Deal | Acer Aspire 14 AI trounces MacBook Neo value with 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, and capable CPU for under $550
The Aspire 14 AI is Acer’s budget-focused Windows laptop that brings nothing but the basics. The lack of any eye-catching features has allowed Acer to price the Acer Aspire 14 AI quite affordably. This is further helped by the fact that you can occasionally find the laptop on sale at a nice discount. For instance, the Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 256V CPU is just $529.99 on Amazon and eBay (linked at the end).
At this price, the Acer Aspire 14 AI makes a lot of sense, even when compared to the excellent Apple MacBook Neo. In addition to the Core Ultra 7 256V CPU, the Aspire 14 AI packs 16 GB of RAM, 1 TB of user-replaceable storage, a 1200p 14-inch display, and a respectable 65 Wh battery.
Moreover, the Acer Aspire 14 AI also has a backlit keyboard and a varied port selection with both USB Type-A and Thunderbolt 4 ports. The MacBook Neo, in comparison, has no backlight on the keyboard and only features two Type-C ports.
What the MacBook Neo does have that the Aspire 14 AI lacks is a fully metallic body, a fantastic IPS display, and a completely quiet design. Be sure to check out our full MacBook Neo review here.
In our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI, we reported that the laptop’s plastic chassis can feel a bit weak, and the 1200p IPS display leaves a lot to be desired with its 300 nits of brightness and less than 60% sRGB coverage. However, when it comes to performance, the Core Ultra 7 256V of the Acer Aspire 14 AI is plenty powerful for the laptop’s intended audience. Since the Core Ultra 7 256V brings an Arc 140V iGPU, you can even play lighter games on the Aspire 14 AI without any issues.
Finally, the Acer Aspire 14 AI also has pretty decent battery life. It lasted for 12 hours and 48 minutes in our WLAN test. This result is close to the MacBook Neo.
All in all, if you don’t mind the IPS display and the plastic base, the Acer Aspire 14 AI has a lot to offer for just $530. It is not only cheaper than the MacBook Neo, but brings double the RAM and four times the storage vs the $599 MacBook Neo SKU.
Buy the Acer Aspire 14 AI for $529.99 on Amazon and eBay
Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.
Source(s)
slickdeals, Amazon (linked above), eBay (linked above), Teaser image source: Acer, FlyD on Unsplash, edited
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