Hey there! Looking for a new laptop this year? I know how tough it can be to decide between so many choices. You‘re smart to narrow it down to well-known brands like Acer and Asus.
But which one is right for you? Don‘t worry, I‘ve done the research to compare these two top manufacturers across all the factors that matter most. Read on for the inside scoop so you can determine if your next laptop should be an Acer or Asus.
A Brief Background on Each Brand
First, let‘s look at how Acer and Asus got their starts and rose to become laptop giants. Understanding their origins can provide insight into their strengths today.
The Acer Story
Acer has been building computers and laptops for over 40 years now. Founded in Taiwan in 1976 as Multitech, the company rebranded to Acer in 1987. Early successes were in the components business – things like motherboards, memory, and chips.
In the 2000s, Acer began acquiring prominent laptop brands:
- Gateway in 2007
- Packard Bell in 2008
- eMachines in 2008
This strategy helped Acer grow into the #4 PC vendor worldwide, capturing 7.2% of the market in Q3 2022 according to IDC. The company sells laptops under brands like Acer, Gateway, and Packard Bell.
Some of Acer‘s most popular current laptops lines include:
- Aspire – Mainstream home and office models
- Swift – Thin and light notebooks for mobility
- Spin – Convertible 2-in-1 touchscreen laptops
- Nitro – Affordable gaming machines
- Predator – Powerful high-end gaming rigs
- ConceptD – Creator notebooks for design work
Acer offers a diverse selection of laptops at competitive prices. Models like the Aspire and Nitro series aim to provide the best bang for your buck.
The Asus Story
Headquartered in Taiwan, Asus was founded in 1989 as a motherboard manufacturer. Through the 90s and 2000s, the company expanded into other components like graphics cards, optical drives, and PC cases.
Asus launched its first laptop in 2007 – the iconic Eee PC netbook. Additional laptop brands were introduced:
- Republic of Gamers (ROG) gaming laptops in 2006
- Zenbook premium ultrabooks in 2011
- Chromebook budget laptops in 2012
- VivoBook mainstream consumer notebooks in 2012
Per IDC, Asus held 6.7% of the PC market in Q3 2022 ranking #5 globally. Asus laptops are sold under the company‘s own brand.
Some of Asus‘s hottest selling current laptops include:
- VivoBook – Value notebooks for everyday computing
- ZenBook – Sophisticated thin and light ultrabooks
- ROG – Hardcore gaming laptops
- TUF – Durable and affordable gaming machines
- Chromebook – Simple Chrome OS-based laptops
- ExpertBook – Business and workstation-class laptops
Asus focuses on innovation, from dual screen laptops to liquid metal cooling in their gaming rigs. You‘ll pay more for their cutting-edge designs.
Budget Laptop Comparison
If you need a basic, affordable laptop for web browsing, office work, or school, Acer and Asus both have solid budget options under $500. Let‘s compare some of their cheapest models.
Acer Aspire 1 (A114-32)
The Acer Aspire 1 with model number A114-32 starts at just $260. Here are the key specs:
- Intel Celeron N4500 dual-core CPU
- 4GB DDR4 RAM
- 128GB PCIe SSD
- 14-inch 1366 x 768 display
- Weight: 3.64 lbs
- Up to 8 hours battery life
With a plastic chassis, 720p screen, and entry-level processor, the Aspire 1 is no powerhouse. But for simple tasks like email, documents, and web access, it gets the job done. The sub-$300 price and all-day battery make it attractive for light users.
Asus VivoBook 15 (F515)
Stepping up to the Asus VivoBook 15 model F515 for $360 nets you:
- AMD Ryzen 3 3250U dual-core CPU
- 4GB DDR4 RAM
- 128GB PCIe SSD
- 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 display
- Weight: 3.75 lbs
- Up to 10 hours battery life
The extra $100 over the Aspire 1 affords a few nice upgrades like a 1080p screen and faster Ryzen 3 processor. You can expect snappier performance for office apps and web browsing. The slim 0.7-inch profile helps keep weight under 4 lbs.
Budget Laptop Verdict
At under $300, the Acer Aspire 1 gives you the basics on the cheap. If you can spend around $350, the Asus VivoBook 15 offers smoother performance and better screen resolution for just a bit more. Both brands make sensible picks for budget shoppers who stick to simple computing tasks.
Mid-Range Laptop Comparison
When your budget stretches from $600 to $800, you can get more processing muscle and premium features while still keeping costs reasonable. Let‘s see how Acer and Asus compare if you level up to a mid-range laptop.
