Acer Aspire 3 (AMD) review

Within the crowded area of funds laptops, there’s no scarcity of low cost and but a dearth of high quality. The Acer Aspire 3 reveals up properly on this class, sporting easy, low-profile styling, a full-size keyboard full with a quantity pad, and a large display screen that’s a pleasure to videoconference on.

Whereas there’s no scarcity of trade-offs for the low value level, Acer has made even handed selections to provide a machine that offers you loads of bang for comparatively couple of bucks.

Design & construct

Weighing in at slightly below 4lb (1.81kg), the Aspire 3 isn’t precisely light-weight. However in trade for some further weight, you do get a large 15.6in show and sufficient room for a full-width keyboard.

As somebody who lives and dies by the spreadsheet I’m a sucker for a quantity pad on my keyboards, so getting one on such an reasonably priced machine is fairly candy. This keyboard feels pretty strong beneath the fingers, with out an excessive amount of flex or bounce in heavy typing.

That issues, as a result of funds machines typically sacrifice chassis construction to chop prices, and the outcomes can really feel flimsy and even result in bounce on the monitor pad, inflicting the mouse cursor to bounce across the display screen. However no such fear on this Acer: it’s truly a pleasure to kind on.

In entrance of that extensive keyboard, we discover a comparatively spacious 3in by 5in touchpad. Not like these of different Acer laptops we’ve tried, this trackpad feels agency and easy to the contact, and responds with a decisive, however quiet, click on. We discovered it tracks effectively with each single-digit and multi-touch gestures.

Although considerably cumbersome at round 0.75in thick, the Aspire 3 makes room for a wholesome array of ports. The complete laptop computer appears to be like and feels considerably extra strong than most different funds laptops we’ve examined. It’s a machine match for a working grownup, not an inexpensive, plastic child’s laptop.

Our solely important criticism with the construct high quality is that the display screen wobbles a bit once we transfer it round whereas open, somewhat than sitting agency. This implies the webcam picture will wobble throughout use in case you transfer the gadget, which we skilled in our testing.

Show & audio

Acer’s funds laptops have lengthy stood out for his or her 1080p shows. The Aspire 3 comes equally geared up, although because the market advances the competitors is bringing the identical decision to their funds strains as effectively, so it now not stands out from the gang on this entrance.

That mentioned, in case you’re shopping for a laptop computer in 2023, 1080p is the bottom decision a purchaser ought to settle for, since 768p barely suits most fashionable internet pages of their native decision. Responsive internet design is sweet and all, but when your 15in laptop computer display screen triggers a minimised format with the browser window maximized, you may as effectively be looking on an iPad Mini. 

The Aspire 3 places you squarely within the acceptable decision vary for present gadgets, however as I mentioned, that’s the naked minimal we’d need at this level. Total, we favored the look of the Aspire 3’s show for motion pictures and video. Color high quality was first rate, although unremarkable, and brilliant sufficient for comfy use in full solar. 

A pair of small, downward-pointing audio system kick out pretty loud audio that we discovered effectively tuned for video conferencing and YouTube movies, however just a bit tinny for any music with a lot bass.

Webcam & microphone

In videoconferencing exams, the Aspire 3 blew away our expectations for an financial system laptop computer. The HD webcam produced crisp, clear video and the mic picked up and filtered voices from the background noise fairly effectively. 

Facet by facet with a Macbook Professional, we notably favored the Aspire 3’s low-light webcam efficiency. Geared up with Temporal Noise Discount, the high-def cam cleans up in any other case grainy low-light video and will increase the publicity ranges to ship a brilliant, crisp picture that outperforms a lot of the different built-in webcams we’ve tried, even on a lot pricier computer systems.

Equally, the mic cleans up in-room audio with Acer PurifiedVoice software program that filters out noise and sends clear, crisp sound to your recipient. For a pc on this value vary, that’s saying rather a lot. Total, with its picture and voice seize high quality, we’d somewhat leap on a Zoom with the Acer Aspire 3 than with some machines at quadruple the worth.

