LAS VEGAS—At CES, Acer is refreshing its premium Swift notebook line alongside updates to its Predator and Nitro gaming laptop family.
The Swift line has long focused on thin-and-light laptops housed in metallic cases. This year’s flagship is the Acer Swift 16 AI, which measures approximately 0.58 inches (14.8mm) thick and weighs 3.4 pounds (1.55kg).
The PC features what the company claims is the “world’s largest haptic touchpad,” at 6.9 inches by 4.3 inches (175.5mm by 109.7mm). The touchpad is so large that it even supports a stylus. It’s perhaps why Acer is marketing the product to digital creators and artists, although the stylus doesn’t work with the laptop’s screen.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
In terms of specs, the laptop runs Intel’s new “Panther Lake” Ultra Series 3 processors, including the Ultra 9 388H. The laptop’s OLED panel can be configured with either a 2,880-by-1,800 resolution or a smaller 1,920-by-1,200 resolution. Other specs include Wi-Fi 7, dual Thunderbolt 4 USB Type-C ports, USB Type-A, HDMI 2.1, and support for a MicroSD card.
For users seeking a higher-end model, Acer offers the Swift Edge in 16- and 14-inch sizes, which are even thinner than the Swift 16 AI at 0.57 inches and 0.55 inches, respectively. The 14-inch version also weighs significantly less at 2.18 pounds, or just under 1 kilogram, while the 16-inch model comes in at 2.75 pounds.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Another update enhances the metallic lid on the Edge series by utilizing a stainless steel-magnesium alloy for a stronger feel. The Edge series will appeal to anyone looking for exceptionally portable laptops that offer OLED displays. However, both the 14- and 16-inch versions support up to Intel’s Core Ultra 9 processor, 386H, rather than the 388H, which is rumored to offer a boost clock speed of up to 5.1GHz.
On the budget laptop front, the company is also preparing a refresh of the 14- and 16-inch Acer Swift Go. Acer promises to maintain the premium feel and higher-end specs by still featuring an aluminum chassis and support for Intel’s Core UltraX9 388H processor.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
To improve its laptop models, Acer has updated the multi-control touchpad to allow you to access the camera and other multimedia functions as well. The 16-inch Swift Go version can also be purchased with AMD Ryzen’s AI processors, including the Ryzen AI 9 465.
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Acer hasn’t disclosed pricing for the new Swift laptops. But the products have ranged from around $500 to over $750 and $1,000, depending on the configuration.
The Acer Swift 16 AI is slated to launch in North America this Q1. Meanwhile, the Swift Edge 16 and 14, along with the Swift Go 16 and 14, will arrive in the second quarter. All the laptops also support the lower-energy, thin-laptop-friendly LPDDR5X RAM over DDR5 RAM.
Gaming Laptops for Every Budget
At CES, Acer is also debuting three new gaming laptops, including the Acer Nitro V 16S AI and the Acer Nitro V 16 AI, which are for gamers who can’t afford a super-powered rig. Both laptops only support up to an RTX 5070 mobile GPU and up to Intel’s Core Ultra 7 processor 355.
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(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The 16S is slightly thinner than the standard 16 AI at 0.7 inches versus 0.78 inches. However, it’s also heavier at 5.07 pounds versus 4.6 pounds. Another key difference is that Acer will offer the Nitro V 16 AI with AMD’s Ryzen processors, up to the Ryzen AI 9 465 chip. Both laptops feature 1,920-by-1,200 screens with a 180Hz refresh rate.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
For customers willing to spend more, Acer is offering the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI. It also supports up to an Nvidia RTX 5070 mobile GPU, but can be configured with a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and a higher-resolution 2,560-by-1,600 OLED screen. Buyers can also expect upgraded cooling, thanks to Acer’s “5th Gen AeroBlade 3D fan and liquid metal thermal grease,” the company says.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI features a relatively thin 0.74-inch chassis, although it still weighs in at nearly 5.1 pounds.
Pricing for the gaming laptops wasn’t revealed. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI launches in Q2, but the Acer Nitro V 16S AI and Predator Helios Neo 16S AI are not expected until Q3.
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