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The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If price is a major concern and your needs are basic, such as browsing and document editing, the Acer Aspire 1 is the economical choice. However, if you require high performance for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or software development and value a laptop with a premium build, long battery life, and a high-resolution screen, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is worth the investment. The MacBook also offers better portability, a high-quality keyboard, speakers, and webcam but it is significantly more expensive. The Acer offers basic functionality at a fraction of the cost but with lower performance and build quality. 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 16 (2021).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
- Excellent for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Excellent for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
General Use
5.8
9.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 falls short in general use primarily due to a weaker CPU, less RAM, and a lower-quality TN screen, which leads to subpar performance and visual experience compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 16. The MacBook Pro excels with its high-powered M1 Pro CPU, substantial RAM, and superior Mini LED screen, ensuring smooth operation and stunning visuals, which justifies its higher price tag despite its less appealing portability due to heavier weight and larger size.
Gaming and AI
5.7
7.1
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
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 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 has an Intel Celeron UHD graphics, which is much less powerful than the Apple MacBook Pro 16's M1 Pro GPU, making it poor for gaming and 3D tasks, while the latter performs well. Furthermore, the MacBook Pro features a higher screen refresh rate, which is better for smooth visuals in 3D environments, although it's important to note that many popular games don't run on macOS.
Engineering and Design
5.5
8.3
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.6/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.2/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
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.
Content Creation
5.9
8.8
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
9.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.6/10
4.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent 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
9.4
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 dimmer display which makes it less suitable for any use that requires clear and vibrant visuals. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 excels for general use and engineering with its high-resolution, bright screen that covers a wide range of colors, making it ideal for detailed work and color accuracy required in design tasks. However, its focus on color reproduction and resolution means it does not prioritize high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming.
Battery
6.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
$1,999
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) costs $1,999.
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Key similarities
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
16.2in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Acer Aspire 1 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$215 | $1,999 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | UHD Graphics | M1 Pro (16C) | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 5 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 497 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | N/A | 4 | |
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 16 (2021)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
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
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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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