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Updated January 12, 2024·
If portability is a high priority and you're mostly handling basic tasks like web browsing and document editing, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is lighter and less expensive. However, for better performance in more demanding activities, the Acer Aspire 3 15 with a more powerful processor and additional memory is a more suitable choice, though it comes with a higher price and increased weight. Keep in mind, the Acer also has a larger, higher-resolution display, which could be beneficial for multi-tasking and media consumption, but it does impact battery life and portability compared to the smaller screen and lower resolution of the Lenovo. 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
- Good for content creation
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
6.6
6.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
244.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both only fair for general use, though the Acer Aspire 3 15 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 offers more RAM and a stronger CPU than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14", making it better for multitasking and more demanding applications; it also has a higher quality IPS display with better resolution, contributing to a clearer and more vibrant viewing experience. Meanwhile, the IdeaPad 1 14", with less storage and a lower-quality TN screen, may feel limiting for general use applications, though its lighter design offers slightly better portability.
Content Creation
7.0
6.2
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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.
Screen Quality
6.2
5.3
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
244.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Aspire 3 15's fair screen quality for general use is due to a balance between acceptable resolution and brightness, which are crucial for daily tasks and media consumption, though it may not stand out for crispness or vibrancy. For engineering and design, the screen falls short in accurately representing a wide range of colors, as it likely doesn't cover the professional color gamuts needed for precise work. When it comes to gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate hinders the ability to display fast-moving visuals smoothly, which is a significant compromise for those specific needs.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 3 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$330
$149
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a price of $330 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" costs $149.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.8
5.5
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 generally offers a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth gaming and 3D applications, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has less capable graphics and a standard refresh rate, leading to subpar performance in these areas. Although the CPU and screen quality are also influential, their impact is lesser for gaming and 3D tasks than the GPU and refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
5.9
5.5
4.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" are both poor for engineering and design.
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.
Battery
9.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 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
6.0
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 15 | Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$330 | $149 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.74'' | 12.9'' x 9.3'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 3.09 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.29" | 12.88" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.35" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 128 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 9.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | 32 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | TN | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 244 nits | 239 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.7/10 | 8.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
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."
Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Tom Brant | August 2021
"The IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 15 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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