Pink But Not Quite Panther

The Acer Aspire 1 A114-33 is the cheap computer that infrequently misses a beat with low-intensity duties, from e-mail and phrase processing to streaming the most recent field set and browsing the internet. But can it compete in an an increasing number of overstuffed sub-£300 box?

With a ticket of £299, expectancies will have to be realistically modest. On the identical time, £50 much less gets you the spectacular Asus E410, whilst £50 extra will stretch to the fashionable Lenovo IdeaPad 3i 14. There’s pageant in all places you glance.

The Aspire 1 A114-33 is a brand new addition to the Aspire 1 sequence, missing relatively the similar complicated array of spec choices of the previous Aspire 1 A114-32. On the time of writing, Acer UK is providing only a unmarried type with a solitary listing of low-end elements thru its website online. Checkout selection paralysis has been have shyed away from, which is a mercy at this value level.

We’ve observed a lower-specced type for £50 much less to be had from some third-party dealers, however we’ll be that specialize in the primary (peak) type right here.

Design & Construct

Something’s evidently, the Acer Aspire 1 A114-33 is not any light-weight. At 1.9kg, it’s a slightly hefty piece of apparatus to lug round. It’s beautiful thick, too, at only a lick underneath 20mm. This can be a very reasonable computer, in the end.

Even sooner than you strive to select the computer up, then again, it’ll have made an impact a technique or some other. Coming handiest in a in particular comfortable color of ‘Peachy Pink’, and with a metal-effect plastic casing, it without a doubt isn’t low-key. You’re both going to adore it or hate it, regardless that there are silver and blue choices if you do not thoughts a decrease grade processor.

There’s an inexpensive quantity of flex to the frame of the computer, nevertheless it holds up neatly within the spaces that rely. Resting my hands at the backside corners while typing didn’t yield any nice motion or creaking.

This being an affordable computer, you’ll to find quite a lot of the ones tell-tale corner-cutting touches, similar to a hinge that’s too stiff for the burden of the ground half of, which means you’ll have to make use of each fingers to open it up. Nonetheless, this serves a double goal, and the overly stiff hinge guarantees a rock-solid viewing enjoy with 0 wobble.

The display bezels are about as delicate as that color of Peachy Pink, with a thick border and a in particular chunky chin. The glossy Acer brand nearly will get misplaced in all that plastic, however once more, this isn’t extraordinary in one of these reasonable computer.

Up peak, there’s no bodily privateness shutter on the net just like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i. But no less than this front-facing digicam hits 720p solution.

Keyboard & Trackpad

We’re way past the purpose the place a stable typing enjoy is extraordinary in the cheap computer, however props will have to nonetheless move to Acer for bobbing up with the products all of the identical. 

I researched and wrote this whole evaluation at the Aspire 1, shifting at once over from (and flitting in between) a 2019 MacBook Professional. In all probability the most productive factor I will say concerning the enjoy is that it used to be a roughly friction-free transition – the standard Home windows shortcut rewiring procedure apart.

The gravitational pull of contemporary keyboard design way back shifted in opposition to Apple, in fact, however Acer has discovered a stable means of replicating the usual chicklet enjoy on a low funds, with suitable spacing and key trip. There’s a certain quantity of wobble and sponginess to the keys, however I skilled no discernible false or overlooked presses.

On the subject of the one structure annoyance right here pertains to the shut positioning of the Web page Up and Web page Down keys so on the subject of the left and appropriate arrow keys. I discovered them just a little too simple to press via mistake, however your mileage might range on that.

There’s no backlighting facility right here, regardless that, so that you’ll need to sort via the sunshine of that 14in show within the absence of solar or lamplight.

The touchpad is ok for an inexpensive computer, with on-point contact reaction. The buttons are fairly clunky, regardless that, and this used to be the place I skilled a couple of false presses. As is frequently the case with laptops of this value, you’re almost definitely at an advantage adapting to touch and gesture controls reasonably than depending on bodily inputs.

Display screen & Audio system

The Acer Aspire 1 (A114-33) gives a 14-inch IPS show with a Complete HD solution, which is in point of fact all you’ll be able to ask for at this value, the place low-grade TN panels are regularly an choice or even at HD.

With some great benefits of in-plane switching incorporated, viewing angles are decent. I didn’t really feel the wish to eternally mess around with that stiff hinge, as is frequently the case for plenty of reasonable TN-packing laptops.

It yielded a greater than decent 310 nits most brightness in my checking out, too, this means that that it stays completely usable on half-brightness in common daylight hours indoors stipulations. You wouldn’t need to take it outdoor on a sunny day, regardless that it is a ComfyView show, this means that it has an anti-glare matte floor to support viewability in brilliant stipulations.

Color copy is stable, regardless that significantly missing in pop in comparison to pricier laptops. It’s tremendous for productiveness duties and the atypical YouTube video, however just a little too washed out to do complete justice to motion pictures and field units. 

Acer has incorporated a collection of stereo audio system, reputedly positioned at the underside of the bottom. I struggled to discern any nice separation between left and appropriate channels, no less than till I performed a stereo sound take a look at that exaggerated the break up profile. Sound high quality is apparent sufficient, however extremely skinny and weedy, with quite a lot of treble however nearly no low finish. 

Suffice to mention, should you’re making plans to devour any long-form tune or video content material, you’ll need to make complete use of the integrated Bluetooth 5.0, or else plug into the three.5mm headphone jack positioned at the right-hand edge.

