The Acer Aspire 3 15 offers more RAM than the Acer Aspire 1, which can lead to better performance for multitasking and more demanding applications. It also has a slightly larger battery, offering longer usage between charges, and benefits from an IPS display for better viewing angles. Meanwhile, the Aspire 1 is a more budget-friendly option and may suffice if your usage is limited to basic tasks. However, the Aspire 3 15 tends to be slightly more expensive, but the extra cost comes with advantages such as a superior screen and better overall performance, which might be worth considering if you need a laptop for more than just general use. 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 15.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 3 15
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
6.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
244.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 is only fair for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a lower-tier CPU and half the RAM of the Acer Aspire 3 15, meaning it's less capable in handling multiple tasks and applications efficiently. While both have similar screen sizes and resolutions, the Aspire 3 offers better screen quality with its IPS display over the Aspire 1's TN panel, resulting in more vivid colors and wider viewing angles, contributing to a more pleasant general use experience.
Content Creation
5.9/10
7.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.1/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 15 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
7.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.1/10
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 15 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
6.2/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
244.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 15 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
If you prioritize a vivid and clear display for tasks like browsing, document editing, or watching videos, the Acer Aspire 3 15's fair screen with better resolution and brightness will serve general use more adequately compared to the Acer Aspire 1. For engineering and design work where color accuracy is crucial, the Acer Aspire 3 15 offers fair color representation, but may still fall short for professionals needing precise color gamuts. However, both models might not be ideal for gaming and 3D modeling due to their lower refresh rates, with the Acer Aspire 1 being less suitable because of its poorer overall screen quality.
Battery
6.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Acer Aspire 3 15 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.
Build Quality
5.5/10
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 15 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
$330
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $249 and the Acer Aspire 3 15 costs $330.
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Acer Aspire 1 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 1 is less suited for gaming and 3D tasks due to its basic Intel Celeron UHD Graphics, which is significantly less powerful than the dedicated AMD Radeon 610M GPU found in the Acer Aspire 3 15, which offers better performance for such applications. Both laptops come with the same screen refresh rate, but the better GPU in the Aspire 3 15 will provide a smoother and more detailed gaming and 3D experience.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
5.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Acer Aspire 1 are both poor for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.9 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 15 and Acer Aspire 1 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Acer Aspire 3 15 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."
Alexander Tozzi, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | March 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and it's easy to carry around. The display looks decently sharp and provides plenty of space for multitasking, but it doesn't get bright enough to combat glare. Its Intel Core i3-N305 CPU and integrated graphics can only handle simple tasks, like text processing, web browsing, and video playback, so it isn't ideal for students in more technical fields like 3D graphics. Unfortunately, the battery lasts only around six to seven hours of light use."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Acer Aspire 3 15
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.
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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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