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Acer Aspire V3-371 Notebook Review

Solid inner values. Acer introduces its updated Aspire V3-371-58DJ right after Intel released its new, economic Broadwell processors. We will find out whether the CPU refresh is enough to stand out from the competition.

For the original German review, see here.

Intel launched its new energy-efficient CPU line based on Broadwell architecture at the beginning of this year. Now, a short time later, Acer places its new Aspire V3-371-58DJ subnotebook equipped with the new Intel Core i5-5200U and Intel HD Graphics 5500 on store shelves. However, not only the processor should catch attention because a 240 GB SSD and 8 GB of working memory are also inside the laptop. Furthermore, the 700-Euro (~$800) device can boast with a matte, Full HD screen. To what extent can the Broadwell CPU excel over the Haswell models? We used different contenders to put the test results of Acer's laptop into perspective.

Case

The casing of the Aspire V3 is largely made of plastic components. An aluminum display adorns the review sample's back. A low height of 22 mm and pleasant weight of 1523 grams make Acer's 13.3-inch device an agreeable companion. Sharp transitions, particularly in the front areas below the touchpad, unfortunately ruin the feel of our review sample. Besides that, the ClickPad surface is a bit loose and produces a loud clacking noise during use. The base unit has to be completely disassembled for repairs or upgrades because there are no maintenance covers on the underside. Even the battery cannot be removed without some effort. The thin and very smooth-running display hinges tend to let the display rock.

Basic and elegant design of the new Aspire.
Basic and elegant design of the new Aspire.
Unfortunately, the build and...
Unfortunately, the build and...
...maintenance options are unsatisfactory.
...maintenance options are unsatisfactory.
327 mm / 12.9 inch 228 mm / 8.98 inch 22 mm / 0.866 inch 1.5 kg3.36 lbs326 mm / 12.8 inch 233.5 mm / 9.19 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs325 mm / 12.8 inch 223 mm / 8.78 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.5 kg3.2 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Not many interfaces are available, and their positioning could also have been more favorable. Apart from the combo-audio jack and SD-card reader, all ports are on the right. That can complicate using peripherals depending on the user's habits. Another drawback is that only one of the two USB ports supports the 3.0 standard.

Rear
Rear
Left: combo audio, SD-card slot
Left: combo audio, SD-card slot
Right: 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, HDMI-out, Ethernet port, power socket
Right: 1 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, HDMI-out, Ethernet port, power socket
Front
Front

Communication

Intel's Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 module is installed for wireless communication. It allows Wi-Fi speeds of up to 867 Mbps. Connections via Bluetooth 4.0 are also possible. We ascertain the factual speeds by determining the average download rate in a test. A Fritzbox 7382 SL router with a connected network hard drive was used in this test. The review sample had to compete against an Apple iMac Retina from last year. First, both devices are on the same story as the router and have to overcome a beeline distance of approximately four meters. The Aspire's speed settled to 7.59 Mbps after a few downloads, and that of the iMac was 11.03 Mbps.

The built-in 720p webcam presents a smooth image presentation. The color reproduction is sufficient for occasional videoconferencing although strong image noise is present even in ideal light conditions.

Accessories

The Aspire V3 is shipped with a warranty information card and quick-start guide only. Acer does not offer any model-specific accessories for this line either. Acer only offers the normal standard repertoire.

Maintenance

As mentioned in "Case," the entire base unit has to be taken apart for maintenance. Not even the battery can be removed. The 8 GB of working memory is divided equally on both memory modules, i.e. in the slots. Opening the review sample is not advisable for non-savvy hands because the plastic hooks could break or the casing might even fissure.

Warranty

Acer at least includes a 24-month collect & return service for the end user.

Input Devices

The input devices will suffice for routine use.
The input devices will suffice for routine use.

Keyboard

The keyboard scores with its crisp response characteristics. The pressure points are well palpable and the keys are stable, but they have a short and very soft drop. Touch typists will quickly accommodate to the keyboard. The tight spacing between the shift and "<>" keys, and enter and hash keys have not been as nicely solved. Untrained fingers might hit the wrong key here. Acer has found a good solution for the arrow keys. The area above the left and right arrow keys is often left empty. The image up and image down keys have been implemented there in the review sample. The noise development when typing was always agreeable.

