the Acer Aspire 5 is a good-budget laptop with good features, portability, and performance. It has a powerful processor, graphics, and a large screen-to-body ratio. It also has fast Wi-Fi, plenty of storage, and memory.
Pros
- Solid design
- Decent performance
- Good battery life
- Can be used at the desk or on the move
- Satisfactory specs
- Solid build quality
Cons
- Not outstanding in any particular category
- Let down by the battery life
- Lackluster screen
- Too many programs running can cause your laptop to slow down
About the Acer Aspire 5
Here are the specs of the laptop we tested:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1135G7
- Graphics: Integrated Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 8GB DDR4 RAM
- Storage: 256GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch 1920 x 1080 LCD display
- Ports: 3 x USB-A, 1 x USB-C, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x headphone jack
- Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1
- Webcam: 720p webcam
- Battery: 54 Watt-hours
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Size: 12.9 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches
- Warranty: 1-year limited warranty
Aspire 5 is a low-cost laptop that comes with central processors from AMD and Intel in many combinations. The least expensive option is $379.99 and includes an 11th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, a 15.6-inch screen, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. The most costly configuration costs $899.99 and includes an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU, a 17.3-inch screen, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. The suggested retail price of the device that we tested is $499.99.
Acer Aspire 5 specs (as reviewed)
- 15.6-inch IPS display, 1920 x 1080, 16:9
- Intel Core i5-1235U 10-core processor, 1.35GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 up to 4.4GHz, supporting hybrid core architecture with Performance-Core and Efficient-Core (12MB Smart cache)
- 16GB DDR4 SDRAM (two 8GB modules; up to 32GB total)
- 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD with an open SSD slot
- 3.88 lbs (1.76 kg), 14.29 x 9.36 x 0.7 inches (362.9 x 237.8 x 17.9 mm)
- One USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 (USB 3.2 Gen 2 up to 10Gbps, DisplayPort over USB Type-C and USB charging), three USB 3.2 Gen 1 (one with power-off charging), one HDMI 2.1 with HDCP support, one headphone/speaker/line-out jack, one Ethernet (RJ-45), one DC-in
- Optional fingerprint reader
- $699.99
- Steel Gray
Agree to Continue: Acer Aspire 5
The mandatory policies, for which agreement is required to use the laptop, are:
- Microsoft Software License Terms (Windows Operating System) and Acer End User License Agreement
In addition, there are a bunch of optional things to agree to:
- Restore files from OneDrive
- Privacy settings including location, Find My Device, diagnostic data, inking and typing, tailored experiences, advertising ID
- Back up your files with OneDrive
- Sign up for a Microsoft 365 free trial
- Provide your name, email, region, and phone number to create an Acer ID
- Allow Acer to provide enhanced support and improve device usage experience through the User Experience Improvement Program, and accept its terms of use
- Register your device under your Acer ID
- Receive offers and updates from Acer
- Allow Acer to share your contact details with Norton to receive updates about its pre-installed security software
That’s two mandatory agreements and 14 optional ones.
Good specs for the price
The 10th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU variant of the Aspire 5 from the last generation cost over $600, so we were delighted to learn that the current model only costs $400, 20% less than its $500 suggested retail price. With 256GB of storage, 8GB of RAM, and a mid-range 11th-generation Intel Core i5 CPU, it has the capability to handle productivity activities. Because most low-cost laptops with comparable specifications retail for between $500 and $600, the Aspire 5’s feature set is an amazing deal. It is evident that the laptop’s primary hardware accounts for the majority of its cost. It doesn’t, however, operate as fast as its comparable, marginally more expensive contemporaries, which we shall discuss later.
KEEP READING ACER PREDATOR X27
Display, keyboard & trackpad
The Aspire 5’s 15.6-inch display boasts a Full HD (1920 × 1080) resolution. This provides it with a traditional widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, even though the majority of modern programs are better suited for the boxier 16:10 format.
Although it’s not ideal, a matte rather than glossy covering on the display helps lessen reflected interference. Even with a maximum brightness of little less than 250 nits, it is still challenging to see in direct sunlight.
The screen’s poor color reproduction, both in terms of color fidelity and coverage of the pertinent color spaces, is its main flaw. For the majority of office work, this is unimportant, but it is terrible for graphical work and video editing.
Because Acer’s keyboard takes up nearly the whole width of the base, it features an extra number pad to the right of the keyboard.
The latter’s keys, which ensure a high hit rate, are noticeably thinner than the big keys on the keyboard’s main area. The keyboard is silent and never feels mushy when typing. The up and down arrow keys are barely half as high as the left and right arrow keys, and the feedback might be more noticeable.
The mouse click on the touchpad is pretty loud and needs a lot of energy because it bounces around a little. However, the non-slip surface allows for precise mouse pointer positioning, and even multi-finger movements work without any issues.
Battery Life
- Six hours and 20 minutes of battery life
- Around six hours of video playback at full brightness
For a Core i5 laptop with a comparatively weak GPU, battery life is a little disappointing. In PC Mark 10’s Modern Office battery assessment, we could only squeeze six hours and twenty minutes out of the Acer Aspire 5, which is more in line with what I would anticipate from a gaming laptop than one with a more modest specification.
Lighter users may be able to get by with a daily charge, but it won’t last you through a busy day. If you increase the brightness to its maximum setting, you can watch videos for around six hours. I was hoping for a bit more.
Conclusion
The Acer Aspire 5 is a true all-around laptop: It satisfies most user needs with its sturdy build, respectable performance, and long battery life. It may also be utilized when on the go or at a desk.
Despite having a wide range of capabilities, the Aspire 5 falls short in any single area. You’ll do better with a different laptop if you’re looking for anything special, such as something more fashionable, something for gaming, something for performance-intensive jobs, or something for on-the-go work.
FAQ
Is Acer Aspire 5 worth buying?
For individuals who want to spend as little money as possible on an everyday laptop, the Aspire 5 is a well-rounded, affordable option. At $400 retail, the Acer Aspire 5 has a good performance, mobility, and feature set.
Is the Acer Aspire 5 good for college?
As one of the least expensive laptops with Windows 11 that we suggest, the Acer Aspire 5 is among the greatest choices for students on a limited budget. We’re actually talking about costs that are almost identical to Chromebook prices, minus the restrictions associated with ChromeOS.
