Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) Review – Is This the Budget 17-Inch Laptop You’ve Been Waiting For?
In a market saturated with laptops vying for your attention, finding the perfect balance between screen size and affordability can feel like searching for a unicorn. But what if we told you that a contender has emerged, specifically targeting those who crave a spacious 17-inch display without breaking the bank? The Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) steps into this almost untouched territory, and we, as your trusted independent reviewers, have put it through its paces.
For those of you who’ve been yearning for a larger display for work, study, or simply enjoying your favorite content without the premium price tag often associated with such machines, the Aspire Go 17 immediately presents an intriguing proposition. It aims to bridge the gap where most 17-inch laptops start at a significantly higher price point, making it a rare find in the current landscape. But does this affordability come at the cost of essential features or a satisfying user experience? Let’s check the design, build quality, performance, and everything else you need to know to decide if the Acer Aspire Go 17 is the right choice for your needs.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-aspire-go-17-ag17-31p/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 1000GB SSD
- RAM
- up to 16GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, No OS, Windows 11 Pro
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate
- Weight
- 2.04 kg (4.5 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 2x USB Type-C
- 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- 5.1
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- optional
- Web camera
- HD with Temporal Noise Reduction
- Backlit keyboard
- optional
- Microphone
- Dual Microphones with Acer Purified Voice, AI noise reduction
- Speakers
- 2x Stereo Speakers
- Security Lock slot
All Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.acer.com/us-en/support/product-support/Aspire_AG17-31P
What’s in the box?
Unboxing the Acer Aspire Go 17, the experience was straightforward, much like the laptop itself seems to be. Inside, alongside the expected manuals, we found a compact 65W charger ready to power up this promising machine.
Design and construction
The Acer Aspire Go 17 presents itself with an understated elegance. For a 17-inch machine, it manages to maintain a surprisingly slim profile, a feat that immediately caught our attention. The silver finish we encountered exudes a sense of style, complemented by a subtle mirrored Acer logo and an almost imperceptible ‘ASPIRE’ inscription on the lid. It’s a design that whispers sophistication rather than shouting for attention, which we appreciate.
Considering its expansive 17-inch display, the Aspire Go 17 is surprisingly manageable in terms of portability. Weighing in at a reasonable 2.04 kilograms (4.5 lbs) and with a thickness of just 21.40 mm (0.84 inches), it avoids feeling like a complete behemoth. This is good news for those who might occasionally need to move it around the house or even venture out.
While the chassis gives the impression of being crafted from metal, it’s actually an all-plastic construction. However, this doesn’t detract significantly from the overall feel, and importantly, the finish does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints, keeping the laptop looking clean and tidy. This is a practical touch that we know many users will value.
The bezels surrounding the display are reasonably thin, striking a decent balance without being particularly groundbreaking. Unfortunately, a privacy shutter for the webcam is absent, which might be a concern for some users prioritizing their online security. The screen opens to approximately 130 degrees, and cleverly, the hinge design lifts the rear of the laptop slightly when opened, promoting better airflow – a thoughtful touch for thermal management.
In terms of build quality, we did observe some flex in the central area behind the keyboard when pressure was applied. This is not uncommon in larger laptops due to the expansive surface area, and realistically, it’s not a region users will typically interact with under force. The rest of the chassis, however, feels solid and well-put-together, instilling confidence in its durability. One minor point to note is that the hinges are quite stiff, preventing one-handed opening of the laptop.
The keyboard features a dedicated NumPad, which is a welcome addition for those who work with numbers frequently. However, the keys on the NumPad are noticeably smaller than the main keys, and considering the ample space on either side of the keyboard, we feel Acer could have utilized this area more effectively for a full-sized NumPad. The main keyboard itself adopts a comfortable island-style layout, making typing a pleasant experience. The one caveat is the design of the up and down arrow keys, which are half-sized and may require some getting used to. Sadly, the keyboard lacks backlighting, which could be an inconvenience in dimly lit environments. There’s also no fingerprint scanner integrated for biometric authentication.
