If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option for everyday tasks like browsing the web, using office applications, and streaming video, the Acer Aspire 5 should suffice and offers better portability due to its smaller size and likely longer battery life. However, if you need top-tier performance for demanding tasks such as 3D rendering, machine learning, or high-end gaming, and don't mind spending more, the MSI Titan would be the better choice, although it is much more expensive, larger, heavier, and may have shorter battery life. 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 portability
Good battery life
Advantages of the MSI Titan 18 HX
Very good for general use
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Excellent speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
275.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is good.
The Acer Aspire 5, with its modest CPU and RAM, is adequate for day-to-day tasks, offering a balance between cost and performance, along with reasonable battery life and portability; however, the MSI Titan's superior CPU and larger RAM enhance screen quality and multitasking capabilities, which justifies its higher price and less portability due to its larger size and typically shorter battery life. While both have ample storage and decent peripherals, the MSI Titan's focus on power might result in louder operating noise and more heat, which should be considered if quiet operation or cool performance is a priority.
Gaming and AI
6.1/10
9.4/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, while capable for casual gaming, has a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, which means it won't handle intensive 3D tasks or high-end gaming as smoothly as the MSI Titan 18 HX, which boasts a top-tier GPU and high refresh rate screen, providing superior performance and visual fluidity for demanding games and 3D applications. Additionally, the Titan's superior CPU and screen quality further enhance the gaming and 3D experience, making it well-suited for those who prioritize these activities, but also possibly making it more expensive.
Engineering and Design
6.6/10
9.9/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
The MSI Titan 18 HX is best in class for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 15 is only fair.
The Acer Aspire 5 15, with decent processing power, memory, and graphics, is a cost-effective option for engineering and design tasks, but the MSI Titan 18 HX delivers top-tier performance with a higher-end processor, more memory, advanced graphics, and superior screen quality, making it better suited for more demanding engineering and design applications. However, the Acer Aspire 5 offers greater portability and quieter operation, which might be appealing for users who prioritize convenience and a less noisy environment.
Content Creation
7.3/10
9.0/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The MSI Titan 18 HX is excellent 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
8.9/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
128.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
10.0/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
9.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
275.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
401.0 nits
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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 provides adequate resolution and brightness for day-to-day tasks but may lack the wide color gamut necessary for precise engineering and design work, and its refresh rate is not high enough for smooth 3D rendering or gaming. The MSI Titan's display delivers excellent resolution and brightness, adding a wide color coverage essential for detailed engineering and design tasks, but its focus on visual fidelity over refresh rate limits its effectiveness for high-frame-rate 3D applications. The suitability of each laptop depends on the primary use; the Acer Aspire for casual use and the MSI Titan for professional creative work, with neither being ideal for gaming or heavy 3D rendering.
Battery
7.0 Hours
4.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Titan 18 HX has 4 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
Poor
15.6in
SIZE
18.0in
3.9 lbs
WEIGHT
7.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has good portability, while the MSI Titan 18 HX has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5/10
8.5/10
The MSI Titan 18 HX 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
$4,900
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Acer Aspire 5 15 has a price of $480 and the MSI Titan 18 HX costs $4,900.
"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."
"With no new Nvidia GPU this year for laptops, MSI had to refresh everything surrounding the graphics card to make up for it. Users are getting a new 18-inch chassis design, new 14th gen Intel HX CPU, new AC adapter, larger keys, and a new 120 Hz HDR1000 mini-LED 4K display to accompany the high price tag. Most of these changes are a step up from last year's GT77, but users are ultimately getting the same gaming performance out of both models."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 15 or the MSI Titan 18 HX
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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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