Is there a better alternative?

As I just mentioned, the 2020 Aspire 5 is a better choice than the 2021 version. You’ll get a much better display and a similar build quality for around the same money, and you won’t give up much in the way of performance and battery life.

　　If I were looking for a better budget machine in this price range, I’d consider a capable Chromebook option, of which there are plenty.

　　The Lenovo Flex 5 14 with its AMD Ryzen CPU is another alternative. Its display is smaller at 14 inches, but it gets better battery life, is much faster, and its display won’t embarrass you in public.

　　

How long will it last?

It’s not the most robust-feeling laptop, but I have a suspicion that it will last for a few years of solid use — which is about what you expect for the money. You’ll have up-to-date components including Wi-Fi 6, although no Thunderbolt 4 is a bummer. The one-year warranty also isn’t anything to get excited about.

　　

Should you buy it?

No. The display is truly horrible, which ruins the experience of using this laptop.