When deciding on the best laptop for purchase, Asus and Acer are two companies that tend to come to mind first due to their well-established status in the tech world. Although Asus is better known for manufacturing motherboards and PC hardware, it has been hard at work producing laptops since the late 1990s. They offer some of the most innovative laptops on the market today.
Acer, on the other hand, had prior experience in manufacturing microprocessors, leading to the eventual release of its first clamshell laptop. Since then, Acer has dominated the market with an ample array of product lines ranging from price-conscious to high-end portable powerhouses. However, the scales have more or less become balanced.
With a variety of lines and products to choose from between the two brands, it can be difficult to determine which company is giving the better bang for your buck, especially at different ends of the market.
The Best Gaming Laptops under $1500
A list of some of the best laptops gamers can buy under $1500 to max out their gaming experience and productivity needs
How To Compare Asus and Acer Laptops
Before delving into an in-depth comparison of products between Asus and Acer, there are some key items users should consider:
- Style and Selection: Naturally, one of the first things consumers will notice is the overall appearance of a product. Is the laptop unusually large and clunky, or thin and sleek? Is there RGB, or a wide array of colors to choose from? Being able to customize and select a product to best suit one's personal preferences and style is an important and often overlooked element of shopping for laptops.
- Quality: Laptops should be of good quality, with clear and crisp integrated displays and speakers. Keyboards should feel durable and the keycaps should sound pleasing to the ear. This, and many other factors, go into the overall quality of a laptop.
- Durability and Warranty: Similarly, a laptop is designed to be portable and used for frequent travel. Although some users prefer to use their systems within the comfort of their own homes, laptops should still be able to stand up to the tests of time and accidents. Life happens, and if a laptop breaks before a warranty ends, it's good to know which company will ensure a better-protected purchase.
- Value: The importance of getting the most performance out of a product at a reasonable price cannot be understated. Consumers do not want to overpay for a flashy system when the hardware inside suffers and does not live up to the price tag, bogging down the user experience with lag and constant buffering. Likewise, a budget product shouldn't be made with flimsy material that is bound to break within months. Balancing power and the accessibility of cost is crucial.
- Utility: A majority of laptop users do not need systems with a single functionality (like only browsing the web). Likewise, these systems should be multipurpose and well-rounded. Each brand should include systems that can work hard and game harder, as well as systems that are designed with travel, work, or multimedia creation in mind.
- Innovation: Tech is constantly evolving and reaching new heights in both performance and productivity. A tech manufacturer should be ahead of the curve, constantly looking to the future to bring new and exciting innovations into the tech used by its consumers daily.
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ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4090)
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 Gaming Laptop is a gaming laptop that can double as a very capable productivity-centric PC in the blink of an eye. Sporting dual screens including a 2K Mini-LED primary and a 4K-esque secondary screen, the Zephyrus Duo is an eye-catching Laptop, now with hardware to match, thanks to a capable AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX processor and an Nvidia RTX 4090 to power what is a behemoth by modern laptop standards.
Pros- Great for productivity
- Additional display works well
- Nice performance
Cons- A bit heavy
- Concerns about value
- Keyboard feels awkward
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Acer Swift Edge 16 (2023)
The Acer Swift Edge 16 is a budget offering from the company and it comes with the AMD Ryzen 7 7735U CPU and 16GB LPDDR5 RAM. It also has 1TB of storage and a 16-inch (3840 x 2400) OLED panel. The laptop weighs just 1.13 kg, making it extremely portable. There is no dedicated GPU, but it does have integrated graphics.
Pros- Large screen
- Lightweight and sturdy
Cons- Fans are loud at full speed
- Speakers are not loud
- Battery life is nonoptimal
Style and Selection
Asus and Acer both offer a wide selection of laptops. This selection ranges from notebooks to two-in-one laptops to large 18-inch media players. While Acer is a powerhouse in the sheer number of models it offers, it doesn't really translate into benefits for gamers. Unlike the gamer-centric Asus, Acer's branches are spread into different sectors of the laptop market.
Compare the two side by side, and it's easy to tell that although Acer has a larger selection of product lines and individual models to choose from, Asus offers the most meaningful variety. With a focus on innovation and diversity, laptops manufactured by Asus often set new precedents in functionality and aesthetics.
Asus is always looking for that next big thing; breaking the norms, and presenting sleek and stylish designs that might be overwhelming for some consumers, but when it comes to gaming enthusiasts, it's all you could ever ask for. The company does not hesitate to step outside the boundaries of what makes a product, well... a laptop. Albeit limited, there are dedicated gamer-centric systems from the ROG Strix's sturdy lineup, to the complete versatility and elegance of the Zenbook and Zephyrus Duo.