Touchpad

The touchpad's size of 10.5 x 6 cm is decent. Its sleek surface is perfect for fast gestures. The keys integrated in the pad feature a pleasant drop but with slightly different pressure points. The responsiveness at the edges is also good. Most multi-touch gestures, such as scrolling on websites, function without problems. Scrolling rarely lagged, but pages were sometimes skipped. There is one major shortcoming: the touchpad in our review sample produced audible noises due to its loose fit in the casing.

Display

A matte, Full HD screen is installed in the 700-Euro (~$800) Acer Aspire V3. Its average brightness of 235.6 cd/m² is enough for home use, but will not induce shouts of joy. HP's ProBook 430 G2 is even darker with 172 cd/m². Our review sample and both named rivals are based on a low-cost TN screen.

239
cd/m²
249
cd/m²
238
cd/m²
232
cd/m²
246
cd/m²
232
cd/m²
234
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
225
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO112D B133HTN01.1 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 249 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 235.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 246 cd/m²
Contrast: 535:1 (Black: 0.46 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 7.45 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 9.13 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
41% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
44.07% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
64.2% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
42.65% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.29

The low contrast ratio of 415:1 and a black level of 0.59 cd/m² prevent a rich black. The subnotebooks from the past 12 months achieved an average contrast ratio of 712:1 and black level of 0.5 cd/m². Seen only subjectively, the rates are sufficient for an occasional video. A 13.3-inch laptop will unlikely be used for real movie entertainment anyway. Professional use also seems improbable not least due to the low color-space coverage. It is just 41% in the AdobeRGB space and 58% in the sRGB space. The grayscale shift with a DeltaE rate of over 9 also confirms the very visible bluish cast.

CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Grayscale
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps
CalMAN ColorChecker
CalMAN ColorChecker
sRGB space
sRGB space
AdobeRGB space
AdobeRGB space

Smaller light sources or slightly brighter places indoors will not be distracting owing to the matte screen. The outdoor suitability is limited to shadowy locations. The user should change the workplace when in direct sunlight.

Dark views outdoors
Dark views outdoors
Only temporary...
Only temporary...
...outdoor use...
...outdoor use...
...is recommended.
...is recommended.

A TN screen is installed in Acer's Aspire V3 that, unfortunately, does not have sufficient viewing-angle stability. Colors and brightness distort extremely when tilting the screen or from lateral views. The opening angle of almost 140 degrees is enough to place the laptop in a work position on the knees.

Performance

Our review sample sports a new Broadwell CPU. An Intel HD Graphics 5500 is integrated in the processor. Acer provides 8 GB RAM and a 240 GB SSD for memory and storage. There are no other configuration options in the current lineup. The older Haswell models are available in many different configurations. This can also be expected in the new product line. Our review sample is predestined for short response times and routine office and multimedia applications.

System information: Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ

Processor

Acer's Aspire V3 sports an Intel Core i5-5200U from the new Broadwell line for the very first time. This CPU has a base speed of 2.2 GHz and can achieve a rate of 2.7 GHz in Turbo mode. Intel specifies a peak power dissipation (TDP) of 15 watts. The review sample competes against Asus' UX32LA with an Intel Core i5-4200U for analyzing the performance in relation to the Haswell architecture. The Intel Core i5-4200U runs with a clock rate of 1.6 GHz, and HP's ProBook 430 G2 with an Intel Core i5-4210U runs 100 MHz faster. The Cinebench R15 benchmark gives information about the computing performance of our comparison devices. Intel's Core i5-5200U surpasses the precursor by approximately 12% and even outperforms the performance of Intel's Core i5-4210U by 8%. The Broadwell CPU consistently clocked with the full Turbo rate of 2.7 GHz during the test. The new CPU is also impressive in battery mode since it accomplishes similar scores. More details about the CPU can be found in our FAQ section.

Cinebench R15
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
260 Points
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
194 Points -25%
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
236 Points -9%
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
228 Points -12%
HP Probook 430 G2
240 Points -8%
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
108 Points
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
77 Points -29%
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
101 Points -6%
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
100 Points -7%
HP Probook 430 G2
106 Points -2%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
1.23 Points
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
0.89 Points -28%
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
1.15 Points -7%
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
1.09 Points -11%
HP Probook 430 G2
1.19 Points -3%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
2.81 Points
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
2.16 Points -23%
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
2.59 Points -8%
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
2.51 Points -11%
HP Probook 430 G2
2.59 Points -8%

Legend

 
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD Graphics 5500, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
 
