Acer Aspire S7: Still a potential leader for Ultrabook supremacy
The Acer Aspire S7 13.3-inch Ultrabook just got a refresh to bring it up to the specifications of other new models like the Dell XPS 13. Lets see what the latest Aspire S7 has to offer.
Design
Acer have introduced Gorilla® Glass to the lid for more durability during business travel, a robust unibody design and a premium finish.
The dual-torque hinge locks the lid into position when you tap it, but unlocks when moving it with your hand. The screen will extend to 180 degree and so can lie flat on a desk if needed.
Processor and Graphics
The Aspire S7-392 and S7-393 models (revised from the S7-391 model) comes with a selection of Intel Core 5th generation processors for the best speeds available. These include two with the Intel Core i5-4210U 1.70 GHz, an Intel Core i7-4500U Dual-Core 1.80 GHz model and an Intel Core i7-5500U Dual-core 2.40 GHz model.
On board graphics run from standard version, to Intel HD 4400 to Intel HD 5500 GPU which all use some of the installed RAM to run the graphics.
Display
Three of the 4 models offer a 13.3" Full HD 1920 x 1080 touchscreen widescreen display and the lower powered Intel Core i5-4210U 1.70 GHz model uses a more impressive 13.3" WQHD 2560 x 1440 widescreen display without the touchscreen option.
With the WQHD visuals it is possible to use a hotkey to get the movie or video image to rotate for you.
Operating System
The Microsoft Windows 8.1 operating system is installed on all new models of the Acer Aspire 7.
Battery Life
The battery life is expected to last 8.5 hours according to Acer. Real life will differ though. With 50 percent brightness, Wi-Fi on and regular use throughout, the battery can be expected to last at least 5 hours which brings this model in line with others like the Dell XPS 13.
Memory and Storage
There is an 8 GB DDR3L SDRAM soldered to the motherboard which doesn't offer expandable RAM unfortunately.
All models include a generous 256 GB SSD for fast boot up and resume from hibernation.
Connectivity
Connectivity includes the latest 802.11 ac Wi-Fi support for wireless access at greater distances. Bluetooth 4.0 is also present. One USB 3.0 port, one USB 2.0 port, full HDMI slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, and a SD card slot are present.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is backlit in an attractive way and has a light sensing feature which turns on or off the backlighting depending on the light levels near the laptop. Saves on battery life this way too.
The touchpad is up to the usual Acer standards here.
Other Information
This Ultrabook is only 12.9mm thin and weighs in at just 1.3 kilos.
Pricing
Prices for the 13.3-inch models range from $1,300 to $1,600 depending on the model selected.
Other Models
As well as four 13.3-inch Acer Aspire 7 models, there is also a smaller 11.6-inch model as the ultra portable. The latter model may be a good alternative to the upcoming Lenovo ThinkPad X250 if you don't need hot swap-able laptop batteries and extreme battery life as a feature. The Dell XPS 13 is another good option worth considering closely.