Acer Swift 3 (SF314-512)
The $630 Acer Swift 3 model SF314-512 packs nice improvements over budget options:
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U hexa-core CPU
- 8GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- 14-inch 1080p IPS display
- Weight: 2.65 lbs
- Up to 17 hours battery life
With a bright 400 nit touchscreen and snappy AMD Ryzen 5 processor, the Swift 3 makes an excellent portable workhorse. The lightweight magnesium-aluminum chassis gives it great durability without breaking your back.
Asus ZenBook 14 (UM425)
The Asus ZenBook 14 UM425 rings up for $750 equipped with:
- Intel Core i5-1235U 10-core CPU
- 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- 14-inch 1080p OLED display
- Weight: 2.43 lbs
- Up to 21 hours battery life
Thanks to a 67Wh battery, the ZenBook 14 can stay powered all day long. The OLED screen looks brilliant with deep blacks and vivid color. Asus squeezed top-notch performance into an incredibly thin 0.6-inch profile.
Mid-Range Laptop Verdict
For under $650, the Acer Swift 3 exceeds expectations with excellent portability and AMD‘s latest Ryzen chip. If you like what the featherweight 2.4 lb Asus ZenBook 14 brings to the table, the $750 price is reasonable for the OLED display and Intel 12th Gen CPU. Either gives you power and portability at the mid-range.
High-End Laptop Comparison
Got more cash to splurge? Premium laptops from Acer and Asus deliver outstanding speed, high-res displays, and robust build quality for content creation, programming, research, or other intensive work.
Acer ConceptD 7 (CN715-72G)
Creative pros should check out the $2,500 Acer ConceptD 7 creator notebook. It‘s configured like a mobile workstation with:
- Intel Core i7-11800H 8-core CPU
- 32GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- 15.6-inch 4K IPS display
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU
- Weight: 4.63 lbs
- Up to 6 hours battery life
Inside the white aluminum chassis is some seriously powerful processing muscle. The RTX 3060 GPU can tackle 3D modeling, video editing, animation, and other creative applications with ease. Two Thunderbolt 4 ports provide fast 40Gbps connectivity.
Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 (UX582)
If money is no object, the feature-packed Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 UX582 delivers next-level performance. Expect to pay $2,700 for a spec sheet like this:
- Intel Core i7-12700H 14-core CPU
- 32GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- 15.6-inch 4K OLED main display
- 14-inch 4K OLED secondary touchscreen
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU
- Weight: 5.29 lbs
- Up to 9 hours battery life
The innovative secondary touchscreen above the keyboard gives you extra room for editing timelines, tweaking code, or reference materials. Everything runs smooth and fast with Intel‘s latest 14-core processor and RTX 3070 graphics.
High-End Laptop Verdict
Two very different approaches here, but both Acer and Asus created beastly laptops for media creators and power users. The ConceptD 7 brings pure performance at $2,500. For limitless multitasking and the coolest dual-display design, I‘d recommend stretching your budget for the ZenBook Pro Duo 15.
Gaming Laptop Comparison
Serious gamers demand computing power to push high frame rates at maximum settings. Let‘s pit two popular gaming laptop models from Acer and Asus head-to-head.
Acer Predator Helios 300 (PH315-54)
The ever-popular Acer Predator Helios 300 model PH315-54 will set you back around $1,500. In return, you get these solid gaming specs:
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7-11800H 8-core CPU
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 512GB PCIe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU
- 15.6-inch 1080p 144Hz IPS display
- 5 lighting zones RGB keyboard
- Weight: 5.29 lbs
Inside the black aluminum body is some fierce processing power, enough to conquer the latest AAA titles. The 144Hz screen keeps the action smooth and responsive. For under $1,500, this rig delivers high frame rates without costing a fortune.
Asus ROG Strix G15 (G513)
Expect to spend around $1,800 for the Asus ROG Strix G15 model G513 equipped with:
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900HX 8-core CPU
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 1TB PCIe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU
- 15.6-inch 1440p 165Hz IPS display
- Per-key RGB keyboard
- Weight: 5.29 lbs
With AMD‘s fastest mobile processor and Nvidia‘s RTX 3070 graphics, this Asus machine achieves even higher frame rates for buttery smooth gameplay. The QHD display looks sharp, and the colorful keyboard switches jazz up your gaming environment.
Gaming Laptop Verdict
Both the Acer Predator Helios 300 and Asus ROG Strix G15 deliver exhilarating gaming performance. At $300 less, the Helios 300 is the smarter value pick for most gamers. But if you want to max out frame rates on a QHD display, the Strix justifies its $1,800 cost.
