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

Acer Switch 5 Packaging

Acer has presented its Switch 5 quite nicely with a stylish photo on the box that compliments the device and keyboard’s gunmetal and grey finishes against a brooding background combining storm clouds and cement. However, on the inside its plain brown cardboard packaging cannot live up to the kind of elegance we’ve become used to from the likes of Apple, Samsung or Microsoft.

At the same time it’s worth pointing out that the device itself is packaged securely and, when all’s said and done, that’s all that really matters. We would rather that more budget is spent on the hardware than its wrappings any day, or that even a small saving can be passed on to the consumer.

Acer Switch 5 Build, Design and Ergonomics

As with most tablets these days, the front of the Acer Switch 5 is mostly glass, with a very narrow outer bezel that somewhat disguises the front-facing stereo speakers. Around its sides this Swift has a section of unusual serrated frame, which may provide a little extra grip in some scenarios but visually is very much a matter of taste; we’re not the biggest fans.

The sides and the rear are mostly covered with what appears to be a relatively soft aluminium, but the impressively solid kickstand suggests Acer has used more durable materials where it counts. Overall the Switch 5 feels very solid too, with no flex or creak whatsoever. The gunmetal-coloured rear is unbroken save by that kickstand, the silver Acer logo and the recessed rear webcam, with most of the unsightly labels and model information nicely hidden under the stand itself.

The Switch 5 tablet measures 29.2cm long by 20.1cm high, with an average width of 9.7mm thickening to 12.5mm at its base due to the kickstand. At 929g it’s also slightly heavier than most, while its keyboard cover adds 391g for a considerable overall weight of 1.32kg (1.46kg if you also include the power brick).

When it comes to ergonomics the rounded edges of the Switch make it generally comfortable to hold, though with its kickstand extended there appear some uncomfortably sharp edges on both the tablet’s lower half and inside of the Switch 5’s stand. Admittedly you’re unlikely to grip there in most scenarios, but the devil’s in the details after all.

Generous rubber ‘feet’ at the tablet’s bottom edge mean it’s unlikely to damage any surface you use it on with its stand in; however, the same can’t be said for the ‘feet’ on the stand itself, and we would have liked to have seen that stand’s rubberized sections extend to cover its whole base area for better protection of work surfaces and increased comfort on the lap, as again it can be a tad edgy (and we don’t mean in a cool way).

When initially extended, the stand snaps into its default position to angle the screen to around 70°, which is enough to provide a stable viewing experience on a steady, flat surface. If you desire a greater incline or wish to use the device on your lap, the sprung kickstand extends a lot further, similar to a Surface Pro. It just doesn’t go quite as flat, with a maximum of 20° which is nonetheless a nice angle for some digital artwork.

Overall then Acer’s system works well most of the time, but do note that the stand doesn’t stay in position when adjusting on the lap and instead attempts to spring back into default, which can be a minor inconvenience.

Acer Switch 5 Connectivity

Unfortunately, many Surface Pro competitors follow its lead in providing an absolute minimum of connectivity, a casualty of the relentless drive for thinner and sleeker designs. The Acer Switch 5 doesn’t deviate from this template too much, and crams its few ports onto the right-hand side of the tablet.

From top to bottom, here you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack, full-size USB 3.0 port, USB Type-C 3.1 connector, and circular charging port. We would have preferred a little more space between the data ports, as you won’t be able to fit ‘fatter’ memory sticks in both simultaneously.

A lone MicroSD card slot can be found at the tablet’s top. While this does make it very easy to access it’s always exposed, meaning dirt and grime could potentially get into the slot. Pro tip: get a small-capacity placeholder card for a few quid if you don’t use this slot too often, as this will keep the dust out and look better too.

If we have any more serious complaints of the Switch 5’s connectivity, it’s that the USB Type-C port doesn’t support Thunderbolt 3. Mind you, Acer is hardly alone in this failing, and even Microsoft’s far more expensive and recent Surface Book 2 does not support this option. However, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is for all laptops and Windows tablets to support full charging, Alt Mode DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 over USB Type-C. Not only does this allow for universal charging plugs and cool accessories like an external GPU box, but it will also cut down considerably on potential customer confusion.

At least Acer has added support for the former two bits of this triumvirate, meaning the Type-C port doubles as a DisplayPort video output and, or so the company tells us, can also be used to charge the tablet. We’re qualifying this because, in our testing with two different USB Type-C charger and cable combos, we could not get the Switch 5’s battery to charge at all.

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