Laptops

Acer Swift 1 is an Ultrabook that won’t break the bank

Published

April 28, 2017

Michael Josh Villanueva

You don’t have to spend lots of money on a laptop computer if you’re not going to use it for complex tasks.

Many users only need computers for word processing, surfing the internet, or watching movies, and if that describes you too, then maybe a top-of-the-line notebook is overkill.

Enter the Acer Swift 1. Announced today at its @NextAtAcer event in New York, this new entry-level laptop is a more suitable choice for those who need a portable computer for everyday tasks. We see it as the perfect laptop for school work.

This 13.3-inch notebook runs on only humble specs — an Intel Pentium or Celeron processor (depending on the configuration), 4GB of RAM, and 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage. Sans any tech speak, that’s enough performance power to get you through the usual stuff, just don’t expect buttery-smooth gameplay if you playing something like Overwatch.

If you do intend on using the Swift 1 for school, its battery is rated to get you through up to 10 hours of continuous use, which should be plenty sufficient for a full day on campus and then some.

Despite its budget-friendly price tag, the Swift 1 is built for looks and sturdiness. The notebook has an all-metal chassis and comes in silver, gold, and pink models.

To my surprise, it was a lot more robust than expected during my short time with it. The body felt like it could handle a few drops, and the keyboard seemed like it belonged in notebooks more expensive than this.

The Swift 1 will retail for about $329 and roll out globally starting this April.

SEE ALSO: Acer Swift 7 first look

[irp posts=”4595″ name=”Acer Swift 7 first look”]

Laptops

Apple expands MacBook Air lineup with 15-inch model

We’ve come a long way from the first MacBook Air!

Published

June 6, 2023

Luigi Leonardo

We’ve come a long way from the first MacBook Air. Now, the thin device is getting a massive upgrade. During WWDC 2023, Apple expanded the thriving notebook lineup with a new 15-inch MacBook Air.

Quite a sizable upgrade, the new MacBook Air sports a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display. The company touts that the upgraded screen offers twice the resolution and 25 percent brighter than a similar PC notebook.

Despite the larger screen, the new MacBook Air still has the thinnest form factor for its size. Weighing in at only 1.51kg and measuring at only 11.5mm in thickness, the notebook is still lithe as ever.

Under the hood, the 15-inch notebook will sport the M2 chipset. It boasts up to twice as fast performance compared to an Intel Core i7 processor. It includes an 8-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine.

Additionally, it will pack in a 1080p webcam for high-resolution video calls. It also, as the keynote says, “sounds awesome.” The notebook has a six-speaker sound system with two tweeters and two force-cancelling woofers.

Out of the box, the device will come with macOS Ventura. However, it will get the upcoming macOS Sonoma later this year.

The 15-inch MacBook Air will come in midnight, starlight, silver, and space grey. It will start at US$ 1,299 and will ship starting June 13.

Laptops

Apple M2 Max MacBook Pro 16-inch Review: Four months later

Insanely Powerful!

Published

June 5, 2023

GadgetMatch

Apple silently revealed the revamped M2 Pro and M2 Max-powered MacBook Pros just last January 2023.

While the design isn’t any different from its predecessors, it promises significant boosts in performance.

However, this isn’t meant for those who already owned the M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pros launched in 2021.

Spoiler alert: This is a huge upgrade from the 16-inch Intel Core i9 MacBook Pro from 2019.

But would you compromise the portability of the 14-inch version over a bigger screen and battery?

Watch our review of the new M2 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro, four months later.

Laptops

ASUS unveils newest Chromebook series for students

The Chromebook CR1 and Flip CR1

Published

May 31, 2023

GadgetMatch

ASUS has announced the availability of two new portable laptops that will surely benefit the modern-day student: the Chromebook CR1 and Chromebook Flip CR1.

Designed to withstand the daily grind of students, the education-focused 11-inch laptops come with military-grade (MIL-STD-810H) durability. The devices also come with a spill-resistant keyboard, a rubber bumper, and a sturdy 180-degree lay-flat hinge.

Their battery lasts up to 12 hours on a single charge, and has fast-charging support.

On the outside of both are an 8MP camera and an 11.6-inch HD LCD display. Of course, the only difference is the touchscreen panel on the Flip CR1.

The new Chromebook series comes with an assortment of ports too, including two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C and USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type A slots, a microSD card reader, an audio combo jack, and a Kenshington lock slot. The laptops also support Wi-Fi 6 and 4G LTE connection.

When it comes to its interior, the Chromebooks are powered by up to an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor and Intel UHD graphics. The devices run on the ChromeOS for Education.

They both have 8GB of DDR4 memory and 64GB eMMC storage, with up to a 1TB PCIE M.2 expansion slot.