Acer, on the other hand, has visible comfort around manufacturing classic clamshells, a design that's acceptable by many but does not necessarily lead to a lot of jaws dropping. Although Acer doesn't shy away from variety, it's clear that a strict formula is in place.
Quality
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ASUS ProArt StudioBook 16
Pros- Gorgeous OLED display
- Haptic trackpad & ASUS dial
- Sturdy and quality chassis
Cons- Keyboard is too close to the screen
- Device tends to be unresponsive during heavy load
- Concerns about value
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Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop
The Acer Nitro V is a fantastic budget gaming laptop with a balanced configuration, making it great to cover everyday activities. This laptop features a 15.6" FHD IPS display with a 144Hz refresh rate, allowing for smooth gameplay. Although it should be noted that users have shared grievances over the speaker quality, it's overall value and performance cannot be understated.
Pros- Fantastic value for performance
- Great for gaming
Cons- Speakers are quiet and tinny
- Battery life is suboptimal
The laptop Asus sells is a luxury product, with a price tag that matches the notion. However, despite the price tag and elevated nature of these products, the hardware inside can be hit or miss. In the case of the ProArt Studiobook, there are a lot of disappointment-filled reviews complaining about everything from the sturdiness to the chipset of the laptop.
Acer tends to make a more modest laptop and oftentimes does not opt for the most cutting-edge technology in favor of a reasonable price. Regardless of budget, the Nitro V has excellent performance, making it a great laptop for gaming or everyday usage. However, when shopping on a lower budget, it can be easy to lose elements that make a high-end laptop desirable, especially when you're aiming to crank up those frame rates.
Durability and Warranty
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ASUS ExpertBook P2
The ASUS ExpertBook P2 is a versatile everyday laptop built with military-grade robustness in mind. This sturdy laptop has undergone rigorous testing, guaranteeing a long lifespan. In addition to physical security, this distinguished laptop comes with ample security features, such as a fingerprint scanner, webcam cover, and a Kensington lock to keep your device, information, and data safe.
Pros- Fingerprint reader and privacy shutter included
- Great battery life
- Reinforced chassis
Cons- Old hardware, slow performance
- Narrow viewing angles
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-32DK Slim Laptop
The first noticeable thing about the Acer Aspire A515-56-32DK Slim and lightweight Laptop is its 15.6-inch IPS FHD display with crisp colors and sharp details. It has an Intel Core i3-1115G4 Dual-Core processor and a 4GB DDR4 RAM at 4.1GHz for improved responsiveness and reliable performance when multitasking. The 128GB SSD storage is large enough for basic files.
Pros- Great price and value
- Good picture quality
Cons- Poor sound quality
Asus and Acer both offer durable laptops, classified as semi-rugged. These laptops are made with military-grade standards in mind and are put through rigorous testing to receive this title. But rigidity is like second nature to Asus; even their Zenbook series is made to some crazy standards.
Additionally, Asus offers a paid Premium Care protection service, which grants the user a warranty extension and protection against accidental damage such as spills, drops, or accidental breakages. This warranty service even offers a battery replacement in case the first one fails.
But, while Asus offers all the bells and whistles, their warranty process leaves a lot to be desired. If you purchase an Asus laptop out of the box, you better hope it works as intended. Otherwise, good luck claiming a warranty on it. It's a long and unnecessarily painful process, and while Asus has recently made commitments to improve it, the current landscape says otherwise.
Acer, on the other hand, offers a limited warranty service that varies from laptop to laptop. Generally, the warranty covers hardware failures up to a year after purchase and offers software support for up to 90 days. It should be noted that Acer's warranty does not cover consumer accidents or misuse and simply focuses on dealing with any defects that occur due to their manufacturing or shipping process.
Value
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Asus Vivobook 16 (2023)
$500 $700 Save $200The ASUS Vivobook 16 is another excellent choice for an everyday laptop. The Vivobook is a super-slim laptop that features a NanoEdge bezel on the display, offering a clean and sleek appearance around the screen. This laptop also features a 180-degree hinge, allowing the laptop to lie flat, and some security features such as a physical privacy shutter on the webcam and an anti-microbial coating on the most frequently touched areas of the laptop.
Pros- Beautiful and sleek
- Great value for performance
- Long battery life
Cons- A bit too heavy for travel
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-58M-77RN
The Acer Aspire 5 is a price-conscious everyday laptop with decent performance and a quality build. As with most machines in the budget category, the display leaves a lot to be desired. This laptop is rather basic in appearance and overall power, but that does not make it bad. On the contrary, this little machine packs enough of a punch to handle casual everyday needs.
