Acer Aspire 5 (2024) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro
The Verdict
The Acer Aspire 5 (2024) and Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Acer Aspire 5 (2024) is the cheaper of the two at $549 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,950. The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Acer Aspire 5 (2024) stands out for excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 gb ram, while Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is praised for largest macbook display at 16.2 inches. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) if…
- →Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- →Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- →Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro if…
- →Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- →M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- →100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
Pros & Cons
Acer Aspire 5 (2024)
Pros
- Excellent all-round budget laptop at $549 with 16 GB RAM
- Intel Core i5 handles everyday productivity and light creative work
- Expandable storage for future SSD upgrades
- Full-size HDMI and USB-A ports for hassle-free connectivity
- 9-hour battery life is solid for a budget laptop
Cons
- 60Hz FHD display — no high refresh rate or high resolution
- 300-nit brightness is dim for outdoor or bright-room use
- Plastic body feels less premium than aluminum competitors
- No Thunderbolt — USB-C is data/display only
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro
Pros
- Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- 100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
- Thunderbolt 5
- Up to 96GB RAM with M5 Max
Cons
- 2.14 kg is heavy
- $2499 starting price
- Non-upgradable components
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Aspire 5 (2024) | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Windows 11 Home | macOS 17 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.9 lbs (1.76 kg) | 2.14 kg |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | Recycled aluminum |
| Dimensions | 14.09 x 9.5 x 0.72 inches | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-A ports | 2 | — |
| USB-C ports | 1 | — |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 3 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | Up to 24 hours |
| Capacity | 50 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.6 inches | 16.2 inches |
| Type | IPS | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 3456 x 2234 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz ProMotion |
| Brightness (nits) | 300 | 1600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB |
| Cores | 10 cores (2P + 8E) | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) |
| Chipset | Intel Core i5-1335U | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all Apple products. View full details for the Acer Aspire 5 (2024) or the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro.