Choosing the Acer Aspire 5 17 will save you a bit of money and offers satisfactory general use performance with decent portability. However, if you are looking for a laptop that has better performance for engineering tasks, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the HP Envy 17 may be worth the extra cost as it has more RAM and a more powerful processor. The HP Envy 17 also includes a touchscreen and potentially has better screen color reproduction, which can be beneficial for graphic design and video editing. It's slightly heavier than the Acer, which could affect portability if you plan to carry the laptop around frequently. Both have similar battery life and screen size, so for extended use without access to power or if you prefer larger displays, either can be suitable. 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
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has no clear advantages over the HP Envy 17.
Advantages of the HP Envy 17
Good for engineering and design
Good overall build quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
6.7/10
7.4/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Envy 17 is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The HP Envy 17 delivers better performance for engineering and design thanks to its higher-end CPU and double the amount of RAM compared to the Acer Aspire 5 17, which is crucial for demanding applications. Additionally, the HP Envy 17 has superior screen quality offering higher color accuracy and brightness, further enhancing its suitability for design tasks.
Screen Quality
6.2/10
6.8/10
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The HP Envy 17 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 5 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the HP Envy 17's superior resolution and brightness offer a more vivid and clear viewing experience than the Acer Aspire 5 17, making for better usability in a variety of settings. For engineering and design tasks where color accuracy is crucial, the HP Envy 17 likely covers a wider range of the color gamut, ensuring that designs are seen with the intended hues and intensities. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both the Acer Aspire 5 17 and HP Envy 17 fall short due to lower refresh rates, meaning they may not provide as smooth visuals as laptops specifically tailored for these demanding activities.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The HP Envy 17 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.
Build Quality
6.5/10
7.2/10
The HP Envy 17 has good build quality, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$700
$1,000
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the HP Envy 17 costs $1,000.
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 offers a decent CPU and RAM for everyday tasks, a good quality IPS display, and is lighter, adding to its portability; however, its battery life and speaker quality are moderate, and it lacks a touchscreen. In contrast, the HP Envy 17 features a more powerful CPU and double the RAM, enhancing performance for demanding applications, a touchscreen, and slightly better battery life, but it is heavier which makes it less portable. Both have ample storage, good screen quality, and manage heat and noise well, but the HP has a more premium feel, potentially justifying its higher cost.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and the HP Envy 17 are both equipped with Intel Iris Xe graphics, which provides modest capabilities for gaming and 3D tasks. Each has a screen refresh rate of 60Hz, suitable for fair gaming performance, but the HP Envy 17 benefits from a stronger CPU for somewhat better gaming and 3D experiences.
Content Creation
7.2/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for content creation.
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
7.2/10
7.5/10
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The HP Envy 17 and Acer Aspire 5 17 are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and HP Envy 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the HP Envy 17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"In our test, the HP Envy 17-cr0079ng presents itself as a balanced multimedia laptop. Thanks to its solid CPU performance and dedicated entry-level GeForce, it can also be used for playing video games, as long as the demands aren't too high. Those looking for more can find it in the Dell XPS 17 for example."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the HP Envy 17
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
109,695
Recommendations made
23,768
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.