Acer Aspire 3 A315-42 [A315-42-R6E7] (NX.HF9ER.02G)

Updated 2020 Aspire

Aspire series models are usually affordable, well-built and moderately elegant laptops that have gained popularity due to their high quality workmanship and record low price. For example, the new Aspire 3 A315-42 is a story about how to cram the most powerful hardware into a $600 laptop while saving on everything else.

Rare laptop based on Ryzen 7

The laptop has become one of the rare models based on AMD hardware. The fact is that during the time of the Bulldozer architecture, AMD relied on the accelerated processor unit technology, but they miscalculated, and now Intel reigns in the mobile market. However, with the transition to the Zen + architecture, AMD is slowly returning to the game, and more and more models with Ryzen processors are coming out.

1024 GB SSD

The Aspire 3 has a quad-core Ryzen 7 with an additional quad virtual cores and a maximum frequency of 4 GHz. In terms of performance, it shows numbers approximately at the level of quad-core Core i5, but it costs less. Plus, the built-in video core is much more interesting here than graphics from Intel and allows you to play undemanding online games like Fortnite and Tanks without brakes. Add to that list 8 GB of RAM and a record-breaking 1000 GB SSD and you get a bundle that is more commonly seen in models $ 200-300 more expensive.

Down with boring grey

But in terms of additional functions, literally everyone was put under the knife: there is no USB-C, no fast charging, no backlight with a keyboard. Here you have 3 USB ports, a simple webcam and a kensington / noble lock with a TPM module. And the TN + film class screen is inferior in quality even to simple IPS matrices. I am glad that at least they got confused with the design. Previously, Aspire laptops looked as grey and unassuming as possible, as befits a simple working machine. Now there is a hint of thin side frames around the screen, the case itself has become thinner (almost the reference 20 mm), and red and blue body colours have appeared in the assortment, which add to the attractiveness of the laptop.