Is there a better alternative?

I haven’t reviewed a better 15-inch budget Windows laptop than the Aspire 5, but there are plenty of capable Chromebook options.

　　On the Windows side of things, the Lenovo Flex 5 14 with its AMD Ryzen CPU is a solid choice. It has a slightly smaller display, but it’s way faster, gets better battery life, has a more robust build quality. It’s also a 2-in-1, making it a more flexible option at just $50 more.

　　Acer’s Swift 3 Ryzen is another good option if you can spend $100 more. It too is faster, it’s better looking, gets better battery life, and has an improved build quality.

　　Finally, you could drop down to a 13-inch model if size isn’t at all important and grab the Lenovo Yoga C640. Its all-metal build is superior and its battery life is so much better. Performance will lag a bit thanks to its Core i3 CPU, but again it’s a very functional 2-in-1 for just $50 more.

　　

How long will it last?

Despite the cheap chassis, the Acer Aspire 5 is built well enough to last a few years, there’s no doubt about that. And other than lacking Thunderbolt 3, it has up-to-date components, including Wi-Fi 6. We’ll always wish for more than the one-year warranty, though.

　　

Should you buy it?

No. The cheaper configuration offers a more appealing value, but there are better budget laptops out there.