Pros- Affordable price
- Decent performance
- Robust quality build
Cons- Bloatware comes preinstalled
- Low quality webcam
Although Asus has some affordable options available for laptops, it lacks the variety that Acer offers when it comes to shopping on a budget. While browsing for laptops made by Asus, it can be somewhat difficult to find laptops under $400 as it's not exactly what Asus is known for.
Generally, Acer manufactures machines at an accessible price, offering a wider array of budget laptops, with dozens of products to choose from depending on one's needs. Although many sacrifices are commonly made in favor of price, Acer is still a great option for casual users.
Utility
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Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 is a feature-packed gaming laptop that comes with a dedicated RTX 4090 GPU and a stunning 16-inch 240Hz display. This laptop is an absolute beast of a portable gaming machine. The Scar 16 also features an RGB addressable keyboard, a large trackpad, and ROG intelligent cooling to ensure that temps stay optimal even when running high-performance software.
Pros- Screen is beautiful and smooth
- Gameplay feels fluid
Cons- Battery life is short
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Acer Predator Helios 18
The Acer Predator Helios 18 is Acer's flagship high-end gaming laptop. This beast is packed with an Intel i7 CPU and a 4070 GPU, making for an effective combo capable of running most modern games. Most notably, the Predator Helios 18 comes with a large 18-inch 165Hz IPS display. Also included is an RGB keyboard and a lightbar located on the back of the screen.
Pros- Large display looks great
- Runs games smoothly
Cons- Concerns about value
When considering laptops from either brand, Asus and Acer both offer a wide selection of products that cover many different circumstances and appeal to several different customer bases.
Asus dominates the gaming scene with ROG and TUF lines boasting high-end GPUs and smooth displays. They cater to creatives too, with ProArt Studiobook and Zenbook featuring superb color accuracy and often stylus support. While Vivobook offers budget options, Asus lacks a single everyday go-to solution. Uniquely, Asus pushes design with the dual-screen Zenbook Fold and customizable backlit keyboards.
Acer's diverse range caters to various users. Gamers are covered by Predator and Nitro lines with powerful specs. Business users have the lightweight TravelMate and Swift series, while the iconic Aspire remains a minimalist everyday favorite with various configurations. It's exactly what you need and not what you "might" need.
Innovation
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ASUS Zenbook Duo Laptop
The ASUS Zenbook Duo is a 2-in-1 laptop that features two 14-inch 3K OLED displays, a digital stylus, and a Bluetooth keyboard. This laptop can be used in a variety of styles, with both screens active, or while using only one screen in the style of a traditional laptop. With this device, productivity is key, which makes the Zenbook Duo a fantastic solution for professionals. Like many other laptops manufactured by ASUS, this laptop ensures military-grade durability and unparalleled performance.
Pros- Stunning dual-screen design
- Amazing for productivity
Cons- Concerns about price
- Concerns about durability
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Acer Aspire Vero
Pros- Very long battery life
- Made out of recycled materials
- Easily upgradeable
Cons- Performance suboptimal
- Build quality is poor
When it comes to groundbreaking design, Asus reigns supreme. They constantly push the boundaries of laptop design, aiming to maximize hardware and potentially even outpace desktop PCs in power. They're not afraid to challenge the traditional clamshell design, evident in the dual-screen Zenbook Duo and ROG Zephyrus Duo. This relentless innovation sets them apart from Acer, whose approach tends towards a more classic, minimalist aesthetic.
While Acer might lack a flashy, tech-enthusiast-oriented laptop, it excels in sustainable technology. Their Vero line showcases their commitment to eco-friendly innovation. These meticulously crafted laptops utilize recycled materials and energy-efficient batteries, minimizing your environmental impact. Acer demonstrates that innovation extends beyond just raw hardware; it can also be about creating a greener future.
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Asus Vs Acer - The Final Verdict
So far, you've probably noticed one main point: Asus as a brand likes to make its products flashier and more innovative, while Acer is trying to promise quality at affordable prices.
Is one brand better than the other? It depends on your long-term goals. From a purely gaming standpoint, you can't go wrong with an Asus. Their gaming laptops are powerful and have everything you will need. But at the same time, it's painfully luxurious. There's no budget gaming here.
However, it's not like Acer makes bad laptops. It's quite the contrary. If you want budget performance, decent quality, and nothing experimental, then Acer is a no-brainer. Sure, it's not as durable, or as advanced as Asus, but it's not aiming to appeal to a niche sector of a broad market. Sure, it caters to gamers, but its core driving focus is functionality, not flashiness.