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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 14 offers a balance between performance and portability, making it a good choice if you value a lightweight laptop with silent operation. It's equipped with a Ryzen 5 processor, which can efficiently handle everyday tasks and some more demanding applications. However, its display may not be as vibrant due to a lower brightness level. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15, while heavier, provides a larger screen and more storage out of the box. It's powered by an Intel i3 processor with integrated graphics, adequate for general usage, but it may not cope as well with intensive tasks. The HP model also features a less desirable TN panel with a lower resolution, which might not be suitable if you're particular about screen quality. Ultimately, your decision should weigh the importance of a more portable and quiet laptop against the need for more storage and a bigger, albeit lower-quality, display. 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
- Good for software development
- Very good portability
- Good battery life
Advantages of the HP Pavilion 15
- The HP Pavilion 15 has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 3 14.
Key differences
Software Development
7.1
6.6
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is good for software development, while the HP Pavilion 15 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
6.1
5.3
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a better screen than the HP Pavilion 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 offers an adequate display for everyday tasks with reasonable resolution and brightness, making text and images clear enough for casual use, but its limited color range can be a drawback for engineering and design where color accuracy is key. The HP Pavilion 15's screen, while also lacking in extensive color coverage, falls short in resolution and brightness, which can lead to a less vibrant and sharp viewing experience even for general activities. For 3D applications and gaming, where smooth motion is crucial, the Acer's display is hampered by a lower refresh rate, which could lead to less fluid visuals compared to screens with higher refresh rates that can provide more immersive and responsive experiences.
Battery
9.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The HP Pavilion 15 has 3 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
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the HP Pavilion 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$434
$500
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a price of $434 and the HP Pavilion 15 costs $500.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.0
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
8.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The HP Pavilion 15 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
5.9
6.0
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Pavilion 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 provides fair gaming and 3D performance with its AMD Ryzen 5 CPU and AMD Radeon GPU, along with a 60Hz refresh rate IPS screen for clearer images, whereas the HP Pavilion 15 uses an Intel i3 CPU with integrated Intel UHD graphics, also featuring a 60Hz refresh rate, but with a lower resolution TN panel which is not as color accurate or viewable from wide angles.
Engineering and Design
6.1
6.2
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Pavilion 15 and Acer Aspire 3 14 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 3 14’s moderate CPU, suitable RAM, and fair quality screen make it an acceptable choice for engineering and design, while its weaker GPU may not handle demanding graphical tasks well. On the other hand, the HP Pavilion 15 offers more RAM, which is beneficial for multitasking and complex engineering software, but its CPU and screen resolution are less impressive, which might be limiting for design work that requires high detail.
Content Creation
7.2
7.1
4.3/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and HP Pavilion 15 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.
Build Quality
6.2
6.2
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and HP Pavilion 15 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 Pavilion 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 14 | HP Pavilion 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$434 | $500 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | August 1, 2020 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.9'' x 8.5'' x 0.74'' | 14.1'' x 9.5'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.09 lbs | 3.75 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.9" | 14.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.5" | 9.53" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | Intel i3-1115G4 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.4/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
HP Pavilion 15
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Dig into reviews and images
TechRadar
Alex Cox | August 2022
"The HP Pavilion 15 carries a fair amount of power and a sharp display in its handsome slimline shell. It's not perfect, but it's a hard worker. This is wonderfully designed and totes a heck of a lot of desktop power, with the added benefit of a decent webcam and a full-sized keyboard. If you're getting down to business on a budget, it's a great fit."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 14 or the HP Pavilion 15
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.
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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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