When choosing between the Acer Nitro 17 and the HP Spectre x360 14, consider that the Acer Nitro 17, typically being more affordable, offers robust performance suitable for gaming and intensive tasks, but at the expense of portability due to its size. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14 provides versatility with its 2-in-1 design and touch screen, along with a more compact form, making it ideal for general use and productivity on the go, albeit at a higher cost. Battery life usually fares better on ultrabooks like the Spectre compared to gaming laptops like the Nitro. 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 Nitro 17
Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
280.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
5.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 17 offers a capable CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks, while its larger screen size may be more appealing for multimedia experiences, but it is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the HP Spectre x360 14. The HP Spectre x360 14, on the other hand, boasts of a high-quality screen and longer battery life, making it more suitable for on-the-go use, plus its premium build offers a better keyboard and speaker quality, though its smaller form factor might mean less power than the Acer Nitro 17 in terms of raw computing strength.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.8/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Nitro 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 17 has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for gaming and 3D applications where smooth visuals and graphics performance are crucial. While the HP Spectre x360 14 offers a decent CPU and screen quality for a variety of tasks, its less capable GPU and lower refresh rate may not handle demanding gaming and 3D tasks as effectively.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.7/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 17 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
7.4/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for software development, while the Acer Nitro 17 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
7.4/10
8.6/10
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
280.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 17 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a clear and vibrant display for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, the HP Spectre x360 14's superior resolution and brightness offer an excellent visual experience. For tasks involving precision in color work, such as engineering and design, the HP’s higher color accuracy provides a more true-to-life display, essential for professionals. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the Acer Nitro 17, despite its lower overall screen quality, might offer a better experience due to its higher refresh rate, which leads to smoother motion and responsiveness in fast-paced scenes.
Portability
Poor
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
6.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the Acer Nitro 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the Acer Nitro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$970
$1,630
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 17 has a price of $970 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Spectre x360 14 to be very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Nitro 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 17 with its dedicated graphics card and large screen provides a solid foundation for engineering and design tasks, but the HP Spectre x360 14 edges out with better CPU and RAM, which are critical for such demanding software, plus it has a higher quality screen for precise visual work. Despite the HP's advantages in performance, the Acer Nitro 17 may be less portable due to its size, and while both have competent keyboards, the HP's sound and noise management are superior, enhancing the overall user experience.
Battery
8.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 17 has 8 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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.
Give feedback
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How the Acer Nitro 17 and the HP Spectre x360 14 compare to other laptops
"The Acer Nitro 17 isn't an exceptional gaming laptop; it's kind of chunky even among 17.3-inch notebooks, with a lackluster keyboard, and it doesn't outperform comparably priced machines. But there's a lot to like about it, including a good array of ports, a screen that's sharp and bright for work and play alike, and battery life that soundly beats the competition. All this comes at an affordable price. If size and weight aren't big concerns, you'll find the Nitro 17 a dependable big-screen gaming rig. If you crave higher quality, consider a slight step down or up in screen size with the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 or Alienware m18 respectively."
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 17 or the HP Spectre x360 14
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.
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