Lenovo vs. Acer: Which Laptop Brand is Better in 2022?
Before you resign yourself to buying an expensive laptop, wait! Try Acer and Lenovo first.
These two laptop brands have a wide selection of high-quality laptops at your disposal. Also, they don’t offer them at high prices like other premium brands!
But that doesn’t mean they’re cheap! Both Acer and Lenovo have laptops for every need, from gaming devices to business laptops.
But I recommend Lenovo laptops, and you’ll see why later.
Lenovo vs. Acer: Laptop Brand Overview
Before I break these two laptop makers down, let’s get to know them better, starting with Lenovo.
In 1984, Lenovo was first founded in Beijing. Nowadays, Lenovo headquarters has since moved to Hong Kong, and the reputation of Lenovo laptops is stronger than ever.
Lenovo is known today for offering laptops with decent build quality at affordable prices, unlike other laptops on the market.
Acer is a much older tech manufacturer than Lenovo. Founded in Taiwan in 1976, it started with games before moving to other tech parts.
Moving into different tech markets proved to be the right choice. In 2012, the company became the 4th-biggest PC and PC parts maker on the planet.
Currently, Acer makes smartphones and other peripheral gadgets in addition to their laptops, but they’ll always be known as a computer company.
Now that I know their reputations let’s get into their parts and performance!
Acer vs. Lenovo: Piece by Piece
Nowadays, because the need for personal computers is greater than ever, everyone’s picking up a new laptop. But you can’t have it all with a laptop.
Unlike desktop computers, you have to make some sacrifices to balance out all of your needs. Let’s compare Lenovo and Acer where it counts!
Pricing
I know no one likes talking about prices, but you have to balance your needs and budget. Fortunately, both Acer laptops and Lenovo laptops are pretty affordable.
The only issue is…you get what you pay for! Your standard Acer laptop will run you less money than a comparable Lenovo laptop, but don’t expect a laptop with the best parts available.
On average, Lenovo laptops tend to be pricier than their Acer counterparts, but they also offer different Lenovo models at all price points anyway.
In general, a laptop from Lenovo will be made of sturdier and higher-spec parts than a comparably-priced device from Acer. Acer makes much more budget models than Lenovo.
Now, gaming laptops are a different matter entirely. The Acer Predator has a fairly poor reputation, especially compared to other gaming laptops you can find.
The Legion series of Lenovo gaming laptops are held in much higher esteem.
Winner: Acer laptops! This tech giant is the king of affordability!
Processors and Graphics Cards
Everyone wants a faster laptop to get through tasks faster. A stronger and faster processor will let you open more programs at once and swap between them quickly.
A graphics card is essential if you want to play heavier and more recent titles, but it’s also great if you’re a designer.
These brands pack their devices with the latest and greatest processors and graphics cards available, so neither of them is really better than the other.
Winner: It’s a tie! Acer and Lenovo keep their laptops updated with the newest processors, so neither laptop maker has an advantage!
Screen Quality
If your job involves photo editing or content creation, you’re going to need a screen that can provide accurate colors and good brightness.
Even if you’re not a content creator, the screen is the most important part of your laptop anyway, since you’ll be looking at it all the time.
Acer laptops have acceptable 1080p screens at all levels, but Lenovo’s top-end devices blow them out of the water.
You’ll probably want to go for a clear FHD screen at the minimum, and Lenovo has exactly that.
Winner: Lenovo! They beat out Acer here with their crystal-clear and lifelike displays.
Build Quality
When you hear the words “Laptop quality,” what comes into your head is usually the build quality of a laptop. Here’s where the Lenovo ThinkPad lines shine.
They’re built to last just like the originals, so you can expect sturdy plastic bodies in the lower-end models and magnesium mixed with carbon fiber at the top end.
One of the weakest points in a new laptop is often the hinges, no matter what brand you’re looking at. The Acer Aspire series is especially guilty of this.
An Aspire laptop has solid metal hinges covered in flimsy and easily breakable plastic due to an unfortunate design flaw.
If you’re looking at budget Acer laptops for heavy use on the go, I’d advise you to stay away from the Aspire models and go for a Lenovo IdeaPad instead.
Winner: Lenovo laptops! The materials that make up a Lenovo ThinkPad are tough enough to make a MacBook cry.
Battery Life
If you’re a student moving from classroom to classroom, you won’t have the time to sit down and charge. You’ll need a device with a decently long battery life.
Your everyday Lenovo laptop will provide you with a fairly average battery life. If you want a much better battery life, look for a device from the Yoga series.
A full charge on an Acer device will last you a fair amount of time, but keep an eye out for a socket; Their battery estimates are often inaccurate.
Winner: Lenovo! Their convertible laptops are lightweight with big batteries.
Customer Support and Warranty
After buying a new laptop, you’ll have to think about repairs. Can you get them when you need them? In this case, yes, but it’ll be difficult.
Acer offers a warranty on their products that’s good for 12 months, plus a 90-day warranty for any provided software.
If you were to describe the warranty for Acer laptops in a word, it would be: “Confusing.”
Lenovo has handy tiers for their warranty so that you can upgrade from the basic 1-year plan to a 5-year plan.
Lenovo isn’t much better, sadly. Prepare for a long process if you ever send your laptop in for repairs.
Winner: This one’s a tie! Both Acer and Lenovo have poor customer service, which is a shame.
Design
Lenovo laptops are no slouch when it comes to design, either! Take their Yoga laptops as a great example. These sleek convertible laptops are as flexible as their namesake.
