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Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Laptop Review

A success. The Spin 5 has a lot to offer, including a fast SSD, a backlit keyboard and a powerful quad-core ULV processor. The laptop offers a good battery life to boot. The battery can be charged via the USB Type-C port. The touchscreen can be operated with fingers or with an Acer stylus (available separately).

For the original German review, see here.

Acer packs the Spin 5 SP513-52N's inner workings into a classy aluminum case. The computer runs on a quad-core ULV processor. The new device distinguishes itself from its direct predecessor – the Spin 5 SP513-51 – both inside and out. Acer has successfully avoided making the same mistakes for which the SP513-51 was criticized. The new laptop's competitors include devices such as the Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB and the Asus ZenBook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T.

Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF (Spin 5 SP513 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Core: 1100 MHz, Dual-channel, 23.20.16.4849
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, Dual-channel, No memory slots, Memory on-board
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 141 PPI, Capacitive, 10 touch points, native pen support, LC133LF102, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN, 256 GB 
, 212 GB free
Soundcard
Realtek ALC295 @ Intel Sunrise Point-LP PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Audio combo, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: Acceleration sensor, TPM 2.0
Networking
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15.9 x 324.4 x 226 ( = 0.63 x 12.77 x 8.9 in)
Battery
53.9 Wh, 4670 mAh Lithium-Ion, 11.55 V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Home 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, MS Office 365 (trial version), Norton Security (trial version), 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.5 kg ( = 52.91 oz / 3.31 pounds), Power Supply: 276 g ( = 9.74 oz / 0.61 pounds)
Price
899 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

The Spin 5's case is made of aluminum in the color steel gray. The device proves to be well-manufactured. The fine gaps where the pieces join are even, and there are no protrusions. The case's stability is mostly flawless, although the base unit could be a little more rigid. The battery is permanently installed, and the computer lacks a maintenance hatch. In order to reach the inner workings, all the screws on the bottom of the device must be removed. Afterward, the bottom shell detaches quite easily.

Acer has made significant updates to the Spin 5's array of ports. The SP513-52N is equipped with an HDMI connection and three USB Type-A ports (2x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0). The laptop also boasts a Type-C port (USB 3.1 Gen 1) that supports DisplayPort over USB-C. Using an adapter that can be purchased separately, this technology enables the Type-C port to function as a second video output. The Type-C port can also be used to charge the battery, though the USB charging device must have a power rating of at least 45 watts and a voltage supply of 15 to 20 volts. We tried it out with a 45-watt power supply (Inateck UCC1001DE) and can confirm that the battery does indeed charge. An 18-watt power supply was not able to charge the device.

Whereas the SP513-51 had to make do with just a microSD card reader, Acer has fitted the SP513-52N with a full-fledged SD card reader. However, it is not one of the fastest of its kind. While copying large blocks of data, the reader reached a maximum transfer rate of 25.2 MB/s. The card reader transferred 250 JPG image files (each around 5 MB) at a speed of 23 MB/s. We test memory card readers with a reference memory card (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDCX 64 GB UHS-II).

The WLAN module carries a Qualcomm QCA6174 chip. Along with the WLAN standards 802.11a/b/g/n, the chip also supports the fast ac standard. Our WLAN test, which is performed under optimal conditions (no other WLAN devices in the vicinity, short distance between the laptop and the server PC), revealed data transfer rates in the average range.

