If your priority is saving money and basic tasks like browsing the internet or using office applications, the Acer Aspire 1 may suffice. However, if you need a bit more power for tasks like photo editing or multitasking and you're comfortable with a slight increase in cost, the Acer Aspire 3 14 is a better option. The Acer Aspire 3 also has better heat management which can be beneficial if you're using the laptop for longer periods, but keep in mind it is slightly heavier, so if portability is a key concern, the lighter Aspire 1 may be preferable. 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 Aspire 1
The Acer Aspire 1 has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 3 14.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 3 14
Good for general use
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
7.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is less suitable for general use primarily due to its weaker CPU and less RAM, which limit performance, along with a lower-quality TN screen that provides inferior viewing angles and color accuracy compared to the better IPS screen on the Acer Aspire 3 14. The Aspire 3 14 is rated fair for general use, benefiting from more RAM for smoother multitasking, a more capable CPU for faster processing, a higher-quality screen, and longer battery life, making it a more reliable option for everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
6.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is poor for engineering and design since it has a basic Intel Celeron processor, minimal RAM, and inferior graphics, along with a low-quality TN screen that does not display colors well, making it unsuitable for intensive tasks. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 3 14 is fair as it comes with a more capable AMD Ryzen processor, double the RAM, a separate Radeon GPU, and a superior IPS screen with better color reproduction and viewing angles, balancing performance and somewhat better portability for such applications.
Content Creation
5.9/10
7.2/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is good for content creation, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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
6.1/10
7.1/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 is good for software development, while the Acer Aspire 1 is only fair.
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
5.2/10
6.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Aspire 1's screen may not be as sharp, vibrant, or bright, affecting the overall viewing experience, while the Aspire 3 offers a more balanced experience with decent sharpness and visibility. In engineering and design, accurate colors are crucial, and the Aspire 3's ability to display a wider range of colors can make it more suitable for these tasks, albeit neither excel in this area. For gaming and 3D work, the Aspire 1's low refresh rate can lead to motion blur and less smooth visuals, and while the Aspire 3 does not excel here either, its fair overall screen quality offers a marginally better experience for less demanding games.
Battery
6.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Acer Aspire 3 14 has 9.5 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
Good
Very Good
15.6in
SIZE
14.0in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has very good portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5/10
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 14 has only fair build quality, while the Acer Aspire 1 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$249
$434
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $249 and the Acer Aspire 3 14 costs $434.
The Acer Aspire 3 14 and Acer Aspire 1 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a less capable Intel Celeron GPU and a basic screen, limiting its suitability for gaming and 3D applications, while the Acer Aspire 3 14 features a somewhat better AMD Radeon GPU and an IPS screen, offering enhanced graphics performance and screen quality, making it fair for those tasks. Both models have comparable screen refresh rates which are not optimized for high-end gaming that requires faster screen updates.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Acer Aspire 3 14 compare to other laptops
"There are no surprises and nothing's extraordinary here but this laptop's price. For those in need of an inexpensive Windows laptop for undemanding tasks, though, the Acer Aspire 1 offers just enough to get the basics done and a larger screen to do them on."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Acer Aspire 3 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.
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