Acer’s refreshed laptops may be the most versatile devices I’ve seen at CES 2025


Swift Go 16 AI

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Today at CES, Acer announced a handful of updated laptops across its flagship Swift, Swift Go, and Vero lines, including new all-in-one desktop computers and additional Copilot+ PCs.

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It’s broadening its offering of Copilot+ PCs, introducing an Intel device (the Acer Aspire 14 AI) and an AMD device (the Acer Swift Go 16 and 14 AI). Both feature updated external designs and come with sleeker, more lightweight form factors and additional OLED display options — all in the mid-range price point to round out Acer’s accessible product portfolio. 

Along with the laptops, it also announced a few connectivity accessories, including a dongle that lets older devices connect to Wi-Fi 7, and a portable 5G hotspot that you can bring with you anywhere and use as a connection for your laptop. Here’s a summary of what was announced. 

Acer Swift Go 14 and 16 

The Swift Go 14- and 16-inch with Intel’s Series 2 Core Ultra 9 processor brings a new level of performance to the lineup, matched with an Intel Arc GPU and the improved battery performance we’ve seen from the processor family. Additionally, Acer upped the ante with 3K OLED displays and support for Wi-Fi 7.

The Swift Go 14 will be available in North America in May, starting at $899, while the Swift Go 16 won’t be coming until April, and will start at $1,299. 

Acer Aspire Vero 16

Acer Vero laptop at CES 2025

Acer

Acer’s Vero line remains one of the most outwardly eco-conscious laptops on the market, and I was impressed with its commitment to sustainability when I went hands on with last year’s version. The materials used in the laptop’s construction (70% post-consumer recycled plastic and oyster shell material) are unique in the industry, and it’s more than a start.

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This year, it’s powered by an Intel Core Ultra 200H series processor and a modest suite of hardware, yielding an accessible device for the everyday user interested in the sustainability message. It will support Wi-Fi 7, and feature two Thunderbolt 4 ports as new additions. 

Acer Swift Go 14 and 16 AI

Acer Swift 14 AI laptop at CES 2025

Acer

Acer’s AI-ready Copilot+ versions of the Swift Go 14 and 16 will be imbued with AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 Series (Ryzen 7 350 or Ryzen 7 340) processors for up to 50 NPU TOPS. On the GPU side, they’ll come with AMD’s latest Radeon 800M graphics card, opening up workflows for creatives such as photo and video editing.

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These models have also been upgraded with 3K OLED displays and a slim-and-sleek form factor featuring some geometric designs on the lid that I can’t help but compare to Asus’ Zenbook products. They do look good, however, and the brilliant displays with AMD’s chips make a versatile mid-range device.

The 16-inch version will be available in April, starting at $949, while the 14-inch version will come out in May, starting at $899. 

Acer Aspire 14 AI laptop

Acer Aspire 14 AI

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Acer’s second new Copilot+ PC comes as a more affordable option, with Intel’s Series 2 Core Ultra processor and either a 14-inch 16:10 OLED option or WUXGA touch-enabled panel. Under the hood, it’s running up to 32GB of RAM, Thunderbolt 4 ports, and an HDMI 2.1 port, which can support up to an 8K monitor. 

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Weighing 3.09 pounds, this is Acer’s lightweight mid-range laptop for the AI-ready student or professional user. Its form factor also comes with a 180-degree hinge so it can lay completely flat. It will be available in North America in February, starting at $799.

Acer Wave D7 Wi-Fi Dongle

Acer Wave D7 Wi-Fi Dongle

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

This cool gadget provides Wi-Fi 7 speeds of up to 2,880 Mbps (6 GHz) with throughput across all bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) and both USB Type-A and Type-C connectors for a plug-and-play installation. If you’re somewhere that has Wi-Fi 7, but you have an older device that doesn’t support it, you can pop this dongle in and voila! Faster speeds for work or gaming. 

We’ll have to go hands-on to test out its functionality further but it looks like a very cool idea that could have some useful applications. Acer says it will be available in North America starting in Q1 2025 for $79. 

The Acer Connect M6E 5G mobile Wi-Fi

Acer Connect M6E 5G mobile Wi-Fi device

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

This handheld device comes with sim card, virtual sim, and SignalScan technology support to provide high-speed 5G network access in over 135 countries. It’s essentially a mini 5G connection hub that goes where you go, and as long as you have access to data, you can connect your 5G-compatible devices.

It features a 8,000 mAh high-capacity battery that charges through USB-C port on the top, giving you up to 28 hours of uninterrupted connectivity on one charge.

The 8,000 mAh high-capacity battery supports fast-charging through a USB Type-C port, while users can enjoy up to 28 hours of uninterrupted high-speed internet connectivity. 

Acer Aspire S24 AI All-in-One

Acer’s new all-in-one offerings include the Aspire S AI AiO lineup, a minimalist, all-white device that comes in a variety of configurations, including one with a 26-inch display available in both Full HD and QHD resolutions.

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What’s notable about these is that it’s powered by the Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors with up to 48 NPU TOPS and an integrated Intel Arc GPU. Availability and pricing for these models are not yet available.

Acer Aspire C24/C27 AI AIO

On the other side of the aisle, Acer’s C24 AI all-in-one features a 23.8-inch or 27-inch display with up to QHD (2560×1440) resolution and 180Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the C24 lineup is powered by AMD’s Ryzen AI 300 Series processor with an NPU providing up to 50 TOPS and up to 64GB of RAM.

It also comes with an AMD Radeon 800M graphics card to bring a gaming and entertainment dimension to the device. No availability or pricing details yet for these products.

Acer Nitro V 14 AI

Acer NitroV 14 AI

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Alongside all of the work machines, Acer also revealed several gaming laptops, such as the Nitro V 14 AI. This computer is a collection of new and now older hardware working together to provide an immersive experience. Under the hood is AMD’s upcoming Ryzen AI 7 350 processor. It harnesses artificial intelligence, courtesy of its NPU (neural processing unit), to boost its output, and the CPU has been optimized for longevity.  

Alongside the Ryzen Ai 7 is an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card. Although Nvidia’s new 50-series GPUs have usurped the hardware, it still delivers top-notch performance. Its hardware is helped out by key features like Nvidia DLSS 3.5, enhancing graphical output and up to 32GB of memory. An American release date for the Nitro V 14 AI is currently unknown, but we do have an early price. It’ll retail for 1,100 Euros (about $1,140).

Acer Predator Helio 18 AI

Acer Predator

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The Nitro V series is a collection of mid-range gaming laptops. If you want something with serious muscle, then Acer’s new Predator Helios laptops. Two were unveiled at CES 2025 — the Predator Helios 16 AI and the Predator Helios 18 AI with the latter being the larger one. Both share similar hardware, offering up to an “Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX” accompanied by an NPU to further boost performance. It’ll also house Nvidia’s next flagship graphics card: the GeForce RTX 5090.

Acer’s Predator Helios 18 stands above its partner as the device can support a gargantuan 6TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD and up to 192GB of memory. I didn’t know it was possible to have 192GB RAM on a consumer-grade computer. What’s more, the model houses a 4K Mini LED display running at a refresh rate of 120Hz. A machine like this will undoubtedly run hot. 

To combat overheating, the company is equipping the Helios 18 with its proprietary 6th Gen AeroBlade 3D metal fans in order to achieve good airflow. It’ll also have system of vector heat pipes and liquid metal thermal grease to keep temperatures low.





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