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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is often significantly less expensive and offers ample storage and solid performance for general use, with a respectable battery life that contributes to its portability. However, the Dell Latitude 5431, while more expensive, provides greater memory and better performance, especially for more demanding applications like engineering tasks. Both share similar screen size and type with good visuals, but the Dell's professional-grade features, including better build quality and a premium business design, make it suitable for a work environment. If price is a primary concern and you need a laptop for everyday tasks, the Acer is a practical choice; if performance in a professional setting takes precedence and you are willing to invest more, the Dell Latitude 5431 is the better option. 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 3 14
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 5431
- Good overall build quality
- Very good speakers
- Good keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.1
6.9
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the Dell Latitude 5431 is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
6.1
6.1
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Latitude 5431 have similar screen quality.
If you primarily use your laptop for web browsing, office applications, and media consumption, both the Acer Aspire 3 and the Dell Latitude have screens that will suffice, as they offer adequate resolution and brightness. However, for engineering and design, where precise color representation is crucial, the limited color gamut of both laptops means they won't display the full spectrum required for professional-grade work. For gaming and 3D applications, the importance of a high refresh rate takes center stage, and since both models offer lower refresh rates, they might not provide the smooth visuals enthusiasts look for in fast-paced games or fluid 3D rendering.
Build Quality
6.2
7.4
The Dell Latitude 5431 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$434
$950
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the Dell Latitude 5431 costs $950.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.5
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 3 14, with decent RAM and a mid-range CPU, is adequate for routine tasks, while its fanless design ensures silent operation; however, limited battery capacity and screen brightness may not suit all users. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5431 offers more RAM, which helps with multitasking, and a higher-tier CPU for better performance, alongside better build quality and heat management, but with a higher weight impacting portability.
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.2
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 5431 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is equipped with an AMD Radeon GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, making it suitable for lighter gaming and 3D applications, while the Dell Latitude 5431's Intel Iris Xe GPU and similar standard refresh rate offer comparable performance for such tasks, but with better overall CPU capability due to more RAM, which may provide a slight edge in multi-tasking during gameplay and 3D rendering. Both devices have IPS screens with standard quality, meaning neither is specifically tailored for high-end gaming experiences, but are designed for general use with a fair ability to handle gaming and 3D content.
Content Creation
7.2
7.4
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good 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
7.1
7.3
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Dell Latitude 5431 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
9.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 3 14 to have very good portability, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 14 and the Dell Latitude 5431 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | Dell Latitude 5431 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$434 | $950 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 12.7'' x 8.4'' x 0.96'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 12.65" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 8.35" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i5-1250P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 64 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 241 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the Dell Latitude 5431
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 Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
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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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