Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) Review

Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) Review Incredible

Acer’s Aspire 3 (A315-24P; $399) laptop has remained remarkably consistent across several hardware generations, but this consistency isn’t necessarily a drawback. Positioned as a reliable and straightforward budget option, it enters the market at an attractive price point. In this realm of affordability, functionality takes precedence over frills. The Acer Aspire 3 fulfills this basic requirement, offering a functional computing experience, albeit without much room for extravagance. While slightly more capable alternatives, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i and Dell Inspiron 15 (3525), occasionally pop up at the $500 mark, the Aspire 3 holds its ground as a dependable entry-level choice.

ACER ASPIRE 3 (A315-24P) SPECS

Laptop Class	Budget
Processor	AMD Ryzen 3 7320U
Processor Speed	2.4 GHz

Embracing Minimalism: Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) Review
The Aspire 3 series has been quietly integrating minor internal hardware upgrades while maintaining its familiar exterior for quite some time. Continuing this tradition, the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) introduces subtle touches of aluminum on the display lid and keyboard deck. However, these additions fail to significantly enhance the tactile experience, as they offer little improvement over plastic counterparts. Consequently, the display lacks the desired sturdiness, with the plastic bottom contributing to a slightly flexible overall build. Furthermore, the hinge exhibits a tendency to stick, requiring a two-handed approach despite the ability to open the lid single-handedly, as the base lifts along with the display.

Thankfully, upon opening the laptop, its physical functionality improves marginally. It remains stable thanks to four rubber feet, effectively preventing any sliding on surfaces. This stability translates into a steady display, devoid of any discernible wobbling.

Describing the keyboard as adequate would be apt, as the keys exhibit a slightly convex feel and uneven travel when pressed at the corners. This characteristic makes it challenging to center fingers on the keys and maintain consistent positioning while typing. Acer’s decision to tightly cluster the arrow keys results in smaller up and down keys, a design choice that may be considered a misdemeanor in the realm of laptop manufacturing.

Acer has incorporated a slightly altered version of a full number pad into the design. While the numbers are arranged conventionally, the absence of the dedicated column for the large “+” and Enter keys is noticeable. Instead, the “+” and “-” keys are positioned above the numbers, and the Enter key is nestled alongside “0” and the decimal key at the bottom. Although this arrangement may not be ideal, it’s still preferable to the absence of a number pad altogether, a feature not present in all 15-inch laptops. However, the keyboard’s lack of backlighting stands out as a more significant drawback in comparison.

Given Acer’s consistent utilization of the familiar black and silver design, it’s unsurprising that the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) appears somewhat outdated. Characterized by a blocky aesthetic, coupled with notably thick display bezels, it lags behind the current trend favoring slimmer bezels, a trend even observable in some budget-oriented products. Consequently, the laptop’s dimensions exceed what may be deemed necessary in today’s market landscape.

Consider the recent Dell Inspiron 15 (3525), which accommodates a 15.6-inch, 16:9 screen within a laptop measuring 0.83 by 14.1 by 9.3 inches. In comparison, the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) measures 0.75 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches. Despite not being fully packed with hardware, the size contributes to its weight, with this modest laptop tipping the scales at 3.77 pounds. While not excessively heavy, it feels denser than expected for a laptop lacking any notably “beefy” components.