Size Comparison

328 mm / 12.9 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.7 kg3.75 lbs327.4 mm / 12.9 inch 226.5 mm / 8.92 inch 19 mm / 0.748 inch 1.6 kg3.53 lbs324.4 mm / 12.8 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs321 mm / 12.6 inch 219 mm / 8.62 inch 14 mm / 0.551 inch 1.3 kg2.87 lbs310 mm / 12.2 inch 213 mm / 8.39 inch 14.3 mm / 0.563 inch 1.3 kg2.84 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connections

Left side: power supply, HDMI, 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type-C, 2x Type-A)
Left side: power supply, HDMI, 3x USB 3.1 Gen 1 (1x Type-C, 2x Type-A)
Right side: volume rocker, audio combo, memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type-A), power button, slot for a cable lock
Right side: volume rocker, audio combo, memory card reader (SD), USB 2.0 (Type-A), power button, slot for a cable lock
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
33 MB/s +43%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.5 MB/s +7%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
38.8 MB/s +54%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
26.6 MB/s +6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
25.2 MB/s
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
665 MBit/s +15%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
665 MBit/s +15%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
661 MBit/s +14%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
580 MBit/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
349 MBit/s -40%
iperf3 receive AX12
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
526 MBit/s +71%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel 8265 Tri-Band WiFi (Oak Peak) Network Adapter
505 MBit/s +64%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260
495 MBit/s +61%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 Wireless Network Adapter
347 MBit/s +13%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
308 MBit/s

Input Devices

The Spin 5 comes with a backlit chiclet keyboard. The flat, smooth keys have a short travel and a clear click point. The keyboard does not bend during typing. All in all, Acer has produced a good keyboard that is quite suitable for prolonged and frequent use. The backlighting is controlled via an Fn key and offers only one brightness setting. As usual, the light turns off after a few seconds. As soon as the user presses any key, the light turns back on. It is not possible to activate the backlighting to run continuously. The length of the interval before the light turns off cannot be changed either. Normally settings for these functions can be modified in the computer's BIOS, but the Spin 5 lacks this adaptability. 

The multi-touch capable ClickPad has a surface area of about 10.5 x 6.5 cm (~3.5 x 2 inches), providing plenty of space for the execution of touchpad gestures. Fingers glide easily across the pad's smooth surface. The pad has a short travel and a clear click point. The fingerprint reader is located on the upper-left corner of the ClickPad.

Input devices
Input devices

The Spin 5's capacitive touchscreen supports 10 touch points. It gave us no trouble and reacted to input immediately. It can be operated with fingers or with an active stylus (ASA630, available from Acer separately). The stylus offers 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity and costs around 40 Euros (~$50; similarly priced in the US).

Display

Pixel grid
Pixel grid

The Spin 5's 13.3-inch touchscreen display has a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. The contrast (1093:1) is good. The brightness (275.87 cd/m2) should be substantially higher – we expect over 300 cd/m², here, especially considering the convertible laptop's price and the environments in which it may be used.

Unfortunately, at brightness levels of 20% and under the display uses PWM backlight flickering at a frequency of 1000 Hz. Even so, a frequency in that range should not cause eye problems and/or headaches, even for sensitive users.

