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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Aspire 1 and the Gateway 11.6", consider the following: The Acer Aspire 1 is generally more expensive, but it offers a larger 15.6" screen with a higher resolution, potentially providing a better viewing experience for videos and productivity tasks. Both laptops have similar processors, but the Gateway is lighter and more portable due to its smaller 11.6" screen, which can be a benefit if you travel frequently. The operating system of the Acer is Windows 11S, a newer version than the Gateway's Windows 10S, possibly offering an improved user experience with access to newer features and security updates. If the larger screen and newer operating system are priorities, the Acer might be worth the extra cost; if portability and saving money are more important, consider the Gateway. 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 Gateway 11.6".
Advantages of the Gateway 11.6"
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
5.2
5.7
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 1 has a better screen than the Gateway 11.6" for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" has a better screen for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Acer Aspire 1 and the Gateway 11.6" laptops may disappoint due to their lower resolution and dull brightness, making everyday tasks like browsing the web or watching videos less enjoyable. Those interested in engineering and design might find these models lack sufficient color accuracy for precise work, as they do not cover the wider color gamuts professionals in these fields often require. Additionally, for gaming and 3D applications where smooth motion is critical, both these laptops fall short with refresh rates that don't support the high-frame-rate playback needed for an immersive experience.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gateway 11.6" 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
Excellent
15.6in
SIZE
11.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 11.6" has excellent portability, while the Acer Aspire 1 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$215
$89
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Gateway 11.6" costs $89.
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Key similarities
General Use
5.8
5.6
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
200.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
6.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for general use.
The Acer Aspire 1 and the Gateway 11.6" are not robust for general use due to limited CPU performance with both using lower-end Intel Celeron processors and having only 4GB of RAM, which can hinder multitasking and overall speed. Additionally, the Aspire 1's use of a lower-quality TN screen and the Gateway's limited storage space, coupled with small, low-resolution screens, compromise their usability for everyday tasks, despite being portable and having silent, fanless operation.
Gaming and AI
5.7
5.6
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" laptops are poor choices for gaming and 3D applications due to their basic GPUs, which are integrated Intel UHD Graphics, and standard screen refresh rates of 60Hz. The CPUs on both are also less powerful Intel Celeron models, and while the Acer has a higher screen resolution, which somewhat improves screen quality, both still lack the necessary performance and visual fluidity demanded by gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
5.5
5.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" 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.
Content Creation
5.9
5.7
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" are both poor for content creation.
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
5.7
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
4.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 1 to be only fair for software development, while the Gateway 11.6" is poor.
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.
Build Quality
5.5
5.1
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 11.6" both have poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Acer Aspire 1 and the Gateway 11.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Gateway 11.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$215 | $89 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 11'' x 7.5'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 2.6 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel Celeron N4020 | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | UHD Graphics | UHD Graphics 600 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 6 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 36.7 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 15.6" | 11.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1366 x 768 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 200 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 9.2/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 5.4/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Ports | |||
Thunderbolt Ports | 0 | 0 | |
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."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Gateway 11.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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