Best Acer laptops 2020 | TechRadar
Power and affordability is what you’ll find in the best Acer laptops 2020 has to offer. These portables deliver top-notch performance and extreme reliability without costing you a fortune. That’s because Asus has been synonymous with affordability, giving budget-minded buyers reasonably-priced options in a sea of premiums, and that extends to its laptop line.
Whether you’re looking for your next productivity Ultrabook, a laptops for the student in your family or one of those lightweight Chromebooks for your web browsing and video streaming, there’s something for you among the best Acer laptops. It’s just a matter of finding the right one.
That’s exactly what we are here for. We handpicked the best Acer laptops 2020 has to offer. Each of these laptops have been tested and reviewed by us, so you know that they’ve got our seal of approval.
Best Acer laptops at a glance
- Acer Swift 3
- Acer ConceptD 7
- Acer Swift 5
- Acer Predator Triton 500
- Acer Aspire E 15
- Acer Predator Helios 500
- Acer Spin 5
- Acer Chromebook R11
- Acer Chromebook Spin 15
- Acer Swift 7
1. Acer Swift 3
Premium performance from a budget laptop
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce MX150, Intel HD Graphics 620 or AMD Radeon Vega 8 | RAM: 4GB – 8GB | Screen: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) ComfyView IPS – 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 128GB – 1 TB HDD, 16 GB Intel Optane Memory
Superb keyboard and trackpad
Excellent performance
Very reasonably priced
Looks a little plain
Beyond the Acer Swift 3’s modest exterior, you’ll find an excellent laptop that boasts plenty of power for work and study. The Swift 3 (not to be confused with the Switch 3 below) is an inexpensive laptop; however, that plain chassis is all-aluminum and packed with beefy components. In terms of performance, it gets surprisingly close to the far more expensive Microsoft Surface Laptop. Its display is a little lower-res, but the two are otherwise strikingly similar – other than the price. This laptop is incredible to use as well, with its roomy trackpad as well as its backlit keyboard that offers a comfortable typing experience with decent travel. If you’re going to be writing a lot – whether you’re traveling or at the office, this is one of the best Acer laptops 2020 has for you.
Read the full review: Acer Swift 3
2. Acer ConceptD 7
A mobile workstation for creatives
CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 | Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6″ 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 1TB
Very powerful
Cheaper than MacBook Pro
Good selection of ports
Expensive
Plain design
Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro
The formidable Acer ConceptD 7 is capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as intensive video editing and 3D design, thanks in large part to its Nvidia RTX graphics. Clearly designed specifically with creative professionals in mind, it boasts that sheer power you’ll only find in workstations and gaming laptops. Beyond that excellent performance it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but no professional’s tool comes cheap. If you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for the creative tasks, this is the best Acer laptop for you.
Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7
3. Acer Swift 5
So light, yet so functional
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB – 16GB | Screen: 14″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) – 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Storage: 256 GB – 512 GB SSD
Incredibly light
Bright display
Crisp speakers
Middling battery life
Flimsy screen
Typical, every day workloads are nothing to the Acer Swift 5, whose incredibly light chassis packs a punch, enough to handle web design and some entertainment after it’s already lasted you an entire work day. This is, without a doubt, one of the best Acer laptops the company has released yet. But that’s not all: beyond its performance, there’s also its stunning display on which any movie or game looks gorgeous. It isn’t perfect, but none of its flaws are serious enough to put potential users off.
Read the full review: Acer Swift 5
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4. Acer Predator Triton 500
Devouring the competition
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-9750H | Graphics: up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 | RAM: 16GB – 32GB | Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS | Storage: up to 1TB SSD
Extremely powerful
Beautiful display
Surprisingly long battery life
Kind of expensive
Flimsy lid
The Acer Predator Triton 500 isn’t exactly inexpensive. However, considering that it’s one of the best Acer laptops 2020 has on offer – not to mention, among the most powerful gaming machines – it’s certainly worth breaking that piggy bank. It’s packed with 8th and 9th generation Intel core chips as well as Nvidia RTX cards, which gives it enough juice to handle the most processor-intensive and graphics-heavy AAA games. The lid is a bit flimsy, but that won’t have any impact on its overall performance. You just have to be a tad more careful lugging it around.
