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Updated January 12, 2024·
If budget is a primary concern, the Acer Aspire 5 may suit you well for general use and it will save you money. However, if you require high performance for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or intensive engineering applications, the MacBook Pro 16 is better equipped to handle those demands, at a higher cost. The MacBook Pro also typically offers superior build quality, a better screen, and longer battery life, which could be important if you often work on the go. The tradeoff is that the MacBook Pro is pricier, and you might also need to invest in additional dongles or accessories due to its limited port selection. The Acer, on the other hand, is more affordable and has a wider array of built-in ports, but it doesn't match the MacBook's performance and display quality. 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 5 15
- The Acer Aspire 5 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for content creation
- Good overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.6
7.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its latest Intel processor and integrated graphics, is a cost-effective choice for engineering and design, offering a good balance of CPU and GPU performance with a quality IPS screen but at a lower resolution, while also being lighter for better portability.
Content Creation
7.3
8.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 5 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
7.3
7.9
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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
7.8
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
477.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 5 15's fair screen quality in general use and engineering stems from an average panel type, resolution, and brightness, which suffice for common tasks and some professional work but lack the wider color gamut needed for precision in design. The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) excels in both general and professional settings due to its superior panel, higher resolution, and excellent color representation, providing sharp and accurate visuals critical for detailed work. However, for 3D applications where a high refresh rate is paramount, both laptops fall short, as their screens are not designed with the high refresh capabilities favored in gaming and real-time rendering environments.
Battery
7.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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
6.5
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has 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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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.8
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
477.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.1
6.4
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has an integrated GPU suitable for lighter gaming and 3D tasks, but it's not as powerful as dedicated gaming GPUs, potentially limiting performance in demanding games; its standard screen refresh rate won't provide as smooth visuals as gaming-optimized laptops.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$480
$509
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) costs $509.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 15 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$480 | $509 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | October 1, 2019 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 14.1'' x 9.7'' x 0.64'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.3 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i7-9750H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 12 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50 Wh | 100 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3072 x 1920 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 275 nits | 477 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720P | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 4 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 4 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 3 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 15
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | November 2022
"The Acer Aspire 5 15 is a good value office laptop with reasonable battery life. The combination of slim exterior, relatively low weight (approx. 1.7 kg) and 8 hour real-life battery runtime makes the Acer Aspire a truly mobile laptop. The modest Tiger Lake processor supports this area and simultaneously ensures an affordable price point. The Aspire produces little noise and stays cool. The screen (FHD, IPS) might not win any prizes but is entirely appropriate for the price."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
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 Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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