The Acer Aspire 5 provides good value if you're looking to save money while handling everyday tasks; however, if you prioritize a more robust build, better keyboard, and often superior support for intensive workloads, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is worth the extra cost. The ThinkPad also tends to offer better security features and is more travel-friendly due to its compact size, but its performance benefits may be unnecessary if your primary usage doesn’t involve demanding applications or if portability is not a priority for you. 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 X13.
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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
8.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is good.
The Acer Aspire 5, with ample RAM and a capable CPU, handles everyday tasks smoothly, and its large screen offers good visuals; however, its bulk and average battery life limit mobility. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 boasts superior portability with its compact form and longer battery life, plus it maintains excellent performance and screen quality which, along with a superior keyboard, make it very good for on-the-go general usage.
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
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Acer Aspire 5 15 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is somewhat better.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its sufficient GPU, handles gaming and 3D applications adequately but doesn't excel due to its average refresh rate, whereas the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, although having comparable GPU performance, also delivers just an acceptable gaming experience with similar limitations posed by its refresh rate. Both laptops offer support through their decent CPUs and screen quality, but those looking for top-tier gaming should consider models with higher-spec GPUs and faster screen refresh rates.
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 X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with its robust CPU, ample RAM, and dedicated GPU, is well-suited for demanding engineering tasks, while the high screen quality ensures precision in design work. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, although slightly less powerful, offers a balance with good portability, a comfortable keyboard, and quieter operation, making it a strong choice for engineers and designers who prioritize mobility and a pleasant work environment.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.2/10
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 X13 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
8.1/10
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 X13 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
13.3in
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 X13 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 15 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 5's screen is adequate for general tasks, as it offers a decent resolution and brightness, but lacks in the color accuracy and vibrancy needed for precision work. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 outperforms the Acer for engineering and design because it likely has higher color gamut coverage, allowing for more precise color work. However, both the Acer and Lenovo have screens with limited refresh rates, making them less ideal for 3D applications where a high refresh rate is crucial for smooth visuals.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
13.3in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 X13 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."
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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