Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-30BQ Review

Budget-watchers alert! Acer has come up with a new 15.6” pocket-friendly laptop that promises far more features than you would expect from its under-$400 price: the Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-30BQ. This notebook, constructed for everyday computing and convenient mobility, strives hard to make life simpler. Powered by an Intel Core i3 processor and an FHD screen with an IPS panel, it has both the strength and the visual aptitude to see you through your day.

The latest Acer Aspire 5 carries the legacy of its parentage further by boasting of the classic reliability of Acer. It combines this with a high degree of mobility, premium design, and easy accessibility via a backlit keyboard and a generous array of ports.

In this detailed review, we analyze the various offerings of this newest day-to-day computer and see whether it holds water in these competitive times.

Satisfying Everyday Processing

Fueling this machine is an eighth-gen Intel Core i3-8145U processor (up to 3.9GHz). This is efficient enough for daily pursuits such as browsing the internet, checking your e-mail, or working on projects and assignments for school or work. The RAM support is for 4GB (DDR4) while the allotted storage space is 128GB (PCIe NVMe SSD). The memory and storage configuration is on the lower side, which limits your options of storing all your data on your laptop. However, this is not bad at all for the price point. Plus, there is always the cloud—OneDrive or Dropbox—for stuff that you need but cannot keep directly on your system.

The operating system—Windows 10 in S mode—deserves a special mention. It is a modern OS equipped with professional-grade features such as quick startup and sustainable peak performance. With this OS, you can browse the Microsoft Store for the exact application that will serve your purpose (the choice is phenomenal). Of course, if you would prefer to use your machine conventionally, you can also switch out of S mode. Another great tool that comes with Windows 10: the Microsoft Edge browser. It has some terrific security features that make it super convenient to work in collaborative settings.

How about battery life? It is surprisingly good! The Lithium-Ion battery can run up to 9.5 hours on a single charge. This allows you plentiful liberty to work from anywhere without fretting about your proximity to a charging station.

Display & Graphics

This is one frontier where a lot of budget laptops flounder. But the new Acer Aspire 5 proves to be different. It supports Intel UHD Graphics 620 (integrated) which it pairs with an FHD screen. The monitor has a smooth resolution of 1920 x 1080. This lets you enjoy varied formats of content and multimedia without experiencing a loss of detail. The screen also has an IPS panel to ensure that you can view the screen from multiple angles. Since it is a widescreen display, the experience is pleasant and absorbing.

We especially love the thin bezel design that expands the available screen space for creative endeavors. This, together with the Acer Color Intelligence technology, creates a winsome mix of screen real estate and vivid coloring. So, if you need a cost-effective laptop that allows you to stream movies or flip through photo albums, this one is going to guarantee you a lot of visual brilliance. The cherry on top is the innovative Acer TrueHarmony technology that elevates the sound output to the finesse of the display, resulting in improved bass and volume through a customized speaker design.

Bonus: The display comes ready with the Acer BlueLightShield—a handy feature to cut down on eye strain after long hours of work.

Portable & Premium Build

Even though this is an inexpensive laptop, it has got the looks to turn heads. The design is both sturdy and lightweight with a beautiful aluminum top cover.

The overall design and silver color exude a premium feel that makes it a charming travel companion. Moreover, since the keyboard is backlit—a wonderful feature for so cheap a laptop—you can easily work in poorly lit environments without developing a headache.

The best part about the build, perhaps, is just how light and lean it is. This laptop weighs only 3.97lbs and has a profile with a thickness of around 0.7”. (The overall dimensions are 14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71”.) Goes without saying, this is comfortable for everyday carriage; the notebook can be slipped into backpacks in a blink.

Connecting to the World

Since mobility is a priority with this device, it goes the extra mile to keep you connected when you are on the run or away from a standard workstation. You can use the many USB ports to plug in any devices or peripherals that you need. There is a USB 3.1 Type C port too (Gen 1) that offers high-speed data transfer. Additionally, there are two standard USB 3.1 ports and a USB 2.0 port. The laptop also has an inbuilt HDMI 2.0 port that comes in handy to connect to an external display, say, for presentations or movie sessions. An HD webcam with a resolution of 1280 x 720 makes video calls simple and sharp.

Note that this laptop is compatible with 802.11ac Wi-Fi for internet connectivity. The wireless standard is infused with MU-MIMO technology and dual bands of 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

The Verdict

All said and done, the newest Acer Aspire 5 A515-54-30BQ is a worthy addition to the list of options for everyday portable computers. It wins hearts with its tempting price point and then proceeds to wow with a powerful processor, neat display, and flexible design. It also packs in a few premium features like a backlit keyboard, a blue-light filter, and an immersive (thin bezel) monitor.

Whether you are looking for a student companion or a work buddy, this laptop can smoothly deliver regular tasks while saving you plenty of dollars for investments in other areas. Take a bow, Acer.