Switch to AT&T Mobile Share
The 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U CPU in the Aspire V5 is the same processor found in the majority of new Windows 8 laptops we've tested. Not surprisingly, the performance difference among these systems was very slight; any would be fine for everyday use, including HD video playback, office tasks, Web surfing, and even some very basic gaming. With only Intel's HD 4000 graphics, you won't get great performance out of newer games, but the low screen resolution at least means you can't crank the settings beyond 1,366x768 pixels.
One area where the Aspire V5 was bested by the competition is battery life. Despite the low-power components, low screen resolution, and large body (which could, in theory, hold a big battery), the system ran for only 3 hours and 44 minutes on our video playback battery drain test. That's one of the lowest scores we've seen in a Windows 8 laptop thus far, and really not enough for a full day of on-the-go work. Acer's own very similar Aspire M5 ran for more than two additional hours.
The Aspire V5 includes a standard one-year mail-in parts-and-labor warranty. Acer has gotten better about making online FAQS and documentation easier to find, and offers e-mail, chat, and phone support. Note that you'll have to enter a serial number for the Acer Web site to display the tech support phone number, but it's 866-695-2237.
Conclusion
Acer's middle-of-the-road 15-inch Aspire V5 is neither inspiring nor especially disappointing. It stands out by adding a touch screen to Windows 8 at a very reasonable price, and especially caught my eye because of some holiday/Black Friday price breaks. At $699 or so, it's worth a look. If you can find one for much less, it's hard to beat for value.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations
Acer Aspire V5-571P-6499
Windows 8 (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 128MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm + 20GB SSD Hybrid
Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB ADATA XM11 SSD
Toshiba Portege Z935-P300
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Toshiba SSD
Sony Vaio T13
Windows 8 (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 32MB (Shared) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Acer Aspire M5-481PT
Windows 8 (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 128MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm + 20GB SSD Hybrid
HP Envy 4-1102
Windows 8 Pro (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 32MB (Shared) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
What You'll Pay
- See All Prices
- Set Price Alert
- Price History
