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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
If portability is your priority and you're looking to save money while performing basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is lighter and less expensive. However, you'll compromise on screen size and storage capacity. Conversely, for a larger display, higher resolution, and more storage, which might be especially beneficial for multitasking and media consumption, the Acer Aspire 1, despite being pricier and heavier, could be the better option. Neither laptop is particularly suited for intensive tasks like gaming, 3D modelling, or heavy data processing due to their similar, modest processing power and integrated graphics. 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 ASUS Vivobook Go 12.
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
- Excellent portability
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.2
5.1
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 1 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for software development.
If you prioritize a sharp and vivid display for everyday tasks, the Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 may fall short due to their lower resolution and brightness levels which could affect your viewing experience. For engineering and design, these laptops might not deliver the accurate colors and wide color range you'd need for precise work, as they lack the higher-end color gamuts. And when it comes to gaming and 3D applications, the slower refresh rates mean less fluid motion, while the moderate resolution and panel type provide a less immersive experience compared to models with higher specs.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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.
Portability
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$243
$267
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $243 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
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Key similarities
General Use
5.8
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for general use.
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 fall short for general use due to their basic Intel Celeron processors, limited 4GB of RAM, and lower-end screen quality, with the Aspire 1's larger screen size and resolution not compensating for its poor battery life and the Vivobook's increased portability and longer battery life not making up for its smaller, lower-resolution screen.
Gaming and AI
5.6
5.4
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are unsuitable for gaming and 3D because they both have entry-level GPUs, which lack the power for these intensive tasks, and their screens only have a 60Hz refresh rate which can make for less smooth visuals during fast-paced games or 3D simulations. Additionally, the CPUs in these laptops are not very powerful, and the screen quality is average, which further impacts the experience negatively for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.5
5.3
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are ill-suited for engineering and design because they are equipped with lower-end processors and minimal RAM, leading to sluggish performance with demanding software, and their screens have basic resolution and color coverage, which is inadequate for detailed, color-sensitive work. Although both are light and have quiet operation, these features cannot compensate for the performance and visual limitations in engineering and design contexts.
Content Creation
5.9
5.7
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for content creation.
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
5.7
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 1 to be only fair for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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.
Build Quality
5.5
5.1
The Acer Aspire 1 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 both have poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | ASUS Vivobook Go 12 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$243 | $267 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 2.31 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.3" | 10.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 7.52" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 38 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 480p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
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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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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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