The Acer Aspire 1 is a budget-friendly option with basic specifications, suitable for general use like web browsing and document editing. However, if you require more power for tasks like video editing and software development, the HP Dragonfly Pro 14 offers a higher performance with a more capable processor and graphics unit. It also provides a better display and longer battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go and intensive work. However, you'll pay more for these enhancements. If portability is a priority, the lighter HP model could be preferable despite its higher cost. 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 HP Dragonfly Pro 14".
Advantages of the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
Very good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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 a basic screen, which constrain its performance, multitasking ability, and visual experience for general use, while its battery life is decent but not exceptional. Conversely, the HP Dragonfly Pro boasts a powerful CPU, ample RAM, a high-quality IPS screen with better resolution and brightness, all of which enhance its overall user experience, along with an excellent battery life, making it very good for general use.
Gaming and AI
5.6/10
6.5/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1's poorer performance for gaming and 3D is due to its entry-level Intel UHD Graphics, which are less powerful than the HP Dragonfly Pro 14's AMD Radeon 680M GPU, allowing for better gaming and 3D applications on the HP. Additionally, the HP Dragonfly Pro features a higher quality IPS screen compared to the Acer's TN panel, resulting in superior screen quality for an enhanced gaming and multimedia experience, despite both having the same screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
7.6/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is 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
5.9/10
7.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is 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
6.1/10
7.8/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is 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
5.2/10
7.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1's screen may not deliver the sharpness and clarity needed for general activities due to lower resolution, making text and images less crisp. For engineering and design work, it lacks the color accuracy and range, failing to represent the full spectrum of colors that professionals require. While in the context of gaming and 3D applications, its slower refresh rate can lead to less fluid visuals, which is less than ideal for fast-paced scenes and precise motion rendering.
Battery
6.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
8.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good 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
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" costs $1,400.
"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."
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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