Acer Aspire Switch 10 - a budget tablet with a detachable keyboard, introduced to the general public in April this year. It is very similar to the ASUS T100, but we will consider it a new model designed to conquer the market of budget devices. Now Acer Aspire Switch 10 is becoming popular and is starting to outperform its competitors due to the low price. In favor of this tablet, there are other reasons that we will consider in this review.
Design
The front panel of the device is made of plastic, and the back is made of aluminum. Also made of plastic made a docking station and keyboard. Particularly stylish device gives a metallic color with gray-silver shades. In addition, the portable computer is fully consistent with modern canons of design. For this price range, everything is just excellent.
The most noteworthy part of the Acer Aspire Switch 10, the review of which you are currently reading, is a magnetic lock. Its main function is the keyboard mount. To disconnect the dock, you do not need to press a button, open the latches, just apply force and pull. At the same time, the strength of the magnet is so high that you can safely raise the device by the screen or, holding the keyboard, turn it upside down.
It doesn’t matter what position the dock is in - the magnetic loop will not stop functioning. You can safely expand the keyboard 180 degrees and use it as a stand when watching a video or working with programs using the touch screen. The manufacturer offers four scenarios for working with the device. This is the presentation mode, computer mode, tent mode and the tablet itself. Now let's talk about gadget performance.
Performance
The controversial Acer tablets have high performance, and Switch 10 on Windows 8.1 is no exception. This device runs on Intel's Atom Z3745 quad-core processor. The nominal frequency of each core is 1.33 GHz, but with increased load there is the possibility of overclocking to 1.86 GHz. This chip is very similar to the Atom Z3740 from the ASUS T100. Apparently, therefore, the test results of these gadgets are almost the same.
If we consider the hardware component of the tablet, then it is completely similar to its predecessor - Iconia W4. You should not be confused by replacing one digit in the processor name: Z3745 was released six months later than Z3740, and the difference between these two chips is in a small increase in the frequency of the video core. The amount of memory, as well as the volume and speed of the built-in drive are the same. There is a microSD slot with a limit of up to 64 GB. True, in Switch 10 there is no 3G module, but, to be honest, there is no special need for it. Therefore, in the absence of the necessary amount to buy the latest tablet from Acer, you can buy in the secondary market its cheaper predecessor - Iconia W4.
The energy-efficient Intel Atom processor line is designed for low-cost desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones. Previous Atom processors were used in netbooks and did not differ in performance. But the Bay Trail chips show the perfect balance between low power consumption and excellent performance. For example, when working with full-screen applications from the Windows Store for a long time, Switch 10 does not slow down and discharges rather slowly.
After many hours of testing the device as a working computer, there were no problems surfing the Internet (tens of tabs were open in the browser), listening to music, working with documents and watching videos. I even managed to connect to an external display and watch a movie on it without interrupting work on the gadget. In other words, the Aspire Switch 10 is no worse in performance than its competitor ASUS T100 and similar models from other companies.
Memory
The amount of internal memory depends on the selected model. Acer offers 2 options: 32 and 64 GB. RAM device - 2 GB.
Screen
Acer Aspire Switch 10, reviews of which are mostly positive, has a 10-inch glossy screen with a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels. The tablet has excellent viewing angles and an IPS matrix without an air gap. The touch screen supports up to 5 simultaneous touches. Gorilla Glass 3 reliably protects it from damage, and scratches become less noticeable. In the manufacture of the display, Zero Air Gap technology was used, combining the screen matrix and touch panel to create a truly impressive image. If the gadget’s screen beams of bright sun, this technology will prevent glare. Due to the absence of an air gap in the matrix, the image quality will be even better. But you should not rely on Full HD-resolution and chase the density of points. If in tablets and smartphones HD-quality is now criticized, then for devices on Windows, the situation is the opposite. At too high a resolution, the interface becomes uncomfortable, the data looks too small, and you have to strain your eyes. So the Acer Aspire Switch 10, the price of which is listed below, offers a completely compromise and practical option.
The capacitive touchscreen of the tablet is highly sensitive and easy to control. Of course, with small interface elements it is much more comfortable to work with the mouse, but the device will not let you down even in traveling conditions.
Keyboard and touchpad
Pleasantly surprised by the keyboard. The main keys along the way and the response point are not inferior to the standard keyboard. The trigger point is well felt, but the keys cannot be called overly elastic. The button travel is almost perfect.
Some consider the Acer engineers ’unsuccessful decision to place the cursor keys, screen brightness and volume control in the lower (right) corner of the keyboard. Where 3 ordinary keys can fit, they placed 6. There may be difficulties with this, and you will have to look every time where you press. However, you quickly get used to it.
Of the shortcomings, I want to note that the Acer Aspire Switch 10 keyboard, reviews of which are on the official website, slightly bends in the center. But overall, it’s pretty handy for surfing the web, publishing blog entries, writing emails, and creating other documents.
The touchpad for such a baby is quite large, and there are no complaints about it. The cursor moves quickly and accurately, gestures are processed - what more could you want? There is no special need for a mouse, so you can do without it. Therefore, the USB port can be used for a compact flash drive of a decent volume. In combination with a similar microSD you get a good supply of memory.
Sound
At the bottom of the screen are 2 speakers. Their locations clearly hint that the tablet is unlikely to be used without a keyboard. If you hold the Acer Aspire Switch 10 in a horizontal position without a keyboard, then both speakers are covered by hands. In the vertical - only one of them. Immediately from two speakers, sound comes only when using the gadget as a laptop.
Battery capacity
The battery capacity is 5700 mAh, which in theory indicates a long battery life (8 hours). In practice, it turns out that when the device is used in a mixed cycle, the battery lasts only 6.5 hours. If you reduce the brightness level to a minimum, then you can get the claimed 8. We think that for a laptop computer this is quite a worthy result. For an hour of watching a movie in airplane mode at maximum brightness, the Acer Aspire Switch 10 was discharged by only 13%. This suggests that you can use the gadget in this mode for 7 hours.
Dimensions and Weight
The tablet weighs 594 grams, and its dimensions are 26x17.8x0.9 cm. When the keyboard is connected, these parameters will slightly increase: weight - 1179 grams, 26x19.3x2 cm. It’s important to remember these figures or write them down yourself. If the covers for Acer tablets run out in the store, you, knowing the exact dimensions, can choose from similar, non-branded and more affordable options. And further…
The tablet itself is heavier than the keyboard. So, when you use it as a laptop, do not tilt the display too much, otherwise the gadget may tip over.
Price
Now the average cost of the Acer Aspire Switch 10, reviews of which are on thematic forums, is 17,000 rubles. This is much more expensive than Android and Intel Atom tablets with similar specifications. By adding another 6-7 thousand, you can purchase a simple ultrabook. And if we look at the secondary market, then for 23-24 thousand you can find a chic device with higher performance and a number of other advantages.
Conclusion
The Acer Aspire Switch 10 laptop, the review of which you just read, can be used both as a tablet and as a laptop. It has compact dimensions and decent performance. And everything would be perfect if the competing Asus T100 model did not offer the same features, but with a more resource-intensive battery. Despite this, there are three reasons why the Acer Aspire Switch 10 tablet is worth buying. Firstly, wide functionality due to the magnetic loop. Secondly, great design. Thirdly, high-quality speakers and a bright IPS-display, which makes it a great device for viewing photos and videos.