261
cd/m²
285
cd/m²
277
cd/m²
260
cd/m²
295
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
274
cd/m²
285
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LC133LF102 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 295 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 275.7 cd/m² Minimum: 15 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 295 cd/m²
Contrast: 1093:1 (Black: 0.27 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.97 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.12 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
94% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
69.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
94.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
69.8% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.45
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
IPS LED, 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
-1%
-10%
-6%
-40%
Display P3 Coverage
69.8
66.7
-4%
65.3
-6%
64.1
-8%
39.99
-43%
sRGB Coverage
94.6
96.6
2%
83.7
-12%
91.8
-3%
59.5
-37%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
69.3
68.9
-1%
61.2
-12%
65.2
-6%
41.32
-40%
Response Times
800%
20%
-23%
-7%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
49 ?(30, 19)
34 ?(19, 15)
31%
32 ?(15, 17)
35%
36 ?(15, 21)
27%
56 ?(18, 38)
-14%
Response Time Black / White *
27 ?(15, 12)
29 ?(18, 11)
-7%
26 ?(15, 11)
4%
27 ?(6, 21)
-0%
27 ?(8, 19)
-0%
PWM Frequency
1000 ?(20)
24750 ?(80)
2375%
50 ?(50)
-95%
Screen
4%
-25%
-17%
-20%
Brightness middle
295
327
11%
351
19%
368
25%
245
-17%
Brightness
276
308
12%
310
12%
350
27%
233
-16%
Brightness Distribution
88
90
2%
82
-7%
87
-1%
87
-1%
Black Level *
0.27
0.23
15%
0.37
-37%
0.29
-7%
0.21
22%
Contrast
1093
1422
30%
949
-13%
1269
16%
1167
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.97
2.63
11%
5.03
-69%
5.26
-77%
4.2
-41%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.67
6.58
-16%
12
-112%
8.78
-55%
8.75
-54%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.12
4.11
-32%
3.62
-16%
5.87
-88%
3.94
-26%
Gamma
2.45 90%
2.45 90%
2.18 101%
2.42 91%
2.66 83%
CCT
6676 97%
7352 88%
6323 103%
6998 93%
6096 107%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
62
63
2%
55
-11%
60
-3%
38
-39%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
94
97
3%
84
-11%
92
-2%
59
-37%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
268% / 152%
-5% / -16%
-15% / -16%
-22% / -22%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 1000 Hz ≤ 20 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 1000 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 20 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 1000 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 17915 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The display's color representation is already good in factory default. With a DeltaE 2000 color deviation of 2.97, the representation falls within the ideal range (DeltaE less than 3). The display is not plagued by a blue cast.

CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - ColorChecker
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - color saturation
CalMAN - color saturation

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 15 ms rise
↘ 12 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 63 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.5 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
49 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 30 ms rise
↘ 19 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 83 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.7 ms).

The IPS panel that Acer has selected for the Spin 5 has stable viewing angles, allowing the user to view the screen content from any position. The convertible laptop can be used outdoors, as long as the sun is not shining too brightly. In addition to the display's low brightness, its glossy surface is a further disadvantage in outdoor use.

Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Performance

Acer's Spin 5 is a 13.3-inch convertible laptop. It provides enough processing power for office and internet-related applications. Our test device is available for around 870 Euros (~$1025; US model [SP513-52N-5621] on the market for $770). Acer also offers other versions of the computer with different hardware components. Prices start at around 800 Euros (~$950; no cheaper US versions currently available).

Processor

Acer has equipped the Spin 5 with an Intel Core i5-8250U (Kaby Lake Refresh) quad-core processor. This is one of the energy-conserving ULV models (TDP: 15 watts). The CPU supports hyperthreading (each core can process two threads simultaneously). The processor runs at a base clock speed of 1.6 GHz. Using turbo, it is possible to increase the speed to up to 3.4 GHz. 

The extent to which the processor's turbo can be utilized is dependent on which application(s) the user is running. As a result, the Cinebench benchmark's multi-thread tests ran at only 3.4 GHz for a few seconds. The speed subsequently throttled down to 2.2 to 2.3 GHz. On the other hand, the processor ran all the single-thread tests at full turbo speed. The same was true of the Geekbench benchmarks. The processor's behavior in AC power mode and battery mode was identical.

To determine whether the CPU fully utilizes its turbo without interruption, we run the Cinebench R15 multi-thread test for about 30 minutes in a continuous loop. After the first cycle, the results fell to around 490 points and remained there. This demonstrates that the CPU is able to maintain a turbo speed of 2.2 to 2.3 GHz.

0102030405060708090100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240250260270280290300310320330340350360370380390400410420430440450460470480490500510520530540Tooltip
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

The CPU's performance falls between that of the Core i5-7300HQ and the Core i7-7700HQ. The more the CPU maximizes use of its turbo and the longer it maintains its speed, the closer the ULV CPU's results come to matching those of the Core i7.
Compared to other devices using an i5-8250U the Acer Spin 5 stays below average in our Cinebench R15 Multi CPU Benchmark (Multicore).

