Tested: I love this Acer laptop's blend of budget and big screen

Price When Reviewed

$729.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Aspire 16 AI

$799.99

$799.99

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips are sometimes a stable selection for a budget laptop, as they ship good-enough efficiency and stable battery life at a low worth. Most techniques, although, have smaller shows. The Acer Aspire 16 AI provides an interesting big-screen choice that’s full of options together with USB4, Windows Hello facial recognition, and a plus-sized touchpad, amongst different issues.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Specs and options

The Acer Aspire 16 AI has Qualcomm’s entry-level Snapdragon X chip with eight cores and a most multi-core pace of 3GHz. It additionally ships with 16GB of reminiscence and a 512GB solid-state drive. These are typical specs for an entry-level Snapdragon X laptop computer.

• Model quantity: A16-11MT-X669
• CPU: Snapdragon X1P-26-100
• Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X-8448
• Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno
• NPU: Qualcomm NPU as much as 45 TOPs
• Display: 16-inch 1920×1200 120Hz IPS-LCD
• Storage: 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD
• Webcam: 1080p 30fps
• Connectivity: 2x USB-C 4 as much as 40Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 (one with charging), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio. MicroSD card reader
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
• Biometrics: Facial recognition
• Battery capability: 65 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14 x 9.85 x 0.63 inches
• Weight: 3.42 kilos
• Operating System: Windows 11 Home
• Price: $729.99 MSRP

The Acer Aspire 16 at the moment is available in only one configuration and is listed at an MSRP of $729.99. Some retailers truly record it increased at $799.99. The lack of configuration choices makes searching for the laptop computer easy—simply purchase from the retailer with the bottom worth you will discover.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer’s Aspire is among the many extra reasonably priced Windows laptops, and whereas that’s apparent within the laptop computer’s design, it’s much less apparent within the construct high quality.

First up, design. There’s not a lot to comment on. The Aspire 16 AI is an easy silver-gray plastic slab with a low-key Acer badge. It’s skinny at simply 0.63 inches in profile (although be aware that quantity doesn’t seem to incorporate the rubber toes on the underside). It’s additionally gentle at 3.42 kilos, which isn’t a lot for a laptop computer with a 16-inch show.

What about construct high quality? The Aspire 16 AI isn’t luxurious, because the laptop computer makes use of plastic for each the inside and exterior. However, the supplies provided feel and look tremendous for a price range machine. It’s inflexible, too, because the show lid and decrease chassis enable solely a touch of flex in use.

I additionally seen the show hinge can rotate as much as 180 levels, which means it’s attainable to open the laptop computer such that the display lies completely flat on a desk. That supplies some additional prospects in your setup when you plan to make use of the laptop computer as a second display with an exterior keyboard and mouse.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Acer Aspire 16 AI squeezes in each a keyboard and numpad. That, after all. means you’ve gotten a numpad, which even many 16-inch laptops lack. However, it additionally means the keyboard format isn’t as spacious as most 16-inch laptops and shifted in the direction of the left (to make room for the numpad). The touchpad additionally strikes left to maintain it centered below the spacebar, which makes the left palm relaxation space tight.

Key really feel is ok. There’s truthful key journey and every key prompts with an outlined bottoming motion, nevertheless it’s not as crisp as I would love. This, nonetheless, is certainly a nitpick, and I had no drawback typing a number of thousand phrases on the laptop computer.

The touchpad is giant at roughly six inches vast and 3.5 inches deep. While there are some costlier laptops with larger touchpads, just like the MacBook Pro 16 and Razer Blade 18, that is an above-average measurement for a laptop computer on this worth bracket, and the additional area is appreciated. Multi-touch gestures felt responsive and extra snug than on rivals with smaller touchpad surfaces.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer ships the Aspire 16 AI with a 16-inch 1920×1200 IPS-LCD show. That’s customary for a price range laptop computer, however the Aspire goes the additional mile and delivers a 120Hz refresh fee. The Aspire isn’t a gaming laptop computer, in order that’s of restricted use in leisure, nevertheless it does assist Windows really feel smoother and snappier than on the standard price range machine.

The show is vivid and has a semi-gloss end. Reflections are nonetheless noticeable in a really vivid room, however the show stays usable. Outdoors use is dicey, although.

On the opposite hand, the show’s distinction and colour efficiency are mediocre. It’s not horrible, however with OLED laptops now typically out there for properly below $1,000, IPS-LCD shows have gotten much less enticing even in price range machines.

Audio efficiency is first rate. The dual-speaker system is downward firing, so audio presentation will fluctuate relying on the place the laptop computer is positioned. Still, it supplies respectable quantity and first rate readability. I wouldn’t suggest the laptop computer for motion pictures or for listening to your favourite album, nevertheless it’s tremendous if you wish to throw on some chill beats whilst you research or work.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Acer Aspire 16 AI has a 1080p webcam that features a bodily privateness shutter. The digital camera’s sharpness and colour copy are respectable. It’s an analogous story for the dual-array microphone, which picked up my voice with first rate quantity and readability. The webcam and microphone are common for the class, however they do the job.

