In almost every way, the Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11 is simply what most budget shoppers are looking for. This budget-friendly, compact, and fully-featured general-purpose tower includes the basics that even comparably priced competitors lack.
For instance –, the true desktop-class 10th Generation Intel Core i3 processor offers legitimately powerful performance, the 512GB SSD ensures that everything runs quickly, and the included USB Type-C ensures that nothing major is missing.
Pros
- Price can’t be beat
- Includes keyboard and mouse
- 10th Gen Intel Core CPUs
- Compact case
- Lots of I/O
Cons
- No dedicated GPU configuration
Some low-cost basic PCs use laptop-grade CPUs, have poor port selection, and still use traditional spinning hard drives for storage. The Aspire TC-895-UA91 outperforms the competition by combining processing power and a robust feature set. It easily wins our Editors’ Choice award for budget desktops in 2021.
Design
Just by looking at it, you can tell this machine is all about the basics, which is perfectly fine for this category and price point. It has a fairly compact size and a modest appearance, so there’s nothing here that screams ‘powerhouse’ or ‘gamer’ at all. Instead, you can go for a minimalist look for an all-black device that won’t clash with your décor and will fit in nicely with your office or bedroom.
Again, with dimensions of 13.4 by 6.4 by 13.8 inches, you won’t have to worry about making room on your desk or floor for a traditional tower (HWD). In comparison, the HP Slim Desktop (10.6 by 3.7 by 11.9 inches) and Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 (11.8 by 3.9 by 10.6 inches) are even more compact, but that’s understandable given that they’re also less expensive (and less powerful), especially when the name is ‘slim.’ (As previously stated, these machines are powered by laptop-class processors.)
The port selection for this price range is above-average, beginning with a USB 3.1 Type-A port, a USB Type-C port, an SD card slot, and audio jacks on the front panel (in addition to a disk drive on the front panel).
The remaining ports are located on the back panel and include two HDMI connections, four USB 3.1 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, and an Ethernet jack. The addition of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adds value and is useful, though most competitors do as well.
If you don’t already have your peripherals, the package also includes a very simple wired mouse and keyboard, which will suffice.
Performance
The Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11 is a capable Core i3-powered desktop PC that excels at most basic tasks. However, the fun doesn’t stop there; you’ll be impressed by the combination of a 10th Generation Intel Core i3-10100 (quad-core) processor, 8GB of RAM, and 1TB (7200 RPM) storage, all packed into a compact machine at a low price.
As a general-purpose desktop PC, the new core components will deliver stable performance, and the storage option will keep the machine running smoothly. If you need to do some light office work at home like you used to, this Aspire is up to the task. However, if you have a heavy workload, I would not recommend it as your primary work PC.
The Core i5 chip in the Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11 bridges the gap for most office tasks, but if you need an absolute powerhouse for the office, bump up your budget to get the HP Envy TE01 or the Dell Inspiron 3880 business desktop. However, both options are quite expensive.
Meanwhile, the Aspire XC-895-UR11 outperforms most laptop-grade Athlon Silver – and Gold-based models, justifying its low price. Again, it can load up some simple browser games with simple graphic demands, or 2D games like simulations or strategy games that rely more on the CPU than the processor.
If you intend to play serious modern games on the side, you’ll need something with a dedicated graphics card; otherwise, the HP Pavilion TG01-1022 is a more affordable option.
Overall – Should you buy the Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11?
The Acer Aspire XC-895 is the best value among the recent crop of general-use desktops we’ve been reviewing from Acer, HP, Lenovo, and others, and it leaves no room for complaint. This model, like the previous Acer Aspire TC-895-UA92, has a solid overall combination of features and components at a still-competitive price.
It outperforms the less expensive competition to justify the extra money you’re spending here, and it even includes extras they don’t, like USB-C and an SD card slot, as well as more storage space. For all of these reasons, the Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11 is an easy choice to recommend for the home-office.
Our Pick
Acer Aspire XC-895-UR11 Desktop | 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10100 4-Core Processor | 8GB 2666MHz DDR4 | 1TB 7200RPM Hard Drive | 8X DVD | Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6 | Bluetooth 5.1 | Windows 10 Home
1 used from $398.00
