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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is a 2-in-1 convertible with a larger screen, higher resolution, and better performance thanks to its Intel i3 processor and more RAM, making it suitable for multitasking and moderate workloads. However, it's heavier and more expensive. The Gateway 11.6" is more affordable, highly portable due to its small size and lighter weight, but with a lower screen resolution, less powerful Intel Celeron processor, and less RAM, it's better suited for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. Your choice should depend on whether you need better performance and versatility or prioritize budget and portability. 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 Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
6.5
5.6
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
250.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.2/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers better performance for general use with more RAM and a higher screen resolution than the Gateway 11.6", which might make multitasking smoother and visuals crisper. While both laptops have comparable battery life and the Gateway is slightly more portable due to its smaller size and weight, its poorer keyboard quality and limited storage compared to the Acer diminish its efficiency for everyday tasks.
Content Creation
7.0
5.7
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
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7
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 Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
250.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers adequate resolution and brightness with a decent panel type, making it suitable for everyday tasks, while its fair color gamut coverage meets the minimum for engineering and design work but isn't preferred by professionals. The Gateway 11.6" falls short in screen quality, with its lower resolution and lesser brightness affecting the clarity and readability for any use, and a poor color gamut making it less optimal for color-sensitive engineering and design tasks. For gaming and 3D applications, the Acer Spin falls behind due to a lack of a high refresh rate that's crucial for smooth visuals, with the Gateway's limitations in resolution and refresh rate resulting in subpar gaming and 3D experiences.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
14.0in
SIZE
11.6in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" 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
5.1
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$418
$89
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a price of $418 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.8
5.4
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
5.9
5.4
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 Gateway 11.6" are both poor for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers a better CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU compared to the Gateway 11.6", which is critical for engineering and design tasks that demand more processing power and memory; its higher resolution and better screen quality also contribute to a more effective work environment. While the Gateway 11.6" is more portable given its smaller size and weight, its lower-end CPU and less RAM limit its capability for demanding engineering and design applications, and its lower-quality screen makes detailed work more challenging.
Battery
8.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has 8 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" 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.
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How the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$418 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.6'' x 9'' x 0.74'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.31 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.6" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9" | 7.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i3-N305 | 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 | 8 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 40 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1200 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 250 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.2/10 | 9.2/10 | |
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 | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14
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Rtings
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 Gateway 11.6"
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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