The Acer ALG AL15G-52 is part of Acer’s new Aspire Lite Gaming (ALG) series, aimed at budget-conscious gamers looking for a capable yet affordable laptop. Priced at approximately ₹64,999, this laptop seeks to balance performance and cost, making it an attractive option for students and casual gamers.
In this review, we will delve into various aspects of the laptop, including its design, performance, display quality, thermals, and overall value for money.
Specifications Overview
Before diving into the details, let’s take a look at the key specifications of the Acer ALG AL15G-52:
- Processor: Intel Core i5-12450H
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (6 GB GDDR6)
- Memory: 16 GB DDR4-3200 RAM
- Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD (expandable)
- Display: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS, 144 Hz refresh rate
- Weight: Approximately 2 kg
- Price: ₹64,999
These specifications position the laptop as a strong contender in the budget gaming segment, capable of handling most modern games in reasonable settings.
Design and Build Quality
The design of the Acer ALG AL15G-52 is understated yet appealing. It features a steel grey finish with an aluminium lid that adds a touch of elegance. The lid has angular ridges that reflect light, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. However, the design does come with some drawbacks, as the lid exhibits noticeable flex, which could be a concern for durability over time.
The overall build quality is decent, with the keyboard deck feeling sturdy despite some flex in the middle. The laptop is relatively lightweight at around 2 kg, making it portable for students and casual gamers. The hinges are robust, allowing for easy one-handed opening, and the laptop can tilt back to a maximum of 145 degrees, providing flexibility in usage.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard on the ALG AL15G-52 is full-sized and includes a numeric keypad. It offers good travel and feedback, making it suitable for both gaming and typing tasks. However, some users may find the trackpad a bit rattly and less responsive than expected, which could detract from the overall user experience.
Display Quality
The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 144 Hz refresh rate, which is a significant advantage for gaming. The display delivers decent brightness levels, averaging around 281 nits, making it usable in well-lit environments. Colour accuracy is acceptable, with coverage of 63.4% sRGB and 45.3% DCI-P3, which should suffice for gaming and media consumption.
The thin bezels surrounding the display enhance the immersive experience, and the viewing angles are satisfactory, allowing for comfortable viewing from various positions. However, while the display is good for its price range, it may not compete with higher-end models in terms of colour fidelity and brightness.
Performance
Gaming Performance
Equipped with the Intel Core i5-12450H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, the Acer ALG AL15G-52 is designed to handle modern gaming demands. During testing, the laptop performed admirably, running most AAA titles at medium to high settings at 1080p resolution. For instance:
- Valorant: Achieved well over 60 FPS on high settings.
- Apex Legends: Maintained playable frame rates, averaging around 50-60 FPS.
- Cyberpunk 2077: Averaged 35-40 FPS on high settings, but with NVIDIA’s DLSS enabled, frame rates improved significantly to over 50 FPS in many scenarios.
While the performance is commendable for a budget laptop, it’s important to note that some demanding titles may require settings adjustments to achieve optimal frame rates.
Benchmark Scores
The laptop’s performance can also be evaluated through various benchmark tests:
- Cinebench R24: Scored 98 points in single-core and 521 points in multi-core tests.
- PCMark 10: Achieved scores of 5,764 and 6,874 in standard and extended tests, respectively.
These scores indicate that the laptop is capable of handling not only gaming but also productivity tasks such as office applications and multitasking.
Thermal Management
Thermal performance is crucial for gaming laptops, and the Acer ALG AL15G-52 manages heat reasonably well. During stress testing, the average surface temperature reached around 34 degrees Celsius, with the hottest spot being the central keyboard area. While the laptop does get warm during extended gaming sessions, it remains within acceptable limits, and the fan noise is not excessively loud.
Connectivity and Ports
The laptop offers a good selection of ports, which is essential for gamers and general users alike. The available ports include:
- 1 x USB-A 3.2
- 1 x USB-A 2.0
- 2 x USB-C 3.2
- 1 x HDMI 2.0
- 1 x Ethernet port
- 1 x microSD card reader
- 2 x 3.5mm audio jacks (for headphones and microphone)
This variety ensures that users can connect multiple peripherals without hassle, although some users may wish for additional USB-A ports.
Battery Life
Battery life is often a concern for gaming laptops, and the Acer ALG AL15G-52 is no exception. While it can handle gaming sessions plugged in, the battery life during regular usage is moderate. Users can expect around 4-5 hours of usage for productivity tasks, but gaming will significantly reduce this duration.
Conclusion
The Acer ALG AL15G-52 is a well-rounded budget gaming laptop that offers a compelling mix of performance, design, and affordability. With its Intel Core i5-12450H processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 graphics, it can handle most modern games at decent settings, making it suitable for casual gamers and students alike.
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Decent gaming performance for the price
- Good selection of ports
- Sleek and understated design
Cons
- Slower RAM may limit performance in demanding scenarios
- Lid flex could raise durability concerns
- Battery life is average
In summary, the Acer ALG AL15G-52 is a strong contender in the budget gaming laptop market, providing excellent value for money. While it has some limitations, its overall performance and design make it a worthwhile investment for those looking to game on a budget.
