Choosing a versatile and inexpensive laptop is not easy. But it is precisely this status that the acer Aspire nitro 7 from Acer claims. According to the manufacturer, the laptop turned out to be quite intelligent and autonomous. And the price does not bite as much as the gaming models. Is the novelty balanced? We’ll tell you in the review.
Acer Aspire – versatile laptops
The Aspire series is focused on everyday home use. It includes many laptops, from entry-level devices to advanced devices that come close to gaming laptops. The latter is just the Aspire nitro 7 line. Because its models are equipped with high-performance processors and graphics chips for the entry-level and mid-range gaming segment. At the same time, the cost of the devices is relatively low, since there are no image chips and premium materials.
Everything you need, nothing more
Fresh Aspire nitro 7 received a solid filling, although not as powerful as in top gaming solutions. Depending on the modification, this can be mid-range processors from AMD or Intel, working in conjunction with discrete graphics accelerators.
In the design and construction of the “sevens”, the emphasis was shifted towards practicality: a laconic appearance, classic proportions and no pretentiousness in the design of individual elements. On the other hand, the vendor did not ignore the trends either: the streamlined body shapes were replaced by sharp corners and edges. Therefore, new items look more modern than their predecessors.
The laptop that came to us for review was equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 3550H quad-core processor, a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and 8 GB of expandable DDR4 RAM. The chip chosen for this configuration is now famous – it is often installed in ultrabooks. For larger models, like the Aspire 7, there is an option with an increased heat pack that allows you to operate at higher frequencies. For the Ryzen 5 3550H, the maximum frequency is 3.7 GHz, and the base frequency is 2.1 GHz.
Specifications Acer Aspire nitro 7 (A715-41G-R1DK)
CPU AMD Ryzen 5 3550H
4 cores, 8 threads @ 2.1-3.7 GHz
VIDEO CARD NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4 GB
AMD Radeon Vega 8
RAM 8GB DDR4-2666
support up to 32GB
DISPLAY 15.6″ 1920×1080 IPS
STORAGE DEVICE PCIe M.2 SSD, 500 GB
CONNECTORS AND INTERFACES 1 x Type-C USB 3.1 Gen1
2 x Type-A USB 3.1 Gen1
Type-A USB 2.0
1 x Gigabit Ethernet
1 x HDMI
WIRELESS NETWORK Bluetooth 4.1
Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax)
BATTERY 59 Wh, 135 W adapter
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT 343.4 x 254.5 x 23.3 mm
2.15 kg
ADDITIONALLY fingerprint scanner, backlit keyboard
Design
Compared to gaming and design laptops, the Aspire Nitro 7 looks understated. Straight lines, sharp corners, a minimum of decorations – this is about him. Of the bright details, we note only the Acer logo on the lid and bottom frame and the nameplate on the hinge. The body is entirely made of plastic. However, it is pleasant to the touch. The manufacturer chose the option with a matte texture, which resists prints and stains quite well. There are no comments on the build quality: the device is made soundly, without sloppy gaps or backlash of parts. If you press the keyboard area or laptop lid, the plastic will bend slightly. But if you do not engage in such tests intentionally, there will be no questions about reliability.
Even more status models often cannot boast of such a feature. In addition, the hinge design allows you to open the laptop to a full 180 degrees. This is useful in different situations. For example, when you want to work in comfort: reclining in bed or sitting on the couch.
Ports and connectors
With I / O interfaces, Acer Aspire nitro 7 is in order because the engineers prefer the classic case format and did not chase after thinness. The laptop’s owner gets at his disposal three third-generation USBs, of which two are in the Type-A form factor, and one more received the Type-C performance, full-size HDMI, a gigabit network connector, one USB 2.0, and a combined audio jack. Only a card reader may not be enough – so it would be useful to those who work with photos and videos. Wireless interfaces represent a Wi-Fi 6 adapter and a Bluetooth 4.2 module.
What is inside?
Another advantage of the classic format is easy to access to hardware. To remove the cover, unscrew a few screws with a conventional Phillips slot. So it’s easy to add or change the RAM. In the test modification, only one slot is occupied. The path for a further upgrade is obvious. But there is no additional slot for an SSD drive, unfortunately. Therefore, simply adding a second disk will not work – you will have to change the complete one, followed by reinstalling the system.
Watch movies and listen to music
The laptop received a mid-level IPS matrix with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, a contrast ratio of 800:1, and a maximum brightness of 250 cd / m2 – the numbers are not record-breaking. On the other hand, the characteristics are sufficient for the comfortable operation of the device, whether it be movies, games, or image processing at an amateur level.
Although the native screen has a good picture even in bright rooms, it did not work out with the color gamut – only 63% of SRGB. Backlighting also has nuances: the matrix does not produce record performance, offering only an excellent matte anti-glare. On the summer veranda of the cafe on a sunny day, the display will go blind, as in a regular inexpensive netbook.
