ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Acer Aspire Go 15 is out there for round $299 throughout main retailers.
- For an reasonably priced worth, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a succesful laptop computer for on a regular basis use with an honest battery.
- As with most units on this worth vary, the laptop computer’s limitations turn out to be obvious with heavy workloads.
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Not everybody wants a decked-out laptop computer with costly {hardware}. For customers in search of an reasonably priced laptop computer that is ok for on a regular basis use, the Acer Aspire Go 15 — a newer addition to Acer’s finances laptop computer line — fills that area of interest nicely.
For $300, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a succesful finances laptop computer for customers with out heavy efficiency calls for. The 15-inch display screen is well-suited for looking the online, checking emails, and utilizing productiveness software program, whereas the onboard webcam is enough to take work calls whereas away from the workplace.
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At 3.75 kilos, this isn’t the lightest laptop computer, and the 15-inch show leads to a barely cumbersome physique, however the tradeoff is a full-sized keyboard with a right-side quantity pad (even when the keys are barely smaller) and a show that feels simply large enough.
Actually, “simply sufficient” is the overarching theme for this laptop computer. It has simply sufficient efficiency to cowl the fundamentals, a ok webcam, port choice, and kind issue, with the stand-out characteristic being a surprisingly long-lasting battery.
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While you look carefully at these parameters, you possibly can see that they are fairly well-optimized, leading to a laptop computer with limitations however a tool that additionally performs nicely inside the scope of its capabilities.
So, let us take a look at what’s underneath the hood. The Aspire Go 15 has an Intel Core i3-N305, a considerably low-end processor with simply 8GB of RAM. This mixture of {hardware} limits this machine’s capabilities. Nevertheless, in my testing, the laptop computer may largely sustain with my web looking habits (learn: a lot of YouTube tabs) and work-related apps, if not some stuttering as soon as the CPU was taxed.
I used this laptop computer for every week, taking it to and from the workplace and swapping it between my essential laptop, and it dealt with fundamental productiveness duties nicely. Nevertheless, efficiency dips after you have a handful of apps open and begin making an attempt to maneuver shortly between home windows.
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Relating to the keyboard and trackpad, I’ve no complaints about typing on the Aspire Go 15. The keys are mild, responsive, and quiet. Should you like backlights in your keyboards, you may discover none of those luxuries right here, however the keys’ textured really feel and springiness are effective. The trackpad would not really feel significantly high-end, but it surely’s well-positioned and does the job.
Your complete bodily kind issue of this laptop computer might be described equally. Upon first inspection, the full-plastic physique feels a bit flimsy, and the show tends to wobble. The laptop computer’s silver-and-black shade scheme provides off a impartial, non-descript aesthetic.
The 15-inch show is moderately fundamental and never very brilliant, but it surely does have good viewing-angle flexibility, not like different Chromebooks or budget laptops. The 1080p full HD show has enough distinction, even when the 60Hz refresh fee is not phenomenal. I feel something lower than 75% brightness on this laptop computer is simply too dim.
The choice of ports right here can be simply sufficient. You get two USB-A ports, one USB-C, an HDMI port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. The charger that comes with the Aspire Go 15 is a cheap-feeling proprietary jack, however the laptop computer will also be charged by way of its USB-C port.
The audio system are usually not inspiring, as you may think for a $300 laptop computer. Though the audio system can get sufficiently loud, they’re skinny and tinny. Join your Bluetooth wireless earbuds or plug into the headphone jack to listen to higher audio.
So, let’s discuss in regards to the battery lifetime of this laptop computer. I used the machine intermittently for a day and a half earlier than needing to plug it again in. In a extra demanding battery take a look at, the laptop computer lasted over 10 hours with a continuing livestream video working. This battery life leads me to imagine that the {hardware} on this machine, even on the decrease finish, is not less than well-optimized.
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Nevertheless, this laptop computer is not going to final greater than a day of demanding, sustained use. Should you take the Acer Aspire Go 15 to the workplace and overlook your charger, you may get about seven to eight hours of life. However all issues thought-about, the battery energy on this machine rounds out the package deal properly.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
For the value, the Acer Aspire Go 15 is a stable choose for customers with out demanding efficiency necessities or for individuals who want a secondary laptop computer for touring. It is also a terrific choose for college kids in search of a finances laptop computer to carry on campus for note-taking and finishing assignments, and the machine is included in our best laptops for college list.
The sensible checklist of options, choice of ports, and respectable battery life offer you every thing you want and nothing you do not. The laptop computer is well-optimized to function inside its capabilities. Moreover, at simply $300, the value is true.
