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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is less expensive and sufficient for general use with a better battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go users who prioritize long usage away from a power source. However, the Gateway 15.6" offers significantly better performance for 3D, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to a more powerful processor and double the RAM and storage, although it is more expensive and has a lower battery life. If you need a laptop mainly for general purposes and cost is a concern, the Acer Aspire 3 might be a suitable choice. On the other hand, if you require higher performance for more demanding tasks and are prepared to invest more, consider the Gateway 15.6". 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
- Good for software development
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- Good for general use
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for software development.
For general use, both the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Gateway 15.6" offer adequate resolution and brightness, but don't expect exceptional clarity or vibrant colors; they'll do for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, but won't stand out for multimedia consumption. When it comes to engineering and design, neither laptop will excel since their displays lack the wide color gamuts needed for precision color work, making them less suitable for professional graphic design or video editing. As for gaming and 3D applications, both are limited by their refresh rate not being high enough to provide the smooth visuals demanded by fast-paced games or fluid animations, although their resolutions and panel types are sufficient for moderate gaming needs.
Battery
9.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" has 8 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
5.1
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$330
$600
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $600.
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Key similarities
General Use
6.6
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is fair for general use, with a mid-range AMD CPU, sufficient RAM for everyday tasks, a decent screen, and good battery life; however, it's limited by moderate storage and portability, along with average keyboard and speaker quality, though it does excel in heat management with silent operation.
Gaming and AI
5.8
6.0
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
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Gateway 15.6" are considered fair for gaming and 3D because both have graphics processing units (GPUs) that can handle entry-level gaming, but they are not high-end GPUs designed for intense gaming. In addition, both laptops have similar screen refresh rates conducive to casual gaming but may not be as smooth as rates preferred by serious gamers; however, screen quality factors like color coverage are adequate, although not exceptional, which is consistent with laptops designed for general use rather than specialized gaming or professional graphics work.
Engineering and Design
5.9
6.2
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Gateway 15.6" both offer fair performance in engineering and design due to their adequate CPU, RAM, and GPU, which are essential for such tasks, but neither might excel due to their mid-range hardware capabilities.
Content Creation
7.0
7.0
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gateway 15.6" 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
6.7
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 3 15 to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 15 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 15 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$330 | $600 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.74'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.29" | 14.75" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 244 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | 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 | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 3 15
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Rtings
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."
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the Gateway 15.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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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