Although the weather is getting cooler, the IT circle has become increasingly heated. For example, Xiaomi and Vivo in the mobile phone sector have both announced new full-screen products, Qualcomm plans to launch the Snapdragon 670 processor, and the Samsung Note 8 and iPhone 8 are also gearing up for release.
In the PC circle, the IFA 2017 Consumer Electronics Show is also ongoing, showcasing a wave of new technologies and products. Among them, Acer’s next-generation ultra-lightweight Switch 7 flagship 2-in-1 notebook is a revolutionary new product worth discussing.
Acer Switch 7 (flagship version) is a PC tablet 2-in-1 device, which is essentially a 13.5-inch tablet weighing 1.15kg, which is quite acceptable. When combined with a dedicated keyboard, it transforms into a standard notebook form.
Some may say that there are too many machines of similar form these days, so what’s the big deal?
Indeed, there is nothing particularly special about the form of the Acer Switch 7, but it integrates the eighth-generation Core processor (U series), NVIDIA MX150 discrete graphics, and a fanless design, achieving a new breakthrough in performance for PC tablet 2-in-1 devices.
In fact, if we break down the selling points of the Switch 7, none of them are particularly novel.
For instance, the U series eighth-generation Core processor has been released for over a week, with the main feature being the upgrade to four cores and eight threads while maintaining a 15W TDP. The performance of the i5-8250U can easily surpass the previous i7-7500U and rival the 45W i5-7300HQ. Machines equipped with this processor platform have exceeded a hundred models.
Notebooks are waking up! Intel’s eighth-generation Core launches four new U processors
Equipping PC tablet 2-in-1 devices with discrete graphics has a precedent; Microsoft’s early Surface Book armed itself with an NVIDIA 940MX discrete graphics card, giving this form factor the potential for gaming. However, the discrete graphics in the Surface Book is not housed in the main unit (the tablet portion) but rather in the keyboard base. Only when the screen is combined with the base can users enjoy the discrete graphics experience.
The Surface Book is one of the earliest representatives to introduce the concept of discrete graphics in PC tablet 2-in-1 devices.
As for having a U series processor and being fanless, Huawei’s MateBook X has also achieved this. This standard notebook-shaped product incorporates PCM (microcapsule phase change cooling material), widely used in the aerospace field, which the official calls space intelligent cooling technology. It utilizes dual heat pipes and special material cooling units, combined with a metal bottom cover, to quickly and effectively dissipate the CPU’s heat.
The cooling structure of the Huawei MateBook X
However, the Acer Switch 7 combines all three of the above selling points and is still a tablet form machine!
With an eighth-generation Core processor and MX150 discrete graphics, it can handle most 3D games at 720P+ high quality, meaning the Acer Switch 7 performs on par with any standard notebook (more accurately, it should be called a discrete ultra-thin notebook). To manage the heat generated when the CPU and GPU are running at full speed, the Switch 7 introduces a dual LiquidLoop liquid cooling system (this cooling module has been used in the Acer Switch Alpha 12 2-in-1 device).
The dual LiquidLoop liquid cooling system used in the earlier Switch Alpha 12, for reference
In addition to strong performance, the Switch 7 is also the first product to adopt Acer’s exclusive patented auto-retractable stand, Acer AutoStand, which can automatically expand and retract the stand, allowing users to easily adjust the screen angle with one hand, greatly enhancing convenience and making it easy to use in various situations.
This product has a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels, paired with an embedded Wacom EMR stylus that features sensitive 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt sensing. Additionally, the Switch 7’s screen also includes an optical glass fingerprint sensor, allowing for one-click power on and login from a shutdown state, and supports Windows Hello biometric recognition.
In summary, the Switch 7 flagship version is the world’s first fanless 2-in-1 notebook equipped with a discrete graphics adapter, but hopefully its price will be relatively affordable…
After reading this article, 99% of readers will also click:
