Acer in 2024: «Macbook killers» Swift 14 AI, TravelMate P4 laptops-transformers, and new Chromebooks with Google AI

This week and last week, the Taiwanese brand Acer presented updated laptops from the popular TravelMate series, new Chromebooks, and, without exaggeration, revolutionary Windows devices with Snapdragon processors based on ARM architecture. Here is a brief overview of the new products.

Content

1 Windows laptops on ARM: long-awaited Macbook killers or problematic devices?
2 Acer TravelMate P6 14: OLED screen and NPU module
3 Acer TravelMate P4: a laptop-transformer with a 4G module
4 Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 with artificial intelligence
5 Acer SpatialLabs Eyes — stereo camera for 3D video calls and 3D content

Windows laptops on ARM: long-awaited Macbook killers or problematic devices?

The most interesting announcement, in my opinion, happened at the end of May, when Acer presented the Swift 14 AI laptop powered by the Snapdragon X processor almost simultaneously with Lenovo, HP, and Dell. The company promises that the new device will be the most energy-efficient Windows 11 laptop on the market and will be able to work autonomously for up to 16 (!!!) hours without being connected to the network. The laptop is expected to come with a 14.5-inch IPS matrix, 2560×1600 screen resolution, and 120Hz refresh rate.

The device itself is very lightweight, weighing only 1.67 kg, and most importantly, at first glance, it does not lose performance at all when running on battery power. Browsing, opening new windows, and dragging them around, everything literally flies. The price is more than pleasant — just over $1000.

At the time of the review, the laptop had not yet received the final version of Windows from Microsoft, so even company representatives avoided answering questions about how it would perform in benchmarks. Compatibility issues with software that was developed for x86 also remain open. In general, there are doubts that software developers will adapt to a relatively small number of devices.

Acer TravelMate P6 14: OLED screen and NPU module

The company also showed Acer TravelMate P6 14 with an Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor, built-in Intel Graphics series graphics card, and an NPU module for hardware processing of artificial intelligence algorithms. The business-class laptop is equipped with up to 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and an M.2 SSD with PCIe interface with a capacity of up to 1 TB.

Acer TravelMate P4: a laptop-transformer with a 4G module

The ‘junior’ P4 line has been expanded by two devices: TravelMate P4 16 with an Intel Core Ultra processor, DDR5 RAM modules with a total capacity of up to 64 GB, and a WUXGA (1920×1200) display. And TravelMate P4 14 based on AMD Ryzen Pro 8000, the same DDR5 memory, and a PCIe Gen 4 SSD drive with a capacity of up to 1 TB. This device has a 14-inch screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio based on an OLED matrix with a WQXGA+ resolution (2880×1800) that meets the True Black 500 standard.

Another new device in the TravelMate line — a laptop-transformerSpin 14. Weighing in at 1.49 kg and measuring just 21.9 mm thin, this ultra-thin device is the perfect companion for professionals who value portability. The device is equipped with a 14-inch screen with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and a WUXGA resolution (1920 × 1200). The laptop can also be equipped with a 4G LTE communication module.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 with artificial intelligence

Another laptop-transformer — Chromebook Plus Spin 714 — is positioned as a device for creativity with Google AI features that will be useful during video conferences and offer increased ease of use when synchronizing files, Gemini in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail (the presentation also mentioned the «help me write» feature, which can be activated by right-clicking, and improved photo editing capabilities of Google Photos Magic Editor).

Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a 14-inch touchscreen display with WUXGA resolution (1920×1200 pixels) and antimicrobial Gorilla Glass. The screen to body ratio is 86.5% and the maximum brightness is 350 nits. The display provides 100% coverage of the sRGB color gamut. Support for the Active Stylus is declared, and there is a compartment for storing it in the case.

The configuration can include an Intel Core processor up to the Ultra 7 model, up to 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and up to 512 GB of storage. The Titan C2 chip and fingerprint readers are responsible for security.

The device includes a QHD (1440p) webcam with AI capabilities, Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 modules, as well as HDMI 2.0, two USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 support, and a USB Type-A connector. The battery provides «all-day battery life».

The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is made in an aluminum body, MIL-STD 810 certified, has a thickness of 18.05 mm and weighs 1.46 kg.

Acer SpatialLabs Eyes — stereo camera for 3D video calls and 3D content

Acer bills the SpatialLabs Eyes stereo camera as a pocket-sized camera (102×66×23 mm) capable of creating 3D content, live 3D broadcasts on YouTube and other platforms, and 3D video calls in Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet.

The cameras have a resolution of — 8 MP and a built-in selfie mirror, electronic image stabilization (EIS), automatic and touch focus. For advanced users, it is possible to manually adjust the parameters (including camera ISO, white balance, and shutter speed).

The camera will be compatible with Acer’s range of SpatialLabs devices. You can also view 3D content captured by the device on AR or VR headsets or 3D projectors from other companies.