Finding a mid-range laptop that strikes the right balance between performance, features, and affordability can be a daunting task. However, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V, one of the best mid-range laptops we've had the pleasure to review in recent times, aims to address these concerns with its impressive specifications, attractive design, and killer price point.
Powered by the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor and featuring Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB NVMe SSD, this laptop offers high performance, responsiveness, and a very respectable battery life. No wonder it's managed to accrue such positive customer feedback.
In this review, we will explore the different aspects of the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V to help you figure out if this is the laptop of your dreams or if it's just not the right match for your needs. Ready? Let's get cracking!
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Display |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 |
| Memory (RAM) | 16GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| Number of Cores | 4 |
| Base Clock Speed | 2.8GHz |
| Max Turbo Boost Speed | Up to 4.7GHz |
| USB Ports | 1 x USB 3.2 (Type-C) Gen 1, 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0 |
Who's This Laptop For?
The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V is a versatile laptop that caters to a diverse range of users. Students find it to be a reliable companion for their academic pursuits, with its ability to handle research, note-taking, and assignments. The powerful processor and ample RAM ensure smooth multitasking, while the fast storage provides quick access to study materials.
Professionals, such as myself, appreciate it for its reliability and productivity capabilities, relying on it for tasks ranging from document editing to data analysis, including writing extensive in-depth reviews like this one. The powerful processor and generous RAM allow for efficient multitasking and a smooth operation that ensures you don't lose out on being productive because you have to deal with annoying lags in performance.
On the other hand, creative individuals, such as photographers, graphic designers, and video editors, value the Acer Aspire 5 for its performance and visual capabilities. The respectable display quality and accurate color reproduction enhance the creative workflow, while the powerful processor and ample RAM handle demanding tasks with ease.
Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V caters to a wide range of users, delivering reliable performance and attractive features for various tasks and activities.
Design, Display, and Keyboard
The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V laptop boasts a sleek and modern design that stands out in the mid-range laptop market. The slim 0.70" body and aluminum top cover gives it a premium feel and sturdy build quality you just don't get all that often. The laptop's compact size and lightweight design make it highly portable and easy to carry around, making it suitable for users who are always on the go - myself included -.
The 15.6" Full HD IPS display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 is a fairly standard feature that we've become rather accustomed to these days. Having said that, the Aspire 5 at hand still manages to offer crisp and vivid visuals, allowing users to enjoy a fairly immersive viewing experience.
Being an IPS panel you also know that you're getting wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction, making it ideal for tasks that require precise color representation, such as photo editing or graphic design.
Related: VA VS IPS: What's the difference?
Furthermore, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V features narrow bezels - as is the norm these days - which result in an impressive 82.58% screen-to-body ratio. This means that you have more screen real estate to work with, enabling you to maximize your productivity.
Having said that, if you want even slimmer bezels you should consider the ASUS VivoBook 16 M1605YA-ES52 we saw this week, which goes above and beyond with an 85% screen-to-body ratio, as well as a slew of interesting features at a killer price point.
The keyboard on the A515-56-702V is designed with comfort and usability in mind. The keys are well-spaced and offer a satisfying typing experience, allowing for accurate and efficient typing. Additionally, the keyboard is backlit, which is a useful feature for those who often work in low-light environments or prefer typing in dimly lit settings.
In terms of ergonomics, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V features an elevated hinge design, much like the one we've seen this past week on the HP 17-cn2099nr.
This design lifts the body of the laptop and tilts the keyboard at a slight angle, offering a more comfortable typing position. The elevated hinge design provides several benefits, including improved typing comfort, enhanced cooling performance, and a better sound experience.
The slight angle of the keyboard not only makes it more ergonomic but also promotes better airflow, which helps keep the laptop cool during extended use. Additionally, the elevation improves the audio quality by directing the sound toward the user. To be honest, this isn't going to be a game-changer, we're still talking about a mid-range laptop over here but it sure beats having the speakers facing the table.
Performance
When it comes to performance, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V laptop is a real powerhouse. It's equipped with the impressive 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which can handle just about anything you throw at it. With a base frequency of 2.8GHz and the ability to boost up to a speedy 4.7GHz, this quad-core processor delivers snappy performance and responsiveness.
If you allow me to geek-out a bit, the Core i7-1165G7 is part of Intel's latest 11th-generation lineup, built using some fancy technology called the 10nm SuperFin architecture. What does that mean for you? Well, it translates to improved AI capabilities, better integrated graphics, and energy efficiency. Plus, with its 12MB Intel Smart Cache, you'll enjoy faster application loading times and smoother multitasking.
Now, let's talk memory. The A515-56-702V comes packed with 16GB of DDR4 RAM. That's plenty of memory to handle multiple tasks at once without any annoying slowdowns. So, whether you're running resource-hungry software, editing big files, or just juggling a bunch of apps, this laptop has got you covered. It should also be noted that you can further upgrade the RAM.
