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日本Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) review – Affordable but Not Without Compromises
Acer claims that the Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) is meant for small businesses and everyday users. This is valid only if you pick a machine with the optional 1080p IPS panel. We bought a gadget with a TN panel and yes, this one is awful. Since the memory is soldered, choosing a notebook with 16GB LPDDR5 seems like the way to go. Our device has just 8GB RAM. While it’s still okay for basic work, you’ll be in trouble if you want to open more than ten Chrome tabs at once.
Three Alder Lake-based processors are available. Our recommendation is to get the 15W 8-core Intel Core i3-N305 unless your budget is super tight. The other two 6W 4-core processors don’t seem to offer sufficient performance for standard work.
Interestingly, a backlit keyboard isn’t available, not even optionally. This could be an issue for those who work in a dimmed environment or during the night.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-extensa-15-ex215-33/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 1000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 PCIe NVMe 3.0 x4 See photo
- RAM
- up to 16GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home, Linux, No OS
- Battery
- 50Wh, 3-cell, 40Wh, 3-cell
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate
- Dimensions
- 362.9 x 237.5 x 18.9 mm (14.29" x 9.35" x 0.74")
- Weight
- 1.70 kg (3.7 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11ax
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- HD with Temporal Noise Reduction
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Dual Built-in Microphones with Acer Purified Voice
- Speakers
- 2x Stereo Speakers
- Optical drive
- Security Lock slot
- Kensington Lock
All Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/EX215-33/downloads?suggest=EX215-33;0
What’s in the box?
The box contains usual things like paperwork and a 45W barrel plug charger.
Design and construction
There are a lot of similarities between the design of the Extensa 15 (EX215-33) and the Aspire 3 (A315-510P). Even the weight of 1.70 kilos and the 18.9 mm profile are the same. The look is non-intrusive which makes this device suitable for office or school usage.
You’ll need two hands to open the spongy-ish lid but this doesn’t surprise us at all given the price class. The main body rigidness is okay. We observed a bit of flex at the center of the top and bottom sides around the keyboard. The latter isn’t wobbly during typing which is good.
The bezels that surround the 16:9 panel aren’t the thinnest we’ve seen, especially the lower one. The 720p@30FPS Web camera with Temporal Noise Reduction is positioned above the screen. Privacy or E-shutter switches aren’t available.
The lid with its two rubber feet at the bottom lifts the rear of the chassis when the angle of opening is a bit bigger than the 90-degree mark. In this position, we can’t see almost anything on the display because of the bad viewing angles of the TN panel.
The keyboard lacks a backlight. On the bright side, it has a NumPad for faster calculations. The key travel and the feedback of the decently sized keycaps are average at best. Still, the board is okay for work but it’s not for the typists out there.
The moisture-resistant touchpad is a nice surprise. Its plastic surface is smooth and the accuracy is good.
The sizable 3-row ventilation grill almost reveals the entire cooling system. We can also spot four small rubber feet, a pair of speaker cutouts, and a battery reset pinhole on the bottom cover. The hot air is being exhausted through a vent on the back. It points at the lower screen bezel and yes, a small amount of heat reaches the panel during long CPU loads.
Ports
On the left side, we can see a power connector, a 10 Gbps USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) port with DisplayPort and charging capabilities (45W DC-in), an HDMI 2.1, and a 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port. On the right side, you get a Kensington Lock slot, another 5 Gbps USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen. 1) port, and an Audio combo jack.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) | NT156FHM-N61 (BOE07CB) |
| Diagonal | 15.6 inches (39.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | TN |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixel Density | 142 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 60 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are not wide enough. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content
Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this monitor can display.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the monitor at 49% of the sRGB color gamut and 39% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) covers 49% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 243 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 230 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 13%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6760K.
The contrast ratio is 250:1.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 182 nits (Windows slider = 71%) — a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33), the Average color accuracy was 11 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 3.5 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space (primaries and D65 white point specified in ITU-R BT.709, sRGB encoding curve).
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Gaming profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Gaming Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Design and Gaming profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 9.8 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light from the backlight of the Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile not only eliminates harmful PWM when the laptop uses it to control brightness but also reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the Acer Extensa 15’s screen is 22.8 GU.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) configurations with NT156FHM-N61 (BOE07CB), 1920 х 1080, TN panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Office Work
Office Work should be used mostly by users who spend most of the time looking at pieces of text, tables or just surfing. This profile aims to deliver better distinctness and clarity by keeping a flat gamma curve (2.20), native color temperature and perceptually accurate colors.
Design and Gaming
This profile is aimed at designers who work with colors professionally, and for games and movies as well. Design and Gaming takes display panels to their limits, making them as accurate as possible in the sRGB IEC61966-2-1 standard for Web and HDTV, at white point D65.
Health-Guard
Health-Guard eliminates the harmful Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) and reduces the negative Blue Light which affects our eyes and body. Since it’s custom tailored for every panel, it manages to keep the colors perceptually accurate. Health-Guard simulates paper so the pressure on the eyes is greatly reduced.
Get all 3 profiles with 33% discount
Sound
In subjective listening, the sound from the Acer Extensa 15’s speakers had deviations in clarity.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All benchmarks and tests were conducted with the “Best performance” preset applied in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
CPU options
Acer offers this notebook with Intel Processor N100, Intel Processor N200, or Core i3-N305.
Our device has an N305 CPU.
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
GPU options
No dGPU options for this Acer series.
