Acer Aspire Go 15 Review: The Budget Laptop That Punches Above Its Weight
When I first opened our review unit, I was taken aback by how much there is to like about this $300 laptop. Its design is simple and unassuming, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
If you're on a tight budget but still want a laptop that can get the job done, the Acer Aspire Go 15 might just be the perfect choice for you. At just $300, this 15-inch Windows 11 laptop offers incredible value for its price. Sure, it may not have any standout features, but who needs those when you can get a solid, functional laptop for a fraction of the cost? As a TechTrendTeller author, I had the opportunity to test out this budget-friendly laptop for a week and I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Let me walk you through the ups and downs of the Acer Aspire Go 15 and show you why I think it's one of the best budget laptops on the market right now.
Acer Aspire Go 15
Slim Laptop | 15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS | Intel Core i3-N305| Intel UHD Graphics | 8GB LPDDR5 | 128GB UFS | Wi-Fi 6 | AI PC | Windows 11 Home in S Mode
A Simple Yet Functional Design
When I first opened our review unit, I was taken aback by how much there is to like about this $300 laptop. Its design is simple and unassuming, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it's quite refreshing to see a budget laptop that doesn't try too hard to look flashy. The Aspire Go 15 has a comfortable keyboard, good battery life, and a plethora of ports that make it a great choice for work, school, or home use.
A Comfy Keyboard for All Your Typing Needs
One of the standout features of the Acer Aspire Go 15 is its surprisingly spacious and comfortable keyboard. Despite its low price, this laptop offers a typing experience that rivals even more expensive models. The rounded keys are well-spaced and easy to type on, making it a breeze to use for extended periods of time. I particularly appreciate the full number pad, which is a rare find on a 15-inch laptop. And even though the number keys are a bit small, they are still a welcome addition.
Plenty of Ports for Your Needs
Another impressive aspect of the Acer Aspire Go 15 is the number of ports it offers. Unlike many modern laptops that only have USB-C ports and a headphone jack, this budget laptop comes with a pair of USB-A ports, one USB-C port, an HDMI out, and a headphone jack. This is a good complement of ports on any laptop, and a great one on a budget machine. Plus, the inclusion of an HDMI out allows you to easily connect to an external display, making it perfect for presentations or setting up a home office. And with both USB-C and USB-A ports, you can safely buy any USB accessory and count on being able to use it.
Impressive Battery Life
The Acer Aspire Go 15 may not be as slim and lightweight as more expensive laptops, but it still manages to offer good battery life. In our testing, it lasted over ten hours, which is quite impressive for a Windows laptop. This means you can take it with you for a day of work or school without having to worry about finding an outlet. And the charger comes with a nice long cable, so you won't be limited when charging in a public place.
The Downsides
Of course, with such a low price, there are bound to be some compromises. The Acer Aspire Go 15 is not the fastest or most powerful laptop out there, and it's important to manage your expectations accordingly. With its low-powered Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, it's not suitable for heavy tasks or gaming. So if you're planning on doing anything more demanding than basic productivity work, you might want to look elsewhere.
A Low-Performing Laptop
Our lab testing showed that the Acer Aspire Go 15 is slower and less capable than most of the laptops we've tested, including more expensive models like the Dell XPS 16. This is to be expected given its low-powered CPU and limited RAM and storage. So while it's perfectly fine for everyday tasks like browsing the web and checking emails, don't expect to do any serious gaming or demanding work on it.
A Lackluster Webcam
Another compromise in this budget laptop is the 720p webcam, which is not the best for video calls.
Our team noticed that the video quality was washed-out and grainy, and the microphone was not as clear as other laptops we've tested. Plus, there were some issues with instability during video calls while unplugged, which can be frustrating.
