
Does Acer Aspire 5 have a microphone? ›The Acer Aspire 5 has a basic 720p webcam and a single microphone. Both perform well enough for most Zoom calls but never impress.
Is Acer Aspire 5 a laptop or notebook? ›Acer Aspire 5 | Windows Laptop | Acer United Kingdom.
What is the ranking of Acer? ›Acer Ranks 1st in Product Quality Score
122 Customers rate Acer's Product Quality Score a 3.9/5, which ranks it 1st against its competitors.
Acer Aspire 5 review: Performance
But you still get four proper high-performance cores, eight threads and boost clockspeed up to 4.2GHz and sustained frequencies under full load across all cores of around 2.2GHz to 2.3GHz.
Acer Aspire 5 A515-51G-574F is a Windows 10 Home laptop with a 15.60-inch display that has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It is powered by a Core i5 processor and it comes with 8GB of RAM.
How long does a low end laptop last? ›The more expensive the laptop is, the longer it lasts. If the laptop is less than $600 or 700, it can be used for 2-4 years. If you pay $700 to $1000, the average lifespan is 3-5 years. Laptops that cost more than $1000 can last 4-7 years.
Is 8 GB RAM good? ›8GB of RAM is the amount of memory we recommend for casual computer users. If your usage includes internet browsing, email, lots of office programs, flash games, and multitasking – this level of memory should be sufficient.
Which laptop is No 1 in world? ›
1. Apple MacBook Air M2. On our list of the best laptops in the world, the new MacBook Air M2 has risen to the top due to its superior quality.
What is the most sold laptop in the world? ›Apple. Apple is the top-selling laptop brand worldwide and the most excellent on the market; Apple laptops are known for their quality and performance. Apple's laptops have advanced technology, and the firm doesn't compromise on specs. Apple is the unique brand for high-end laptop buyers.
Why are Acer laptops so good? ›Advantages. Acer laptops are very popular for their high quality and low price. They have a wide range of products, from the most basic to the highest end models. The acer laptop is also known as one of the best brands in terms of performance/price ratio.
Is A MacBook better than an Acer? ›The MacBook is a significantly better laptop overall, with significantly superior construction, a far better display, and a better touchpad, speakers, webcam, and microphone. Also, it gets better battery life, has a faster SSD, and can be equipped with superior dedicated GPUs.
Is Acer a top brand? ›Acer is consistently one of the world's top ten computer brands. Its popularity is attributed to its low-cost products, decent quality, and value for money.
How long does the Acer Aspire 5 last? ›Acer's website goes typically overboard, boasting up to 10 hours of battery life for the Aspire 5. In fact, our tests recorded very similar scores of just over 6.5 hours for both playing movies and the applications-based PCMark test suite.
Does Acer Aspire overheat? ›Specifically, consumers report that the Aspire 3 gets extremely hot and, simultaneously, slows down or crashes. This is known as “thermal throttling” and it cools a laptop at the cost of severely reducing its performance.
Should I leave my Acer laptop plugged in all the time? ›Leaving your laptop plugged in will not cause short-term damage, but if you only ever use it on AC power, you'll almost certainly find that after a year, the battery's capacity has been significantly reduced. Similarly, if you only ever use it on battery power, you'll get through the battery's discharge cycles quicker.
Who is the competitor of Acer Aspire 5? ›- Dell Inspiron 3511 Laptop (11th Gen Core i5) ...
- Dell Vostro 3510 Laptop (11th Gen Core i5/ 8GB/ 512GB SSD/ Win11 Home) ...
- Dell Inspiron 5410 Laptop (11th Gen Core i3/ 8GB/ 512GB SSD/ Win11) ...
- Dell Inspiron 3515 Laptop (Ryzen 5 3450U/ 8GB/ 1TB SSD/ Win10)
Acer Aspire 5 (A515-56-5) price in India starts from ₹ 53,800. The lowest price of Acer Aspire 5 (A515-56-5) is ₹ 53,800 at Amazon on 28th May 2023.
Does Acer Aspire 5 have a camera? ›
The Acer Aspire 5 has a basic 720p webcam and a single microphone. Both perform well enough for most Zoom calls but never impress. Those hoping to look crisp in a video conference will need to budget for a decent external webcam.