On a more positive note, the trackpad is generously sized, and in this aspect, Acer has truly delivered. It offers plenty of room for navigation and gestures, making it a comfortable and efficient tool for those times when a mouse isn’t readily available.
Ports
For connecting external devices and displays, the Acer Aspire Go 17 offers a solid selection of ports. It features one HDMI 2.1 port, which is a great addition for users looking to connect to modern TVs or monitors. This standard supports high resolutions and refresh rates, including 4K at 120Hz and even 8K at 60Hz, along with features like VRR and eARC for an enhanced viewing and audio experience.
In terms of USB connectivity, this laptop provides two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, suitable for connecting older USB devices like mice, keyboards, or standard external drives, offering data transfer speeds of up to 5 Gbps. Additionally, it includes two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports. These versatile ports offer faster data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps and also support DisplayPort 1.2 Alt Mode, allowing for connection to external displays via a USB-C to DisplayPort cable or adapter. These USB-C ports can also deliver up to 100W of power, which is useful for charging the laptop itself or powering connected devices.
For wireless connectivity, the Acer Aspire Go 17 is equipped with IEEE 802.11ax, also known as Wi-Fi 6. This standard offers improved speeds, increased network capacity, and better performance in crowded wireless environments compared to older Wi-Fi standards. Users with compatible routers will benefit from faster downloads, smoother streaming, and more responsive online activities. Furthermore, the laptop features Bluetooth 5.1 for connecting wireless peripherals such as headphones and mice.
It’s worth noting that this laptop does not include a dedicated RJ-45 Ethernet port for wired network connections. Users who require a physical network connection will need to rely on a USB-to-Ethernet adapter.
Display and Sound Quality, Get our Profiles
| Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) | NV173FHM-N49 (BOE084E) |
| Diagonal | 17.3 inches (43.9 cm) |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixel Density | 127 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 69 cm |
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. 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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) 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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P)): 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 53% of the sRGB color gamut and 42% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) covers 53% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 296 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 270 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 7650K.
The contrast ratio is 980:1.
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 180 nits (Windows slider = 65%) — 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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P). 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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P), the Average color accuracy was 5.5 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Gaming profile, it lowered to 3.9 dE (Fig. 3).
ACCURACY BEFORE(Fig. 2) Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) in its factory condition
ACCURACY AFTER(Fig. 3) Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) 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 = 15.0 ms. Short pixel response time is a prerequisite for a smooth picture in dynamic scenes.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) 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 Aspire Go 17’s screen is 51.8 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 Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) configurations with NV173FHM-N49 (BOE084E), 1920 х 1080, IPS 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.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
When we subjectively listen to a sound file through the built-in speakers, the sound quality offered by Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) is relatively good. However, the low, mid and high frequencies have slight deviations in clarity.
Performance: CPU, GPU, Storage
All tests are conducted on Best Performance preset set in the Windows Settings panel:
CPU and Work Performance
You can choose between some of the slowest CPUs on the market with the best of them being Intel Core 3 N355, currently sitting at #246 in our Top Laptop CPU Rankings. The machine we bought for testing has the Intel Processor N150 which is the budget variant. Still, it’s fast enough for office tasks.
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)
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)
GPU and Gaming Performance
As you guess, we’re talking about integrated GPUs here. The one that’s integrated in our unit is the Intel UHD Graphics Xe (24EU). Not a record breaker.
You can find the performance rating of all the GPUs on the market in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking.
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
Can you at least play Counter Strike 2 on Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P)? Yes, why not? But first, lower the details to the minimum. And warn your teammates not to expect miracles from you, as you’re dealing with 30 FPS.
| Counter Strike 2 | HD 1080p, Low (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Medium (Check settings) | HD 1080p, Very High (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 30 FPS | – | – |
We felt brave and decided to test Shadow of the Tomb Raider too, and yes, it wasn’t the brightest idea. We got 14 FPS on average – 1080p, Lowest Settings. No worries, the human eye can’t see more than 15 FPS anyway (/s).
