Buzz
Design Insights
While the market is saturated with 2-in-1 laptops featuring 16:9 screens, better suited for entertainment, the 3:2 display ratio of the Acer Spin 5 SP513 steps in to better serve office and web browsing needs.
Following Microsoft's lead with 3:2 screen laptops and tablets, the Acer Spin 5 SP513 also boasts a 3:2 screen, offering expanded content viewability without scrolling for web surfing, document review, spreadsheet editing, or site management.
Comparing this to the old debate between Apple iPad's 4:3 display and an Android tablet's 16:9 screen, having a Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 myself, I was immediately comfortable with the 13.5-inch IPS touch screen of the Acer Spin 5 SP513. The 13.5-inch IPS touch panel, with its 3:2 aspect ratio, guarantees ample display area for your tasks. Its resolution of 2256 x 1504 allows for crisp text and high-quality image display.
The display's viewing angles are as expected from an IPS screen, offering vibrant colors and a cool white temperature with 100% sRGB coverage.
The backlit keyboard of the Acer Spin 5 SP513-55N provides an exceptional typing experience with tactile feedback, despite occasionally warm rest areas made from premium soft plastic.
Acer uniquely positions its stereo speakers at the front, above the keyboard, supported by DTS Sound, diverging from the common side or bottom placement in laptops. The touchpad is adequately sized for finger navigation, featuring a left-top fingerprint scanner for security.
The new Acer Spin 5 SP513-55N is well-equipped with connectivity options: two USB 3.2 Type-C ports with charging support, a USB 3.2 Type-A port, HDMI, and MicroSD slot on the left; a 3.5mm audio jack, another USB 3.2 Type-A port, power button, power LED indicator, Noble Lock TZ08, and an Acer Active Stylus slot on the right.
The included Acer Active Stylus with Wacom AES 1.0 technology supports 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity, offering a pen-on-paper feel. This lightweight laptop weighs just 1.2kg and sports dimensions of 14.9mm height, 300mm width, and 235mm depth, in a sleek steel gray finish, with a front-facing webcam for decent video quality.
Acer has integrated hardware protection features including Corning Gorilla Glass for the screen and touchpad, and an antimicrobial silver-ion treatment on the keyboard, fingerprint reader, and palm rest area, addressing health concerns in today's environment.
Specifications and Performance
The Acer Spin 5 SP513-55N boasts the latest specs for smooth performance, featuring an Intel Core i7 1165G7 quad-core processor based on Tiger Lake with integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and a fast 1TB NVMe SSD (PM801TGPKTCB4BACE-E162) pre-installed with Windows 10, plus Killer WiFi 6 AX1650i for quick download speeds.
SSD speeds tested with CrystalDiskMark showed impressive read speeds of 5003 MB/s and write speeds up to 2418 MB/s. The laptop performs well under editing tasks and memory-intensive activities, with no lag in web browsing or movie streaming.
Battery Life
The Acer Spin 5 SP513's 4-cell Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) battery is claimed to last for 15 hours, but our PC Mark 10 Battery Office test resulted in about 8 hours and 8 minutes of use. Similar outcomes were observed with web surfing, office apps, and YouTube video playback.
Final Thoughts
Frankly, the Acer Spin 5 SP513 stands out in the scarce field of lightweight laptops featuring a 3:2 screen ratio, offering an exceptional IPS display for enhanced productivity and viewing angles. This convertible laptop not only brings diverse connectivity options to the table but also impresses with its mere 1.2 kg weight.
Equipped with the latest Tiger Lake mobile processor, ample memory, and swift NVMe storage, the Spin 5 excels in performance. The inclusion of an Active Stylus elevates the experience for those looking to make the most of its touchscreen and versatile design. While battery life may not break new ground, it reliably supports a day's work, making the Acer Spin 5 SP513 a compelling alternative to Microsoft's Surface Laptop.