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
5530
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
16465
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
9351
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
144 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
534 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
44.13 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
161 Points +12%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
148 Points +3%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points +1%
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
144 Points 0%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
144 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
143 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points -2%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
141 Points -2%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
128 Points -11%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
127 Points -12%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
125 Points -13%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel Core i3-6100U
96 Points -33%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
742 Points +39%
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
734 Points +37%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points +7%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
560 Points +5%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
534 Points
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
517 Points -3%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
511 Points -4%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
507 Points -5%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
330 Points -38%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
326 Points -39%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
268 Points -50%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel Core i3-6100U
240 Points -55%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
22380 Points +36%
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
21839 Points +33%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
18304 Points +11%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (14148 - 22097, n=42)
18261 Points +11%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
18158 Points +10%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
18070 Points +10%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
17505 Points +6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
16465 Points
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
11351 Points -31%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
11323 Points -31%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
9213 Points -44%
Rendering Single 32Bit
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5952 Points +8%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (5349 - 8356, n=42)
5631 Points +2%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
5542 Points 0%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
5530 Points
MSI GF62VR 7RF-877
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
5528 Points 0%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
5517 Points 0%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5502 Points -1%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
5436 Points -2%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
4983 Points -10%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U
4946 Points -11%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
4942 Points -11%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
14090 Points +10%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
13553 Points +5%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12913 Points 0%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
12854 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (10893 - 13553, n=18)
12606 Points -2%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
9840 Points -23%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
9752 Points -24%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
6914 Points -46%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
6477 Points -50%
32 Bit Single-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
3840 Points +11%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
3444 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
3416 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3148 - 3503, n=18)
3302 Points -4%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
3209 Points -7%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3195 Points -7%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
3180 Points -8%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3163 Points -8%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
2903 Points -16%
Geekbench 4.0
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
14216 Points +12%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
13486 Points +6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
12745 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (10751 - 13486, n=19)
12210 Points -4%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
11840 Points -7%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
10551 Points -17%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
8085 Points -37%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
7327 Points -43%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
6761 Points -47%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4682 Points +11%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
4232 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
4162 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3924 - 4243, n=19)
4076 Points -4%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4022 Points -5%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
3975 Points -6%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U
3816 Points -10%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
3628 Points -14%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3387 Points -20%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Multi-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
15111 Points +13%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
14207 Points +6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
13424 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (11269 - 14228, n=25)
12833 Points -4%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
12304 Points -8%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
11075 Points -17%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
8081 Points -40%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
7102 Points -47%
64 Bit Single-Core Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4808 Points +11%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U
4330 Points
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U
4266 Points -1%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (3453 - 4330, n=25)
4116 Points -5%
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U
4077 Points -6%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
4040 Points -7%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U
3724 Points -14%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ
3387 Points -22%
JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Gigabyte Aero 15X
Intel Core i7-7700HQ (Edge 41)
276 Points +8%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41)
256.1 Points
HP 15-bs103ng
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 41)
255.2 Points 0%
Acer Swift 3 SF315-51G-57E5
Intel Core i5-8250U (Edge 40)
248 Points -3%
Acer Aspire VX15 VX5-591G-589S
Intel Core i5-7300HQ (Edge 38)
247.5 Points -3%
Lenovo Legion Y520-15IKBN 80WK0042GE
Intel Core i5-7300HQ (Edge 40)
245.5 Points -4%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel Core i5-7200U (Edge 41)
222.7 Points -13%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel Core i5-7200U (Edge 38)
215.1 Points -16%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel Core i5-7200U (EDGE: 38.14393.1066.0)
215 Points -16%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (151.5 - 256, n=78)
215 Points -16%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel Core i3-6100U
90.9 Points -65%

System Performance

Thanks to the convertible laptop's fast SSD and powerful processor, the system's behavior is smooth and stable. We did not run into any problems. The system provides enough processing power for office and internet-related applications. The good results in the PCMark benchmark verify this. There is no way to increase the system's overall performance – Acer has already maximized its computational power.

PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3197 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3343 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4563 points
PCMark 10 Score
3664 points
Help
PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3744 Points +17%
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
3665 Points +15%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3387 Points +6%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Hynix HFS128G39TND
3224 Points +1%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
3197 Points

Storage Devices

An M.2 2280 solid-state disk from Micron serves as the system drive. This SATA III model has a capacity of 256 GB. In factory default, around 212 GB remains available to the user. The rest of the storage space is allotted to the recovery partition and Windows installation. The SSD's transfer rates are good.

Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Sequential Read: 462.7 MB/s
Sequential Write: 439.9 MB/s
512K Read: 325.2 MB/s
512K Write: 361.9 MB/s
4K Read: 27.52 MB/s
4K Write: 91.6 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 247.3 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 292 MB/s
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Micron 1100 MTFDDAV256TBN
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Micron SSD 1100 (MTFDDAV256TBN)
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
-6%
157%
-9%
Read Seq
462.7
499.7
8%
2172
369%
478.4
3%
Write Seq
439.9
261.9
-40%
1222
178%
419.9
-5%
Read 512
325.2
325.8
0%
1295
298%
351.7
8%
Write 512
361.9
262.5
-27%
863
138%
294.2
-19%
Read 4k
27.52
29.75
8%
59.5
116%
24
-13%
Write 4k
91.6
77.7
-15%
150.3
64%
87
-5%
Read 4k QD32
247.3
313.8
27%
426.4
72%
199.3
-19%
Write 4k QD32
292
259.3
-11%
360
23%
232.4
-20%

Graphics Card

Intel's UHD Graphics 620 graphics core is responsible for the laptop's graphics output. This card supports DirectX 12 and runs at speeds of up to 1100 MHz. The results in the 3D Mark benchmarks are in the normal range for this GPU. Here, the card benefits from the memory that runs in dual-channel mode, maximizing its performance capabilities and delivering better results. 

GPU-Z
GPU-Z
DXVAChecker
DXVAChecker
3DMark 11 Performance
1783 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7586 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
965 points
Help
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +9%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1607 Points
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1569 Points -2%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1528 Points -5%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
Intel HD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-7200U
1425 Points -11%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i3-6100U
1213 Points -25%

Gaming Performance

The Spin 5 can run some games smoothly. This is primarily true of games that do not demand too much from the hardware. Either way, the player must be content with low resolutions and low quality settings. The memory that runs in dual-channel mode clearly boosts the laptop's capabilities here. The frame rates are higher than those of comparable devices with memory running in single-channel mode.

low med. high ultra
World of Warcraft (2005) 157.7 81.9 22.5 10.7
Deus Ex Human Revolution (2011) 80.2 49.6 19.4
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011) 52.1 29.5 17.3 9
Anno 2070 (2011) 84 45.1 27.5 12.3
Tomb Raider (2013) 90.1 43.7 26.4 11.8
BioShock Infinite (2013) 56.1 29.9 24.6 8
X-Plane 10.25 (2013) 49.3 19.8 10.1 8
GRID: Autosport (2014) 108 42 23 12.5
F1 2014 (2014) 65 45 34 19
Battlefield Hardline (2015) 41.1 34 12 7.2
Dirt Rally (2015) 108.3 31 13.7 12.5
Metal Gear Solid V (2015) 48.2 31.3 12.1 8.2
Anno 2205 (2015) 31.2 17.3 7.5 4.7
Titanfall 2 (2016) 34 25 9.2
FIFA 18 (2017) 65.1 31.5 24.9 23.8
Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) 20 10
The Evil Within 2 (2017) 11 6.5
ELEX (2017) 10.6 5.2
Destiny 2 (2017) 18.5 9.4
Assassin´s Creed Origins (2017) 9 5
Call of Duty WWII (2017) 25.6 17.1
Star Wars Battlefront 2 (2017) 16

Emissions & Energy

While idling and under low levels of load, the Spin 5 is usually silent. The fan almost always stands still. Even when it runs, it is hardly audible. The fan does not run very often under load either. During our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour), we recorded a sound pressure level of just 33.5 dB(A). The reason: The CPU and GPU both throttle. When only Prime95 is running, the fan spins at higher speeds. In that circumstance, the level rises to 35.4 dB(A). We recorded similar results under medium levels of load.

