If portability is a priority, consider the Acer Aspire 3 14 since it is lighter and has a more compact size; it also boasts long battery life ideal for on-the-go use and is more budget-friendly. However, the HP 17" Laptop is equipped with a larger screen and superior performance capabilities that would be beneficial for engineering tasks, 3D rendering, or machine learning due to a more powerful processor and double the RAM. Keep in mind that the larger size affects portability and the battery won't last as long as the Acer. Both have sufficient storage and offer a quality screen for everyday use. 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
Good battery life
Advantages of the HP 17" Laptop
The HP 17" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 3 14.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.1/10
6.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP 17" Laptop and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both only fair for engineering and design, though the HP 17" Laptop is somewhat better.
The HP 17" Laptop is deemed better for engineering and design due to a more robust CPU and double the RAM of the Acer Aspire 3 14, aiding in more complex computations and multitasking, alongside a higher quality GPU that can better handle graphic- intensive tasks. While both laptops have a solid screen quality with IPS displays, the larger screen and better color accuracy of the HP 17" enhance visual clarity in design work, although this comes at the cost of reduced portability compared to the lighter and smaller Acer Aspire 3 14.
Screen Quality
6.1/10
6.6/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
287.0 nits
The HP 17" Laptop has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 14 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and the HP 17" Laptop have fair screen quality for general use due to adequate resolution and brightness, but they may not feature the more vibrant panel types preferred for richer visuals. For engineering and design tasks, these laptops' displays lack the extensive color gamuts required to produce the precise hues used by professionals, thus offering only fair quality. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, both the Acer and HP fall short in providing the high refresh rates necessary for smooth motion rendering, making their screen quality less suitable for these demanding visual tasks.
Battery
9.5 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The HP 17" Laptop has 5.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.5 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the HP 17" Laptop has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$434
$550
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the HP 17" Laptop costs $550.
The HP 17" Laptop and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use.
The HP 17" Laptop offers better performance for general use with a more powerful CPU and double the RAM of the Acer Aspire 3 14, along with a larger, brighter screen that displays colors more accurately. However, the Acer Aspire is more portable with a higher battery life rating, making it easier to carry around and use for longer periods without charging.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 HP 17" Laptop to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Content Creation
7.2/10
7.2/10
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and HP 17" Laptop 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
7.1/10
7.1/10
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and HP 17" Laptop 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and HP 17" Laptop both have only fair 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 3 14 and the HP 17" Laptop compare to other laptops
"As far as starter laptops go, the HP Laptop 17 is a sound investment. Sure, it might not be the lightest of options, but what you get for the price is a well-rounded machine that fits multiple niches. Whether it be office duties that require you to multi-task between multiple programs, or study tasks in which you’ll spend hours browsing online, this laptop does it all. Plus, when it's time to unwind, you can watch your favorite shows or movies on a super-wide display. What's best of all is that you can do all this for about half a day on a single charge."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the HP 17" Laptop
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Laptops Expert
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