If you prioritize high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is the better choice. The Zenbook comes with a more powerful main processor, double the RAM, a higher-resolution OLED touchscreen display, and a dedicated Nvidia GPU, which is suitable for intensive graphical tasks. However, it's also heavier and has a shorter battery life, which may affect portability, and it is significantly more expensive. On the other hand, the Acer Aspire 3 15 offers good performance for general use at a more affordable price, a lightweight design, and longer battery life, making it more portable and suitable for everyday tasks. 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 ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.6/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, with moderate RAM, a basic processor, and less storage, provides fair performance adequate for routine tasks and has a decent battery life making it suitable for general use; however, its screen quality and portability are just satisfactory. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers a superior experience for general use, thanks to its higher RAM, much more powerful CPU, expansive storage, and an exceptional OLED screen, but has less battery life compared to the Acer and is slightly heavier, which may affect its portability.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
7.5/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, while suitable for casual gaming, may struggle with intensive 3D tasks due to its less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, whereas the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, with a superior GPU and higher refresh rate, delivers a smoother and more immersive experience for gaming and 3D applications. Additionally, the ASUS's robust CPU and higher screen quality contribute to its better performance, making it a more preferable choice for demanding tasks despite its higher price.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
8.6/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good 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.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.5/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is good.
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
8.2/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is good.
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
6.2/10
8.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has an average display that provides sufficient resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and browsing, but lacks the wider color gamut that engineering and design professionals require for precise color work, while its lower refresh rate isn't suited for the smooth visuals demanded by gaming and 3D applications. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, on the other hand, boasts a high-quality screen with excellent resolution and brightness, making it ideal for general use, and its extensive color gamut coverage ensures accuracy for professional engineering and design tasks. However, despite these strong visual attributes, the Zenbook Pro 16X does not cater well to the 3D gaming sector due to a refresh rate that falls short of the high standards needed for optimal gaming experiences.
Battery
9.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
Build Quality
6.2/10
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$330
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X costs $1,300.
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 new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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 ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
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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