The Acer Aspire 3 15 is more budget-friendly and suitable for general use, but it may not deliver the same performance and build quality as the HP Spectre x360 14, which offers better performance and a premium, convertible design that's great for portability and versatility. If your work involves more demanding software or you appreciate a higher-quality display and build, investing in the HP Spectre might be worthwhile. However, for everyday tasks like browsing and office applications, and if price is a major factor, 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 HP Spectre x360 14.
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.6/10
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, with modest processing power and RAM, offers adequate performance for basic tasks but may lag in multitasking or demanding applications, and while it's portable enough for occasional travel, its screen, battery life, and build quality don't match up to more premium models. The HP Spectre x360 14, on the other hand, boasts a superior CPU and greater RAM, ensuring smoother performance across the board, plus its high-quality screen, better portability due to its lightness and compact size, and longer battery life make it ideal for both work and entertainment on the go, though this comes with a higher price tag.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
6.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 15, with a decent GPU, can handle some gaming and 3D work comfortably, but its average screen refresh rate may not deliver the smoothest visuals for high-speed games. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14, while also having a capable GPU for fair gaming performances, boasts a higher-quality screen which enhances the overall experience, though its CPU and refresh rate are not top-tier for the most demanding gaming or 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
8.4/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 is poor.
The HP Spectre x360 14, with its superior CPU, RAM, GPU, and high-quality screen, offers a robust performance and vibrant visuals essential for demanding engineering and design tasks, while the Acer Aspire 3 15, although serviceable, may lag in more intensive applications. Additionally, the HP's advantage in keyboard and speaker quality, coupled with its lower operating noise, enhances the user experience, albeit often at a higher price point and with a slightly less emphasis on portability compared to the lighter Acer.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.7/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.4/10
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.6/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the HP Spectre x360 14 offers a sharper image and better visibility in bright conditions due to its higher resolution and brighter display, whereas the Acer Aspire 3 15 provides a satisfactory but comparatively less vibrant experience. When it comes to engineering and design, the HP Spectre x360 14’s display supports a wider range of colors, making it ideal for tasks that require color accuracy, but the Acer's display isn't as well-equipped for precise color work. In contrast, neither laptop is optimal for 3D tasks and gaming because they lack high refresh rates, but the HP's superior resolution and panel type give it a slight edge, although serious gamers or 3D designers should consider other models tailored to those needs.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 14 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 HP Spectre x360 14 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
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
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 numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the HP Spectre x360 14
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.
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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