Are you looking for a Windows laptop? Want to spend less than $500? Then an Acer Aspire Acer Aspire 5 Review will give you the tips for the best laptop that should certainly at the top of your list.
Aspire laptops often top Amazon’s list of best-selling laptops, with some versions retailing for as little as $369.99. The model we evaluated for this review offers the best of both worlds.
It is fairly priced and provides adequate performance.
Here comes the Acer Aspire 5. This laptop is among the most costly in the Aspire series, with an Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM.
But that doesn’t make it cheap. It has a suggested retail price of $499.99 but may sometimes be found for as little as $479.99.
A Windows laptop with a current Core i5 processor for around $499.99 may appear to be too good to be true.
Acer makes a lot of compromises to get there. Nonetheless, the Aspire 5 is a capable and fun notebook.
Introduction
The Acer Aspire 5 has long been regarded as a budget-friendly laptop that offers impressive performance and a range of features.
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In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the key aspects of the Acer Aspire 5 and assess whether it lives up to the expectations of budget-conscious consumers.
From its sleek design to its capable hardware and reliable performance, we will explore why the Acer Aspire 5 has become a popular choice in the mid-range laptop market.
Design and Build Quality
The Acer Aspire 5 boasts a sleek and modern design that sets it apart from other laptops in its price range. The laptop features a lightweight and slim form factor, making it easy to carry around for students or professionals on the go. The chassis is primarily made of plastic, which helps keep the weight down but does compromise the overall build quality slightly. However, considering the affordable price point, the build quality is acceptable and doesn’t feel cheap or flimsy.
Display
From the the Acer Aspire 5 review we sport a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, which is a standout feature at this price point.
The IPS panel provides excellent color accuracy, wide viewing angles, and good contrast, making it suitable for multimedia consumption, productivity tasks, and casual gaming.
The bezels surrounding the display are relatively thin, giving the laptop a modern and immersive look.
However, the brightness levels could be better, as outdoor visibility might be slightly compromised in direct sunlight.
Acer Aspire 5 A514-54-501Z specs and features
The Acer Aspire 5 comes equipped with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a PCIe solid state drive.
Buyers looking for graphics performance should be aware that the Core i5-1135G7 includes Intel’s Iris Xe graphics with 80 execution units and a maximum clock speed of 1.3GHz.
This isn’t Intel’s fastest integrated graphics option, but it’s a significant improvement over the Intel UHD graphics present in the majority of 10th-generation Intel Core devices.
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7
- Memory: 8GB
- Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe
- Display: 14-inch 1080p LCD
- Storage: 256GB PCIe solid state drive
- Webcam: 720p
- Connectivity: 2x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C (data only), 1x Ethernet, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 1x DC-in barrel plug
- Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5
- Biometrics: None
- Battery capacity: 53watt-hour
- Dimensions: 0.71 x 8.88 x 12.9 inches
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Acer Aspire 5 comes equipped with a range of hardware configurations to cater to different user needs.
The model we reviewed featured an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD, which delivered a smooth and responsive experience during everyday computing tasks such as web browsing, word processing, and multimedia playback.
The laptop also comes with an optional dedicated graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce MX350, which offers decent gaming performance for casual gamers and enhances graphics-intensive applications.
The Acer Aspire 5 features a full-size backlit keyboard, which provides a comfortable typing experience even during extended typing sessions.
The touchpad is responsive and supports multi-touch gestures, making navigation a breeze. Additionally, the laptop offers a comprehensive selection of ports, including USB Type-C, USB 3.1, HDMI, and an SD card reader, ensuring connectivity and compatibility with a wide range of peripherals.
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Battery Life
The battery life of the Acer Aspire 5 is one area where it falls slightly short of expectations.
With average usage, the laptop lasts around 6 to 7 hours, which is decent but not exceptional.
This means that users will need to keep the charger handy for extended periods away from a power outlet.
However, it’s worth noting that battery life can vary depending on the specific hardware configuration and the tasks being performed.
