Acer Spin 13.5" 5 Review

The Acer Spin 5 is a solid 2-in-1 for someone who just needs a portable screen to get online and do basic work. Its one thing to know? It's a fantastic value for the form factor, but you're buying a laptop that's already a few generations behind in performance. The compact 13.5-inch design is its best feature, and the 2-in-1 hinge and touchscreen are nice bonuses. Just don't expect it to keep up with modern apps or multitasking.

Honestly, the performance is exactly what you'd expect from a 4-core Intel chip from a few years ago. The CPU lands in the 15th percentile, which means it's slow. For basic web browsing and document editing, it's fine. But try to have a few browser tabs open while streaming video and you'll feel it start to chug. The integrated Intel Plus graphics are predictably weak, scoring in the 47th percentile. It's fine for video playback, but gaming is a non-starter, which the 6/100 gaming score confirms.

At its current price of $597, the value is a mixed bag. If your top priority is a compact, portable 2-in-1 with a nice screen and you only do very light computing, it's a decent deal. But you're sacrificing a lot of performance and future-proofing for that portability. For just a bit more money, you can often find newer models with much better specs.

Compared to the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s, you're giving up a ton of performance, build quality, and professional features for a lower price and a 2-in-1 form factor. The ThinkPad is the clear workhorse. Next to the ASUS Zenbook Duo, the Spin 5 feels like a one-trick pony; the Zenbook offers far more screen real estate and modern power for creative work, though at a much higher cost. Don't even look at the gaming laptops like the MSI Vector—they're in a completely different league for performance.

Only buy the Acer Spin 5 if portability is your absolute number one concern and your budget is locked under $600. For students or casual users who just need a web machine for notes and Netflix, it works. But for anyone who needs speed, multitasking ability, or a laptop that will last more than a couple of years, the outdated processor and limited RAM are deal-breakers. Look for a refurbished or sale model with a newer Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen chip instead.