The Aspire handles everyday tasks well: I have no trouble juggling a dozen browser tabs while streaming Disney Plus, and the system boots and launches apps quickly. But its capabilities stop there. Without Performance cores, the Core 3 N355 CPU doesn’t thrive in heavier workloads like Photoshop or video editing. And even with that modest hardware, the Aspire’s cooling fan runs frequently, producing a faint but high-pitched whine that cuts through typical household noise. On the upside, the chassis stays comfortably cool to the touch in regular use.
Those looking to squeeze more performance out of this Aspire can upgrade its memory—removing the bottom panel reveals a single DDR5 SO-DIMM slot—but the UFS storage is permanently affixed to the motherboard, precluding expansion.
The Aspire’s standout feature is its 15.6-inch display, a 1,920-by-1,080-pixel IPS panel that maintains clarity even at off-angles—both rare perks at this price. The anti-glare coating adds versatility by minimizing reflections. The picture is passable, with plenty of brightness for comfortable viewing, though the colors are muted. (Its reds look more like orange, and its tones appear cool overall.)
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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Acer’s keyboard leaves much to be desired. While the board is full-size, the shallow key travel provides little tactile feedback, and the plastic clack, occasionally accompanied by a faint rattle, undermines the typing experience. As expected at this price, you’ll find no backlighting here. The layout is mostly conventional, but the absence of an Fn-Lock means you can’t switch the top-row keys between media controls and function shortcuts. Meanwhile, the touchpad works as expected.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
At least Acer’s built-in speakers aren’t bad; mids come through with decent clarity, though they verge on tinny, and bass is nearly absent. Still, they’re fine for a casual movie night with a friend. The 720p webcam earns similar marks, producing slightly soft focus but adequate clarity for everyday video calls. As expected at this price, you’ll find no IR support for facial recognition and no physical privacy shutter.
