If you desire a laptop for basic tasks like browsing, office applications, and streaming, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, being more affordable, meets these needs without extra cost. However, if you often engage in more demanding work such as video editing or need better multitasking abilities, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14, although pricier, offers improved performance. The Acer's higher cost might be justified by its versatility, especially if you're interested in a touchscreen and a convertible design for a tablet-like experience. Consider battery life and portability too; a more powerful laptop often means a shorter battery life and possibly heavier weight, whereas a simpler model like the ASUS will be easier to carry and likely last longer on a charge. For gaming or engineering software, you'd want even more power and may need to look beyond these options. 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 Spin 14
Good for content creation
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
5.6/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers a better experience for general use because it includes a decent processor, more memory which benefits multitasking, and a high-quality IPS screen that provides clearer and more vibrant images. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has a slower processor, less memory which may hinder multitasking, and a lower quality TN screen, resulting in less impressive color and viewing angles, making it less suitable for general use.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
5.3/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for engineering and design, though the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is better suited for engineering and design due to its higher RAM and better CPU, which allow for smoother multitasking and handling of complex software, whereas the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has less RAM and a weaker CPU, hindering its performance in resource-intensive tasks. Additionally, the Acer's higher resolution and better screen quality enhance the visual experience, which is crucial for design work, while the ASUS's lower screen quality and resolution are less ideal for such tasks.
Content Creation
7.0/10
5.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
6.9/10
5.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.1/10
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers a balance in display qualities such as resolution and brightness that suffice for general tasks and engineering use but falls short for the high refresh rates desired in gaming. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12's screen shortcomings in resolution, brightness, and panel quality detract from the experience across all uses, impacting the clarity and vibrancy needed for both work and entertainment. Neither model meets the high color accuracy standards critical for engineering and design work, nor the swift refresh rates gamers seek for smooth visuals.
Battery
8.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
5.1/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has only fair build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$418
$267
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a price of $418 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and ASUS Vivobook Go 12 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is fair for gaming and 3D as it has a more capable integrated GPU, the Intel UHD Graphics Xe, which can better handle graphical tasks, whereas the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, equipped with the less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600, offers poorer gaming and 3D performance. Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but the better GPU in the Acer provides a clearer advantage for gaming and 3D applications.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 compare to other laptops
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | November 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. The battery lasts around seven hours of light use, so you only have to plug it in for a short time to get through a typical school day. The overall user experience is so-so; the display looks sharp but dim, and the touchpad is fairly responsive, albeit small."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 or the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
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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