When choosing between the Acer Aspire 5 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, you're looking at a balance between cost and robustness. The Acer Aspire offers affordability, which is suitable for general use like browsing, streaming, and light productivity tasks. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, on the other hand, comes at a higher price but provides greater performance and durability, making it better for demanding tasks such as engineering software, heavier workloads, and extensive travel with its more rugged build. The ThinkPad may also have longer battery life, which is good for on-the-go use, whereas the Acer may help you save money if your needs are more basic. 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 Lenovo ThinkPad T14.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Good speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is good.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 offers a balance of performance and value, with sufficient processing power and memory for everyday tasks, but the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while pricier, provides higher-quality CPU and RAM, leading to smoother multitasking and demanding applications, along with superior screen quality and a more robust battery life, making it more suited for intensive use throughout the day. Additionally, the ThinkPad T14's emphasis on portability, along with better keyboard ergonomics and efficient heat management, also contribute to a generally more premium user experience, justifying its higher cost for those who need a workhorse on the go.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
6.7/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.3/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 5 15 with a capable GPU and decent screen refresh rate handles casual gaming and 3D tasks satisfactorily, but the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, although not primarily designed for gaming, has a robust CPU and good screen quality that can manage similar tasks with moderate performance. Neither laptop is top-tier for gaming or 3D applications, but both can offer an acceptable experience for users with moderate expectations and mixed-use cases.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
8.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15's CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU handle engineering and design tasks efficiently, while its high-quality screen displays crisp and accurate visuals. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also equipped with a robust CPU and sufficient RAM, offers greater portability and a keyboard well-regarded for comfort and durability, making it ideal for engineers on the move.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
7.3/10
8.3/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is very good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is good.
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
6.9/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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, the Acer Aspire 5 15 has a screen that's clear and bright enough for everyday activities, but the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers higher resolution and enhanced brightness, making for a sharper and more vibrant display. When it comes to engineering and design tasks, the ThinkPad stands out with its superior color accuracy and broader color gamut, offering more precise color representation which is essential for professional-quality visual work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they do not have high refresh rate screens, which are crucial for smooth motion and detailed fast-paced visuals, although the Lenovo may still perform slightly better due to its resolution and panel quality.
Battery
7.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
$1,241
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
"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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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