There is not much left for the celebration of a new edition of Computex, but Asus did not want to wait for the event which will take place in its native Taiwan. The company presented this May 18 a wide range of new laptops, among which are popular consumer models.
Probably the most interesting announcement is for the new Acer Swift 3, which introduced some notable improvements over last year’s model. The company also took the opportunity to present the 2022 versions of the Acer Spin 5 and Acer Spin 3.
Acer Swift 3
We said that the Swift 3 has some important new features, such as the 14″ display, which is now OLED instead of LCD. As you know, OLED displays tend to offer greater color accuracy and a higher contrast, especially when combined with a higher resolution 2.8K like the Swift 3.
According to Acer, the new panel is 100% compatible with the DCI-P3 color gamut, while the aspect ratio has increased to 16:10. However, the new Swift 3’s screen is still 60Hz and still no touchscreen.
In the new model we also find a novelty that we have already seen in many other laptops in 2022: 12th generation Intel processors.
Specifically, it’s the performance-focused Alder Lake H-series (Core i5-12500H or Core i7-12700H), paired here with Iris Xe integrated graphics and 8GB or 16GB of DDR5 RAM. The entry-level Swift 3 has a 512GB SSD, but it can go up to 1TB if you’re willing to pay a little more.
With the use of OLED technology, battery life may be affected slightly, but Acer claims the Swift 3 still offers 10 hours of “real-world battery life”.
However, this is based on a test that loops video with the brightness at a relatively low 150 nits. As for charging, the power supply that comes in the box is supposed to give you four hours of battery life in 30 minutes.
Other notable specifications are the Full HD webcam, the touchpad Made with ocean plastic and Windows 11 pre-installed. At 17.9mm thin and 1.4kg, it’s still a relatively thin and light laptop.
The Acer Swift 3 will have a starting price 999$ and will be on sale from July 2022.
Acer Spin 5
If you’re willing to pay a little more, the new Spin 5 adds some nice features. Material which you won’t find on the Swift 3. The 14-inch display might be LCD, but it has a higher resolution of 2560 x 1600, and it’s also touch-enabled. At first glance, the level of detail and vivid colors on offer is impressive.
Acer’s Active Stylus is also discreetly integrated into the side of the device. It supports the same 4,096 sensitivity levels as many of its rivals, with an impressive response at first glance.
Drawing or taking notes by hand is easier if you use tablet mode, one of the four main positions that the 360º hinge allows. It feels sturdy and sturdy, and doesn’t seem to wobble like it usually does when opening the screen on convertible laptops.
The new Spin 5 is available in one configuration. It combines a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with integrated Iris Xe graphics and 16GB of DDR 5 RAM. This, along with a generous 1TB of storage, justifies the higher price tag.
Also worth noting is the excellent selection of ports, including two USB-C, two USB-A, one HDMI, a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSD card slot. There is also an excellent webcam of 1080p.
The Spin 5 also goes on sale in Europe from July 2022 and will have a minimum price of 1.399 $.
Acer Spin 3
Those looking for a more affordable hybrid laptop are also in luck. The company also introduced the Acer Spin 3, which also offers a 360° hinge and integrates the Active Stylus into its body.
The panel is still a Full HD LCD touchscreen, although it has narrow bezels that allow for an impressive 86% screen-to-body ratio. It also uses a 12th Gen Intel, but the i5-1240P and i7-1260P (from the less powerful P-series). Again, they come with Iris Xe integrated graphics and you can choose between 8GB and 16GB of RAM and a 512GB or 1TB SSD.
Another thing that makes the Spin 3 more affordable than the Spin 5 is its webcam, which in this case offers 720p resolution instead of 1080p. However, the truth is that you will only notice it if you use it to make video calls.
In Europe, the new Acer Spin 3 will hit stores this June 2022 for an initial price of 999 $.
None of these three models can be considered budget laptops, but they are a good choice for students and businesses looking for a laptop they can trust.
