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What we think
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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 with its significantly lower price is a sensible pick for general use and tasks that aren't too demanding. It's lighter and offers solid battery life, making it more portable for those on the go. However, if your work involves intensive engineering tasks, 3D/graphic design, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, despite being more expensive and heavier, provides higher performance capabilities with its advanced processor and dedicated graphics. It also features a better display and build quality, which can enhance the user experience for professionals and gamers alike. Consider your primary tasks and whether the higher cost aligns with your need for more power and features. 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
- Good battery life
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Very good overall build quality
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.1
8.5
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and a high 240Hz screen refresh rate, offers superior gaming and 3D performance compared to the Acer Aspire 5 15 which sports an Intel Iris Xe graphics card and a standard 60Hz refresh rate. The higher-end GPU of the ASUS, alongside its quicker screen refresh rate, makes it well-suited for fast-paced games and demanding 3D applications, whereas the Acer's setup is adequate for less intensive gaming scenarios.
Engineering and Design
6.6
8.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its suitable processor and graphics for basic design tasks, offers a balance between performance and portability for engineering use at a lighter weight, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its significantly more powerful processor and superior graphics card, excels in demanding engineering applications and provides a higher quality screen with greater color accuracy and resolution, although it is slightly heavier. Portability for the Acer is better due to its lighter design, but the ASUS leads in rendering performance and screen fidelity, which are crucial for engineering and design tasks where precision and detail are a priority.
Content Creation
7.3
8.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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.
Screen Quality
6.2
9.0
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
627.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, both Acer Aspire 5 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offer pleasing visuals, but the ASUS stands out with a sharper, brighter display that makes images and text crisper and easier on the eyes. When it comes to engineering and design, the ASUS again takes the lead with a wider color gamut, bringing more accurate and vivid color representation which is crucial for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, despite the ASUS's superior resolution and panel quality, both laptops fall short due to lower refresh rates, leading to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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
8.5
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good 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.
Cost
$480
$1,842
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 costs $1,842.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.5
7.9
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
627.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its efficient CPU, ample RAM, and decent screen quality, offers enough performance for everyday tasks and good portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use. Alternatively, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, although pricier, features a more powerful CPU, higher-quality screen, and superior speakers, catering to those who also need higher performance for tasks like gaming or content creation but at the expense of some portability and battery life.
Software Development
7.3
7.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Acer Aspire 5 15 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 15 and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 15 | ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$480 | $1,842 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | May 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.2'' x 9.4'' x 0.7'' | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.97 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.21" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.4" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i9-13900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 275 nits | 627 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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."
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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.
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