Most Lenovo laptops tend to be minimalistic and no-frills in their design, but this helps the ThinkPad and Yoga line look better.
On the other hand, the designs on Acer model devices are fairly ordinary-looking and even boring in some cases.
Winner: Lenovo! They make more unique models compared to Acer.
Acer vs. Lenovo: What’s Their Range?
As you’ll see in this section, Acer and Lenovo both have a laptop for every occasion.
Whether you’re on the hunt for a savvy business laptop or a killer gaming laptop, neither laptop brand will have you starved for choice!
What if I Need a Budget Laptop?
Both of these brands make budget laptops that are ideal for students, but Acer offers many more affordable laptops.
Take their Acer Chromebooks, for example. Since they’re designed to run on Chrome’s unique operating system, they’re like stripped-down versions of Windows devices.
Lenovo has its own Chromebooks, like the ThinkPad C13 Yoga. Unlike its beefier cousins, this 2-in-1 is meant for very light tasks and casual browsing.
Here’s an example of a solid budget device from Acer:
Acer Swift 3 Review
This 14-inch device is meant for lighter tasks, but it can do much more! The AMD Radeon graphics in this device are perfect for lighter games and the classics.
With this device, you won’t be hacking through Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but you can steadily blast through a few rounds of Overwatch and Apex Legends!
All in all, the Acer Swift 3 will get you through lighter productivity tasks and be more than enough for some very casual gaming. You can pick it up You can pick it up here.
Pros
- Great value for money!
- Good port selection
Cons
- You should upgrade the low system storage
- Can’t upgrade RAM
Give Me a Good Business Laptop!
High-end Lenovo laptops are like a jack-of-all-trades because they’re designed to do it all and then some. This is where the ThinkPad comes in.
If I were to compare, Acer doesn’t really have a model that can rival the ThinkPads. But you can pick up a competent convertible laptop from them, like a Chromebook.
Here’s an example of an amazing Lenovo business laptop:
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Review
With an 11th-gen Intel core i7 chip inside, this machine will chew through your tasks and anything else you throw at it!
It’s bright, it’s light, and it’s fast; What more can I say? Plus, it comes with a fingerprint reader and privacy shutter on its webcam for added security. You can pick it up You can pick it up here.
Pros
- Fast-charging battery
- Spill-resistant keyboard
Cons
- I advise upgrading the storage space
- Some users report microphone issues
What About Gaming Laptops?
I’d recommend getting a Lenovo Legion gaming laptop, but the Acer Predator Triton and Helios lines aren’t too shabby for their price. Their specs are more than comparable to gaming laptops from other brands!
If you want to game on a budget, you could also check out Lenovo’s IdeaPad Gaming line. Don’t expect desktop-performance levels from a little IdeaPad, but your games will definitely run!
You might be confused as to the difference between the Acer Predator Triton and the Helios since they’re so similarly named.
As a quick guide, the Triton is designed to have a good battery life but less upgradability than the Helios.
On the other hand, Helios will have improved thermals but shorter battery life.
Here’s an example of one of the best gaming laptops Acer has to offer:
Acer Predator Helios 300 Review
Now, this beast isn’t quite a desktop computer, but it’s extremely close! Featuring a 10th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, the Helios 300 is equipped to chew through some of the latest games!
With an RTX 3060 and a refresh rate of 144Hz, you’ll be blasting through Doom Eternal and CoD: Vanguard!
The Helios 300 also has a backlit keyboard, making it great for gaming in the dark! You can pick it up You can pick it up here.
Pros
- Comes with space for a hard drive upgrade
- Desktop-level performance
Cons
- Very heavy
FAQs
Learn more about both Lenovo and Acer with these questions!
Wait, Aren’t ThinkPads Made by Someone Else?
The ThinkPad didn’t start as a Lenovo laptop, so don’t worry. You’re not going crazy for remembering a different laptop manufacturer.
Indeed, the ThinkPad was originally developed by IBM from the years 1992 until 2005. Around 2005, IBM’s laptop business was starting to suffer, and they were showing losses.
They decided to sell off their line of computers to Lenovo, who scooped it up and continues to make the ThinkPad line proud.
These lightweight laptops are now in good hands with Lenovo!
What Is the Killer Gaming Network?
This is a little internet connectivity trick that Acer has developed for their Predator line.
While Wi-Fi has gone through leaps and bounds in terms of development, it won’t give you speeds like an Ethernet cable.
Acer asks, “Why limit yourself to just Wi-Fi or ethernet? Your laptop has enough USB ports. Let’s use them!”
Enter the Killer Network, which is designed to use both wireless internet and ethernet simultaneously.
You won’t have to worry about high ping or losing your connections with this system!
Acer vs. Lenovo: Conclusion
So, after all this, how do these two laptop makers stand out from each other? It’s through their pricing!
The main difference between Acer and Lenovo is how they position themselves on the market. Acer sells lots of laptops with a combination of low prices and budget parts.
On the other hand, Lenovo has its ThinkPad line to consider. With so many different models and lines of ThinkPads out there, Lenovo decided to take a more blanket approach.
They maintained an acceptable quality standard across all models, which has helped them keep their reputation!
With better battery life, chassis materials, and designs, I choose Lenovo over Acer! But follow the tips below to make your own choice!
Go for an Acer Laptop If:
- You’re on a tight budget
- You plan to stay plugged in all-day
- You’ll be doing lighter tasks
Go for a Lenovo Laptop If:
- You’ve got a higher budget
- You want a device with a long battery life
- You need a sleek and svelte productivity machine