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Acer Aspire 5: Two minute review
Looking at Acer’s website, you could be forgiven for thinking that the Acer Aspire 5 is an expensive high-end laptop that includes a 12th generation i7 processor and a powerful GeForce graphics card. But, as we’ve found with Acer in the past, the company’s website tends to focus on its top-of-the-range models, leaving you to find out about other options that may be available.
In this case, it turns out that the Aspire 5 is available in a wide variety of different models and specifications—in fact, Acer’s US website lists more than 60 different configurations, including 17.3-inch and 15.6-inch displays. , with both Intel and AMD processors. And, if you search long enough, you might even find the entry-level 14-inch version of the Aspire 5 we review here, which is based on an older 11th-generation i5 processor.
It’s clearly not the powerful laptop “for accelerated photo and video editing performance” that Acer promises, but if you judge the Aspire 5 on its own merits it makes for a respectable entry-level laptop for casual browsing. web and productivity tasks.
Specification Sheet
Here’s the Acer Aspire 5 configuration sent to TechRadar for review:
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 @ 2.4GHz
Graphics: Xe Integrated Journal
RAM: 8GB DDR4
Storage: 512GB PCIe SSD
Screen: 14-inch resolution, 1920×1080
Ports: 1x USB-C, 3x USB-A (3.2), 1x audio, 1x HDMI, 1x Gigabit Ethernet
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 720p
Size: 0.71 x 12.9 x 8.8 inches (18 x 327.7 x 223.5mm)
Weight: 3.75lb (1.7kg)
Acer Aspire 5: Price and availability
- Around $600 in the US, and £450 in the UK
- Available now in the US and UK, with limited availability below
- Wide range of models, some from Acer, some from online retailers
Acer’s pricing and sales information can also be a bit confusing. Some of the models listed on their website can be bought directly from Acer, while others are sold through online retailers and high street stores – such as Currys in the UK – so you may have to shop around online if there is a specific model. tie
As mentioned, we tested the Aspire 5 model with a 14-inch screen, which also includes Windows 10 Home, a quad-core i5-1135G7 processor running at 2.4GHz (up to 4.2GHz with Turboboost), as well as 8GB of memory and 512GB solid. – driving state. Acer’s US website lists two different prices for that spec – $669.99 or $599.99, depending on which web page you look at.
You can’t buy that model directly from Acer in the UK, although it is available from some online retailers for around £450.00. Strangely, Australia only gets one Aspire 5 model with a larger 15.6-inch display and an i7 processor for AU$1399.00.
Acer Aspire 5: Design
- Bright 1080p display
- Wi-Fi 6 and Gigabit Ethernet
- USB-C only
You’re not going to get a cutting-edge design at this price level, and the Aspire 5 has a fairly traditional clamshell design, with chunky borders around the edges of the screen that look a little dated. Acer’s website – vague as ever – suggests that it is available in different colours, but the models sold on their website seem to be only black or silver.
It gets the basics right, though, with a sturdy chassis that should be able to handle a few bumps in a backpack or bag when you’re traveling. And while it’s not an ultrabook, the Aspire 5 weighs just 1.7kg and measures 18mm thick, so it’s completely portable when it needs to be. The keyboard feels firm and comfortable for typing, and the trackpad has a fingerprint sensor for security. The only real weakness here is the thin L-shaped power connector, which sticks out from the side of the laptop and looks a little fragile.
The 14-inch screen only provides a 1920×1080 resolution, but it’s bright and clear, with good viewing angles. We’re also happy to see that it has a matte finish that helps reduce glare and reflections. The 720p webcam is a bit basic, but the image quality was better than we expected – it gets a little grainy in low light, but some decent daylight produces an image that’s sharp enough for video calls.
The built-in speakers are a bit weak, though. The sound is fine for watching some videos on YouTube, but if you want to listen to some decent music you’ll need to plug some headphones or speakers into the audio socket on the right edge of the laptop. However, connectivity is a bit of a mixed bag, with only one USB-C port, and three USB-A (3.2) for connecting peripherals and other devices. Impressively, the Aspire 5 includes Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity, with Gigabit Ethernet also available for wired networks, and HDMI for an external display.
Acer Aspire 5: Performance
- Respectable performance for office software
- Casual gambling only
Benchmarks
3DMark: Night Raid: 12,300; Fire Strike: 3,015; Spy Time: 1,280
Cinebench R23: Multi-core – 4,800
GeekBench 5: 1,417 (central only); 4,440 (multi-core)
PCMark 10: 4820 points
PCMark 10 Battery Life: 6 hours, 35 minutes
Battery life (TechRadar film test): 6 hours, 37 minutes
Besides the i7 processor and GeForce graphics that Acer boasts about on its website, this entry-level model is equipped with a more modest i5 processor, with integrated Iris Xe graphics. However, it still provides respectable performance for a laptop in this price range, with a score of 1,417 for single-core performance and 4,440 for multi-core. For real-world applications, the PCMark 10 test suite gives the Aspire 5 a score of 1280, which qualifies as a highly regarded ‘office laptop’. Admittedly, that score puts it just below the halfway mark in the PCMark 10 results tables, but that’s not bad for an i5 laptop in this price range, and the Aspire 5 will be fine for web browsing and software run productivity software such as Microsoft Office.
The Iris Xe Aspire’s integrated graphics aren’t winning any awards either, with 3DMark scores generally leaving it in the ‘less than 20fps’ category. But, to be fair, 3DMark uses very high graphics settings, so if you don’t mind reducing the graphics quality a bit you might be able to do a bit of casual gaming every now and then.
Acer Aspire 5: Battery Life
- 6.5 hours for movies
- 6.5 hours for productivity software
Acer’s website typically goes overboard, with up to 10 hours of battery life for the Aspire 5. In fact, our tests recorded very similar scores of just over 6.5 hours for playing movies and the PCMark test suite based on both applications.
Still, that’s not too bad for a low-cost laptop like this, and if you’re not using wi-fi the Aspire 5 should give you a full day’s work on the go.
Buy it if…
Do not buy if…
Also consider…
First revised June 2022
We pride ourselves on our independence and rigorous review testing process, paying long-term attention to the products we review and ensuring our reviews are updated and maintained – no matter when a device is released, if you can buy it yet, it is on our radar.
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