Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G, in-depth analysis

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The Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G is a very interesting proposition from Acer for users looking for a multimedia laptop without having to scratch their pocket too much . A team that sports a good 15.6-inch IPS or LED screen with Full HD resolution to enjoy movies and series with a good level of detail. In addition, it has the reinforcement of an NVIDIA GeForce graphics card to withstand the type in modern games like Fortnite, yes, without putting it at full performance.

Other outstanding sections of this model include its good set of connections , with a USB type C port, WiFi AC or Bluetooth 5.0 connection and good autonomy considering that we are talking about a leisure-oriented laptop. We have been able to fiddle with the Acer Aspire 5 for a few days, these have been our impressions of use with the configuration with hard disk and Intel Core i5 processor, available from a price of 700 euros.

Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G datasheet

Processor and RAMIntel Core i7-8565U

Intel Core i5-8265U

Intel Core i3-8145U

Up to 8GB RAM (expandability up to 16GB)

Operating systemWindows 10 Home
screen15.6-inch IPS or LED Full HD, Acer ComfyView Full HD 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
Graphic cardNVIDIA GeForce MX130 with 2GB VRAM

NVIDIA GeForce MX150 with 2GB VRAM

Memory128GB / 256GB SSD memory

500GB / 1TB / 2TB hard drive

Battery4-cell Li-Ion, around five to six hours of normal use
Connectivity1 x USB 3.0 with screen off

2 x USB 2.0

1 x HDMI

1 x USB type C

SD card reader

WiFi AC

Bluetooth 5.0

Dimensions and weight363.4 x 247.5 x 17.95 millimeters (1.8 kilos)
PriceFrom 700 euros

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Full HD screen without reflections

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G screen is far from what we usually see in entertainment or multimedia equipment. It does not have a glossy or shiny finish, something that detracts from a point of appeal at first glance. But it is only at first glance, because the advantages of opting for a matte screen are immediately understood. The number and intensity of reflections is drastically reduced . Quite a respite if you plan to use this laptop outside the home or are regularly hit by an external light source. Personally, I always prefer this type of panel for its functionality.

The screen technology can be IPS or LED, in both cases with a Full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels . This is a good level of detail to enjoy all kinds of multimedia content such as videos, movies and games. Its brightness level is correct.

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Good assortment of connections

It is one of the strengths of this laptop. The Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G does not leave anything in the pipeline in terms of connections, including some of the most modern. Thus, for example, it incorporates a USB type C port . This is the connection used by most of today's high-end mobiles. However, it is not so common to see it in mid-range laptops (yes in high-end ones). That doesn't mean that full-size USB ports have been neglected.

The Aspire 5 has three USB ports. The first one (located on the left side) is type 3.0 and incorporates a charging function when the screen is off. Something very useful if we want to recharge the mobile without having the laptop working. In the right area we have two other USB 2.0 ports. This is one of the most questionable points, since great transfer speeds are not achieved. However, from experience there are many peripherals that do not need more speed such as mice and many USB memory sticks.

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When connecting the equipment to a monitor or TV, we have an HDMI port. The physical connections are completed with an Ethernet port and an SD card reader.

Within wireless connections, the presence of WiFi AC stands out. This protocol allows us to connect both the 2.4 GHz bandwidth and the 5 GHz bandwidth. The first is the one used by the vast majority of electronic devices and is more congested, in addition to allowing lower speeds. While the 5 GHz width is less congested and is faster and more stable. Connections are completed with Bluetooth 5.0, the latest version of this technology. The great advantage is that we can connect two peripherals at the same time , such as external speakers and a wireless mouse.

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Various processor and memory options

On the other hand, in the field of power we have a good range of options for users who want more advanced performance or opt for a tighter budget. In our case, we have been able to test the configuration with an Intel Core i5-8265U processor. This quad-core chip works at a speed of 1.6 GHz per core, but at times when more push is needed it can go up to 3.9 GHz.

