How to open Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-55) – disassembly and upgrade options

LaptopMedia.com Guides How to open Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-55) – disassembly and upgrade options

From: Dimitar Stalev 31 March 2025 / 19:29 0

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Acer Extensa 15

Processor: Intel Core i3-1215U
VideoCard: Intel UHD Graphics (Alder Lake, 64EU)
RAM: 8GB RAM
STORAGE: 512GB SSD

Detailed review

Acer Extensa 15

Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
VideoCard: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
RAM: 8GB RAM
STORAGE: 512GB SSD

Detailed review

Acer Extensa 15

Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
VideoCard: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
RAM: 8GB RAM
STORAGE: 256GB SSD

Detailed review

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Step 1: Opening the Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-55)

Power off the laptop and place it on a stable, static-free surface.
Undo the ten Phillips-head screws securing the bottom plate.
Using a thin plastic pry tool, pop the areas behind the hinges and the top edges to create a gap.
Fully pry the back of the panel, then work your way around the sides and the front to release the clips.
Note: The front clips are particularly stiff, and there is no gap between the plate and chassis, so exercise patience and care to avoid damage.

More info: The internal layout is neatly organized, and the bottom plate includes standoffs beneath the SSD slots to prevent potential drive bending.

Battery Removal and Replacement

This model features the optional 55Wh battery (base models come with a 40Wh version).
Detach the battery connector from the motherboard by carefully pulling it towards the battery.
Undo the two Phillips-head screws securing the battery and lift the unit out.
The battery provides approximately 7 hours of video playback on a single charge.

Memory Upgrade

The laptop features two SODIMM slots supporting up to 32GB of DDR4-3200MHz RAM in dual-channel mode, as per Acer’s specs.
However, since the CPU supports up to 64GB, larger capacities than officially specified may still function properly.

You can buy DDR4 RAM modules here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Storage Upgrade

There are two M.2 slots – one supports Gen 4 SSDs and the other Gen 3 SSDs.
The standoffs below the M.2 slots help prevent flexing or bending of installed SSDs.
There is also a SATA slot on the left side for installing a traditional 2.5-inch HDD or SATA SSD.

Hint: Don’t forget to check out our Top M.2 SSDs Performance Rankings for insights on the best storage options available.

You can buy Gen 3 or Gen 4 NVMe SSDs here: Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Wireless Module

The Wi-Fi 5 card is replaceable and located below the cooling fan, allowing for easy upgrades to newer wireless standards if needed.

Cooling System Overview

The cooling system is basic yet effective for the Extensa 15’s hardware, consisting of one fan, a single heat pipe, a heat sink, and a heat spreader to maintain temperatures under control during light and moderate workloads.

Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-55) in-depth review

The Acer Extensa 15 (EX215-55) has some advantages over the Extensa 15 (EX215-33) that we have already tested in depth. The EX215-55 model has a pair of DDR4 SODIMMs, an additional M.2 slot, and even a SATA slot for normal SSDs or 2.5" SSDs. It's also powered by more punchy Alder Lake CPUs with P cores. Still, it lacks Type-C connectors, while the EX215-33 at least has one. Overall, these are the most notable differences between the two siblings.Unfortunately, we didn't find a laptop with the top-end 1080p IPS screen so we settled for a TN unit with the same resolution. The only pro of the[...]

Read the full review

Pros

Decent battery life given the modest 55Wh battery ~ 7 hours of videos
Well-priced
Lid with a lever design
PWM-free (AUO61ED)
Decent port selection for the price - 3x USB ports + HDMI 2.1 + LAN
The fan isn't too loud during full loads
The Core i3-1215U maintains ~3.12 GHz / 2.38 GHz P and E core clock in long CPU stress
Decently fast SSD (SAMSUNG PM9B1)
Optional 1080p IPS display
2x SODIMMs + 2x M.2 slots + SATA slot
Upgradable Wi-Fi card