One of the trickiest challenges in the computing world is offering audiences a blend of powerful performance with lightweight mobility. Acer has taken this challenge head-on with its latest Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G-59TN/73DF laptop. An attractive 15.6” computer with a premium, sandblasted cover and a thickness of only 0.7”, this product is immensely portable. It also packs in a powerful eighth-gen Intel Core processor, NVIDIA GeForce MX250 graphics, and 7-hour battery life. This lets it become suitable for a variety of requirements, including school assignments and business commitments.
Presently, the new Acer Aspire 5 is available in multiple models—including A515-52G-59TN and A515-52G-73DF—differing essentially in their CPU muscle. What is perhaps most exciting about this launch is its cost-effective price point: the A515-52G-59TN model costs $899.99 while the A515-52G-73DF is a tad pricier at $1099.99.
Let us drill deeper into the offerings of this multipurpose laptop and assess its fitment to the needs of modern-day audiences.
Table of Contents
The Processor Inside
It is a solid eighth-gen Intel Core i7 processor (or an i5 in the cheaper A515-52G-59TN model), capable of doing most of your everyday heavy-lifting without complaint. It is supported by 8GB RAM—somewhat on the lower side. Overall though, the CPU muscle is powerful enough to give you quick booting and loading with convenient multitasking. The operating system—Windows 10 Home—provides some useful provisions to boost your productivity as you work.
The storage space provided varies across models. While the A515-52G-59TN model offers 128GB of space (SSD), you can get much more—128GB + 1TB—with the A515-52G-73DF model. The latter utilizes a smart combination of high-speed SSD to complement the regular HDD.
The battery backup offers unplugged usage for almost seven hours. It is a 4-cell Lithium-Ion battery (3320 mAh) that, while not great guns, is decent enough to fuel a good chunk of your day on a single charge.
Narrow Bezel Display, Vivid Imagery
With this laptop, you can enjoy a thin-bezel FHD screen with an IPS panel (In-Plane Switching) for comfortable viewing across various vantage points. Since the bezel is so sleek, you can enjoy minimal interference while watching multimedia content or working on design projects. The supported screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 is optimal for various content formats.
It is also worth applauding the Acer Color Intelligence technology for the accurate manner in which it renders colors on the monitor. The result is highly realistic. Moreover, this computer is fitted with a dedicated GPU: NVIDIA GeForce MX250 with 2GB of memory capacity. So, all your A/V content is anyhow done much better justice than you could expect with integrated graphics.
Acer has equipped the display of this laptop with a “BlueLightShield” that filters off blue light to protect your eyes from strain. This comes in handy when you have been working for long hours and your eyes could do with some much-needed rest. (Switching off your laptop is not an option, of course, given the maniacally busy lives many people lead.)
Let us talk about the audio performance for a moment—usually a sore area for laptops that aim to optimize mobility. This device, however, employs the Acer TrueHarmony technology to produce a high-quality sound output that boasts of deeper bass and better volume. The two stereo speakers are designed innovatively to make this possible.
Premium & Durable Build
The sandblasted aluminum cover is the highlight of this good-looking device. It has a lean profile that measures only 0.7” (or 17.95mm) which makes it easy to slip into your backpack as you head to the office or school. Plus, the cover is smooth to the touch and exudes a sophisticated feel. You have a spectrum of colors to pick from—including classy reds and blues—which gives you the liberty to pick a customized style.
Weight-wise too, you are well off: the laptop is quite light for its form factor at a weight of 4.18lbs or 1.9kg. You are unlikely to feel bogged down by the weight when lugging your machine along.
Ease of Accessibility & Connectivity
If you intend to use your laptop on the go, you will benefit majorly from the precision touchpad that is more responsive than in earlier models. The keyboard is backlit to enable you to work in dimly lit settings—a must-have in a portable, contemporary computer. Note that these models lack an embedded fingerprint reader, so you won’t be able to do away with typing in passwords just yet.
We also love the voice-command support brought about by compatibility with Microsoft Cortana and Amazon Alexa. There is nothing like the comfort of issuing voice commands and getting things done in a jiffy, all without having to fiddle with any keys whatsoever. It is even more helpful when you are on the run and typing in lengthy commands is an uncomfortable alternative.
How about internet connectivity? Well, this laptop supports 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5 with 2×2 MU-MIMO technology) which helps you to get a strong and consistent signal. While the ultimate experience will depend on the strength of your connection, the intelligent antenna placement maximizes your likelihood of making the most of the World Wide Web. Note that this device is also compatible with Bluetooth 5.0.
Facilitating peripheral support are several USB ports including a USB Type-C port, two USB 2.0 ports, and USB 3.1 ports. There is also an HDMI to allow you to connect to an external display as well as an SD card reader.
Final Word
Over time, Acer has experimented with its product portfolio, bringing to the marketplace trendy laptops that appeal to both the aesthetic and the functional. The Aspire 5 A515-52G-59TN/73DF is a neat combination of smart processing, captivating display, and an elegant build. It can fit into multiple shoes too: an office companion, a school buddy, or a traveling mate.
| Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G-59TN | Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G-73DF | |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Intel Core i5-8265U 1.60GHz | Intel Core i7-8565U 1.80GHz |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB | NVIDIA GeForce MX250 2GB |
| Memory | 8GB DDR4 SDRAM | 8GB DDR4 SDRAM |
| Storage | 128GB SSD | 128GB SSD + 1TB HDD |
| Display | 15.6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 | 15.6-inch FHD 1920 x 1080 |
| Weight | 1.90 kg | 1.90 kg |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours | Up to 7 hours |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Home |
This computer is infused with several mobility-friendly features such as a sturdy and premium chassis, support for voice commands, and an entire gamut of connectivity options. At its reasonably affordable price range, the Acer Aspire 5 seems to be here to stay.