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Full HD, Lowest (Check settings) | Full HD, Medium (Check settings) | Full HD, High (Check settings) | Full HD, Highest (Check settings) |
| Average FPS | 14 FPS | – | – | – |
If you need something more powerful, check out our Top Laptop Graphics Rankings.
Storage performance
We bought a configuration with 512GB SSD, and it arrived with an M.2 2280 Western Digital PC SN5000S NVMe, with pretty good for a super affordable laptop speeds:
Temperatures and Comfort, Noise
The laptop is very quiet when even under high load or stress tests. Of course, it’s not very powerful either. All measurements below are taken 5 minutes after starting the test.
| Test | CPU | GPU |
| Idle | 40ºC | – |
| Watching YouTube videos in 4K | 43ºC | – |
| Gaming | 56ºC | – |
| CPU Rendering | 56ºC | – |
Even after 30 mins of 100% load (3D rendering), the temperatures and frequency of the CPU remains stable.
100% CPU load – 3D Rendering
Battery Life
The battery life is tested with Display Power Saving Technology turned Off in the Intel Graphics Software, and the Best Power Efficiency preset chosen in the Windows Settings.
More than 8.5 hours is a very good result, considering the 17-inch diagonal of the screen.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Verdict
In conclusion, the Acer Aspire Go 17 (AG17-31P) carves out a unique niche in the market as a very affordable 17-inch laptop. In a landscape where larger laptops typically fall into the mid-range or higher categories, the Aspire Go 17 steps in to offer a truly budget-friendly option for users who prioritize screen real estate above all else. While it presents a surprisingly slim and understated design for its size, and manages a reasonable level of portability, it’s important to keep expectations aligned with its positioning.
The all-plastic build, while doing a commendable job of resisting fingerprints, does exhibit some flex, and the keyboard, despite its comfortable layout and inclusion of a NumPad, has some design quirks like the half-sized arrow keys and lacks backlighting. The generously sized trackpad is a definite plus, and the inclusion of modern ports like HDMI 2.1 and USB Type-C is welcome. However, the lack of a dedicated Ethernet port might be a drawback for some users. Performance-wise, it’s clearly geared towards basic office tasks and everyday use like Browse and email, so don’t expect to be running demanding applications or playing games. On the bright side, the laptop boasts a fast SSD, runs cool, and offers impressive battery life for a machine of this size. The display, while not the most vibrant or color-accurate, is easy on the eyes thanks to the absence of PWM and significant glare.
Ultimately, the Acer Aspire Go 17 is a laptop that makes certain compromises to achieve its attractive price point and large screen size. It’s a compelling option for those with very basic computing needs and a strict budget who simply need a large display. However, users looking for strong performance, a premium build, or advanced features will likely need to look elsewhere.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/acer-aspire-go-17-ag17-31p/
Pros
- Surprisingly slim profile for a 17-inch laptop
- Reasonable portability for its size
- Fingerprint-resistant finish
- Comfortable island-style keyboard with dedicated NumPad
- Generously sized trackpad
- Modern ports including HDMI 2.1 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C
- Fast SSD (over 3.5GB/s sequential read)
- Long battery life (over 8.5 hours)
- Display without PWM and with low glare
Cons
- All-plastic construction with some keyboard flex
- NumPad keys are smaller than main keys
- Half-sized up and down arrow keys
- Keyboard lacks backlighting
- No fingerprint scanner
- No dedicated RJ-45 Ethernet port
- Low performance, not suitable for gaming or demanding tasks
- Screen is not very bright or color-accurate
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Not bad for cheap. But actually, Vivobook 18 incoming, the king of all multimedia laptops. 18’4 inches 16:10 zen 4 eight cores. if they made a double coolers there, i’d buy it. hail to big screens!
Yes, the Vivobook 18 sounds great, will order it as soon as it hit the market!
Nice
nvm, single cooler, noisy crap. n-chek made a review. so sad, gotta buy 16-incher then