Storage is another crucial factor, and this laptop doesn't disappoint. It rocks a 512GB NVMe SSD, which means you'll enjoy lightning-fast storage speeds. Booting up your system and accessing your files will be quick and snappy. And with 512GB of storage space, you'll have plenty of room for all your important documents, media files, and software installations.
With the combination of the Intel Core i7 processor, generous RAM, and speedy NVMe SSD, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V is a true workhorse. It can effortlessly handle your everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media streaming. But it doesn't stop there. This laptop can also tackle more demanding workloads, such as photo and video editing, content creation, and even light gaming. So, whether you're a student, professional, or just someone who loves a fast and responsive machine, this laptop is up to the challenge.
In a nutshell, the A515-56-702V's performance is truly impressive. With its powerful processor, ample RAM, and speedy storage, this laptop can handle everything from everyday tasks to more demanding workloads. It's a reliable and capable machine that won't let you down.
What Are Customers Saying?
Customer feedback on the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V has been overwhelmingly positive, with many users praising its performance, design, and value for money. Something we can also vouch for.
The laptop's sturdy aluminum case stands out, giving it a premium look and feel that surpasses cheaper plastic alternatives. Customers appreciate the attention to detail in the build quality, which contributes to the laptop's overall durability and longevity.
One of the standout features mentioned by customers is the inclusion of the Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor. This quad-core processor is highly capable, providing ample power for a wide range of tasks. Users appreciate the smooth and snappy performance it delivers, whether they're multitasking, running resource-intensive applications, or even engaging in light gaming.
Storage is another aspect that customers have praised. The 512GB NVMe SSD is highly regarded for its speed and efficiency. The M.2 format of the SSD enables faster data transfer rates compared to traditional SATA drives, resulting in swift boot times and shorter application loading times.
The generous 16GB DDR4 RAM has received positive feedback as well. Customers have highlighted the importance of having ample memory for smooth multitasking and the ability to handle multiple applications simultaneously without any performance hiccups. They also appreciate the ability to upgrade the RAM, allowing users to make the most out of the laptop's internals.
While the overall feedback has been positive, some users have mentioned a few minor downsides. For example, the small "pin" power adapter connection has been a concern for a few customers, as it may be more susceptible to damage if accidentally pulled or bumped. But overall, this is something that you basically get used to rather easily.
What about the graphics? Is it suitable for gaming?
While the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V is not specifically designed as a gaming laptop, it does offer capable graphics performance for casual gaming and some less demanding titles. The laptop is equipped with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which is integrated into the 11th Gen Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor.
Intel Iris Xe Graphics delivers a significant improvement over previous integrated graphics solutions, providing better visuals and enhanced performance. It can handle tasks such as video playback, photo editing, and even some casual gaming with relative ease. You can expect smooth gameplay in popular titles like Minecraft, League of Legends, or Fortnite at lower graphics settings.
However, for more demanding and graphically intensive games, you may experience limitations due to the integrated graphics. The Acer Aspire 5 is not equipped with a dedicated graphics card, which typically offers higher performance for gaming. If you're a serious gamer or want to play the latest AAA titles at high settings, you may want to consider a laptop with a dedicated graphics card, such as the Acer Nitro 5 AN515-58-525P.
Connectivity, Webcam, and Battery Life
The A515-56-702V offers a comprehensive range of connectivity options. It features a USB 3.2 (Type-C) Gen 1 port, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (one that offers Power-off Charging), a single USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port with HDCP support, and a 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN port. This allows you to connect a variety of peripherals and external displays for enhanced productivity.
It also boasts the latest WiFi 6 standard which ensures a solid connectivity and Bluetooth support to connect peripherals.
The HD webcam (1280 x 720) enables respectable video quality for conferencing and online communication. It's not going to be a replacement for a professional-grade webcam but it gets the job done under most scenarios, in our experience.
Finally, when it comes down to battery life, the Acer Aspire 5 in question delivers up to 8.5 hours of usage on a single charge. As we've seen, this number may be a bit controversial. All in all, under a rather intensive usage you should still be able to get roughly 5-6 hours worth of battery life which is still pretty good.
Conclusion: Is It Worth My Money?
In conclusion, the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V reviewed here today is a mid-range laptop that offers an impressive set of features and performance capabilities. With its 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 512GB NVMe SSD, it provides excellent multitasking power and fast storage.
The design is sleek and modern, with a focus on ergonomics and aesthetics. The display offers vibrant colors, and the backlit keyboard enhances usability in low-light environments. Whilst the connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6 and a comprehensive range of ports, ensure versatility.
Ultimately, if you're in the market for a mid-range laptop that offers high performance, a stylish design, and great features, you should definitely consider the Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-702V.