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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 1 is much less expensive, making it a good choice for budget-conscious users who need a machine for basic tasks like web browsing, office applications, and media consumption. However, it has limited storage and memory, a lower-quality display, and modest performance, which isn't suitable for intensive tasks. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is significantly more expensive but offers much better performance, a high-quality Mini LED display, more storage and memory, and longer battery life. It's well-suited for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and software development. The MacBook is also lighter and has a higher-quality build, but it will cost you more. If portability and high performance are priority and within your budget, the MacBook Pro is the better choice; if cost is a major concern and your needs are basic, then the Acer Aspire 1 might suffice. 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 Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
- Very good for general use
- Good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
8.2
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a lower-end CPU, less RAM and a TN screen with lower brightness and color coverage, which results in weaker performance and a less vivid display for general use compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 14 which features a more powerful custom Apple chip with more RAM, a higher-resolution Mini LED display with high brightness and color accuracy, contributing to a better overall experience. Additionally, the MacBook Pro offers greater portability with a lighter weight and significantly longer battery life, making it more suitable for use on the go.
Gaming and AI
5.7
6.7
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.7/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is not suited for gaming and 3D because it has an entry-level GPU and a screen with a standard refresh rate, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is good for 3D tasks due to its more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate; however, keep in mind, popular games may not be compatible with the MacBook's operating system.
Engineering and Design
5.5
7.6
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.7/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its powerful Apple M3 processor, more RAM, and advanced GPU, caters to engineering and design needs through faster processing and better graphics handling, complemented by a high-quality Mini LED screen. In contrast, the Acer Aspire 1 is limited by its basic Intel Celeron processor, less RAM, and an inferior GPU, paired with a lower-quality TN screen, making it inadequate for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
5.9
8.2
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very 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
8.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very 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
9.2
15.6in
SIZE
14.2in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1 may have a lower resolution and less vivid display, which can make for a less crisp and bright visual experience, detracting from its suitability for general use, engineering tasks, and gaming. The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high resolution and support for broader color gamuts, offers a superior and more accurate display for general use and professional design work where color fidelity is crucial. However, for 3D applications and gaming where a high refresh rate is key, the MacBook Pro's typically lower refresh rate compared to specialized gaming laptops could make it less ideal, despite its high-quality display in other respects.
Battery
6.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
14.2in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class 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
$215
$1,449
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,449.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$215 | $1,449 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 3.4 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Apple M3 | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | UHD Graphics | M3 (10C) | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 17 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 69.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 14.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3024 x 1964 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 489 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 8.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | N/A | White | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 3 | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 1
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | May 2020
"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."
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
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.
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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