We actually favored the unique Acer Swift Edge 16, and Acer’s replace to it’s surprisingly intriguing: It’s even thinner, although heavier, with a step down in each the show high quality and value. And there’s now AI, too!

In our original review of the Acer Swift Edge 16 we famous that “we’ve not seen a laptop with a larger screen that weighs less.” But reviewer Matt Elliott went on to notice that he wouldn’t thoughts seeing Acer put money into a bit extra materials to stabilize the laptop computer. Acer apparently rejected that recommendation, went the opposite course, and this $1,299 Ryzen 7000-based laptop computer is the outcome.

As a consequence, the Acer Swift Edge 16 (SFE16-43-R98R) can be a tad thinner at 0.51 inches thick, however will weigh 2.73 kilos, a 0.14-pound improve over the earlier technology.

(The earlier technology sloped from 0.55 inches thick to 0.51 inches thick; the most recent model is 0.51 inches, entrance to again. Acer additionally supplied the earlier technology at both $1,499 or $1,299; the 2023 refresh can be offered in a single mannequin for North America, at $1,299. )

The contrasts proceed. Although each Acer Swift Edge fashions embody an OLED panel, the sooner technology makes use of a 16-inch 16:10 4K(3840×2400) show. The present mannequin steps right down to what Acer calls “WQXGA+”: a 16:10 (3200×2000) show as an alternative. On the opposite hand, the most recent Swift Edge’s show runs at 120Hz, a quality-of-life enchancment that can typically simply be simpler in your eyes. (Like some OLED shows, it’s not a touchscreen.) Still, the improved refresh fee has a price hooked up to it: The battery-life score of “8+” hours feels like a dip from the ten or so hours that the unique Swift Edge lasted in our exams.

The fascinating twist is the processor: the Ryzen 7 7840U. Like sure members of Intel’s 13th-gen mobile Core family, the AMD Ryzen 7040 Mobile family consists of Ryzen AI, which an AMD executive explained is significant to the corporate’s processor improvement going ahead. (Because of AMD’s bizarre naming scheme, the Ryzen 7040 household consists of the Ryzen 7 7840U, the chip inside the most recent Swift Edge 16.)

Ryzen AI is AMD’s secret sauce towards enabling AI. Unfortunately, there’s little public information about purposes for Ryzen AI and Intel’s AI-infused Core chips, apart from, say, Windows Studio Effects, which give video enhancements throughout video calls. But with Microsoft announcing Windows Copilot at its Build convention in May, there could also be additional makes use of for AI-powered chips.

Other intriguing options embody a 1440p webcam, a considerable step up from the 1080p webcam that the majority laptops embody. The laptop computer’s audio can also be powered by DTS:X, by way of a pair of front-facing audio system. Finally, the I/O ports help USB4, which is basically the open model of the Thunderbolt protocol discovered on Thunderbolt docking stations. An Acer consultant additionally defined the extra weight: enhanced cooling mechanisms, and enhancements to the keyboard. Acer added a quantity pad, and elevated the important thing journey from 1mm to 1.3mm, making it simpler and extra snug to sort upon.

Acer is scheduled to ship the Acer Swift 16 in July for $1,299. We’ve summarized the options beneath.

Acer Swift Edge 16 (2023) primary options:

• Display: 16-inch (3200×2000) OLED, 120Hz at 400 nits (HDR500) (non-touch)
• Processor: AMD Ryzen 7 7840U
• Graphics: Radeon 780M
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5
• Storage: 1TB PCIe Gen 4
• Ports: 2x USB-C (USB4) with 65W charging; 2x 10Gbps USB-A, 1 HDMI 2.1, microSD, 3.5mm mic/headphone jack
• Camera: 1440p
• Battery: as much as 8.5 hours
• Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
• Operating system: Windows 11 Home
• Dimensions (inches): 14.08 x 9.68 x 0.51 inches (12.95mm)
• Weight: 2.73lb
• Color: Black
• Price: $1,299

This story was up to date at 8:35 AM with extra particulars.