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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 17 offers more storage and better performance suitable for general use and multitasking, and it comes with a larger, higher-resolution screen. However, it is more expensive and less portable due to its size. On the other hand, the Gateway 11.6" is more affordable and highly portable with a smaller, lower-resolution screen and limited storage and performance, best suited for basic tasks like web browsing and document editing. 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 17
- Good for general use
- Good for software development
- Good for content creation
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.3
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is good for general use, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is equipped with a more powerful Intel i5 processor, more RAM, and higher storage capacity, leading to better performance and multitasking for general use compared to the Gateway 11.6" which has a modest Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and significantly lower storage capacity, making it less suited for demanding tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.2
5.4
3.7/10
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 17 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 offers fair gaming and 3D performance because it is equipped with a more capable GPU in the form of an Intel Iris Xe and a larger, higher resolution screen, which can enhance visual detail and the gaming experience. In contrast, the Gateway 11.6" has a less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU and a smaller, lower resolution display, leading to poorer performance in gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.7
5.4
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with its more capable Intel i5 processor, better integrated Iris Xe graphics, and higher resolution display, is more suited for engineering and design work compared to the Gateway 11.6", which has a lower-tier Intel Celeron processor, basic UHD Graphics, and a lower resolution screen that may not render details as sharply. While the Gateway excels in portability and has a good keyboard, its limited CPU power, lower RAM, and weaker GPU make it less ideal for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.2
5.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is good for content creation, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
7.2
5.7
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 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 17 is good for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" 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
5.7
17.3in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Acer's screen quality is acceptable due to its larger screen with a resolution that maintains clarity for daily tasks and a brightness level that's adequate for indoor environments, whereas the Gateway's smaller size and lower resolution result in a less satisfying viewing experience. The Acer Aspire 5 17's display falls short for engineering and design work, where precise color representation is crucial, because it doesn't fully cover professional color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, while the Gateway's display is also not suitable for these tasks for the same reasons. For gaming and 3D applications, where smooth motion is key, the Acer's display isn't the best fit due to its lower refresh rate, and the Gateway's smaller, lower resolution screen with a lower refresh rate further hinders performance in these visually demanding scenarios.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" has 8 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
17.3in
SIZE
11.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
5.1
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 11.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$700
$89
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.83" | 11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.1" | 7.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 64 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50.3 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 266 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | March 2021
"The Acer Aspire 5 17 laptop shows the expected strengths in the test. Besides the usual high build quality, the configuration convinces in most benchmarks and tests. The combination of CPU, GPU, and RAM is absolutely sufficient for the everyday office and browsing tasks of a laptop. It also renders the odd game passably if the requirements aren't too high. We liked the matte display in the test as well as the fairly manageable dimensions despite the screen size. It can also be used outdoors, even if it's certainly not a laptop designed for mobility."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the Gateway 11.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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