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

Connectivity

One upside of a much bigger laptop computer is the capability for lots of helpful connectors. Alongside the left facet you’ll discover the DC in, a single USB-C port, a full-size HDMI port, and a USB-A port. On the fitting, you get a Kensington lock port, one other USB-A, and a headphone jack. What you don’t get at this value is a second USB-C port, which is changing into frequent on higher laptops today, or a card reader slot. 

For many customers, this complement of ports shall be lots and getting each a USB-C and a full HDMI port on such an reasonably priced laptop computer isn’t dangerous. If you happen to do have to learn an SD card, you possibly can at all times plug an adapter into one of many USB ports.

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

Efficiency

If you happen to’re spending this type of cash on a laptop computer, you must mood your efficiency expectations significantly. With its Quad-core 2.4GHz AMD Ryzen 7320U course of and Radeon graphics, the Acer Aspire 3 isn’t any exception, delivering first rate efficiency in fundamental enterprise duties, however notably sub-par outcomes for graphics and gaming. 

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

Our PCMark 10 check measures the machine’s efficiency in on a regular basis workplace duties starting from phrase processing and spreadsheets to video conferencing.

The Aspire 3 gave a middle-of-the-pack efficiency of 4,284 in a area of barely pricier machines we’ve examined in latest months, notably outperforming the three,902 rating of the Intel-equipped Aspire 5. This can be a good factor as a result of this machine is constructed to attraction to high school and small-business customers. If you happen to’re on the lookout for an reasonably priced laptop computer for back-to-school within the fall or want to interchange an ageing work machine on a funds, this efficiency signifies a good funding.

For motion pictures and video playback, the Aspire 3 once more outperforms different funds methods we’ve examined. On our multi-thread Cinebench 15 check, the Aspire 3 got here in on the prime of the pack of funds laptops with a rating of 1,925. On the single-thread Cinebench check, its rating of 435 beat out the others we’ve a outcome for.

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

The place the Aspire 3 falls very quick, even in opposition to different low cost laptops we’ve examined, is its gaming graphics efficiency. In our 3DMark TimeSpy 1.2 check, this machine was downright pitiful with a rating of 584, lower than half that of the Aspire 5. Whether or not that is acceptable or not will depend on how you’re feeling about gaming, after all. If you happen to’re shopping for this to jot down or surf the online, you received’t care. But when this can be a scholar laptop computer, let’s simply say you received’t have to fret about video games distracting you from research time.

PCWorld / Robert Strohmeyer

Battery life

Battery life was one in all extra constructive areas for the Aspire 3.

In our exams taking part in again a film on repeat till the battery died, it averaged about eight hours of life constantly. That’s nearly a full work day and in case you’re not taking part in video continuously and possibly take a lunch break, it must be greater than sufficient to get you thru the day.

If you’ll want to cost up, the Aspire 3’s tiny charging brick is likely one of the most compact round, so it slips into your bag with out taking on an excessive amount of house. 

Verdict

In a world the place funds constraints power compromises, the Acer Aspire 3 represents a wise set of trade-offs.

It’s simply among the best funds laptops we’ve examined, with sturdy development and a spacious keyboard and trackpad. Whereas it received’t give players a lot pleasure, it’s a lots competent work machine that’ll make you look and sound good on Zoom calls.

If you happen to’re available in the market for a fundamental enterprise laptop computer or scholar laptop computer, you’ll wish to take a better look.

Specs

• CPU: Quad-core 2.4GHz AMD Ryzen 7320U
• Reminiscence: 8GB
• Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon 
• Show: 15.6-inch LED-backlit LCD 
• Storage: 128GB
• Connectivity:  1 HDMI Port, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, 1 USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C port
• Networking: IEEE 802.11ax Wi-Fi
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 40 watt-hour
• Dimensions: 0.74 inches x 14.3 inches x 9.4 inches
• Weight: 3.97 kilos