Acer Switch 5 Review – Convertible Tablet with Liquid Cooling

1. Introduction2. Packaging, Design, Ergonomics and Connectivity3. Keyboard Cover, Stylus and PSU4. Screen, Speakers and Thermal Performance5. Battery and Performance Benchmarks6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

So has Acer created a worthy Microsoft Surface Pro rival? The answer is mostly yes but, alas, with a few caveats. On the plus side, you’ve got a very affordable Windows convertible tablet that bundles everything you would want. Design is functional and not generally too unattractive, while build quality is good overall. The base spec also offers a nice balance of components with generous solid state storage.

Connectivity is on the good side of average, the IPS display is nice for work and play if you’re willing to miss out on high brightness or accurate colours, and you get a decent stylus and keyboard cover out of the box. Perhaps best of all – and a feature not often found in this segment – is the Switch 5’s passive liquid cooling, which works well and ensures the only noise produced by this tablet will come from its speakers.

In the minus column, there is a sense that you get what you pay for, as everything from the display resolution to the pen is just a step below Microsoft’s trend-setting Surface Pro 2017. Minor niggles like the Switch’s sharp edges with the kickstand extended and tinny speakers aside, our main concerns are with the above-average weight and below-average screen, which despite its good viewing angles fails to meet expectations for contrast, brightness or colour. Battery life is also not exactly best-in-class.

The Acer Switch 5 as reviewed is available from LaptopsDirect for £870 here.

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Pros:

• Decent design.
• IPS screen offers good viewing angles and resolution.
• Well built.
• Comes with good stylus and keyboard cover.
• Completely silent liquid cooling.
• Fair connectivity for its class.
• Excellent value compared to rival products.

Cons:

• IPS display is somewhat sub-par compared to rivals.
• Sharp edges when kickstand is extended.
• Speakers are tinny and distort at maximum volume.
• A little on the weighty side for its spec.
• Battery life only average.
• Stylus loop may slightly destabilize keyboard cover.

KitGuru says: Acer has not created the perfect convertible Windows tablet but, despite its somewhat mediocre IPS screen and some other niggles, the Switch 5 presents a very capable and good-value machine. It offers a complete overall package with highlights like passive cooling and a very competent bundled keyboard and stylus.

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