For users on a lower budget, the base configuration opts for a 2.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-8145U processor capable of up to 3.9 GHz. The more powerful configuration includes a processor. Intel Core i7-8565U quad-core clocked at 1.8 GHz (up to 4.6 GHz).

The RAM with which this equipment arrives is 8 GB with a maximum of 16 GB through expansion.

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This same versatility is found in the internal memory options. The different configurations combine a hard drive, an SSD drive, or both. In our case, we were able to test the configuration with a 1 TB internal hard drive. Keep in mind that if you opt for this configuration you will have a good storage capacity, but also a much slower performance than the SSD. And that can become a problem if you are looking for a higher performance when playing.

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Integrated graphics card

Speaking of gaming, the Acer Aspire 5 can house a graphics card to give you that extra when it comes to playing titles like Fortnite. However, they are not a beastly difference compared to integrated graphics. In our case, an NVIDIA GeForce MX130 graphics card with 2GB of dedicated memory is included . The higher configuration allows the NVIDIA GeForce MX150 to be integrated, also with 2 GB of dedicated memory.

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Layout and keyboard

In the field of design, the main asset of the Acer Aspire 5 is its weight. We are talking about a model that stays at 1.8 kilos in weight , when many laptops dedicated to leisure tend to be around 2.2 or 2.4 kilos . This makes it a good travel companion, as it fits easily in a backpack and is not cumbersome.

The company has opted for a more classic look in black, with rounded corners and few flourishes. Very different from what it does in other models like the Swift. Its construction is quite robust in plastic, with two hinges on the sides capable of keeping the screen in any position until almost lying down. This is a point that I always appreciate a lot in the teams since it gives you a lot of versatility when working from the seat of a car or on the train.

As is usual for Acer, both on the case and on the front we have a brushed finish (with horizontal lines) that looks quite good. Its complete measurements are  363.4 x 247.5 x 17.95 millimeters.

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As for the keyboard, we have a full keyboard that follows the fundamental line of Acer. On the positive side we have a fairly large and easy to use enter key. A numeric keyboard has also been included on the right side. What does not convince me at this point is the inclusion of the on and off key in the upper right. It can happen to you on more than one occasion that you press it by mistake since on other keyboards it is where the delete key is entered. It also seems to me that the space key could be slightly higher to make it easier to press.

But otherwise, a keyboard that more than fulfills its function. By the way, keep in mind that there are configurations with a backlit keyboard and others that do not, so it is worth checking with the seller before making the purchase (if it is an important function for you).

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Good autonomy for a multimedia laptop

One of the pleasant surprises that this Acer Aspire 5 has left us is autonomy. According to the manufacturer's figures, it can reach a maximum of eight hours of use. In our tests, we have been able to work between four to five hours without problems with half brightness . The fact that it is a matte screen helps that we do not need to put it at full capacity to see its contents. Obviously, in the case of using the equipment to play this time decreases, but we have a very good taste in our mouths in this section.

Without a doubt, this is another point to consider if you want to take your laptop away from home.

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Price and reviews

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-52G is available for a price starting at 700 euros . In short, this is a laptop that has a good balance between its features and the sale price. Starting with its screen, which is a significant leap from cheap HD resolution laptops and a Full HD laptop to enjoy movies and videos in more detail. In addition, the decision to include a matte type screen is appreciated, which reduces reflections from the panel considerably and facilitates its use without having the maximum brightness.

On the other hand, we really liked the autonomy of between four and five hours of regular use if we consider that it is a laptop for leisure and not a model designed primarily for travel. Indeed, this model becomes a surprising travel companion thanks to its reduced weight of 1.8 kilos. It is not a featherweight like the same Acer Swift 5, but its segment and objective are different.

Finally, as usually happens in these cases, we have several options to choose the processor and internal memory, depending on whether we want more power or a device with a more moderate price.