The Acer Aspire 3 15 is a budget-friendly option that is less expensive than the Dell Precision 5470. It offers decent battery life, a larger screen size, and is suitable for general use; however, it has less powerful performance, particularly for engineering, 3D work, or machine learning. The Dell Precision 5470, while more expensive, provides superior performance for intensive tasks with its high-end processor and dedicated GPU. It has a better build quality, higher resolution with a taller screen aspect ratio for productivity, longer battery life, and is lighter for better portability. If cost is less of a concern, and you need a laptop for more demanding work, then the Dell is the preferable choice. If, however, you are on a tight budget and need a laptop for everyday tasks, the Acer should suffice. 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 Dell Precision 5470.
Advantages of the Dell Precision 5470
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.6/10
7.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, with a modest CPU and RAM, is suitable for basic tasks and offers decent screen quality and portability, but its battery life and storage are on the lower side, which may limit its appeal for more demanding general use. In contrast, the Dell Precision 5470 features a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, alongside superior screen resolution and brightness, ample storage, and a longer battery life, making it better equipped for a wider range of general use scenarios, including more intensive tasks, although this comes with a typically higher price tag.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
6.7/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Dell Precision 5470 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU compared to the Acer Aspire 3 15's AMD Radeon 610M, thereby handling graphics-intensive tasks more effectively. Although both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, the Precision 5470's superior screen quality, with higher brightness and color coverage, provides a more vibrant and engaging visual experience.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
7.8/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Dell Precision 5470 is rated better for engineering and design because it has a more powerful Intel i7 processor, double the RAM, and a professional-grade Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU, all of which contribute to smoother performance in demanding tasks. Additionally, its superior screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy trumps the Acer Aspire 3 15, despite the Aspire's advantage in portability and quieter operation due to its fanless design.
Content Creation
7.0/10
7.8/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 and Acer Aspire 3 15 are both good for content creation, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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
7.7/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Acer Aspire 3 15 are both good for software development, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
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
7.3/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Dell Precision 5470 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 adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming, which is why it's sufficient for general use, but its limited color gamut and lower refresh rates don't support the high color fidelity and smooth visuals critical for engineering applications and high-paced gaming. The Dell Precision 5470 provides clearer and sharper images with better color accuracy, benefiting professionals in engineering and design who rely on precise colors and details, but for gaming, the refresh rate may not be high enough to ensure the smooth motion expected in fast-paced games. Considering 3D work and gaming necessities, both laptops fall short in refresh rates, which can hinder the experience in dynamic and graphically intense tasks.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Precision 5470 has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
8.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 has very 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
$1,669
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the Dell Precision 5470 costs $1,669.
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 Dell Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the Dell Precision 5470
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.
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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