Acer Aspire 15.6" Go 15 Review

So you need a laptop that won't break the bank but can still handle the basics? The Acer Aspire Go 15 is built for exactly that. It's a straightforward Windows machine for students, casual web users, or anyone who just needs a portable screen for getting things done. With a 10-core Intel processor and a touchscreen, it's trying to offer a bit more than the absolute cheapest options out there.

Here's who this is for: you're not editing 4K video or playing the latest games. You're writing papers, browsing with a dozen tabs, streaming shows, and maybe doing some light photo work. The touchscreen is a nice bonus for scrolling or quick sketches, and at 1.8kg, it's light enough to toss in a backpack without a second thought.

What makes it interesting is the balance it's trying to strike. The Intel Core i7-13620H is a surprisingly capable CPU, landing in the 64th percentile. That means it's faster than most laptops in its price range for everyday tasks. But everything else about the specs tells you where Acer saved money to hit this price point.

Let's talk about that CPU first. The 10-core Intel 13620H is the star of the show here. In benchmarks, it scores in the 64th percentile, which is genuinely good for a laptop at this price. What that means for you is snappy performance when you're working in Office apps, video calls won't stutter, and you can have a bunch of browser tabs open without the whole system grinding to a halt. It's the one area where this laptop punches above its weight.

Now, the other side of the coin. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics are fine for watching Netflix or basic tasks, but that's it. The GPU percentile is 43, and the gaming score is a brutal 10.8 out of 100. Don't even think about modern games. Even older titles will struggle. The 8GB of RAM is also a bottleneck, sitting in the 18th percentile. It's enough for light multitasking, but you'll feel it if you try to do too much at once. The 512GB storage is fine, but it's also on the slower side.

At around $720, the Aspire Go 15 is sitting in a tricky spot. The CPU performance is legitimately good value, but the 8GB of RAM holds it back so much it almost negates that advantage. You're paying for one strong component surrounded by compromises.

Compared to other vendors, you can find similar spec'd machines from brands like Lenovo or HP for about the same price, often with better build quality or support. The touchscreen is Acer's differentiator here. But if the touchscreen isn't a must-have for you, you might find a better overall package elsewhere by spending an extra $100-$150 to get 16GB of RAM.

If you're looking at this Acer, you should also check out the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s. It's often on sale for not much more, and you get legendary ThinkPad build quality, a better keyboard, and often better reliability scores. You might sacrifice the touchscreen, but you gain a machine that will last.

Then there's the Apple question. The listed MacBook Pro competitor is in a totally different league and price bracket, so ignore that. But a base model MacBook Air M1 or M2, when on sale, is a more compelling choice if you're okay with macOS. The performance per watt, battery life, and build quality are in another universe, though you lose the touchscreen and some port flexibility. For pure Windows budget options, Asus and HP have Vivobooks and Pavilions that trade blows with this Acer, so shop around.

For a very specific user, this laptop works. If you absolutely need a Windows touchscreen on a tight budget, and your workload is strictly web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, the strong CPU will serve you well. Just know the 8GB RAM will be your ceiling, and the display won't wow anyone.

For everyone else, I'd be cautious. Students who multitask will find the RAM limiting. Anyone concerned about longevity should be wary of the low reliability scores. My recommendation is to try and stretch your budget to get 16GB of RAM in your next machine, even if it means skipping the touchscreen. It'll make a much bigger difference in how the laptop feels day to day.