Acer Aspire 3 review
The Acer Acer Aspire 3 ranks as the #863 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 50. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #731-ranked connectivity among 777 laptops. Consider the Acer Spin 1 or Acer Chromebook 315, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Acer Aspire 3 is a budget-friendly laptop that delivers solid performance without breaking the bank. Its sturdy plastic build and smooth hinge make it suitable for everyday use. The full-size keyboard with numeric keypad is great, but lacks backlighting. A 15.6-inch Full HD display provides sharp visuals, though color accuracy and viewing angles are average. Performance is decent for web browsing, office tasks, and multimedia consumption, thanks to AMD Ryzen or Intel Core processors. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 9 hours on a full charge. Overall, the Acer Aspire 3 is a reliable choice for students and professionals who need a laptop that gets the job done without excessive spending.
Build
The Acer Aspire 3's design is straightforward and practical, suitable for students, professionals, and everyday users. The laptop's plastic build feels sturdy enough for daily use, with a brushed texture giving it a slightly premium feel. Weighing around 4.7 lbs, the Aspire 3 is portable but not the lightest option on the market. The hinge allows for decent flexibility, enabling the display to tilt back to about 180°. The keyboard is full-size with a numeric keypad, making it great for users who work with spreadsheets or need quick number input. However, there's no backlighting, which may be an issue in low-light environments. Overall, the build quality of the Acer Aspire 3 is solid and functional, if not particularly flashy. You might want to check out Acer TravelMate P2, featuring an upgraded build for a superior experience.
Display
The Acer Aspire 3's display is a highlight of this budget laptop. The 15.6-inch full HD screen offers sharp text and images, making it suitable for web browsing, watching videos, and working on documents. However, the TN or IPS panel doesn't provide the best color accuracy or viewing angles, resulting in slightly washed-out colors. The display's brightness level of around 250 nits is adequate for indoor use but may struggle in bright outdoor environments. Overall, it's a decent display for everyday tasks, but not ideal for those seeking high-quality visuals. Take a look at Acer Aspire Go 14 - its improved display sets a new standard.
Performance
The Acer Aspire 3 delivers decent performance for everyday tasks. It's powered by entry-level to mid-range CPUs, making it suitable for web browsing, word processing, and video streaming. The base model comes with 4GB of RAM, which may cause slowdowns with multitasking, but upgrading to 8GB improves performance significantly. Storage options vary between 128-512GB SSD, ensuring fast boot times and quick application launches. Integrated graphics handle light gaming and older titles, but serious gamers should consider a dedicated laptop. If you're after top-notch performance, consider Acer Chromebook 314.
Battery and Charging
The Acer Aspire 3 boasts impressive battery life, lasting around 7-9 hours on light tasks, and up to 5-6 hours with more intensive work. Charging is relatively quick via standard AC adapter, but it's worth noting that USBC charging is not supported in most models. Despite this, the laptop should get you through long school or work sessions without needing a recharge. This reliable battery performance makes the Acer Aspire 3 an excellent choice for students and professionals on-the-go.
Connectivity
The Acer Aspire 3 boasts a good selection of ports, making it easy to connect accessories and peripherals. You'll find multiple USB-A ports, an HDMI port for external displays, an Ethernet port for wired internet, and a headphone microphone combo jack. A micro SD card slot is also included. However, USBC charging is missing in most models, with some variants using it solely for data transfers. Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0 provide reliable wireless connectivity. Give Acer Swift 14 AI a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled connectivity.
Features
The Acer Aspire 3 is a budget-friendly laptop that boasts a simple and practical design. It features a 15.6-inch full HD display, a comfortable keyboard with good key travel, and a responsive trackpad. The laptop comes in multiple configurations, including AMD Ryzen 3 and Intel Core i3 processors, 4-8GB RAM, and 128-512GB SSD storage. Its battery life is around 7-9 hours, making it suitable for students, office workers, and casual users who need a reliable machine for everyday tasks. Get your hands on Acer Chromebook 314 if you're looking for better features.
Support and Maintenance
The Acer Aspire 3 offers reliable performance and value for its price point. However, when issues arise, the laptop's support system leaves much to be desired. Response times are often slow, and resolving complex problems can be a challenge. Users may find themselves waiting extended periods for assistance or troubleshooting. Additionally, maintenance options are limited, with few avenues available for users seeking help beyond the standard warranty period. Overall, while the laptop is suitable for everyday use, its support system falls short of expectations.
Pros
1. The laptop offers good value for money, especially if you choose a model with 8 GB RAM and SSD storage.
2. It has a reliable battery life of around 7-9 hours on a full charge, making it suitable for students and professionals who need a laptop that lasts through the day.
3. The Aspire 3 comes with a good selection of ports, including multiple USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone microphone combo jack.
4. It's a great entry-level laptop for everyday tasks like web browsing, word processing, video streaming, and even some light multitasking.
Cons
1. The base models come with 4 GB of RAM, which is quite limiting in today's computing environment, and may lead to slowdowns when running multiple browser tabs or using Microsoft Office.
2. The storage options vary between 128, 256, and 512 GB of SSD, but the 128 GB option might feel cramped if you store a lot of files.
3. The display is not a touchscreen laptop, which may be an issue for those who prefer interacting with Windows using touch gestures.
4. It's not designed as a gaming laptop, so don't expect high-end performance in AAA title games.
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