ACER

Acer releases new 16-inch laptop with 120 Hz OLED, 32 GB RAM and Intel Arc B390 graphics

Acer just announced the Vero 16 laptop, which has been designed with repairability in mind. To that end, the computer features removable port covers, a detachable external hinge and a latch on the bottom that can be opened without tools. There's even an engraving on the exterior that shows the location of the battery and motherboard. All of this combined should make service calls and installing upgrades much simpler than usual.

This looks to be an extremely capable laptop, beyond repairability. It can be outfitted with up to the Intel Core Ultra X9 processor 388H, 32GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. The computer ships with up to a 16-inch 3K OLED display and comes with a nice 71Wh battery. There's a 5MP IR camera with a built-in privacy shutter, an SD card reader, an HDMI 2.1 port and a pair of Thunderbolt 4-rated USB-C ports.

It's also billed as a Copilot+ PC, so it has all of those AI tools that nobody really uses. This includes stuff like Windows Studio Effects, Cocreator and the Click to Do platform.

The Vero 16 will be available early next year, but only in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) at launch. We don't know the price just yet, or when it's slated to come to America.

This isn't the only big Acer news of the day. The company also just refreshed its Swift series of laptops. The new Swift Air 16 is still thin, but is a bit heavier than the previous generation. It's powered by up to an Intel Core 7 processor 350 and will be available in most territories by early 2027.

The new Swift Blade 14 is an extremely light and thin laptop, clocking in at 1.76 pounds and just a half-inch thick when closed. It can also be outfitted with up to an Intel Core 7 processor 350. It'll be available for purchase in December but, again, only in EMEA.

Acer has quietly updated the options with which one of its lightweight 16-inch laptops is available. Previously restricted to the Core Ultra 9 386H, the latest Swift Go 16 can now be purchased with Arc B390 graphics via the Core Ultra X7 358H and Core Ultra X9 388H in some markets across East Asia and Southeast Asia.

A few months have passed since Acer started selling the new Swift Go 16 globally. Initially, the company claimed that it would be offering its lightweight 16-inch laptop with up to the Core Ultra 9 386H, a 16-core processor with a 4-core Xe3 iGPU. However, we have now spotted Acer selling its latest Swift Go 16 with Arc B390-backed processors.

For context, we reviewed the Swift 16 earlier this year with the Arc B390 and Core Ultra X7 358H (curr. $1,269 on Amazon). According to our benchmarks, these processors should provide Acer's 16-inch laptop with twice the GPU performance thanks to their Arc B390 iGPU. Conversely, CPU performance broadly remains unchanged from the Core Ultra 9 386H.

Acer Vero Aluminum is made from a purposeful blend of 50% post-industrial recycled aluminum and 50% low-carbon aluminum, then finished with a powder-coated surface for a refined tactile feel and a grounded, natural look.

Acer Vero 16 is designed around Acer’s circular economy approach, considering environmental impact across the full product lifecycle, from materials and manufacturing to distribution, use, and end-of-life recycling.

Intel Inside®...Your world is on your laptop. That’s why it delivers the power and efficiency to make, play, and finish it all on one charge. With performance built for mobility and seamless compatibility, your go-to apps and games always run smoothly.

Built for repairability...A more serviceable design makes key components easier to access, repair, and replace, helping extend the device’s usable life while supporting a more thoughtful approach to long-term ownership.

It's also built for longevity, with a MIL-STD-810H certified chassis that's made primarily from low-carbon aluminum. The battery and SSD are user-replaceable, which should increase the lifespan of the unit. The company promises that users will be able to upgrade with new processors "for at least two generations."

At the time of writing, a Core Ultra X7 358H-powered Swift Go 16 starts at SGD 2,499 (~$1,972) in Singapore. For reference, this configuration also includes 16 GB of RAM, a 1 TB SSD and a 1200p OLED display that outputs at 60 Hz. Alternatively, Acer offers the Core Ultra X7 358H with an 1800p OLED display, which boasts a 120 Hz refresh rate and 500 nits peak brightness.

Moreover, this SKU contains 32 GB of RAM. Unfortunately, these upgrades increase the Swift Go's price by over 30% to SGD 3,299 (~$2,605) and to HKD 15,398 in Hong Kong. Incidentally, a Core Ultra X9 388H variant costs SGD 3,599 (~$2,840) with the same display and memory as Acer's more expensive Core Ultra X7 358H SKU.

Currently, we only have found Arc B390-powered SKUs in Hong Kong and Singapore. Please note that while an apparent Best Buy US listing exists, this is actually the Swift 16 mislabelled as a Swift Go 16. At this stage, it is unclear whether Acer will offer the Swift Go 16 with the Core Ultra X7 358H or Core Ultra X9 388H in Europe, either.

 

by mundophone