Slowly but steadily, laptops and 2-in-1 hybrids with fifth-generation Intel Core processors have started to become commonplace. Still, very few offer the versatility and flexibility of Acer’s new Aspire R 13 line.
Introduced at CES in Las Vegas, the updated 13 inchers should be able to ditch fans and considerably reduce noise, thanks to the power-saving potential of Intel’s Broadwell micro-architecture, also known as Core M.
Already svelte, the Aspire R13 will offer tablet-like portability after this facelift, tipping the scales at “just over 3 pounds,” and measuring “less than 1 inch thin.” And that’s with its highly original hinge mechanism in tow, which allows the PC to seamlessly switch between six user modes.
Notebook, Stand, Pad, Tent and Display mode work as the names suggest, while in Ezel mode the display moves closer to you and essentially floats over the keyboard to remove unnecessary space and favor a quick transition between typing and touch interaction.
Aside from the unique 180-degree rotatable screen, and frugal Core M chips, the upgraded R 13 will stand out with ultra-fast Wi-Fi 802.11ac connectivity, optional active pen support for note-taking and drawing, and Dolby Digital Plus Home Theatre sound.
Like the previous generation, both Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) and WQHD (2,560 x 1,440) configurations will be made available, with solid state storage capping off at a whopping 1TB, and RAM at eight gigabytes.
Old, Haswell-based models with Intel Core i5 power, a 1080p screen and 256GB SSD are nowadays appraised at $1,000, and hopefully, longer-lasting but slightly slower versions won’t cost extra. Fingers crossed, and let’s all wish for a timely commercial launch too.