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG Intel Core i3-4158U, Intel Iris Graphics 5100, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
 
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS Intel Core i5-4210U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3128GD
 
Asus UX32LA-R3025H Intel Core i5-4200U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
 
HP Probook 430 G2 Intel Core i5-4210U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
5140
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
8524
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4186
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
24.75 fps
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
2.81 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.23 Points
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
29.68 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
260 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
108 Points
Help

System Performance

Our review sample features a swift hard drive and 8 GB of working memory. Acer's Aspire V3 made a speedy work impression owing to these highly responsive components. PCMark 8 confirms this subjective experience. The review sample scores better in all fields than potential contenders. Although the comparison devices also sport an SSD and enough working memory, the stronger processing and graphics unit of Intel's Core i5-5200U prevails.

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3128GD
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
Iris Graphics 5100, 4158U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
HP Probook 430 G2
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
PCMark 8
-19%
-23%
-14%
-17%
Home Score Accelerated v2
2939
2419
-18%
2172
-26%
2583
-12%
2391
-19%
Work Score Accelerated v2
3761
3283
-13%
3065
-19%
3618
-4%
3599
-4%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
3430
2571
-25%
2653
-23%
2522
-26%
2495
-27%
PCMark 7
Score
4879
4722
-3%
4037
-17%
4654
-5%
4556
-7%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-11% / -15%
-20% / -21%
-10% / -12%
-12% / -14%
PCMark 7 Score
4879 points
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
2939 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
3430 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
3761 points
Help

Storage Device

The large, 240 GB SSD installed in the Aspire comes from Kingston. A look at the achieved benchmark scores reveal shortcomings in the important 4K rates. The comparison with HP's ProBook 430 G2 is especially striking. HP's device manages a 50% higher speed in the 4K read rates, and an almost 80% better time in the 4K write rates. Regardless of that, Acer's laptop is still considerably faster than a conventional HDD. More comparisons of SSDs and HDDs can be found in our FAQ.

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
HP Probook 430 G2
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
AS SSD
33%
51%
Seq Read
491.3
476.7
-3%
517
5%
Seq Write
285
283.8
0%
323.5
14%
4K Read
22.47
28.79
28%
33.3
48%
4K Write
47.94
75.4
57%
85.4
78%
4K-64 Read
151.9
324
113%
370.2
144%
4K-64 Write
157.8
174.9
11%
215.3
36%
Access Time Read *
0.124
0.096
23%
0.083
33%
Access Time Write *
0.075
0.048
36%
0.04
47%

* ... smaller is better

Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Sequential Read: 491.3MB/s
Sequential Write: 285MB/s
4K Read: 22.47MB/s
4K Write: 47.94MB/s
4K-64 Read: 151.9MB/s
4K-64 Write: 157.8MB/s
Access Time Read: 0.124ms
Access Time Write: 0.075ms
Score Read: 223Points
Score Write: 234Points
Score Total: 570Points

Graphics Card

The processor-integrated Intel HD Graphics 5500 has a core clock of 900 MHz and a memory clock of 800 MHz in our case. An important development of the Broadwell unit is the support of DirectX 11.2 API and OpenCL 1.3/2.0 as well as OpenGL 4.3. A look at the 3DMark 11 benchmarks shows a 20 - 30% advantage over the Intel HD Graphics 4400 precursor. However, an Nvidia GT 820M still presents a 12 - 19% better score than the Intel HD Graphics 5500 incorporated in Acer's laptop. The tide turns in the latest 3DMark (2013), though. Here, the processor-integrated graphics card achieves a clear edge on an Nvidia GT 820M. More comparisons and details about the single graphics units can be found in our benchmark chart of current graphics cards.

Users who cannot use external power when on-the-go do not have to fear any losses. 3DMark 11 achieved an identical score of 1169 points in battery mode.

