Today I want to talk about an excellent option for students or freshers who are in search of a reliable, budget-friendly laptop for their daily needs. For years, I have recommended the Acer Aspire series lineup to those seeking balanced specs at an affordable price, and now I’m excited to introduce you to the new Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition.
Packed with the latest Intel 13th gen CPU, this laptop offers impressive performance at a surprisingly low price. It can be yours for just $600 in the US, and approximately Rs 55 000 in India. While there is an i3 variant available for a lower price, I highly recommend investing a bit more in the Intel Core i5 model, as it provides reliable performance that will stand the test of time.
Design
Like other budget notebooks, the Acer Aspire 5 cuts some corners when it comes to design and build quality. It features a plastic chassis with an aluminum-clad top and slightly thick bezels around the display. Although there is a bit of flex in some areas, it’s nothing that would significantly impact the overall experience.
I’m glad to note that the issue of a gap between the screen and plastic bezels, which was present in the previous model, seems to have been resolved in this edition.
Keyboard And Trackpad
Moving on, the keyboard on the Aspire 5 offers a comfortable typing experience. While some may find the gritty texture of the keys appealing, it didn’t bother me much after a few hours of use. However, do note that my unit lacks backlighting. Acer has also included a numpad, which is great news for those who frequently work with numbers on their laptops.
The trackpad on the Aspire 5 is spacious, well-positioned, and responsive to multi-finger gestures. It’s not only quick but also accurate, enhancing the overall user experience. In terms of ports, the left side houses the charging port, HDMI port, and a USB 3.2 Type-A port, while the right side features a USB-C slot and a headphone jack. It’s worth mentioning that models sold in some markets, like the US, come with a Thunderbolt 4 port, but my unit doesn’t have this feature.
Display
Now, let’s discuss the display. This is one aspect where the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition falls slightly short. It comes with a 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel that offers only 45% NTSC color coverage and 250 nits of brightness. While it suffices for everyday tasks like web browsing and video watching, I wouldn’t trust it for color correction or graphic designing.
The subpar viewing angles and relatively low maximum brightness also make it challenging to use in outdoor scenarios. Additionally, I would have loved to see a larger 16:10 aspect ratio, as it provides extra screen real estate, which can be particularly useful when reviewing long lines of code or reading articles.
CPU Performance
Now let’s dive into the most exciting aspect of the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition—the performance. This laptop is powered by the latest Intel Core i5-1335U chip, which may not bring a significant performance leap compared to the previous generation, but it’s a highly capable CPU. In fact, it performs on par with the M2 MacBook Air, ensuring a seamless experience for your everyday tasks.
During my testing, which involved running multiple Chrome tabs, Photoshop in the background, and Microsoft Word, I didn’t encounter any noticeable stutter or lag. This is truly fantastic for a budget laptop and a testament to the Aspire 5’s performance prowess. Additionally, the fans remained silent throughout these tasks, which is a great bonus. However, it’s worth noting that they can get audibly loud when you’re engaged in gaming or performing resource-intensive tasks like video editing.
Software And Gaming Performance
The Acer Aspire 5 with its 13th gen Core i5 processor is also an excellent choice for IT students and beginner programmers. It had no trouble handling a few C projects while simultaneously running resource-hungry applications like ChatGPT and Stack Overflow in the background. To ensure a smooth coding experience, I recommend upgrading the RAM to 16GB, especially if you frequently work with memory-intensive tools like VS Code.
Speaking of gaming, if you enjoy casual gaming and prefer CPU-reliant games like CS:GO and Valorant, you’ll be pleased with the performance of the Acer Aspire 5. In my tests, I achieved an average of around 100 FPS in CS:GO, with a one percent low of 32 FPS. While I did notice occasional stutters, they were minor and didn’t significantly impact gameplay. Valorant also delivered smooth performance, averaging around 139 FPS, with a one percent low of 59 FPS, on low graphic settings.
Speakers And Webcam
Moving on to the speakers, they are decent, providing reasonable volume without distortion at higher levels. However, since they are downward-firing, the sound doesn’t feel very open or rich. Nevertheless, considering the price point, they are more than acceptable. The webcam on the Acer Aspire 5 is also decent enough for conference calls or work meetings, ensuring you can communicate without any trouble.
Battery
Under normal workload conditions, I observed a battery life of approximately 5 hours on the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition. This should suffice for most day-to-day tasks. However, if you want to extend the battery life further, you can switch to the battery efficiency mode, which may provide a bit more screen time.
The laptop comes with a compact 65-watt adapter included in the box for charging. With this adapter, it takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge the device. This means you can quickly power up your laptop and get back to work or play without much downtime.
Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition offers decent battery life, allowing you to use it for a few hours on a single charge. And with the provided 65-watt adapter, you can recharge the laptop in a relatively short amount of time.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition is an exceptional budget ultrabook that offers reliable performance at a very reasonable price. It’s an ideal choice for college students, office workers, and any general user seeking a powerful day-to-day laptop without straining their budget.
However, it’s worth noting that the 2023 model doesn’t differ significantly from the 2022 version, and the performance boost is relatively minor. If you come across a discounted price for the 2022 model, it may be a viable alternative to consider.
In summary, the Acer Aspire 5 2023 Edition is a fantastic option that delivers impressive value for its price. Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, this laptop provides the reliability and performance you need without breaking the bank. That wraps up this review, and I hope you found it helpful in making your laptop purchasing decision.