Acer Aspire Go 15 ultra-slim laptop | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS | Intel Core i3-N305 | Intel UHD Graphics | 8GB LPDDR5 | |AG15-31P-3947
I guess I should add a few notes that haven't been mentioned in other reviews:
-8GB RAM is soldered to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded on this laptop. There is no slot for a second USB stick.
A 128GB SSD is also soldered to the motherboard, but there is a slot for adding a full-size M.2 drive by removing the back cover (you need to remove 10 screws and use a pry tool around the perimeter of the back). . cover) to remove the clip. I added a 1TB WD 850X SSD and it works great. Note that you'll need to use a full-size M.2 drive since there are no metal inserts to hold smaller drives in place.
-This laptop has USB-C charging, but it doesn't like the 65W charger and charges slower. Another USB-C charger that works well.
- This laptop comes with Windows 11S and only apps from Microsoft App Store for security reasons. However, there is a way to upgrade to standard Windows for free. You can find a lot of information about this on the Internet.
-I was able to install Ubuntu 24.04 Beta on this laptop. However, WiFi and Bluetooth don't work: As of April 2024, the Mediatek MT7902 WiFi card is no longer supported on Linux, and as far as I know, no one is working on adding this support. The simple solution is to replace your WiFi card with another one such as AX200, AX201 or AX210. These only cost $10 to $20. Another problem is that when the lid is closed, the laptop does not go into sleep mode and drains the battery slowly. I hope this issue will be resolved over time.
-The processor in this laptop is the i3-N305, which is basically an Atom processor from two generations ago. Specifically, this processor has eight Gracemont cores, called E-cores, which run about 50% slower than the P-cores of other Alder Lake processors. On cpubenchmark.net, the processor achieved around 10,000 points overall or 2,200 points individually. For comparison, the i5-13420H scored 19,000/3,500, and you can buy a similar laptop from Acer for about $100 more. However, this laptop is too fast for most users and the power-efficient electronic core extends battery life.
- The screen is very good - bright and sharp. It's better than the Lenovo IdeaPad's screen.
- Although this laptop is advertised as “slim,” I found it to be a bit bulky for its category. Surprisingly, when I opened the back cover I found that most of the interior - about 30-40% - was completely empty. On the other hand, this laptop feels sturdier than others (due to the thick plastic cover) and I hope it will last longer.
Overall, this is a useful and capable laptop with a good display, expandable storage, USB-C charging, and above-average battery life.
- Speed and Storage: This laptop is powered by an Intel Core i3-N305 processor, 8GB LPDDR5 RAM and fast 128GB global flash storage to ensure smooth and responsive multitasking. Plus, enjoy greater productivity with a long-lasting battery.
- Copilot on Windows - Your AI Assistant: Get more done faster across multiple apps with centralized generative AI in Copilot on Windows (preview). Simply press the Co-Pilot button to access it
- Clarity and Comfort: The 15.6-inch 1080p HD IPS display with narrow bezels is ideal for casual web browsing, movie watching or streaming, allowing you to see what's in front of you clearly and in detail. Reduce the amount of blue light on the screen with Acer BluelightShield technology to reduce the negative effects of blue light exposure.
- Connectivity: Easily connect or charge devices via the full USB Type-C port, while Wi-Fi 6 and HDMI 2.1 enhance your digital experience to make it faster, smoother and more enjoyable.
- Unlock more features with AcerSense: AcerSense controls your device's health and battery life, optimizes storage, monitors your apps, and more. It is a versatile tool that provides a smoother and easier user experience.