Specifications & Efficiency

The one configuration of the Acer Aspire 1 A114-33 presented via Acer UK offers you a 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Pentium Silver N6000 CPU. I’ve additionally noticed a few inexpensive variants, to be had from the likes of Amazon and AO, which pack a lesser dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 or N4020.

Consistent with Intel, the end type’s N6000 processor has received 30% efficiency over the Pentium N5030 sooner than it. But there’s no denying it’s a modest provision, particularly with a restricted 4GB of DDR4 SDRAM as a wingman.

Generally utilization, I discovered that the Aspire 1 is realistically able to working one mild process at a time. Hopping between more than one duties has a tendency to motive a quite long pause, and clicking on a dormant internet tab will result in some other wait because the content material lots again in. I’d have liked just a little extra reminiscence to clean issues over, that’s evidently, however such is the way in which with reasonable laptops.

One different notice of caution: you’ll need to make do with a scant 64GB of flash reminiscence, which is able to and does temporarily refill – particularly with 6GB of that taken up via Reserved Garage out of the gate. It’s a superbly tremendous quantity for a Chromebook, however now not so scorching in a Home windows 10 device – albeit one that incorporates S Mode set because the default. This boundaries you to Microsoft’s legit App Retailer and a typically extra locked down enjoy till you’re making the (unfastened) one-way travel to complete Home windows 10.

In benchmark phrases, the Aspire 1 falls just a bit shy of the Intel Core i3-1005G1 Lenovo IdeaPad 3i within the CPU-focused Geekbench 5 multi-core stakes, however will get soundly trounced in PC Mark 10, which is extra indicative of real-world utilization. Take a look at how the Aspire 1 compares with in a similar fashion priced opponents in our benchmark checks under.

In terms of connectivity, the Aspire 1 is beautiful fundamental. You get 3 USB-A ports, two of which might be USB 3.2, one among which is the slower USB 2.0. You additionally get an HDMI port for the ones exterior track moments, a Kensington lock slot, and a Gigabit ethernet connection, however there’s no trendy USB-C facility or SD card slot. 

Battery Existence

The Acer Aspire 1 is powerful all-round with regards to battery efficiency. Acer claims you’ll get 8 hours from a unmarried price, which tallies intently with my enjoy. 

Throughout one morning’s paintings I wrote a evaluation in Phrase, loaded 50 footage into garage the use of an SD card dongle, juggled more than one Chrome tabs, checked e-mail semi-frequently, and watched round 40 minutes-worth of YouTube movies.

All of this used to be with the display brightness set to round two-thirds for comfy viewing in a naturally lit house place of job. On the finish of this four-hour length, the Aspire 1’s battery had dropped from complete to 55%.

In our same old video loop take a look at, the Aspire 1 lasted 13 hours 32 mins, which is set 20 mins shy of the aforementioned Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, and 44 mins higher than the Asus E410.

It’s now not too slow when it comes time to recharge, both. With half-hour of charging from the bundled 45W AC adaptor, the Aspire 1’s 42Wh cellular went from lifeless to 42%, which is a gorgeous just right task for an inexpensive computer. The Asus E410, via comparability, may handiest arrange 33%, whilst the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i were given to 26% in the similar take a look at.

Value

The Acer Aspire 1 A114-33 prices a very fair £299 for the solitary type that’s recently being featured on Acer UK, which you’ll be able to purchase from Laptops Direct for £279.

You’ll be able to additionally supply a inexpensive type with a much less tough dual-core Intel Celeron N4500 for £269 and you’ll be able to drop right down to an N4020 for £249. Then again, we would suggest sticking with the end Pentium type if you’ll be able to find the money for it.

The Acer Aspire is without a doubt reasonable however pageant is powerful so take a look at our best possible funds computer chart to peer what different choices you’ve got.

Verdict

The Acer Aspire 1 A114-33 is a decent-value computer that gives few surprises or stand-out options. But then, that’s now not in point of fact what the general public are after for his or her £300.

That includes a tremendous typing enjoy, a stable Complete HD IPS show, and robust all-day stamina, that is the best computer for many who want a long lasting computer for lighter duties with out breaking the financial institution.

It’s now not the slinkiest computer in the marketplace, even inside its modest value bracket. And that Peachy Pink color without a doubt received’t be for everybody and seems to be the one color to be had for the top-spec SKU.

But should you spend maximum of your running day in Phrase, Excel, Chrome, Gdocs and Mail, and frequently to find your self clear of an influence level whilst you’re finishing such undemanding duties, then the Aspire 1 A114-33 received’t help you down.

Specifications

Acer Aspire 1 (A114-33): Specifications

• Home windows 10 House in S Mode
• 14in Complete HD (1920×1080) IPS LCD panel
• Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor (4 Cores/4 threads 1.10GHz, as much as 3.30GHz Turbo Spice up)
• 4GB 2933 MHz DDR4 RAM
• 64GB M.2 SSD
• HDMI port
• 2x USB 3.2 (Gen 1) Kind-A
• USB 2.0 Kind-A
• 3.5mm headphone jack
• 2 x Audio system
• 720p webcam
• Intel Wi-fi-AC 9462 Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
• Bluetooth 5.0
• 42Wh 2-cell Li-ion battery
• 328 x 236 x 19.9mm
• 1.90kg