Acer Aspire 1 (2021)

Acer Aspire 1 (2021)

Also known as	A114-61-S3US A115-32-C7ZW A115-32-C96U
Manufacturer	Acer
Product family	Aspire 1
Release date	January 2021 (2021-01)
Introductory price	$229.99 USD $329.99 USD (Qualcomm)
Discontinued	In production
Operating system	Windows 11 Home in S mode
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 Intel Celeron N5100 Intel Pentium Silver N6000 Qualcomm Kryo 468
Memory	4 GB DDR4 SDRAM 4 GB LPDDR4X (Qualcomm)
Memory slots	1x DDR4 SO-DIMM (15.6" only)
Storage	128 or 64GB eMMC
Removable storage	No
Display	Screen size: 15.6 inch 14 inch (Qualcomm) Panel type: TN Coating: ComfyView technology Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio: 16:9 Refresh rate: 60 Hz
Graphics	Jasper Lake-based Intel UHD Graphics Qualcomm Adreno 618
Sound	2 x stereo speakers
Touchpad	Multi-touch Gesture TouchPad
Connectivity	3x1.1mm barrel jack IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 3.5mm combo jack 1 x USB 2.0 port 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports 1 x HDMI 1.4 out 1x Gigabit RJ-45 Ethernet Qualcomm: 3x1.1mm barrel jack IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi 3.5mm combo jack 1 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 1 x USB 2.0
Dimensions	W: 14.3 inches (36 cm) D: 9.4 inches (24 cm) H: 0.78 inches (2.0 cm) Qualcomm: W: 12.90 inches (32.8 cm) D: 9.30 inches (23.6 cm) H: 0.74 inches (1.9 cm)
Mass	4.19 pounds (1.90 kg) 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg) (Qualcomm)
Battery	2-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) 36.70 Wh 3-cell Lithium ion (Li-Ion) 48 Wh (Qualcomm)
Chassis	Plastic in "Pure Silver"
Number pad	Yes (15.6" models)
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	No
Website	Acer Aspire 1)

The 2021 Aspire 1 by Acer is a budget consumer laptop and can be considered Acer's lowest tier Windows laptop.

Primary Hardware

Processor

The 2021 Aspire 1 can be configured with the Intel Celeron N4500, N5100, Pentium Silver N6000 or even a Qualcomm Kryo 468 In it's 14" version.

Graphics

The 3 Intel processors this laptop can be configured with all feature the same Jasper Lake based Intel UHD graphics with varying frequencies and EU counts depending on processor. The Qualcomm version features Adreno 618 graphics from the Kryo 468.

Memory

From the factory this can only be configured with up to 4GBs of RAM but Intel models will have a free DDR4 SO-DIMM slot which can unofficially go up to 16GBs as the Pentiums and Celerons cannot utilize any more.

Storage

The Aspire 1 comes with a 64 or 128GB eMMC drive and is not easily removable.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark 8:
  • SEQ1M Q8T1 (Sequential 1MB blocks): ~300 MB/s (read), ~150 MB/s (write)
  • RND4K Q1T1 (Random 4 KB blocks): ~20 MB/s (read), ~30 MB/s (write)

Input Devices

Keyboard

The Aspire 1 features a full-size membrane keyboard with a numeric pad, it is not backlit. The 14" Qualcomm version has a white keyboard but does not have a numeric pad.

Touchpad

The laptop comes with a multi-touch gesture touchpad. The touchpad supports various gestures, such as pinch-to-zoom and two-finger scrolling, providing a smooth and responsive user experience.

Reviewers note that the touchpad is responsive and accurate, The size of the touchpad is adequate for basic use, but some users may find it a bit small for more complex gestures.

Webcam

Reviewers find the webcam to be adequate for video calls and basic use. The image quality is acceptable at 640x480 for a budget laptop,

Microphone

Reviewers note that the microphone quality is average, providing clear audio for voice calls and recordings. However, it may pick up background noise, which can affect the clarity of the audio in noisy environments.

Output Devices

This section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.

Display

The Acer Aspire 1 features a basic 15.6-inch TN display with at 1080p resolution at 60hz. It's peak brightness is 200 nits.

Audio

The laptop comes with two stereo speakers. Reviewers note that the audio quality is acceptable for a budget laptop. The speakers produce clear mids and highs, but they lack bass, resulting in a somewhat tinny sound. The maximum volume is adequate for personal use, but it may not be loud enough for larger rooms or noisy environments.

Connectivity

WiFi

The Acer Aspire 1 (2021) is equipped with a WI-FI 5 M.2 card.

USB

The laptop is equipped with three USB ports, a 2.0 to the right side and 2 3.2 Type-A ports. The Qualcomm version has a USB-C 3.2 port in exchange for one of the type-A ports on the Intel version.

Display Outputs

There is one HDMI 1.4 port on the left side only for the Intel version.

Case

The Aspire 1 being a budget model, is made entirely of plastic. The body is colored silver with black bezels on the 15.6" Intel versions.

Maintenance

Being a barebones laptop, reaching around for certain parts is not a problem, however the lack of upgradability is a hindrance for some people, especially on the Qualcomm version.

Cooling System

The Pentiums, Celerons and Kryos can get away with passive cooling. There are no fans, just a copper heatsink.

Energy Management

AC adapter

The Acer Aspire 1 (2021) comes with a 45 W power adapter.

Battery Life

The laptop is equipped with a 2-cell Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) battery with a capacity of 36.70 Wh. Acer claims a maximum battery run time of 8 hours.

Reviewers find the battery life to be adequate for a budget laptop. The laptop can last through a typical workday with light to moderate use, such as web browsing, document editing, and media playback. However, more demanding tasks may reduce the battery life significantly.

Benchmarks:

• Light use (web browsing, 150 nits): ~7 hours
• Video playback (1080p, 150 nits): ~6 hours
• Heavy use (gaming, maximum brightness): ~3 hours

Software

Preinstalled Software

The laptop comes with Windows 10 in S mode with less bloatware to spare the users with 4GBs of RAM.

Accessories & Warranty

A one-year limited manufacturer warranty is included, covering hardware defects and issues.

Reviews Summary

Overall Sentiment

The Acer Aspire 1 (2021) is well-received as a budget-friendly laptop suitable for basic computing tasks. Reviewers appreciate its Full HD display, lightweight design, and adequate performance for everyday use. However, the limited memory and storage, lack of upgradeability, and average build quality are noted as drawbacks. Overall, it is considered a good option for users seeking an affordable laptop for light tasks.

Problems Summary

• Limited memory and storage with no upgrade options.
• Average build quality with plastic construction.
• No backlit keyboard.
• No SD card reader.
• Basic webcam and microphone quality.
• Limited performance for demanding applications and multitasking.

Community Reception

Overall Sentiment:

Not recommended unless you are obligated to purchase brand new at a very low budget.