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
HP Probook 430 G2
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
Asus X550LD-XX023H
GeForce 820M, 4200U, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
Acer Aspire V3-371-38ZG
Iris Graphics 5100, 4158U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Acer Aspire V3-371-55GS
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3128GD
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance
1162
952
-18%
781
-33%
1302
12%
929
-20%
963
-17%
3DMark
-20%
-29%
-14%
-34%
-16%
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score
54754
42413
-23%
36498
-33%
50055
-9%
33266
-39%
44071
-20%
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score
5146
4346
-16%
3928
-24%
4225
-18%
3722
-28%
4512
-12%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Score
622
484
763
572
584
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-19% / -19%
-31% / -30%
-1% / -5%
-27% / -29%
-17% / -16%
3DMark 06 1280x800 Score
7725 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
4798 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1162 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
54754 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
5146 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Opting for a processor-integrated graphics card largely ruins the suitability for playing up-to-date games. Some newer games can only be rendered smoothly using minimum graphics settings. Intel's HD Graphics 5500 is clearly stronger than Intel's HD Graphics 4400 installed in the contenders. In Tomb Raider and BioShockAsus' UX32LA achieved a 20% lower frame rate and HP's ProBook G2 as much as 42% less on average than our review sample. Thus, it is quite possible to enjoy games like BioShock: Infinite on Acer's laptop. However, the Aspire V3 cannot compete with the power of an Nvidia GeForce GT 820M. For example, Asus' X550LD-XX023H achieves averagely 17% more frames per second. Some current games refused to even start, e.g. Assassin's Creed Unity and Dragon Age Inquisition. More gaming benchmarks can be found in our FAQ section.

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
HD Graphics 4400, 4200U, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
HP Probook 430 G2
HD Graphics 4400, 4210U, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
Asus X550LD-XX023H
GeForce 820M, 4200U, Toshiba MQ01ABF050
BioShock Infinite
-22%
-42%
19%
1280x720 Very Low Preset
43.13
35.8
-17%
25.8
-40%
51.2
19%
1366x768 Medium Preset
24.2
17.9
-26%
13.6
-44%
28.6
18%
Tomb Raider
-18%
-42%
15%
1024x768 Low Preset
60.6
53.6
-12%
34.5
-43%
70.4
16%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX AF:4x
30.4
23.3
-23%
18.1
-40%
34.7
14%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-20% / -20%
-42% / -42%
17% / 17%
low med. high ultra
Anno 2070 (2011) 71.2 41.6 22.82 9.96
Crysis 3 (2013) 19.6 12 8.5
Tomb Raider (2013) 60.6 30.4 19.1
BioShock Infinite (2013) 43.13 24.2 19.53 5.9
Metro: Last Light (2013) 22.5 6.1 6 5
Company of Heroes 2 (2013) 22 17.1
Battlefield 4 (2013) 31 21 12.8 4.3
Need for Speed: Rivals (2013) 16.8 10.7
Thief (2014) 20.6 12.6 10.1
Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014) 31.3 28.1 13.3
Watch Dogs (2014) 20.2 13.9 4.4
GRID: Autosport (2014) 91.3 37 19.2
Sims 4 (2014) 173.3 41.4 19.4
Fifa 15 (2014) 36.6 17.4
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (2014) 21.92 15.75 8.33
Alien: Isolation (2014) 35.6 23.1 12.3 8.8
Ryse: Son of Rome (2014) 13.9 9.3
The Evil Within (2014) 17.7 13
F1 2014 (2014) 56 37 23 13
Civilization: Beyond Earth (2014) 45.3 18.4 11.6
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014) 32.5 16.5
Far Cry 4 (2014) 18.3 13.9 7
The Crew (2014) 21.3 16.5 7.9

Emissions

System Noise

The V3 makes an extremely good impression in terms of fan characteristics. The fan remained noiseless particularly in idle mode. The selected storage prevents the entire laptop from making any noise at all. It took a while before the review sample reached its maximum noise of approximately 39 dB(A) in load. The frequencies the fan produced were all within an inconspicuous range.

Noise Level

Idle
29.6 / 29.6 / 29.6 dB(A)
Load
39.8 / 39.9 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)
Stress test
Stress test

Temperature

The inactive fan in idle mode does not adversely affect the temperature development. The Aspire V3 always remained below 26 °C. A clear temperature increase was only noticed during load. However, that will not be in the user's work field. Use on the lap is also quite possible without problems.

We use the stress test to examine the inner temperature development in an extreme scenario. The CPU and GPU are loaded via Prime95 and FurMark, and they are observed for one hour. It is remarkable that the CPU's clock rate never dropped to below 2500 MHz, and thus it remained even over the base speed. The CPU immediately clocked up to its maximum of 2.7 GHz directly after the stress test and achieved the same 3DMark 11 scores as in a cold start.