Windows Hello facial recognition is supported for logging in to the laptop computer. It’s typically dependable and supplies a fast, straightforward strategy to log into the laptop computer. While this function has come down in worth recently, most price range laptops nonetheless don’t embrace it—so it’s nice to see it right here.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

Connectivity is certainly a power for the Acer Aspire 16 AI. It has two USB-C 4 ports, each of which help DisplayPort and Power Delivery, in addition to two USB-A ports, a microSD card reader, a full-sized HDMI port, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack.

This is a variety of connectivity for any Windows laptop computer offered in 2025, so it’s nice to see all these ports included in a laptop computer that prices simply $700. The USB-C 4 ports are a specific benefit as price range laptops generally persist with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 speeds.

Acer additionally delivers on wi-fi connectivity because the Aspire 16 AI helps Wi-Fi 7, the newest model of the usual. It pairs that with Bluetooth 5.3, which is a step behind the newest 5.4 customary. While many Windows laptops now help Wi-Fi 7, it’s nonetheless not included with some price range machines (just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and HP OmniBook 5 14), so that is one other function win for the Aspire 16 AI.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Performance

The Snapdragon X X1P-26-100 is Qualcomm’s entry-level chip with eight cores and a most multi-core pace of 3GHz. It additionally has a stripped-down model of Qualcomm Adreno. The NPU is identical, nonetheless, because it quotes efficiency at 45 TOPS throughout all Snapdragon X chips.

IDG / Matthew Smith

Despite its entry-level Snapdragon X chip, the Acer Aspire 16 AI did properly in Cinebench 2024, a closely multi-threaded CPU take a look at. The laptop computer did higher than a number of different Qualcomm-powered techniques and likewise beat the Intel-powered Dell 16 Plus.

It’s attention-grabbing to notice, too, that the Snapdragon X doesn’t appear to surrender a lot when in comparison with the Snapdragon X Plus, which sits a notch above within the product stack. While the latter has a better most clock pace, they’ve the identical core rely. Because of that, the 2 chips commerce blows relying on the laptop computer.

IDG / Matthew Smith

As talked about, all Snapdragon X chips have Qualcomm Adreno graphics, however they’re not all created equal. The greatest Snapdragon X Elite chip quotes IGP efficiency as much as 4.6 TFLOPS, however the model within the Acer Aspire 16 AI solely quotes efficiency as much as 1.7 TFLOPS. That results in barebones efficiency in graphics checks.

With that mentioned—and because the graph exhibits—this isn’t sudden for a price range laptop computer. Most Intel and AMD chips on this worth bracket additionally lack the perfect variations of every firm’s built-in graphics and endure equally modest efficiency.

This can also be an space the place spending a little bit bit extra can snag you an enormous achieve. The Dell 16 Plus, for instance, may be bought for as little as $750 when on sale. The Dell is a bit heavier and doesn’t final fairly as lengthy on a cost, nevertheless it’s a superior selection when you want satisfactory 3D graphics efficiency.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Battery life and portability

The Acer Aspire 16 AI ships with a 65 watt-hour battery. It powered the laptop computer to roughly 15 hours and 30 minutes of battery life in our customary battery take a look at, which loops a 4K trailer of the brief movie Tears of Steel with the laptop computer’s show brightness set to roughly 200 nits.

IDG / Matthew Smith

This is an effective end result, or a mediocre end result, relying in your perspective. Many laptops can obtain comparable battery life, and the Snapdragon laptops with the longest battery life go away the Aspire 16 AI within the mud.

On the opposite hand, the Aspire 16 AI is a big laptop computer, and most giant Windows laptops lag a bit in battery life. This is actually because they pair the bigger show with higher efficiency, however the Aspire 16 AI’s miserly Snapdragon chip isn’t too demanding.

Personally, I feel 15 hours is an effective end result for a laptop computer of this measurement, and it’s prone to be greater than sufficient for most individuals who use it. Just bear in mind you could have even higher battery life when you go for a smaller, optimized various just like the HP OmniBook 5 14.

The Acer Aspire 16 AI ships with a USB-C charger that gives 65 watts of energy. It’s in the direction of the bigger facet for a 65-watt adapter. Aspire 16 AI house owners might need to look right into a 65-watt GaN charger to enhance portability. The laptop computer doesn’t have a quick charging mode.

Acer Aspire 16 AI: Conclusion

The Acer Aspire 16 AI is a stable selection for buyers seeking to purchase a reasonable Windows laptop computer with a 16-inch show. While it lacks a headline function that might make it stand out, it has an edge in a number of areas. It has USB4, Wi-Fi 7, a show with a 120Hz refresh fee, Windows Hello facial recognition, and a big touchpad. Many price range laptops can test off a number of of those packing containers, however the Aspire 16 AI checks all of them.