If you listen closely to the fan output on the back of the convertible laptop, you can hear a faint electronic crackle – but this is not audible if you sit a normal distance from the computer.

Noise Level

Idle
30.4 / 30.4 / 30.9 dB(A)
Load
34 / 33.5 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1, Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 30.4 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.734.433.831.931.932.7253332.131.231.931333133.332.932.734.535.333.34030.831.730.532.531.630.85036.538.236.837.23736.56329.328.628.53429.829.38026.827.427.126.425.626.810025.725.326.525.726.125.712524.42624.825.324.224.41602424.12423.723.82420022.823.723.223.62322.825022.722.621.621.721.322.731521.722.121.32121.121.740021.921.520.620.320.421.950020.720.719.819.919.520.763020.420.118.619.218.920.480020.320.618.518.218.420.3100023.123.518.218.91823.1125022.42317.918.417.922.4160021.121.317.517.717.621.1200021.221.617.618.217.321.2250021.322.117.518.217.721.331502424.617.620.117.724400021.822.217.918.317.821.8500020.721.518.218.118.120.7630019.119.518.318.118.319.1800018.819.118.518.518.418.81000018.61918.718.418.518.61250018.518.819.518.318.618.51600018.820.619.41918.618.8SPL33.533.930.530.930.433.5N1.921.41.51.41.9median 21.3median 21.6median 18.6median 18.9median 18.5median 21.3Delta1.81.51.41.71.31.8hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAcer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF

Temperature

The Spin 5 in the stress test.
The Spin 5 in the stress test.

The Spin 5 completed our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour) in the same way in both AC power mode and battery mode. The processor ran at 1.4 GHz, while the graphics core went about its business at 850 MHz. The computer never grew excessively warm. During the stress test, the case temperatures exceeded 40°C (104°F) in only two spots.

Max. Load
 37.8 °C
100 F
41.8 °C
107 F
32.4 °C
90 F
 
 35 °C
95 F
38.1 °C
101 F
28.1 °C
83 F
 
 29.5 °C
85 F
27.6 °C
82 F
27 °C
81 F
 
Maximum: 41.8 °C = 107 F
Average: 33 °C = 91 F
30.7 °C
87 F
47.8 °C
118 F
40.4 °C
105 F
29 °C
84 F
37.6 °C
100 F
37.6 °C
100 F
27.8 °C
82 F
30.7 °C
87 F
31.9 °C
89 F
Maximum: 47.8 °C = 118 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
Power Supply (max.)  47 °C = 117 F | Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33 °C / 91 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.8 °C / 107 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 47.8 °C / 118 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.1 °C / 77 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 29.5 °C / 85.1 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-1.4 °C / -2.5 F).
Heat development load (top)
Heat development load (top)
Heat development load (bottom)
Heat development load (bottom)
Heat development idle (top)
Heat development idle (top)
Heat development idle (bottom)
Heat development idle (bottom)

Speakers

The stereo speakers are positioned above the keyboard, underneath a perforated covering. The sound they produce is quite respectable. It is possible to enjoy audio content generated by the speakers over an extended period of time. Even so, the sound could use more bass. We recommend the use of headphones or external speakers for a better listening experience.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2032.931.932.92532.53132.53134.435.334.44031.431.631.45035.83735.86328.429.828.48027.625.627.610032.526.132.512542.724.242.716047.923.847.920050.42350.425043.721.343.731552.221.152.240067.620.467.650069.819.569.863073.918.973.980067.818.467.8100067.71867.7125068.217.968.2160068.717.668.720006717.367250067.817.767.8315066.417.766.4400063.617.863.6500062.818.162.8630061.818.361.8800058.118.458.11000056.618.556.61250056.118.656.11600050.718.650.7SPL78.930.478.9N44.41.444.4median 62.8median 18.5median 62.8Delta8.71.38.735.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SFApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (73.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 11% similar, 39% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 51% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above selectable/deselectable!)

