When choosing between the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Acer Aspire 5 15, consider that the Aspire 5 generally offers more storage and better performance, which is beneficial for demanding applications and multitasking. It also has a better range of connectivity features, including a backlit keyboard, making it versatile for different environments. However, the Aspire 3 might be more than enough for your daily tasks if you prioritize saving money and do not require high performance. It still has a good screen and adequate power for general use. The Aspire 5 may cost more, but the performance and feature upgrades may be worth the investment, especially if you see yourself needing more robust capabilities. Both models offer similar portability, so your decision should hinge on performance needs and budget. 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 15
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 5 15.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 5 15
Good for general use
Good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.6/10
7.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
275.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 boasts a more powerful Intel i5 processor, double the RAM, and a significantly larger storage capacity than the Acer Aspire 3 15, which has an AMD Ryzen 3 processor, less RAM, and a smaller storage drive, contributing to its overall better performance for general use. Additionally, the Aspire 5 15 has a battery with higher capacity and a brighter screen which may lead to improved battery life and viewing experience.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
6.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 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.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
275.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 15 for content creation, and software development.
For general use, both the Aspire 3 and Aspire 5 offer screens that are adequate in resolution and brightness but might not have the most vibrant displays due to basic panel types. Engineering and design work require precise color representation, and the fair quality indicates these models have moderate color accuracy but might fall short for professional color work with their limited color gamuts. When it comes to 3D and gaming, the screens on these laptops are not ideal due to lower refresh rates which can lead to less fluid visuals, although the resolution and panel types are sufficient for casual use.
Battery
9.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 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.
Cost
$330
$480
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the Acer Aspire 5 15 costs $480.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 5 15 to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both rated as fair for gaming and 3D due to their decent integrated GPUs, which support casual gaming but may struggle with high-end games and 3D applications. Additionally, their screens have a standard refresh rate, which is adequate for general use but might not be as smooth for fast-paced gaming that benefits from higher refresh rates.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.3/10
4.1/10
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 5 15 and Acer Aspire 3 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.
Software Development
7.0/10
7.3/10
4.1/10
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
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Acer Aspire 3 15 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Acer Aspire 3 15 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
6.5/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Acer Aspire 3 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 15 and the Acer Aspire 5 15 compare to other laptops
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | March 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and it's easy to carry around. The display looks decently sharp and provides plenty of space for multitasking, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and integrated graphics can only handle simple tasks, like text processing, web browsing, and video playback, so it isn't ideal for students in more technical fields like 3D graphics. Unfortunately, the battery lasts only around six to seven hours of light use."
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the Acer Aspire 5 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.
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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