Asus vs. Acer: I've reviewed laptops from both brands for years, and here's my pick

When it comes to consumer laptops, two brands often stand out from the rest: Asus and Acer. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but they cater to different needs and preferences. Acer tends to focus on practicality and value, offering sensible machines with decent hardware at affordable prices.

Asus, on the other hand, leans into the premium experience with vibrant OLED screens, powerful hardware, and ambitious designs. Acer consistently undercuts rivals' pricing while still providing dependable performance and hardware. The Acer Aspire Go 15 and the Aspire Vero Green are great examples, regularly selling for under $500.

The Aspire Go 15 has been recommended many times over the years for striking that perfect balance between cost and functionality. It's a great work computer, equipped with the latest Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen processors, keeping the hardware responsive during day-to-day use. Acer's design language is pragmatic, and this works in its favor.

Its devices are meant to blend naturally into office and school environments, opting for subtlety over flashy aesthetics or gimmicks. Devices like the Aspire Go 15 have a clean, understated design that is notably professional. They're also sleek without being overly thin, allowing Acer to equip these models with comfortable keyboards, a generous selection of ports, and robust cooling systems.

On the other hand, Asus is a better choice for content creators. Their laptops often pair powerful processors with discrete Nvidia RTX graphics cards for high-resolution video rendering or 3D modeling. They also boast some of the best laptop displays on the market, featuring high-end OLEDs with tandem displays and Asus' proprietary Lumina tech.

Certain models like the ProArt P16 have creator-specific features such as the DialPad, a small wheel on the trackpad that can be customized to certain actions. If there's one area where Asus boldly stands out from the competition, it's with pushing the boundaries of design. The Zenbook Duo, for example, features two full-size screens that can be used in multiple configurations.

This flexibility opens up the door for a wide range of possibilities, from productivity applications to creative workloads. Ultimately, Acer tends to answer the question of value matching the price tag, which is why it's the better choice for most people. Asus focuses on providing a certain experience, particularly for content creators.

If you want a dependable work computer, get an Acer. If you're a content creator or want a powerful, feature-rich machine, Asus is the better choice.