Acer Unveils the High-Powered, Fanless Switch 7 Black Edition Hybrid

Information technology companies of every description were at IFA 2017 in Berlin this week, unveiling the products they hope will carry them through the end of the year. Acer joined those companies with its announcement Aug. 30 of the new Switch 7 Black Edition. The table-notebook hybrid PC runs Windows 10 and comes with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor along with a discrete graphics chip. The unit also was designed without a cooling fan, which is not so surprising considering this hybrid’s thin design. It also comes with a large screen and a an array of security features. All of these features will likely appeal as much to business users they will to consumers. Read on to learn more about the Switch 7 Black Edition’s features.

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition is a two-in-one hybrid, so it can be used as a tablet or as a notebook. And, unlike some hybrids that have a swivel feature, the Switch 7 Black Edition also has a detachable keyboard.

Acer hasn’t shared many details about the Switch 7 Black Edition’s specifications, but did say the device will ship with an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processor. According to Acer, the processor version and clock speed will vary depending on the model customers choose.

It’s not often that companies bundle a discrete graphics chip with a lightweight hybrid, but the Switch 7 Black Edition will ship with the Nvidia GeForce MX150 graphics card to support solid mobile performance. It won’t be the speediest unit for playing the latest video games, but the graphics card should work well for many resource-intensive apps.

Acer has removed the fan inside the Switch 7 Black Edition and replaced it with its Acer LiquidLoop technology. It works with a liquid-filled head pipe to cool critical electronics. The technology also makes the Switch 7 Black Edition much quieter, without a fan whirring away.

On the software side, Acer’s Switch 7 Black Edition runs Windows 10 and includes popular Windows 10 apps such as Windows Hello. However, Acer is notorious for loading up its PCs with a large volume of preinstalled proprietary software, also known as bloatware, that can impact performance.

The Switch 7 Black Edition comes with a stylus built by Wacom EMR. According to the company, the stylus has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity and shading depends on the angle at which users digitally write on the screen.

Acer was quick to tout the security features built into its Switch 7 Black Edition. This PC supports Windows Hello, which is a welcome security option for many. Additionally, an optical fingerprint sensor sits under glass and, when activated, can power on the computer and log in to Windows.

Since this is also a tablet, screen specifications are an important consideration. The computer features a 13.5-inch In-Plane Switching display with a 2,256-by-1,504-pixel resolution that Acer says will support wide viewing angles and “crisp” visuals.

Acer noted the Switch 7 Black Edition is the first to come with the Acer AutoStand, a kickstand that can be “auto-deployed” and “auto-detracted” to enable users to control the unit with a single hand.

Those looking to buy the Switch 7 Black Edition should be ready to dole out some serious cash. When the computer launches in December, it will be priced at $1,699, making it one of the more expensive hybrids on the market. It’s unclear whether Acer will offer other models that could drive up the Switch 7’s price even higher.