A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated March 22, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the HP Spectre x360 14, consider that the Acer is likely designed for gaming and demanding tasks, offering better performance but at the cost of portability and potentially shorter battery life due to its larger size and powerful internals. On the other hand, the HP Spectre is sleeker, more portable with likely longer battery life, and has a flexible 2-in-1 design but may not handle intensive tasks as well. If frequent travel and versatile use are key, the HP could be more suitable, while the Acer suits those needing a powerful workstation for performance-heavy applications. 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 5 17
- Good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Very good overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Best in class speakers
- Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.8
8.7
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
307.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
6.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 is good.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a well-performing CPU and ample RAM for smooth multitasking, but the larger screen size and gaming focus affect its portability and battery life, whereas the HP Spectre x360 14 offers a high-quality display and a balance of power and efficiency in a compact form, resulting in better portability and longer battery life. While both have sufficient storage and decent peripherals, the Spectre's build tends to handle heat and noise more effectively, with its keyboard and speakers being of higher quality, enhancing the overall experience.
Gaming and AI
7.7
6.8
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Acer Nitro 5 17 is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 5 17 generally has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smooth and high-fidelity gaming and 3D applications, whereas the HP Spectre x360 14 offers versatility with a good but less powerful GPU and a standard refresh rate, alongside a high-quality screen and a capable CPU for more general usage and occasional lighter gaming.
Content Creation
7.8
8.7
7.4/10
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 5 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
8.4
7.4/10
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 5 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
8.2
8.6
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
360Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
307.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a better screen than the HP Spectre x360 14 for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the HP Spectre x360 14 stands out due to its high-resolution display that delivers crisp images and text, along with its brightness that ensures readability even in well-lit environments. In the context of engineering and design, the same laptop's display covers a wide color gamut, which is critical for precise color work and accurate representations of designs. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both the Acer Nitro 5 17 and HP Spectre x360 14 fall short because they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and responsiveness during fast-paced visual experiences.
Battery
6.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has 6 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.
Portability
Fair
Very Good
17.3in
SIZE
14.0in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good portability, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2
8.5
The HP Spectre x360 14 has very good build quality, while the Acer Nitro 5 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$1,630
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 5 17 has a price of $830 and the HP Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.0
8.4
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
7.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Acer Nitro 5 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 5 17, with its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, and high-performing GPU, excels in handling rigorous engineering software, and its large screen provides ample work space, though it may be bulky and noisier under load. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14, while also equipped for engineering tasks with capable CPU and GPU, offers a more portable option with a high-quality screen and keyboard, making it easier to work on the go but potentially less suited for extremely intensive tasks.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Nitro 5 17 and the HP Spectre x360 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Nitro 5 17 | HP Spectre x360 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$830 | $1,630 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | February 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.9'' x 11'' x 0.98'' | 12.4'' x 8.7'' x 0.67'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.95 lbs | 3.45 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 15.89" | 12.35" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 11.02" | 8.68" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | AMD Ryzen 7 5800H | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 57.5 Wh | 68 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 360Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 307 nits | 384 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.2/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.1/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 7.5/10 | 9.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 2160p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
Shopping
Acer Nitro 5 17
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | August 2021
"The Acer Nitro 5 17 is a solid mid-range gamer. The Nitro 5 does not belong to the top group of RTX 3070 notebooks: Compared with the RTX 3070 notebooks tested so far, the computer delivers below-average frame rates - this is due to the 100-watt TGP. The GPU performance can be increased a bit with a firmware update. The device scores with a high level of CPU performance. Throttling is not a concern. CPU and GPU can produce their performance constantly. The laptop heats up moderately under load. The noise development is on the usual class level."
HP Spectre x360 14
See more
Dig into reviews and images
LaptopMag
Rami Tabari | February 2024
"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 5 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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
111,195
Recommendations made
24,093
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.
Featured in
