The Acer Aspire 1 is less expensive and features a larger 15.6-inch TN panel screen, suitable for basic tasks and viewing from straight-on angles. However, it has a less powerful Intel Celeron processor and less RAM. On the other hand, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 costs more but includes a higher-quality 14-inch IPS touchscreen, an Intel i3 processor, double the RAM, and a slightly better battery and build quality. It's more portable and versatile, fitting for more intensive multitasking and varied viewing angles. Choose Aspire 1 for value and casual use, or Aspire 3 Spin 14 for better performance and portability. 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 Spin 14.
Advantages of the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14
Good for content creation
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
5.8/10
6.5/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is only fair for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is equipped with a less powerful Intel Celeron processor and less RAM, a basic screen quality with lower color coverage, and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for general use compared to the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14, which has a stronger Intel i3 processor, more RAM, a higher quality IPS screen with better color accuracy, and longer battery life, thus providing a better overall user experience for everyday tasks.
Content Creation
5.9/10
7.0/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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
6.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.2/10
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Acer Aspire 1 are both only fair for software development, though the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is somewhat better.
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
14.0in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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 Acer Aspire 1's low resolution and dull display can make everyday activities like browsing the web and watching videos less enjoyable, whereas the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers a more satisfactory experience with better clarity and brightness. In the realm of engineering and design, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is adequate as it likely covers a broader range of colors, but both laptops would not be ideal for professionals who need precise color accuracy for their work. The Acer Aspire 1 is less suitable for 3D, gaming, and animation due to its lower refresh rate and resolution, which can affect the smoothness and detail of visuals, while the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14's fair screen specifications suggest it can handle these tasks to a certain extent, but not optimally.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has 8 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
3.3 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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 Spin 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
$244
$418
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $244 and the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 costs $418.
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Acer Aspire 1 are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a basic integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, limiting its ability to handle the graphic demands of gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 has a more capable GPU and a higher refresh rate screen, providing smoother visuals and better performance for these tasks, although its CPU and screen quality are only moderate enhancements over the Aspire 1.
Engineering and Design
5.5/10
5.9/10
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.9/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 and Acer Aspire 1 are both poor for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 1 is rated poorly for engineering and design due to its basic Intel Celeron processor, 4 GB RAM, and lower-quality TN screen, which limit performance and display accuracy crucial for such tasks. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 offers better suitability with its more capable Intel i3 processor, double the RAM at 8 GB, and higher quality IPS touchscreen with better color coverage, aiding in more demanding engineering software and design work while also being more portable and with higher-quality input devices.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, and Yannick Khong | November 2023
"The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is okay for school use. It feels reasonably well-built, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. The battery lasts around seven hours of light use, so you only have to plug it in for a short time to get through a typical school day. The overall user experience is so-so; the display looks sharp but dim, and the touchpad is fairly responsive, albeit small."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Acer Aspire 3 Spin 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.
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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