Introduction
The Acer Aspire 5 15.6(i5 version) laptop stands out as a laptop designed to caters to both professionals and casual users. With a 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display, it promises vibrant and clear visuals, making it ideal for a range of tasks from media consumption to productivity work. The laptop is powered by an Intel 13th Generation Core i5 processor, paired with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD. The inclusion of an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 graphics card adds to its appeal, particularly for users interested in light gaming and graphic-intensive applications.
Released in 2023, the Acer Aspire 5 comes in a sleek steel gray color, and its compact design, weighing just 3.46 pounds and measuring 0.7 inches in height, makes it highly portable. This laptop is a balanced mix of performance, aesthetics, and practicality, aiming to meet the needs of a diverse user base.
Pros:
- Powerful Performance
- The backlit keyboard is a nice touch for working in low-light environments. And also a great touchpad.
Cons
- With up to 7.5 hours of battery life, it may not last through an entire day of heavy use without needing a recharge.
- No Touchscreen
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Specifications
- Screen Size: 14 inches
- Model: A514-56GM-5932
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
- Processor: Intel 13th Generation Core i5
- Storage: 512GB
- Memory: 16GB
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050
- Price: About $800
Acer Aspire 5 15.6(i5 version) laptop Review
Display and Build Quality
The Acer Aspire 5 has a design similar to various Aspire laptops which came over the years. It has a 14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS display. The IPS (In-Plane Switching) technology helps in providing wide viewing angles and vibrant color reproduction and makes it ideal for tasks that require accurate color representation, such as photo editing or watching high-definition videos for video editing. The resolution of 1920 x 1200 provides a decent picture, great for students as they may want some entertainment between work.
The laptop’s build quality is impressive and gives it a premium look and feel even though it is made of plastic. The steel gray color adds a touch of flavoring, making it suitable for both professional users or university students. Weighing in at just 3.46 pounds and measuring 0.7 inches in height, the Aspire 5 is highly portable, making it easy to carry around for on-the-go productivity.
Performance and Graphics
Under the hood, the Acer Aspire 5 is powered by the Intel 13th Generation Core i5-1335U processor. This processor is part of Intel’s latest lineup that offer solid performance for a variety of tasks ranging from basic browsing to photo editing. With a base clock speed that ensures smooth operation for everyday tasks, the i5-1335U is also capable of handling more demanding applications when needed.
Complementing the processor is 16GB of DDR4 RAM. This amount of memory is ample for multitasking, allowing users to run multiple applications simultaneously without experiencing significant slowdowns. Whether you’re working on large spreadsheets, editing photos, or running multiple browser tabs, the Aspire 5 is equipped to handle it efficiently. So we have included it in our Best Affordable Engineering Laptops under 1000(2024).
One of the standout features of the Acer Aspire 5 is its dedicated graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050. This GPU, with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, provides a significant boost in graphics performance compared to integrated graphics solutions. While it may not be the most powerful GPU available, it is more than capable of handling light to moderate gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks such as video editing and 3D modeling. But they cannot handle 4K gaming or video editing. This makes the Aspire 5 a versatile option for users who need more than just basic graphics capabilities.
Storage and Connectivity
The laptop comes with a 512GB SSD (Solid State Drive) that uses the PCIe 4.0 interface. This combination ensures fast read and write speeds, leading to quick boot times and rapid access to files and applications. The SSD provides ample storage for most users, accommodating a large number of files, applications, and media. For those who might need more storage in the future, the RAM is expandable up to 32GB, although other components like the SSD and GPU are not easily upgradable.
The Acer Aspire 5 excels in connectivity options, featuring both HDMI 2.1 and Thunderbolt 4 ports. The HDMI 2.1 port allows users to connect external displays with high resolutions and refresh rates, making it suitable for creating extended workspaces or giving presentations. The Thunderbolt 4 port supports fast data transfer rates, external GPUs, and multiple 4K displays, enhancing the laptop’s versatility.
Additional ports include a headphone jack, microphone input, and a USB Type-C charging port. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6 (AX) and Bluetooth, ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity. For wired connections, the laptop includes an Ethernet port with a 10/100/1000 Ethernet card, providing stable and high-speed internet access.
Battery Life and input devices
Battery life is an essential factor for any portable device, and the Acer Aspire 5 offers up to 7.5 hours on a single charge. While this may be sufficient for a typical workday, it might not last through an entire day of heavy use without needing a recharge. This is particularly relevant for power users who run demanding applications or those who are frequently on the move. So the battery life is this laptop’s Achillis heal. Users can optimize battery life by adjusting settings and managing power consumption, but for prolonged use, carrying a charger or an external battery pack might be necessary.
The Aspire 5 features a backlit keyboard, which is a practical addition for working in low-light environments. The backlighting enhances usability and ensures that users can type comfortably regardless of the lighting conditions. The keyboard itself is well-designed, with a comfortable layout and responsive keys that provide a pleasant typing experience.
The touchpad is of the multi-gesture type, supporting a variety of gestures for improved navigation and productivity. However, it is worth noting that the laptop does not come with a touchscreen, which might be a downside for users who prefer touch input for certain tasks.
Audio and Camera
The built-in speakers of the Acer Aspire 5 offer adequate sound quality for casual use. While they may not satisfy audiophiles or users seeking a richer audio experience, they are sufficient for everyday tasks such as video calls, watching videos, and listening to music. For an enhanced audio experience, using external speakers or headphones is recommended.
The laptop includes a front-facing camera with 1080p resolution, making it suitable for video conferencing and online meetings. The built-in microphone complements the camera, ensuring clear audio during calls.
Conclusion
The Acer Aspire 5 is a well designed laptop that offers a good performance for a business laptop. Its high-resolution IPS display, powerful Intel Core i5 processor, and dedicated NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 graphics card make it suitable for a lot of tasks which range from simple school stuff to basic graphic designing. It does not let you down when it comes to even 3D. But you cannot do intensive 3D animations with this but you can do basic 3D rendering with it.
While it does have some limitations like the lack of a touchscreen and a media card reader, average battery life which are relatively minor drawbacks in the context of its overall performance and value. The Aspire 5’s affordable price point makes it a strong contender in the mid-range laptop market, offering features and performance that cater to a diverse user base.
For professionals, students, and casual gamers looking for a reliable and versatile laptop, the Acer Aspire 5 is definitely worth considering. Its combination of high-quality display, robust internals, and practical features make it a compelling choice for anyone in need of a capable and stylish computing device.