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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're seeking top-notch performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning or demanding engineering software, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is highly recommended, but it comes at a premium price. It has a greater storage capacity, more memory, and a faster processor with an advanced GPU that's ideal for intensive tasks. Additionally, its battery life substantially outlasts the Acer Aspire 1, and it flaunts a higher-quality display, with better color accuracy and sharper resolution. On the downside, it is less portable than the Acer due to its larger screen and slightly heavier build. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 1 is much more budget-friendly, lighter, and sufficient for general use like web browsing and document editing, though its lower memory and processor speed limit it for more intensive tasks, and its display quality isn't as superior as the MacBook's. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 1
- The Acer Aspire 1 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
8.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a lower-end CPU, less RAM, and subpar screen quality which make it less capable for demanding tasks and multitasking compared to the MacBook Pro 16, which boasts a significantly more powerful processor, substantially more RAM, and a superior display offering a better experience for a variety of applications. Additionally, the MacBook Pro 16 excels in portability and has longer battery life, enhancing its suitability for on-the-go use where the Acer Aspire 1 falls short in these areas.
Gaming and AI
5.6
7.5
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 typically has less powerful graphics processing units (GPU) and a lower screen refresh rate, limiting its ability to handle gaming and 3D applications smoothly, whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a higher-quality GPU and screen, enhancing its performance for 3D tasks despite being less compatible with many popular games due to software limitations on Macs. The MacBook's superior screen quality and processing power make it a trustworthy choice for demanding visual tasks, although gamers may prefer a different system that supports a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
5.5
8.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
5.9
8.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
4.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
6.1
8.9
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
5.2
9.3
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1 likely has a lower resolution and dimmer display, making it less suitable for any use where screen clarity is key, such as browsing, media consumption, or document editing. The MacBook Pro 16 stands out for its high resolution, brightness, and wide color gamuts, providing sharp, vibrant visuals essential for precise engineering and design work. However, for 3D applications where motion smoothness is critical, the MacBook Pro's screen may fall short due to a lower refresh rate compared to specialized gaming laptops.
Battery
6.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
5.5
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$244
$3,099
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) costs $3,099.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Acer Aspire 1 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$244 | $3,099 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Apple M3 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 18 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
See more
Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | May 2020
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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