Software and User Experience
The Acer Aspire 5 runs on Windows 10, providing users with a familiar and user-friendly interface.
The laptop comes with minimal pre-installed bloatware, allowing for a clean and clutter-free user experience.
Acer also includes its suite of proprietary software, including Acer Care Center, which offers system optimization and diagnostic tools, and Acer Quick Access, which provides convenient access to system settings.
Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard on the Acer Aspire 5 is excellent. The key layout is open, and each key travel is extensive.
The key feel is a little hazy, but not enough to ruin the experience. I typed for hours and found it to be fast, accurate, and comfortable. So long as the lights are turned on.
The keyboard does not have a backlight. This isn’t unusual in the $500 price range, but it’s worth noting because it makes the laptop difficult to operate in a dim environment.
The touchpad surface, which is around 4.25 inches wide and 2.5 inches deep, is standard for laptops in this price range but feels small in comparison to more expensive machines with larger touchpads.
Because of the shortage of space, Windows multi-touch gestures, such as utilizing a five-finger squeeze to minimize all open windows, might be difficult to use.
My fingers frequently had to look for it because the surface feels identical to the surrounding palm rest.
The Acer Aspire 5 performs best when placed on a desk with an external mouse attached. This allows you to appreciate the strong keyboard while ignoring the mediocre touchpad.
audio
The laptop’s audio is provided by a pair of downward-firing speakers. They’re loud at full volume and have a clean, sharp mid-range.
The speakers are ideal for podcasts, YouTube, and some streaming because the conversation is always clear.
The maximum volume may compete with moderate background noise, such as that produced by a large fan or an office HVAC system.
Connectivity
The Acer Aspire 5 uses its thick frame to make room for lots of old-school connectivity.
There’s a total of three USB Type-A ports (two USB 3.2 and one USB 2.0), one USB 3.2 Type-C supporting up to 5Gbps of bandwidth, full-sized HDMI, Ethernet, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.
The connectivity will be ideal for most buyers. Those looking at a budget laptop will likely use devices that require USB-A and HDMI connections.
Wireless connectivity is the usual combination of Wi-Fi 6 with Bluetooth, both provided by MediaTek’s MT7921 wireless LAN card.
Wi-Fi performance was reliable across my home. I had no problems connecting a Bluetooth mouse and headphones.
Webcam, microphone
The Acer Aspire 5 includes a single microphone and a modest 720p camera. Both work well enough for most Zoom calls but never stand out.
Those who want to seem well in a video conference should invest in a good external webcam.
What’s the good news? Because the top bezel of the Aspire 5 is thick, most external webcams may sit on top of it without being obstructed.
With a heavy camera installed, such as the Dell Ultrasharp 4K, the laptop will not tip over.
Price and availability
If you don’t want to wait, Aspire Vero variants are presently available for much under $500 — and they offer a reasonably identical package to this device, including the same processor.
Those who can live with a smaller screen should consider the Gateway 14 (the extremely blue, cow-spotted PC I’ve been promoting to everyone since I reviewed it).
Those interested in Chrome OS will find a nice 15-inch experience with the similarly priced Asus Chromebook CX5, which also offers exceptional battery life, improved audio, and a rock-solid construction. It even includes a numeric keypad.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Acer Aspire 5 offers an excellent balance of performance, affordability, and portability, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious buyers.
Its sleek design, coupled with a vibrant display and capable hardware, sets it apart from other laptops in its price range. While the build quality could be slightly improved, it remains acceptable considering the competitive pricing.
The Acer Aspire 5 excels in everyday computing tasks and offers casual gaming capabilities, thanks to its reliable performance and optional dedicated graphics card.
The keyboard and touchpad provide a comfortable and intuitive user experience, while the range of ports ensures connectivity with various devices.
While the battery life may not be the strongest point of the machine, Acer Aspire 5 review shows it is still adequate for most users’ needs.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for an affordable laptop that delivers reliable performance and a range of features without breaking the bank, the Acer Aspire 5 is a compelling option to consider.