 23.1 °C
74 F
25.7 °C
78 F
25 °C
77 F
 
 23.1 °C
74 F
25.7 °C
78 F
24.6 °C
76 F
 
 22.4 °C
72 F
22.6 °C
73 F
25.4 °C
78 F
 
Maximum: 25.7 °C = 78 F
Average: 24.2 °C = 76 F
26.1 °C
79 F
25.9 °C
79 F
23.6 °C
74 F
23.4 °C
74 F
22.8 °C
73 F
22.9 °C
73 F
22.7 °C
73 F
22.6 °C
73 F
22.3 °C
72 F
Maximum: 26.1 °C = 79 F
Average: 23.6 °C = 74 F
Power Supply (max.)  27.6 °C = 82 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 26.8 °C / 80 F, compared to the average of 30.7 °C / 87 F for the devices in the class Subnotebook.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 34.5 °C / 94 F, compared to the average of 35.9 °C / 97 F, ranging from 21.4 to 59 °C for the class Subnotebook.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 40 °C / 104 F, compared to the average of 39.4 °C / 103 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24.2 °C / 76 F, compared to the device average of 30.7 °C / 87 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 25.4 °C / 77.7 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(+) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.3 °C / 82.9 F (+2.9 °C / 5.2 F).

Speakers

This laptop will not satisfy users who like to listen to loud music. The review sample is simply too quiet especially for a movie night in bed or on the couch. However, clear mids and trebles produce a pleasant sound. Neither speaker could develop a wide sound spectrum, though. Music lovers should use external solutions.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Although the hardware in the review sample is now considerably stronger, it does not differ much from the Haswell-based rivals. HP's ProBook 430 G2, however, is still up to 4.1 watts more efficient than the Aspire V3. Asus' UX32LA is particularly consuming with as much as 39.2 watts and is thus clearly above both the Acer's 31.5 and HP's 27.1 watts.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.7 / 5 / 7.3 Watt
Load midlight 28.7 / 31.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
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 Runtime

The new Acer Aspire V3-371 sports a 49 Wh battery. Asus' UX32LA has a higher capacity of one watt hour, and HP's ProBook 430 G2 has to be satisfied with a considerably lower 40 Wh.

The first battery test focuses on the maximum possible battery runtime. We set the screen's brightness to a minimum and enable Windows' energy-saving profile while the communication modules are off. The Battery Eater tool simulates reading texts. The review sample ultimately shut down after 19 hours and 42 minutes and achieves a significantly longer runtime than its rivals.

We check the runtime with browsing via Wi-Fi to simulate a practical scenario. The brightness is set to 155 cd/m² and the radio modules are enabled. The Aspire managed 9 hours and 45 minutes in a jumble of different websites and YouTube videos. It will therefore easily manage a whole workday. The Asus UX32LA surpasses that by one hour, and HP's ProBook 430 G2 is drained in half the time of Asus' laptop.

Lastly, we again use the Battery Eater program to ascertain the minimum battery runtime under real-world load. The Classic test is performed using maximum brightness and Windows' high-performance profile. An outlet is needed after 2.5 hours. Acer once more takes the lead in the round of contenders with this result.

The 13.3-inch laptop is overall convincing and will last a whole workday or a day at university.

Battery Runtime - WiFi (sort by value)
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ
585 min
HP Probook 430 G2
332 min
Asus UX32LA-R3025H
640 min

Legend

 
Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD Graphics 5500, Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE
 
HP Probook 430 G2 Intel Core i5-4210U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, Samsung SSD 840 PRO MZ7PD128HCFV-000H1
 
Asus UX32LA-R3025H Intel Core i5-4200U, Intel HD Graphics 4400, SanDisk SD6SB1M128G1002
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
19h 42min
WiFi Surfing
9h 45min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 31min

Verdict

Acer Aspire V3 in review
Acer Aspire V3 in review

Acer demands just 700 Euros (~$800) for a laptop with a Full HD screen, SSD storage, 8 GB of working memory, and a new Intel Core i5-5200U. We discovered where this price takes its toll right at the beginning. Although an aluminum coating has been selected for the display's back, only the casing's looks are convincing. Acer's Aspire V3 is light, thin and plain. However, sharp transitions and not very promising hinges mar the overall impression. The input devices' design is good, and they have been made even for longer working sessions, but the ClickPad's build is a destructive factor in our review sample. Its unpleasant clacking noise distracts work. Following these initial drawbacks, the review sample slowly started to show its good sides. For example, with its Full HD screen that is also matte, and thus even suitable for occasional outdoor use. The TN screen, unfortunately, cannot provide with sufficient viewing-angle stability, but then again that is difficult to find in this price range alongside the other features. The Aspire V3 shows its strengths in the fields of system and application performance. It especially stands out positively from its rivals based on Haswell processors. The battery life is important for a small 13.3-inch laptop. The Aspire is throughout impressive even here. The laptop will easily run through a whole workday.