The machine that we bought has UHD Graphics iGPU.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
Gaming tests
| Counter-Strike 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 37 FPS | 37 FPS | – |
| Gears 5 | Full HD, Low (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Ultra (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 29 FPS | 20 FPS | 15 FPS | – |
Storage performance
Our laptop has a 512GB Micron 2450 MTFDKBA512TFK.
The speeds of this TLC-based Gen 4 SSD are limited to the Gen 3 standard of the M.2 slot. The temperature of 68°C during benchmarking isn’t too toasty.
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
You can make your laptop Faster. LaptopMedia has tested thousands of models in the last 15 years, and we have yet to see a notebook that couldn't be made more powerful through modifications.
That's why we decided to bundle everything we know about how to achieve this in an Easy-to-Follow, Step-by-Step, and Laboratory-Tested, all in one project.
Read more about it here:
[eBook Guide + Tools] How to MAX OUT Your Laptop
🛠️ GPU Modifications: vBIOS, Overclocking, Undervolting
⚙️ Building Fast/Reliable RAID configuration
💻 Hardware upgrade tips for best results
🖼 Display enhancing
💾 OS Optimization for best performance
Temperatures and comfort, Battery Life
Max CPU load
In this test we use 100% on the CPU cores, monitoring their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s reaction to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), and the third column is a good indicator of how good the laptop is for long loads such as video rendering.
Average E-core frequency; CPU temp.; Package Power
| Intel Core i3-N305 (15W TDP) | 0:02 – 0:10 sec | 0:15 – 0:30 sec | 10:00 – 15:00 min |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) | 2.59 GHz @ 62°C @ 26W | 2.13 GHz @ 52°C @ 15W | 2.05 GHz @ 49°C @ 15W |
| Acer Aspire 3 (A315-510P) | 2.98 GHz @ 63°C @ 28W | 2.14 GHz @ 57°C @ 15W | 2.11 GHz @ 54°C @ 15W |
| Acer Aspire 3 (A317-55P) | 2.97 GHz @ 70°C @ 32W | 1.95 GHz @ 62°C @ 15W | 1.92 GHz @ 51°C @ 15W |
The base lock of the Core i3-N305 is 1.80GHz. As you can see, the Acer Extensa 15 with the same chip can sustain a higher frequency than the default one even in longer loads, nearing the results of the A315-510P and the A317-55P siblings.
Gaming comfort
During heavy CPU stress in “Best performance”, the noise that is coming from the single fan is quiet.
At the same time, the whole chassis barely gets warm.
Battery
Now, we conduct the battery tests with the Windows Best Power Efficiency setting turned on, screen brightness adjusted to 180 nits and all other programs turned off except for the one we are testing the notebook with. This laptop’s 50Wh battery lasts for around 8 hours of video playback.Оur test was conducted with the “Battery Saver” preset activated in the Windows “Power & Battery” menu.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
Undo the 11 Philips-head screws that secure the bottom panel fixed to the base. Insert a thin plastic tool in one of the top two edges to open a gap. Pry the side, the front, and the other side. The back should be last. If the internal clips on the rear still feel stiff, pry the panel with a lever tool in the zones around the hinges.
Here’s how the bottom panel looks on the inside.
Our device is equipped with the optional 50Wh battery. The base version is a 40Wh model. To remove it, detach the connector from the mainboard by pulling it towards the unit and undo the two Philips-head screws that hold the battery in place. The capacity is enough for around 8 hours of video playback.
You get up to 16GB of soldered LPDDR5-4800MHz RAM in single-channel mode. The upgradable Wi-Fi 6 card is on the left of the memory chips.
There is just one M.2 slot that is compatible with 2280 Gen 3 SSDs.
The cooling is basic. It has one fan, a heat pipe, a single decently long heat sink, and a heat spreader.
Verdict
The Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-33) may be suitable for home, office, or school usage if you pick the max-out configuration. This includes a 1080p IPS display, an eight-core CPU, and 16GB of RAM. The performance of the Intel Core i3-N305 seems sufficient for normal tasks since the chip can sustain a 2.05 GHz clock even in prolonged periods of max processor stress like 3D rendering. This reminds us that the comfort during long loads is good because the CPU doesn’t get hot, as well as the keyboard. The fan is also quiet.
The Full HD TN display (NT156FHM-N61 (BOE07CB)) should be avoided like the plague. The only good thing about it is the lack of PWM usage. However, the color coverage, the maximum brightness, and the contrast ratio are really bad.
The accurate touchpad is one of the notable pros of this laptop alongside the adequate battery life. The Gen 4 SSD shows some decent benchmark scores even though it’s limited to Gen 3 speeds by the single M.2 slot. If you pick the right configuration, the Acer Extensa 15 could be a decent affordable daily driver.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-extensa-15-ex215-33/
Pros
- Long enough battery life given the modest 50Wh battery ~ 8 hours of videos
- Good touchpad
- Affordable
- Decently solid base
- Lid with a lever design
- Good dimensions for a 15-incher (1.7 kg / 18.9 mm)
- PWM-free (BOE07CB)
- Decent port selection for the price – 3x USB ports + HDMI 2.1
- Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth 5.1
- The fan is quiet during full loads
- The Core i3-N305 can maintain ~2.05 GHz clock in long CPU stress
- SSD with TLC memory (Micron 2450 MTFDKBA512TFK)
- Optional 1080p IPS display
- Up to 16GB LPDDR5
Cons
- Some devices are configured with 4-core CPUs and 4GB of memory
- Plastic build
- Low sRGB coverage and contrast ratio (BOE07CB)
- Uncomfortable viewing angles (BOE07CB)
- Soldered RAM that works in a single-channel mode + just one M.2 slot
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