Read the full review: Acer Predator Triton 500
5. Acer Aspire E 15
CPU: Intel Core i5-7200U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 940MX | RAM: Up to 2GB | Screen: 15.6″ (1366 x 768) Active Matrix TFT Color LCD | Storage: 1 TB
Lighter than it looks
Work (and finger) friendly keyboard
Lots of new and old ports and inputs
Flimsy construction
Bland display
The Acer Aspire E 15’s screen isn’t anything to write home about and it’s construction is a bit flimsy and cheap-feeling. But as budget laptop, some things must be compromised. What’s good here though is that this laptop doesn’t compromise on performance, delivering more than you’d expect for its asking price. There are a lot of things to love here – that is, on top of the fact that it will get you through your daily workload seamlessly – including a huge trackpad, a comfortable keyboard and a variety of ports. It isn’t much for gaming, but for productivity’s sake, it’s among the best Acer laptops.
Read the full review: Acer Aspire E 15
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6. Acer Predator Helios 500
A high-powered gaming computer in laptop form
CPU: Intel Core i5-7200U | Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 940MX | RAM: Up to 2GB | Screen: 15.6″ (1366 x 768) Active Matrix TFT Color LCD | Storage: 1 TB
Lots of power for gaming
Large, color-corrected 144Hz display
Easily adjustable CPU and GPU
Speakers are mediocre
Bad trackpad
The Acer Predator Helios 500 is a beast in almost every sense of the word, starting with its formidable components that can handle any game you throw at it down to its herculean size. Without a doubt, it’s crafted for hardcore gamers who have zero tolerance for the most common gaming issues that will ruin your gaming experience or keep you off the leaderboard. If you’re in the market for a monstrous mobile PC gaming machine, this is one of the best Acer laptops to grace your desk.
Read the full review: Acer Predator Helios 500
7. Acer Spin 5
Mid-range is only a frame of mind
CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8550U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620 | RAM: Up to 16GB | Screen: 13.3″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS – 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 1 TB HDD – 512GB SSD
Solid performance
Decent battery life
Build quality and design
Mediocre display
Dull speakers
With a mid-range price tag, it’s easy not to expect a lot from the Acer Spin 5. But you’d be surprised – the Acer Spin 5 actually delivers a decent performance, combining it with a nice design and a decent battery life that will last you a while without charging, for the price. It cuts down the price with a subpar display and not-so-good speakers, that those are a small price to pay to get through most computing and productivity tasks without issues and without paying a hefty sum.
Read the full review: Acer Spin 5
8. Acer Chromebook R11
360-degree flips all day long
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: N
vidia Geforce GTX 1050 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6″ IPS Multitouch | Storage: 32GB SSD
Convertible
Attractively minimalist
Good battery life
Terrible trackpad
HD-only screen
Acer may have halted the production of Acer Chromebook R11. However, third party stores are still selling it, which means it can be had for a lot cheaper if you know where to look. This Chromebook is certainly worth taking the time to scour for, with its multipurpose 2-in-1 design, simple yet appealing look and a decent battery life. All that definitely allow this Chromebook to hit that sweet spot among consumers, making this one of the best Acer laptops 2020 has if you’re looking to save some silver.
Read the full review: Acer Chromebook R11
9. Acer Chromebook Spin 15
Ultimate Chromebook for multitasking
CPU: Intel Pentium N4200 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 32GB – 64GB
Plenty of power
Extremely long battery life
Beautifully responsive touchscreen
Lots of wasted real estate
Trackpad could be better
Notwithstanding some limitations, which by the way aren’t exactly deal-breakers, the Acer Chromebook Spin 15 is an incredible, if lightweight, laptop with a knack for multi-tasking and handling several processor-hungry tasks at once. All while hardly breaking a sweat. If that isn’t enough, it also delivers an impressive battery life that lasts up to 13 long hours. It might even outlast you, which means you can get all your work done, watch an episode of your favorite show and play a game or two without having to charge. The best part, you’ll get all that without spending a pretty penny.
Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 15
10. Acer Swift 7
The world’s thinnest laptop is back
CPU: Intel Pentium N4200 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 15.6″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS | Storage: 256 GB – 512 GB SSD
Lovely new design
Touchpad is improved
Impressively light
So expensive
Webcam position isn’t great
Overhauling its thinnest and lightest, Acer has given the Swift 7 a more refined design, absolute portability and a decent performance that will satisfy anyone who needs a laptop they can carry – or show off – just about anywhere. The svelte design does come at a cost, however. Still, if you’re willing to pay it for supreme convenience, it’s absolutely worth the splurge and perhaps the most ideal match of all the best Acer laptops for you.
Read the full review: Acer Swift 7