Overall, Acer's V3-371 can be called a solid mobile device in its price range. Nevertheless, the manufacturing flaws ruin the impression.

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In review: Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ. Test model courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de
In review: Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ. Test model courtesy of Notebooksbilliger.de

Specifications

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ (Aspire V3 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-5200U 2 x 2.2 - 2.7 GHz, Broadwell
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 5500, Core: 900 MHz, igdumdim64 10.18.10.3977
Memory
8 GB 
, dual-channel, 2 of 2 memory banks filled
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, AU Optronics AUO112D B133HTN01.1, TN, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Broadwell-U PCH-LP (Premium)
Storage
Kingston RBU-SC100S37240GE, 240 GB 
, 176 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Broadwell PCH-LP - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, Audio Connections: combo audio, Card Reader: SD
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 22 x 327 x 228 ( = 0.87 x 12.87 x 8.98 in)
Battery
49 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8.1 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Additional features
Speakers: stereo speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: no, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.523 kg ( = 53.72 oz / 3.36 pounds), Power Supply: 281 g ( = 9.91 oz / 0.62 pounds)
Price
700 Euro

 

The first encounter with the new Aspire already...
The first encounter with the new Aspire already...
...exhibited shortcomings in...
...exhibited shortcomings in...
...build.
...build.
The hinges could be more solid and tight.
The hinges could be more solid and tight.
The matte screen scores outdoors.
The matte screen scores outdoors.
Plain and unobtrusive...
Plain and unobtrusive...
...describe Acer's Aspire. There's enough power inside..
...describe Acer's Aspire. There's enough power inside..
...for all kinds of office and multimedia applications.
...for all kinds of office and multimedia applications.
Hardware specs
Hardware specs
The review sample's display back...
The review sample's display back...
...is elegantly adorned by...
...is elegantly adorned by...
...an aluminum component.
...an aluminum component.
The slim and light casing,...
The slim and light casing,...
...and the long battery life...
...and the long battery life...
...predestine the review sample...
...predestine the review sample...
...for mobile use.
...for mobile use.
A small power supply...
A small power supply...
...and its dubiously small plug.
...and its dubiously small plug.

Similar Laptops

Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Lenovo E31-70 Notebook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i3 5005U
Toshiba Portege Z30t-B1320W10 Notebook Review
HD Graphics 5500, Core i7 5600U

Links

  • Tips for buying a notebook - notebookCHECK Purchase Advisory

  • Find the right notebook - notebookCHECK Hardware Guide

  • Display resolution comparison - DPI (grain size) of displays

  • Our test criteria
  • Manufacturer's information

Compare Prices

Pros

+Battery life
+System performance
+Matte, Full HD screen
+Temperature development
+Design
+Fan characteristics
 

Cons

-Build
-Screen's brightness and contrast
-Viewing angle stability
-Interface positioning
-No maintenance cover
-Thin power supply's connector could deform

Shortcut

What we like

Acer's laptop proved to be a ready-to-go partner with highly responsive components in our test.

What we'd like to see

A higher quality standard in build.

What surprises us

A well-conceived laptop with enough battery and system power.

The competition

HP ProBook 430 G2, Dell Inspiron 13 Convertible, HP Pavilion 13 x360.

Rating

Acer Aspire V3-371-58DJ - 02/05/2015 v4(old)
Nino Ricchizzi

Chassis
64 /  98 → 65%
Keyboard
73%
Pointing Device
75%
Connectivity
54 / 80 → 68%
Weight
69 / 35-78 → 79%
Battery
91%
Display
80%
Games Performance
63 / 68 → 93%
Application Performance
75 / 87 → 86%
Temperature
94 / 91 → 100%
Noise
91%
Audio
60 / 91 → 66%
Camera
40 / 85 → 47%
Average
71%
79%
Subnotebook - Weighted Average
Nino Ricchizzi, 2015-02-13 (Update: 2018-05-15)