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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a larger screen and slightly higher screen resolution, which can make it better for multitasking and enjoying media, but it's less portable than the Gateway 15.6". If you value portability, the Gateway offers a balance of performance and ease of carrying around. The Gateway also has more RAM, which can be beneficial for more demanding tasks and multitasking. Both have comparable CPUs and integrated GPUs, which are fine for general use and some light engineering work but not ideal for 3D rendering, machine learning, or intensive gaming. The Acer has a longer battery life, making it a better choice if you're often on the go and away from power outlets. The Gateway comes with an older version of Windows, which may require an update for the latest features and security enhancements. If you need a numeric keypad and backlit keys, the Acer provides these, adding to its functionality for productivity. Both offer solid build quality, with the Acer slightly ahead, and they manage heat well enough for everyday use. Each would serve well for typical use, with a nod to the Acer for those preferring a larger display and longer battery life and to the Gateway if you need more immediate multitasking capability and prefer a more compact device. 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 5 17
- Good for software development
- Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
- The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Acer Aspire 5 17.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.2
6.1
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
266.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for software development.
For general use, the appropriate resolution, decent panel type, and adequate brightness on both the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the Gateway 15.6" ensure a satisfactory visual experience for tasks like browsing, document editing, and video streaming. However, in engineering and design, where accurate color reproduction is crucial, these laptops may not meet the standards set by the wider color gamuts needed for precision work since fair screen quality indicates they likely fall short in displaying the full spectrum of DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB colors. When it comes to 3D and gaming, the importance of higher refresh rates for smoother motion is not addressed by these laptops, and while their resolutions and panel types could be acceptable, their performance in refresh rate makes them less suited for high-speed, visually intensive tasks.
Battery
7.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has 7 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.
Build Quality
6.5
5.1
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has only fair build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.3
7.0
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
266.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
7.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 is well-suited for general use due to its good performance provided by its CPU and RAM, along with a quality IPS screen, making it suitable for various tasks though it is less portable due to its larger size. Meanwhile, the Gateway 15.6" offers more RAM which may benefit multitasking and also features a quality IPS screen, but has slightly better portability due to its smaller size, although it may have a shorter battery life as suggested by its higher overall portability rating.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.1
2.4/10
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
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and the Gateway 15.6" are fair for gaming and 3D because they both have integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics which are decent for moderate gaming but may struggle with more graphically demanding titles. They also both have a standard screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is adequate for casual gaming but not the higher rates preferred by serious gamers; plus, they share a similar screen quality with IPS panels and full HD resolution, providing good viewing experiences for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.8
6.5
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2.4/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
2.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Acer Aspire 5 17, with its Intel i5-1335U processor, Iris Xe graphics, and a 17.3-inch screen, has a larger display but less RAM compared to the Gateway 15.6", which has an Intel i5-1135G7 processor, the same Iris Xe graphics, and more RAM with a 15.6-inch screen; both are thus only moderately suited for engineering and design due to these mixed hardware specifications. Additionally, while both laptops offer good screen quality with IPS panels and standard resolutions, the portability and keyboard quality are only fair, which may affect comfort and convenience during long work sessions.
Content Creation
7.1
7.0
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Acer Aspire 5 17 and Gateway 15.6" are both good 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
7.0
6.8
6.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Acer Aspire 5 17 to be good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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.
Portability
Good
Good
17.3in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 15.6" and Acer Aspire 5 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$490
$497
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Acer Aspire 5 17 has a price of $490 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $497.
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How the Acer Aspire 5 17 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Acer Aspire 5 17 | Gateway 15.6" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$490 | $497 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | August 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 15.8'' x 10.1'' x 0.71'' | 14.8'' x 9.5'' x 0.77'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.61 lbs | 4.8 lbs | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i5-1335U | Intel i5-1135G7 | |
Graphics | |||
Graphics | Iris Xe | Iris Xe G7 | |
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | |||
Mux Switch / Advanced Optimus | No | No | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 7 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 50.3 Wh | Unknown | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 17.3" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 266 nits | 250 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 7.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Keyboard Lighting Color | |||
Keyboard Lighting Color | White | N/A | |
Warranty Period | |||
Warranty Period | 1 year | 1 year | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 7/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 6/10 | 6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 1 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | No | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
Acer Aspire 5 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marcus Schwarten | March 2021
"The Acer Aspire 5 17 laptop shows the expected strengths in the test. Besides the usual high build quality, the configuration convinces in most benchmarks and tests. The combination of CPU, GPU, and RAM is absolutely sufficient for the everyday office and browsing tasks of a laptop. It also renders the odd game passably if the requirements aren't too high. We liked the matte display in the test as well as the fairly manageable dimensions despite the screen size. It can also be used outdoors, even if it's certainly not a laptop designed for mobility."
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 5 17 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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