eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Acer refreshed its product line with a wide range of new notebooks, gaming machines and a new Chromebook in a global launch event in New York City on April 21 that included an intriguing liquid-cooled 2-in-1 convertible notebook.
The liquid-cooled Switch Alpha 12 notebook, a 2-in-1 model that will sell for $599 starting in May, was joined by the latest Aspire S 13 notebook, the Aspire R 15 notebook, the commercial TravelMate P658 notebook, the Chromebook 14 for Work, the Predator 17 X gaming notebook and the Predator G1 desktop machine as well as accessory docks and related accessories. Also unveiled were the new Aspire F series notebooks, the Aspire E series and the Aspire ES 15.
The Switch Alpha 12
The Switch Alpha 12 2-in-1 (pictured), which is the first Acer notebook to have liquid cooling, has no cooling fan, offering silent operation for businesses, consumers or schools. The Windows 10 machine will feature 6th-generation Intel Core i7, i5 or i3 processors; a 12-inch In-Plane Switching touch-screen display (2,160-by-1,440); Intel HD Graphics 520; and Acer’s LiquidLoop cooling system.
The Switch Alpha 12 can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM memory and 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid-state drives (SSDs) for data storage. The machines also include a microSDXC slot and a USB 3.1 Type-C port, plus Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band 2×2 MU-MIMO 802.11ac/a/b/g/n WiFi connectivity.
Also included is an anodized aluminum chassis, a detachable standard keyboard, a Webcam that provides 1080p Full HD audio and video recording, dual front-facing speakers and a kickstand that allows the machine to be used in a wide range of positions. Available as options are a backlit keyboard, an Acer Active Pen for writing on its screen, and several docking stations for individual or multiple business users.
The machine weighs about 2.76 pounds and promises up to about 8 hours of use on a full charge.
The Acer Aspire S 13 Notebook
The Aspire S 13 is a Windows 10 notebook that features an optional 10-point touch display, 6th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 8GB of LPDDR3 memory and a 13-inch full HD touch-screen IPS display.
The machine also includes a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 3.0 port, 2×2 MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) WiFi and a precision touchpad. The notebook, which weighs about 2.86 pounds, will be available in Obsidian Black or Pearl White when it goes on sale in North America in May starting at $699.
The Acer Aspire R 15
The redesigned Aspire R15 is a 15-inch, 360-degree convertible that can be configured with a range of 6th-generation Intel Core processors, up to 12GB of DDR4 memory and graphics processors up to the Nvidia GeForce 940MX. The machines have a 15.6-inch full HD IPS display and will be available in North America in May starting at $699.
The Aspire R 15 runs on Windows 10 and features 2×2 MU-MIMO WiFi connectivity, Dolby audio and battery life of up to 9 hours.
The Acer TravelMate P658
Acer’s commercial line gets the new 15-inch TravelMate P658, which features the latest 802.11ad gigabit WiFi and optional Acer ProDock Wireless docking station. Pricing, availability and other details were not immediately available.
The Chromebook 14 for Work
The new Acer Chromebook features a 14-inch full HD (1,920-by-1,080) or HD (1,366-by-768) resolution display, 6th-generation Intel Core processors, battery life of up to 12 hours, a Corning Gorilla Glass display cover and a spill-resistant keyboard. It will be available in several configurations—with 2GB, 4GB or 8GB of dual-channel LPDDR3 SDRAM memory and 16GB or 32GB eMMC storage for consumers, enterprises, institutions and school.
The Chromebook 14 is also ruggedized to meet U.S. MIL-STD 810G military standards for impacts, moisture, drops and more. The machine weighs about 3.2 pounds and includes a USB 3.0 Type-C port and an HDMI port, as well as dual-band 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
The Chromebook 14 will be available in May starting at $349 in the United States.
Acer Debuts New Notebooks, Liquid-Cooled 2-in-1, Latest Chromebook
The Acer Predator 17 X Gaming Notebook
The new Predator 17 X notebook features a 6th-generation Intel Core i7-6820HK processor, Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 graphics, a 17.3-inch full HD IPS (1,920-by-1,080) or UHD IPS (4K 3,840-by-2,160) display, DDR4-2133 memory and NVMe PCIe SSDs in a three-SATA-SSD RAID 0 array for fast data transfer speeds. The notebook will be available in North America in June starting at $2,799.
The Acer Predator G1 Gaming Desktop
The Predator G1 gaming desktop can be configured with 6th-generation Intel Core processors and up to 64GB of DDR4 memory. It also includes a case interior that supports full size Nvidia GeForce GTX graphics up to the Titan X card. Plus, the Predator G1 can be configured with up to a 4TB 7,200-rpm hard disk drive or a 512GB SSD. The desktop will be available in North America in July starting at $2,300.
The Acer Aspire F Series Notebooks
The new Acer F 15 series Windows 10 notebooks can be configured with 6th-generation Intel Core processors, up to Nvidia GeForce GTX950M graphics with GDDR5 VRAM and varying amounts of DDR4 RAM memory. The machines feature a USB Type-C port, 802.11ac MU-MIMO WiFi and come with premium-finish metal in Sparkly Silver, Obsidian Black, Indigo Blue, Wine Red or Marble White colors. The Acer Aspire F Series will be available in North America in May with prices starting at $499.
The Acer Aspire E Series Notebooks
The latest Aspire E series machines can be equipped with 6th-generation Intel Core processors, up to Nvidia GeForce GTX950M graphics with GDDR5 VRAM and varying amounts of DDR4 RAM memory in 14-inch, 15-inch or 17-inch display sizes. The E14, E15 and E17 models come in Marble White, Steel Grey, Twilight Purple, Red Copper, Obsidian Black, Rococo Red and Indigo Blue colors. They will be available in North America in May starting at $399 and will also be available for preorder in the U.S. through the Acer online store soon.
The Acer Aspire ES 15
The refreshed Aspire ES notebook also gets the latest 6th-generation Intel Core processors as well as availability in three new colors—Midnight Black, Rosewood Red and Cotton White. The machine will be available in North America in May starting at $399 and will also be available for preorder in the U.S. through the Acer online store soon.