Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) Review
Aspire 5 · 2025 · Released 2025-04-08 · Tested 2025-08-19 · Test Bench 1.1 · published
Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)
Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)
Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)
Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025)
6.9/10
Overall · Test Bench 1.1
- Best for
- Budget buyers, students
- Not ideal for
- Gaming and creative export work
- Tested config
- AMD Ryzen 5 8540U, 16GB, 512GB
- Current price
- $749
- MSRP
- $849
- Warranty
- 1-year limited
Affiliate disclosure: BestLaptop.ca may earn a commission when you buy through retailer links on this page. This never affects our scores or recommendations. Learn more.
BestLaptop.ca Test Team
Reviewed and tested in-house · Updated 2025-08-19 · Test Bench 1.1
How we test →Featured in our rankings: Best Budget Laptops in Canada, Best Student Laptops in Canada, Best College & University Laptops in Canada, Best Windows Laptops in Canada, Best Laptops Under $1,000 in Canada, Best 15-Inch Laptops in Canada.
Quick Verdict
The Aspire 5 15 is the budget laptop most students should consider under $800. It covers everyday schoolwork, has upgradeable RAM and storage, and a full port selection. The display and build are average, which is expected at this price.
Pros
- Excellent value
- Upgradeable RAM and storage
- Good port selection
- Handles everyday tasks well
Cons
- Average display
- Plastic build
- Mediocre webcam
- Not suited to demanding workloads
Score Breakdown
Each sub-score is weighted to produce the overall score. How scoring works.
Use-Case Scores
How this laptop performs for specific needs. Each score weights our test categories differently.
School8.0
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits school use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Business6.8
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits business use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Gaming3.0
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits gaming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Multimedia6.0
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits multimedia use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Workstation4.8
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits workstation use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Programming6.6
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits programming use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Travel6.4
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits travel use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Battery7.2
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits battery use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Value9.0
Measures how well the Aspire 5 15 (2025) suits value use, weighting the most relevant test categories. Methodology.
Design, Build & Portability
The Aspire 5 15 (2025) uses a plastic / aluminium lid chassis, weighs 1.75 kg, and measures 360 x 237 x 18 mm. It earned a build score of 6.2 and a portability score of 6.6 in our testing.
Students and budget shoppers who want an upgradeable everyday laptop.
Display
The 15.6-inch IPS panel runs at 1920 x 1080 (16:9) and 60Hz. We measured 268 nits of brightness, 64% sRGB and 46% DCI-P3 coverage, and a colour accuracy of Delta E 3.4.
It does not have a touchscreen. See full display measurements →
Keyboard, Touchpad, Webcam & Speakers
The keyboard scored 6.8 in our typing tests. The webcam, speakers, and microphone feed the multimedia score of 6.0, which matters most for video calls and media.
Ports & Connectivity
Ports: 1x USB-C 3.2, 2x USB-A 3.2, 1x USB-A 2.0, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm audio. Wireless: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2. Connectivity earned a score of 8.6.
Performance, Gaming & Creative Work
With the AMD Ryzen 5 8540U and AMD Radeon 740M (integrated), the Aspire 5 15 (2025) scored 6.6 for performance. It posted a Geekbench multi-core score of 7,200, a Cinebench multi-core score of 6,400, and averaged 16 FPS across our 1080p gaming suite. Our 4K video export test finished in 16.2 minutes.
SSD read/write speeds measured 4,900 / 3,600 MB/s.
Battery Life & Charging
In our fixed-brightness tests, the Aspire 5 15 (2025) lasted 9.4 hours of web browsing and 11.2 hours of video playback, earning a battery score of 7.2. It charged to 80% in about 78 minutes.
Thermals & Noise
Under sustained load we measured 43 dB of fan noise (25 dB at idle), a CPU temperature of 88°C, and a keyboard surface temperature of 43°C. Thermals and noise scored 7.0.
Software, Configuration & Upgradeability
It runs Windows 11. RAM (16GB DDR5) is user-upgradeable. Storage (512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD) is user-replaceable.
Canadian Pricing & Availability
The Aspire 5 15 (2025) carries an MSRP of $849 and currently sells for around $749 in Canada. It represents solid value at current pricing.
Compared to Similar Laptops
| Laptop | Overall | Battery (web) | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) | 6.9 | 9.4 h | 1.75 kg | $749 |
| Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12 | 8.4 | 11.8 h | 1.09 kg | $2,199 |
| Apple MacBook Air 15 (M4) | 8.5 | 18.4 h | 1.51 kg | $1,649 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2025) | 8.1 | 8.6 h | 1.5 kg | $2,699 |
Final Verdict
The Aspire 5 15 is the budget laptop most students should consider under $800. It covers everyday schoolwork, has upgradeable RAM and storage, and a full port selection. The display and build are average, which is expected at this price.
Buy it if: Students and budget shoppers who want an upgradeable everyday laptop. Skip it if: Buyers who want a premium display or strong performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Acer Aspire 5 15 (2025) worth it?
The Aspire 5 15 is the budget laptop most students should consider under $800. It covers everyday schoolwork, has upgradeable RAM and storage, and a full port selection. The display and build are average, which is expected at this price.
Who should buy the Aspire 5 15 (2025)?
Students and budget shoppers who want an upgradeable everyday laptop.
What is the battery life of the Aspire 5 15 (2025)?
In our web browsing test at a fixed brightness, it lasted 9.4 hours; video playback lasted 11.2 hours.
How much does the Aspire 5 15 (2025) cost in Canada?
It currently starts around $749 in Canada, down from an MSRP of $849.
Real tests. Smarter laptop decisions.
Get top-tested laptop picks, Canadian deal alerts, and buying advice.
Discussion