Acer has introduced a wide range of new products at its IFA 2017 press conference in Berlin, including new PCs and expansions to its Predator gaming lineup.
New entries in Acer’s ultraslim and ultralight notebook range Swift and its convertible notebook range Spin were unveiled at the event, as well as a new version of the Switch 7 2-in-1 notebook introduced last year. All of the new notebooks feature 8th Generation Intel Core processors.
“Whether for work, play or creating, in the office or on-the-go, Acer offers a wide range of products to meet diverse and unique needs of the modern user,” said Acer’s President of IT Products Business Jerry Kao.
The new version of the Switch 7 has been dubbed the Black Edition, and is the first fanless 2-in-1 notebook to feature discrete graphics according to Acer. It packs in an 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics into its 1.15kg frame, and is cooled using Acer’s LiquidLoop technology that the company said is modelled after the human circulatory system.
It also features a new kickstand called AutoStand that can be deployed and retracted simply by pressing the notebook down on a surface vertically. Other features include support for 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and pen tilt support using an embedded stylus, and a 13.5-inch IPS display that provides “a crisp, vibrant visual experience from wide viewing angles”.
Acer’s new notebook for “superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style” is the Swift 5. Weighing less than 1kg, the Swift 5 features an eight-hour battery life, a multi-touch Full HD IPS touchscreen with narrow bezel, a backlit keyboard, and powerful audio performance through Acer TrueHarmony with Dolby Audio Premium technology.
Rounding out the new notebooks from Acer is the Spin 5. As a convertible notebook, the Spin 5 is being pitched as “the style-conscious professional’s go-to device for all types of work and fun”.
The 13-inch Spin 5 weighs 1.5kg and is 15.9mm thin, while the 15-inch version weight just over 2kg and is 17.9mm thin. Despite their relatively small sizes, Acer said the devices “pack a punch” with 8th Gen Intel Core processors, a 13-hour battery life, and configuration options up to 16GB of DDR4 memory, and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics available in the 15-inch version.
Sound is also a major focus of the Spin 5, which uses two front-facing speakers that ensure sound is not blocked in any of the device’s configurations. Sound levels can be set to automatically adjust based on ambient noise levels, and the Spin 5 also incorporates Acer TrueHarmony and Dolby Audio Premium Technology.
Acer delivered another first with the new Aspire S24 all-in-one desktop PC. The company said it is the first all-in-one to incorporate 8th Gen Intel Core i5/i7 processors, and is also the slimmest all-in-one it has ever made.
The Aspire S24 features a 23.8-inch Full HD IPS display with a narrow 2.7mm bezel, a thin side profile of 5.97mm and a black and matte gold colour scheme that Acer said will see the PC “become a focal point of any home”.
Qi-enabled devices can be wirelessly charged using the charging base of the Aspire S24, while 2.1 channel sound is able deliver powerful bass as well as subtle sounds when listening to music and watching videos.
New 360-degree cameras are also on the way from Acer. The company is combining 4K 360-degree video capabilities with dash-cam functionality in the new Vision360. It is able to trigger a recording that includes GPS coordinates whenever an object collides while the car is in motion, and save it to the device’s internal storage and upload the video directly to the cloud.
Recording can also be triggered while the car is parked when collisions are detected, and a notification can also be sent to the user’s smartphone. Remote viewing and location tracking is also support
An all-in-one 360-degree camera, the Holo360, was also announced, which allows 360-video to be captured, viewed, edited and shared from the one device. The device features a 3-inch touch screen, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor and integrated LTE connectivity, and is able to capture 6.9K-resolution photos and 4K videos.
Acer’s Predator gaming range was another major component of its press conference, with the company announcing an expansion into gaming accessories with a new headset and mouse, as well as a new 18-core desktop and HDR monitor.
The Acer Spin 5 will be available from Harvey Norman in September with prices starting at $1,199, while local availability for the Switch 7 Black Edition and the Acer Swift 5 will be announced early next year.