Energy Consumption

In terms of energy consumption, the convertible laptop behaves as expected. In idle mode, we measured a maximum energy consumption rate of 8.8 watts. During the stress test (Prime95 and FurMark running simultaneously for at least an hour), the power consumption increased to just 30.7 watts. This is because both the CPU and GPU throttle. If only Prime95 is running, the energy use jumps to a significantly higher 42.9 watts. The power supply's output rating is 45 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.37 / 0.45 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.9 / 8.2 / 8.8 Watt
Load midlight 28.5 / 30.7 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Our WLAN test – designed to simulate normal, everyday use – uses a script to load new websites at regular intervals. The "balanced" profile is active, the display brightness is set to about 150 cd/m², and the energy saving functions are deactivated. The Spin 5 lasted 8:20 hours.

With its 53.9 Wh battery, the Spin 513-52N's battery capacity is somewhat larger than that of its predecessor (45 Wh).

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge 41)
8h 20min
Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Asus Zenbook Flip UX360UAK-BB351T
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
702 min +40%
Lenovo Yoga 720-13IKB
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
505 min +1%
Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 53.9 Wh
500 min
Acer Spin 5 SP513-51
6100U, HD Graphics 520, 45 Wh
463 min -7%
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 TP410UA-EC242T
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 42 Wh
407 min -19%

Pros

+ IPS display
+ Full HD resolution
+ SSD
+ backlit keyboard
+ good battery life
+ optional stylus functionality
+ USB Type-C
+ battery can be charged over USB Type-C

Cons

- display could be brighter
- base unit could be more rigid

Verdict

The Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF, courtesy of Acer Germany.
The Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF, courtesy of Acer Germany.

Acer's Spin 5 SP513-52N is a slim, classy 13.3-inch convertible laptop. The computer runs on a quad-core ULV processor. The CPU provides more than enough processing power for office and internet-related applications. A fast SSD ensures a fast running system.

The Full HD IPS touchscreen display has a lot to offer, particularly with its stable viewing angles and high contrast. However, the display's brightness should be substantially higher. The touchscreen can be operated not only with fingers, but also with an active stylus (available from Acer separately).

The backlit keyboard made a good impression on us and is suitable even for users who type a lot. In addition to the stylus functionality, this mobile and compact work device also offers good battery life. However, the display's low brightness restricts the locations in which the laptop can be used.

Acer has made a successful effort to avoid several of the mistakes for which the Spin 5's predecessor was criticized.

The new model is equipped with a USB Type-C port (USB 3.1 Gen 1), which can serve as a DisplayPort (with an adapter that must be purchased separately) or another connection for charging the battery. Acer has also installed a full-fledged memory card reader that accepts SD cards. The previous model had only a reader for microSD cards. 

In addition, the memory now runs in dual-channel mode. Given that the previous model only had one memory slot, it was of course only capable of functioning in single-channel mode. One small drawback: The new Spin 5 does not offer any memory socket at all, as the memory is on board. This means that the memory cannot be upgraded. 

Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF - 11/22/2017 v6(old)
Sascha Mölck

Chassis
80 / 98 → 81%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
55 / 80 → 69%
Weight
69 / 35-78 → 79%
Battery
91%
Display
85%
Games Performance
58 / 68 → 86%
Application Performance
87 / 87 → 99%
Temperature
91%
Noise
93%
Audio
56 / 91 → 62%
Camera
42 / 85 → 49%
Average
75%
84%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Spin 5 SP513-52N-54SF (i5-8250U, FHD) Convertible Laptop Review
Sascha Mölck, 2017-11-26 (Update: 2020-05-19)