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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 17 offers a larger screen and slightly better battery life for general use, making it a good choice for everyday tasks like browsing, office work, and streaming. It also tends to be less expensive. However, if you're interested in gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning, the MSI Bravo 15, with its dedicated Nvidia graphics card, will deliver significantly better performance in these areas. The Bravo 15 also has a higher screen refresh rate which can provide a smoother visual experience during fast motion, but it has a slightly smaller screen and cheaper build quality. Both laptops are similarly portable, despite the Acer's larger screen size. 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 software development
- Good portability
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the MSI Bravo 15
- Good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.2
7.2
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The MSI Bravo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Bravo 15 is better suited for gaming and 3D due to its dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics, which outperforms the integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics in the Acer Aspire 5 17, and it also offers a higher screen refresh rate of 144 Hz compared to the 60 Hz on the Acer, providing smoother visuals during fast-paced action. While the Acer may suffice for less intensive tasks, gamers will generally appreciate the enhanced GPU and fluid gameplay experience of the MSI.
Screen Quality
6.2
6.9
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a better screen than the MSI Bravo 15 for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 5 17's screen may not provide the visual clarity and vibrancy needed for precise engineering or design work due to its limited color gamut, and its lower refresh rate could lead to less fluid visuals in fast-paced 3D environments. The MSI Bravo 15, with its better color reproduction, offers enhanced screen quality for general tasks and can handle engineering applications, but its modest refresh rate may still fall short for smooth gaming and 3D rendering. Both laptops would benefit from higher resolution and brightness for an improved overall viewing experience, especially in varied lighting conditions.
Cost
$700
$862
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $700 and the MSI Bravo 15 costs $862.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.1
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
267.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.9/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and MSI Bravo 15 are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is better for general use with its larger screen, higher battery life for typical use, and a score indicating superior heat management, contributing to comfort in extended sessions. The MSI Bravo 15, while offering a faster refresh rate and hardware capable of intensive gaming, is less suitable for general use due to its lower portability score and battery life, despite its better performance in graphically demanding tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.7
7.2
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers MSI Bravo 15 to be good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 5 17 is only fair.
The MSI Bravo 15 outperforms the Acer Aspire 5 17 in engineering and design tasks due to its more robust GPU (Nvidia RTX 4050 compared to Intel Iris Xe) and higher refresh rate display, which are very important for graphically demanding work. Although the Acer is also equipped with a capable CPU and ample RAM like the MSI, its integrated GPU and standard refresh rate display limit its abilities in intensive graphical applications, despite being more portable and having a larger screen.
Content Creation
7.2
7.1
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and MSI Bravo 15 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
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 5 17 to be good for software development, while the MSI Bravo 15 is only fair.
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.
Battery
7.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 hours of battery life. The MSI Bravo 15 has 6 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
Fair
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.9in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 5 17 to have good portability, while the MSI Bravo 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
6.5
6.7
The MSI Bravo 15 and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the MSI Bravo 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | MSI Bravo 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$700 | $862 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 14.1'' x 10.2'' x 0.98'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 4.96 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.83" | 14.13" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.1" | 10.2" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50.3 Wh | 53.5 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 266 nits | 267 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 6.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
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."
MSI Bravo 15
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Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMedia
Nikolay Palaozov | July 2023
"Overall, the MSI Bravo 15 C7U is a great gaming device for the masses that isn’t too pricey. The capable hardware (for the price range), the 144Hz display, and the comfortable keyboard are one of the things that should attract buyers who don’t want to spend a fortune on a new gaming laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 5 17 or the MSI Bravo 15
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.
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