Acer just announced two new 2-in-1 devices that'll widen its Switch product lineup: the Switch 5 and the Switch 3. The company bills its new machines as having "versatile, highly-mobile designs for work, school and fun."
Acer Switch 5: Specs, Price, Release Date
The Switch 5 is the top-of-the-line model of the two, featuring a fanless cooling system, its own stylus, a fingerprint scanner, and latest Intel Kaby Lake processors. The new hybrid also comes with an auto-retracting kickstand, which allows for one-handed adjustments.
The Switch 5 is Acer's sequel to the Switch Alpha 12, unveiled in April last year, which introduced the company's LiquidLoop fanless cooling system. At the time, the machine was an attractive recourse for those looking for a device akin to the Microsoft Surface Pro but had little cash to spare.
The Switch 5 features a 12-inch 2,160 x 1,440 touch display, which will come bundled with the Acer Active Stylus and will support touch-specific features such as Windows Ink. Customers can configure the machine with up to 8 GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM, a Core i5 or i7 Kaby Lake chip, and up to 512 GB of PCIe SSD storage.
In terms of battery life, Acer says that the Switch 5 can output 10.5 hours on a single charge, which is a little low capacity but not too terrible.
The Switch 5 will start at $799 when it ships in the United States in June. This price, however, includes the Stylus and the detachable keyboard.
Acer Switch 3: Specs, Price, Release Date
For those in the market looking for something a bit more inexpensive, there's also the Switch 3. Sadly, this one doesn't come with a fingerprint sensor or comes bundled with a stylus. Even so, it features a 12.2-inch 1,920 x 1,200 Full HD display and has a keyboard included.
The Switch 3 is not a powerhouse, to be clear, only running on Intel's Pentium or Celeron processors. Customers can configure the Switch 3 with 32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB eMMC memory and stash it with up to 4GB of LPDDR3 SDRAM.
The Switch 3 will start at $399, shipping in June like its more powerful sibling.
Both devices feature a MicroSDXC slot, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, and a front-facing 720p camera.
The Switch 3 and the Switch 5 are built for productivity, especially for those looking for ease-of-access between different orientations, be it in notebook or tablet modes.
"Customers have embraced the flexibility of 2-in-1 designs to help them get more done throughout the day in both notebook or tablet modes," said James Lin, Acer's general manager for commercial and detachable notebooks.
"Acer's Switch line is now able to reach more customers, whether they are looking for something that provides the latest in performance and features, or if they need a more accessible option for studies, work and play."
In addition to new 2-in-1 devices, Acer also unveiled new gaming laptops: the Predator Triton 700, and the Predator Helios 300. The company also introduced new Aspire laptops: the Aspire 1, Aspire 3, Aspire 5, and Aspire 7 series.
Thoughts about the Switch 3 and the Switch 5? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
