The Acer Aspire 5 15 generally offers more powerful hardware suited for intensive tasks, ideal if you need higher performance for activities like gaming, 3D rendering, or running complex software. With higher performance often comes a shorter battery life and a heftier build, making it less convenient for travel. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, on the other hand, is more affordable and portable, perfect for basic tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and media consumption on the go; however, it might struggle with more demanding applications. Choose the Acer if performance is a priority and you don't mind the added cost and weight, or go for the ASUS if you prefer something more budget-friendly and easier to carry, but with limited capabilities for heavy-duty tasks. 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 for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook Go 12
Excellent portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
5.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 outshines the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use due to its more powerful Intel i5 processor, larger RAM capacity, and higher resolution IPS screen, which collectively provide smoother performance and better visual experience. While the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 offers greater portability because of its smaller size and longer battery life, its modest Intel Celeron processor, limited RAM, and lower quality TN display make it less suitable for demanding tasks and content viewing.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
5.4/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 offers a better integrated GPU and a larger screen that could enhance gaming and 3D applications, whereas the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is equipped with a weaker GPU and a smaller screen, making it less suited for these tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
5.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is geared toward engineering and design users with a higher-quality CPU, more RAM, and a superior integrated GPU, crucial for demanding software applications; it also offers a better display with an IPS panel for clearer, more accurate colors. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is limited by a lower-end CPU, less RAM, a weaker GPU, and a lower-quality TN display, which affect its ability to handle engineering tasks, despite its greater portability and quieter operation.
Content Creation
7.3/10
5.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Acer Aspire 5 15 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
7.3/10
5.7/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 is good 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
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 15 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 5 15 provides adequate resolution and brightness for general tasks, making it a viable option for everyday activities such as browsing and office work. However, for engineering and design, while its color accuracy may not meet professional standards required for precise design work, it may still suffice for entry-level tasks. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, with lower resolution and limited brightness, falls short for general use and is not suitable for specialized tasks like engineering, design, or gaming, where high fidelity and smooth visuals are crucial.
Battery
7.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 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
Good
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
5.1/10
The Acer Aspire 5 15 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
$480
$267
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 costs $267.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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