The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers affordability with the flexibility of a convertible design, suitable for everyday tasks and media consumption with decent battery life, making it ideal for users valuing versatility and cost-effectiveness. The Framework Laptop 16 (2023), on the other hand, is a higher-end option that emphasizes upgradeability, performance, and a larger, high-quality display, better for demanding tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. It's heavier and costlier, yet more future-proof for tech enthusiasts or professionals needing power and longevity in their investment. Choose based on whether price sensitivity or high performance and upgrade potential is your priority. 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
Very good portability
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
6.5/10
8.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers basic CPU and RAM capabilities, which are adequate for everyday tasks, but its lower screen quality, and shorter battery life might affect longer use sessions and enjoyment of multimedia content; whereas, the Framework Laptop 16 shines with a higher-performing CPU and more RAM, ensuring smoother multitasking and a superior screen that enhances visual experience, backed by greater battery longevity, making it more suitable for a range of more demanding applications and extended use on the go. The Framework is also built with high modularity for easier upgrades and repairs, contributing to its long-term value despite its higher initial cost.
Gaming and AI
5.8/10
6.8/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the Framework Laptop 16 both offer GPUs that provide enough power to handle mainstream gaming and 3D tasks, but don't stand out for high-end graphics performance or the fastest screen refresh rates that more dedicated gaming laptops feature. While both have competent CPUs and decent screen quality for general use, those who prioritize smoother visuals and higher-tier gaming capabilities may find these models less satisfying.
Engineering and Design
5.9/10
8.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is poor.
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) offers a more powerful CPU and GPU, coupled with higher RAM capacity, which enhances its ability to smoothly handle demanding engineering and design software, plus it has a superior screen quality for detailed visuals. On the other hand, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 provides adequate performance for less intensive tasks and may offer better portability due to its likely lighter design, it falls short for heavier engineering applications due to less robust internal components and screen.
Content Creation
7.0/10
8.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 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
6.9/10
8.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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
6.2/10
8.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 provides adequate sharpness and brightness for browsing and video streaming, but it doesn't stand out in terms of color accuracy or vibrancy, which can be underwhelming for precision tasks like CAD or graphic design. The Framework Laptop 16 boasts impressive resolution and brightness with more accurate color rendering, making it ideal for professionals working in engineering and creative fields who require precise color representation. However, neither model excels in gaming or 3D applications due to their lower refresh rates, which limit the smoothness of motion that's crucial for immersive gameplay and rapid 3D visualization.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has very good portability, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.2/10
8.0/10
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$418
$1,699
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a price of $418 and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
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."
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 or the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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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