Battery Life Comparison
When shopping for a laptop, battery life is an important consideration. You‘ll likely use your laptop away from an outlet sometimes. In general, Asus edges out Acer in terms of estimated run time per charge.
As an example, the affordable Asus VivoBook 15 mentioned earlier promises around 10 hours per charge. The comparable Acer Aspire 1 manages 8 hours.
On premium models, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo 15 survives for about 9 hours of use versus 6 hours for the Acer ConceptD 7.
Why does Asus have the battery life advantage? Their engineers meticulously optimize power consumption within Asus laptops. Integrated battery health software helps maintain maximum run time too.
That said, Acer laptops still offer decent battery life that should get you through a full day of productivity. But if you demand the absolute longest runtime while unplugged, Asus is the safer bet.
Design and Build Quality Comparison
Beyond raw performance, the physical design and construction of a laptop impacts the user experience. Let‘s explore how Acer and Asus laptops are crafted.
Materials and Durability
Premium Asus laptops like the ZenBook Pro 15 incorporate magnesium alloy into the chassis which offers a good balance of strength and lightweight portability. Acer relies more on standard aluminum or plastic across its lineups.
In structural rigidity testing, such as the military-grade MIL-STD-810 standard, Asus machines like the ROG Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop fully comply. Some Acer laptops like the enduro N3 can pass these durability tests, but most Acers exhibit some degree of flex and creaking under pressure.
Asus has an edge in construct quality and sturdiness, especially on high-end models. Acer prioritizes cost savings and weight reduction in their designs.
Style and Colors
Both brands offer a wide selection of colors, textures, and styling across models. For example, the Acer Swift X comes in a sleek Mist Green or stylish Safari Gold. Asus ZenBooks exhibit unique circular lid patterns and color blocking, like the ZenBook 14X OLED‘s Jade Black finish.
Gaming rigs also have very distinct styles. The industrial angular lid and RGB light bar on Acer‘s Predator Helios 300 gives it an aggressive gamer vibe. Asus gaming laptops like the ROG Zephyrus embody a slightly more refined aesthetic.
When it comes to design appeal, personal preference for colors and styling will determine which look you like best. Asus does appear a bit more adventurous in their willingness to experiment compared to Acer‘s generally understated looks.
Customer Support Comparison
Even reliable laptops have problems. When that happens, customer support becomes your lifeline to getting issues resolved. Here is how Acer and Asus customer service compares.
Warranty Coverage
The standard limited warranty from Acer and Asus is 1 year. Both allow you to pay extra to extend coverage:
- Acer: Up to 3 years extended for $39-$349
- Asus: Up to 3 years extended for $59-$359
Asus initially provides longer warranties of 1 year for batteries and 24-36 months for other components only on select gaming laptops. Acer sticks to just 1 year across the board for its Predator gaming line.
Technical Support Experience
Acer offers customer support via social media, email, online chat, and phone. Phone assistance is available 24/7.
Asus also provides email, social media, live chat, and phone support. But Asus‘ tech support phone line is only open Monday thru Friday from 8am – 6pm PT and Saturday thru Sunday from 8am – 5pm PT.
In third-party service surveys by publications like Laptop Mag, Asus consistently earns high marks for delivering friendly, knowledgeable support and quick problem resolution. Acer‘s tech assistance receives more mixed reviews.
Both have a network of authorized repair centers that can provide in-person servicing for complex issues. But Asus appears to have an edge in technical support competence based on feedback from actual customers.
Which Brand Is Best for Your Needs?
After reviewing all the key factors, is Acer or Asus the right laptop brand for your needs and budget? Here‘s a quick summary of when each brand has the advantage over the other:
Pick Acer When You Want:
- Rock bottom pricing for basic home/school laptops
- Lightweight 14" laptops for maximum portability
- The unique style of the ConceptD creator notebooks
- Strong value gaming rigs from their Predator line
Pick Asus When You Want:
- The longest battery life you can get for unplugged use
- Incredible durability and premium design/build quality
- Cutting-edge innovations like the ZenBook Pro Duo dual touchscreen
- No compromises gaming power from ROG and TUF laptops
For many buyers, it will come down to your budget and computing priorities. If spending $300-$400 for a basic laptop suits you, Acer delivers. Those seeking premium craftsmanship and top-of-the-line performance should choose Asus.
I suggest listing your must-have features, then trying top contenders in person during return periods. Either brand can provide an awesome laptop experience if you match their strengths to your needs.
Both Acer and Asus manufacture great laptops across all price points. I hope this detailed comparison helps you decide if your next portable computing partner should be an Acer or Asus! Let me know if you have any other questions.