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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Acer Aspire 1 and the Gateway 15.6", consider the following: The Acer is more budget-friendly, lighter, and boasts silent operation due to a fanless design, making it more suitable for basic tasks, like browsing and office work. However, its lower storage, less RAM, and less powerful processor, as well as a basic screen, make it less ideal for more demanding tasks. The Gateway is pricier but offers more storage, more RAM, and a better processor, along with an IPS display that has higher color accuracy and brightness, making it better suited for intensive tasks and multitasking. Neither is suitable for intensive gaming, but the Gateway could handle light gaming better than the Acer. If portability and cost are major concerns, consider the Acer, but if performance and screen quality are priorities, the Gateway may be the better choice. 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 15.6".
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- Good for general use
- Good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
5.8
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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
5.3/10
7.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gateway 15.6" is good for general use, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1, with its Intel Celeron processor and 4GB RAM, is less suited for general use due to lower performance, whereas the Gateway 15.6" benefits from a faster Intel i5 processor and 16GB RAM for more efficient multitasking and overall use. Additionally, the Gateway's screen has higher brightness and colour coverage, offering a better visual experience than the Acer, which uses a lower quality TN panel.
Engineering and Design
5.5
6.5
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Gateway 15.6" is only fair for engineering and design, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1, with an Intel Celeron processor and UHD Graphics, has limited power for demanding engineering software, while its TN screen offers poor color and viewing angles, which are not ideal for design work. The Gateway 15.6", with an Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics, offers better performance and an IPS screen with superior color accuracy and viewing angles, making it more suitable for engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
5.9
7.0
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gateway 15.6" 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
6.8
3.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Gateway 15.6" and Acer Aspire 1 are both only fair for software development, though the Gateway 15.6" 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
6.1
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
TN
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
200.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Gateway 15.6" has a better screen than the Acer Aspire 1 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Acer Aspire 1 has a lower resolution and less vibrant display, affecting clarity and color representation which is noticeable during general tasks, engineering work, and when visual fidelity in gaming matters. The Gateway 15.6" offers a slightly better resolution and brightness, providing a more satisfactory experience for general and engineering use, but still lacks the high refresh rates and color accuracy needed for optimal 3D content creation and gaming. Both models fall short in providing the color gamut coverage essential for professional engineering and design, where precise color representation is critical.
Battery
6.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 1 has 6 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" 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.
Cost
$215
$497
$100
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Aspire 1 has a price of $215 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $497.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
5.7
6.1
2.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Gateway 15.6" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Acer Aspire 1 is poor.
The Acer Aspire 1 is equipped with a basic Intel Celeron UHD graphics chip, providing minimal GPU power, unsuitable for demanding gaming and 3D tasks, while Gateway's offering includes Intel Iris Xe graphics, a significantly more capable option for moderate gaming performance. Furthermore, although both laptops have the same screen refresh rate, the Gateway has a higher-quality IPS display compared to the Acer's TN panel, which contributes to better screen quality and gaming experiences.
Portability
Good
Good
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
4.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 15.6" both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
5.5
5.1
The Acer Aspire 1 and Gateway 15.6" 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 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 1 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$215 | $497 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2022 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.3'' x 9.4'' x 0.78'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.19 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel Celeron N4500 | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | UHD Graphics | Iris Xe G7 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 4 GB | 16 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" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | TN | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 200 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 5.6/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | No | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 0 | 1 | |
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."
Gateway 15.6"
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Francisco Lahoz | July 2022
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Acer Aspire 1 or the Gateway 15.6"
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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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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