Acer\u2019s Swift 5 appears to be the first laptop containing Intel\u2019s expected \u201cTiger Lake\u201d microprocessors, which is in turn Intel\u2019s first chip to bring its \u201cXe\u201d graphics to PCs.<\/p>\n
Acer didn\u2019t formally identify the Swift 3\u2019s microprocessor as \u201cTiger Lake,\u201d though referring to it as being powered by the \u201cnext-gen Intel Core processors with powerful integrated graphics based on Intel\u2019s new Xe architecture\u201d is a tipoff\u2014Intel announced Tiger Lake last year, in conjunction with the Xe graphics technology.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Acer announced the new Swift 5 at its \u201cnext@acer\u201d event Tuesday morning, which was livestreamed due to COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions. The company didn\u2019t reveal many details about the new ultralight laptop, though it will be available in North America for $999.<\/p>\n Acer\u2019s latest Swift 5.<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n When Acer says \u201cultralight,\u201d believe it. The\u00a0Acer Swift 5 (SF514-54T-76PY) we reviewed earlier this year weighed in at 2.18 pounds. Acer said its new Swift 5 (SF514-5) should weigh less than 2.2 pounds. The earlier and new models appear largely identical, with 14-inch IPS displays. Though the performance of the early-2020 Swift 5 suffered a bit, we\u2019ll have to see what the combination of Tiger Lake and an optional Nvidia next-gen GeForce MX350 GPU has in store.<\/p>\n The laptop will\u00a0not<\/em> include a discrete Xe GPU, though that\u2019s still expected in 2020. Intel has said previously that its first entry into the discrete GPU graphics market should take place this year, though the marketing guru behind the effort, Chris Hook, jumped ship at the end of 2019.<\/p>\n Normally, we wouldn\u2019t expect many chassis design revisions between generations. This time is different: The latest Acer Swift 5 includes a new hinge that slightly elevates and angles the keyboard, providing a more ergonomic typing experience and better thermal performance. Acer says buyers will also have the option to specify an antimicrobial coating on all exposed surfaces save for the screen, helping to reassure users concerned about the coronavirus or other germs. (The display is coated with a special antimicrobial Gorilla Glass coating, too.) You\u2019ll have color choices of \u201cMist Green\u201d or \u201cSafari Gold,\u201d with gold accents.<\/p>\n A side profile of the new Acer Swift 5 shows how the keyboard is slightly elevated when the lid is open.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Acer doesn\u2019t specify what resolution the display will include, though we\u2019d suspect 1080p based upon previous models of the Swift 5. The screen is rated for 300 nits, just above what we consider adequate for everyday use, with a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio and a 72% NTSC coverage.<\/p>\n Inside, Acer has included what we suspect to be the Tiger Lake processor and the GeForce MX350, though Acer\u2019s not listing the exact specifications at this time. The company did confirm, however, that there\u2019s up to 16GB LPDDR inside, plus PCIe SSD storage options up to 1TB. Three thermal modes (silent, normal and performance) will be supported. And yes, there are two battery options: a 40Wh and a 56Wh, which adds a bit of weight.<\/p>\n![\"acer](\"https:\/\/images.idgesg.net\/images\/article\/2020\/06\/acer-swift-5-sf514-55-high_04-100849776-orig.jpg\")
<\/a> Acer<\/small>Acer Swift 5 specs and features<\/h2>\n
<\/a> Acer<\/small>