But the audio of the laptop was pleasantly surprising. Two speakers built into the bottom of the laptop produce unexpectedly loud and clear sounds. With such audio capabilities, the novelty does an excellent job with games, movies, and music playback.
Keyboard and touchpad
Acer Aspire Nitro 7 received an island keyboard in a low-profile design, familiar to laptops. The key travel is expectedly small, but the pressures are felt clearly, which is beneficial both when typing and in games. There are no complaints about the size of the buttons, as well as the distance between them. With touch typing, there are almost no erroneous clicks or misses. Only one thing is confusing: the arrow keys are small, and it is not very convenient to use them. There is also a digital block, which significantly increases work comfort in some situations.
The keys are backlit. It cannot be said that it is making at a high level: the glow of the LEDs is visible not only on the symbols but also along the contour of the keys. In addition, there are questions about uniformity – some buttons in the test sample were highlighted more strongly than others. You cannot adjust the brightness or color – you can either turn it on or off. However, despite the disadvantages, the backlight copes with its task: it is much more convenient to print with it in the dark.
Solid design without highlighting
The touchpad in the “seven” is small. He received a solid design without highlighting the left and right buttons. This is also a typical touchpad with good sensitivity – enough to surf the net or use the interface in everyday scenarios. It is preferable to use a mouse for games and work with various professional applications. Also, a smart and accurate fingerprint scanner was builtin into the touchpad, which allows you to do it without entering a password.
Performance
Formally, the Aspire nitro 7 is not a gaming device. But a good processor and a discrete graphics card GTX 1650 hint that the laptop is suitable not only for study and work. If we talk about the test instance, only a single 8 GB memory bar operating in single-channel mode caused concern. We tested the laptop in games and several popular benchmarks also to assess the model’s potential and compare it with other solutions.
GEEKBENCH 5 Single-core – 887
Multi-core – 292
PCMARK 1 38253
DMARK TIME SPY 3488 points
3555 Graphics
3156 CPU
3DMARK FIRE STRIKE 8396 points
9587 Graphics
10 672 Physics
CINEBENCH R20 Single-core – 364
Multi-core – 1608
Games tested in Full HD, the laptop’s native resolution. Initially, all releases have launched at the maximum graphics presets. If in this mode, the performance turns out to be unsatisfactory, a second test carries out on medium settings.
ASSASSIN’S CREED ODYSSEY 1080p, Ultra – 20 fps avg, 2 fps 1% min
1080p, Medium – 40 fps avg, 30 fps 1% min
BORDERLANDS 3 1080p, Ultra – 27 fps avg, 5 fps 1% min
1080p, Medium – 55 fps avg, 17 fps 1% min
RESIDENT EVIL 3 1080p, Ultra – 59 fps avg, 3 fps 1% min
1080p, Medium – 81 fps avg, 58 fps 1% min
THE WITCHER 3 1080p, Ultra – 36 fps avg, 28 fps 1% min
GEARS 5 1080p, Ultra – 41 fps avg, 29 fps 1% min
SHADOW OF THE TOMB RAIDER 1080p, Medium – 50 fps avg, 21 fps 1% min
WOT ENCORE RT 1080p, Ultra (RT Off) – 82 fps avg, 56 fps 1% min
The expected results: the device, which received a 4-gigabyte entry-level video card and 8 GB of RAM, does not cope well with the launch of modern AAA hits at maximum speeds. In some blockbusters, performance is extremely poor. In other releases, like the Resident Evil 3 remake, with a good average fps, there are draw-downs of up to 1-2 frames per second. Shadow of the Tomb Raider didn’t start at the highest presets, indicating a lack of video memory. So at the same time, network action movies and games of past years are confidently running on existing hardware and with all the graphics sliders turned all the way.
Battery and Temperature
The cooling system consists of a pair of low-profile radiators, three flat-section copper heat pipes, and two fans. Such a design copes with its task perfectly. In idle time or with a small load, the laptop is most often completely silent. The processor temperature is kept at 39-40 ºC. Under load, the Ryzen 5 3550H doesn’t get hotter than 88 degrees, and the GeForce GTX 1650 doesn’t get hotter than 65. And even with these numbers, the coolers remain relatively quiet.
Results
Acer Aspire Nitro 7 turned out to be a pleasantly balancing model. The laptop is versatile: the available capabilities are enough for a wide range of tasks, including games and demanding applications.
The only significant drawback is the small amount of RAM running in single-channel mode. But the problem is easily has solved: so you can buy a second memory bar later. The novelty also has other advantages: good build quality, an efficient cooling system, and decent sound from the built-in speakers.
