PC World and its ilk are rammed with laptop/tablet 2-in-1 hybrids. We all want something a bit more flexible than just a laptop, so pretty much every manufacturer is producing more portable devices for the user on the go and Acer is no exception, with the brand new Switch Alpha 12 series of hybrids.
Coming in three different flavours, the Acer Switch Alpha 12 could at first be mistaken for almost any other 2-in-1 ultraportable, with the HP Elite X2 first springing to mind. Sure Acer isn’t exactly rewriting the rulebook when it comes to design, but it could be forgiven for simply using a formula that works.
The brushed metal chassis feels reassuringly sturdy, and there’s very little flex when subjecting it to some pressure. The kickstand, which is an extension of the chassis back, is nicely rigid, with a rubber bottom to prevent the Switch Alpha 12 sliding all over the place. The whole thing just feels like a robust package, which should survive the usual knocks and bumps.
There’s one aspect that really stands out from the crowd here, with the usual fan-powered cooling replaced in favour of a quieter, and possibly more efficient, LiquidLoop cooling system. The liquid-cooled CPU uses the evaporation and condensation of liquid in order to dissipate the heat produced. If having a silent running device is a big selling point, the Acer is a good pick.
Starting at £600, you get an Intel Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 520 and a 128GB SSD. If you’re wanting something a bit beefier, you can opt for the i5 or i7 processor models, which come packaged with 8GB of RAM and the choice of a 256GB SSD. All models include a keyboard and pen too, which is a welcome change, as these are often expensive extras, even on high-end models.
Keyboard, touchpad and stylus
While it’s great to have a keyboard included in the box, it’s a shame that it just isn’t quite up to par with the best examples around. For one, it’s a little bit flimsy, often bouncing around during heavy typing. Admittedly, I am a little on the heavy-handed side, but it’s still an issue nonetheless. I think the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet still has one of the best hybrid keyboards around, but then it's a lot, lot more expensive.
The textured keyboard surround is a bit of an odd choice, and isn’t all that comfortable when resting your palm on it. The chiclet-style keys are relatively tactile in use, and your average user isn’t going to have too many qualms during their time spent with it.
Sadly, I had some noticeable issues with the touchpad on the review unit I was sent. While it’s perfectly usable and responsive, the glossy touchpad didn’t really sit comfortably in the housing and frequently rattled about when typing and clicking. It’s a very noticeable sound, and with a device that’s marketed as being quiet, it’s a real shame.
Design
Acer has really hit the nail on the head when it comes to portability.It's just a touch on the heavy side, weighing 910g, but it’s certainly not fat, with the 9.5mm thickness making it easy to pop in your bag. It’s not as lightweight as the Lenovo ThinkPad X1, but then again it is half the price.
It’s nice and easy to attach the supplied keyboard, and thanks to the reasonably strong magnets, it shouldn’t fall off unless you apply a substantial amount of force. The supplied Acer Active Pen is snuggly stored in a holster to the left side of the keyboard, so you should be at least a bit less inclined to lose it.
Ports and connections
Unsurprisingly, as it’s a portable 2-in-1, you’re not really getting a whole lot of ports and connections out of the box. While it’s welcome to see both a standard sized USB3 port and a USB Type-C port, that’s pretty much it, with a MicroSD card reader and 3.5mm headset port thrown in for good measure too. Obviously, you can’t really criticise it too much considering the lack of space, yet the HP Elite X2 came with an extra full sized HDMI port.
You’ll also have to make do with a wireless network connection, with just 802.11ac wireless and Bluetooth 4.0. While the lack of an Ethernet port might be a deal breaker for some, it’s really not out of the ordinary on a portable device such as this. You could of course add one via a USB adaptor if need be.
Display and sound
The 12in 2,160x1,440 IPS display is impressive, given the price. With an sRGB colour gamut coverage of 82.6%, the display certainly may not suit the most demanding users. Your average user won’t really notice this, though, but if you want a device for professional image manipulation then the Surface Pro 4 is a better bet. It’s still miles better than the off-looking display of the HP Elite X2, making it a god choice at this price.
With a peak brightness of 400cd/m2 on the dot, you shouldn’t have too many problems when using the Switch Alpha 12 in direct sunlight. The Surface Pro 4 still takes the crown here, but for a fraction of the price, Acer has done a commendable job with the display.
The forward-facing dual speakers, found at the top horizontal edge wedged in between the bezel and the chassis, are surprisingly punchy, despite being noticeably tinny at higher levels. Sound quality did lack a fair amount of depth, with low-end noise needing a serious boost. Maximum sound levels are high, and could easily fill a decent sized room if you’re planning on using it as a media streaming device.
Performance and battery life
With a dual-core 2.3GHz i3-600U processor and 4GB of RAM, the base-level £600 model is by no means lacklustre when it comes to raw performance. An overall score of 35 in our demanding 4K benchmarking tests brings it in line with the pricier HP Elite X2 and is miles ahead of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1’s weak 27 score.
The fully fledged core i3 processor definitely plays a big part here, with the marginally more expensive i5 and i7 versions with more RAM looking set to be even better performers. Both the HP Elite X2 and Lenovo ThinkPad X1 tablet utilise Core M processors, which really hinders their overall performance.
Gaming performance is also relatively respectable, made in part thanks to the hardy performance of the Intel HD Graphics 520 chip inside. You shouldn’t have too much hassle playing your older games collection, provided you tone down the graphics settings a bit, with Dirt Showdown at 1,920x1,080 resolution running at 43fps with the graphics quality set to minimal.
Less graphically intensive games run without too many hiccups too, so you should be able to squeeze in a light bit of gaming when you’re out and about. Minecraft for instance, retained a solid 30fps or higher at default render distance with all graphical settings on full. Tinker with the render distance and you’ll find the game creaks a bit when rendering new areas, but it isn’t too much of an issue.
With 5 hours and 13 minutes in our continuous video playback test, the Acer Switch Alpha 12's 4870mAh battery isn't going to last all day, but is enough for extended bouts of time away from a wall socket. The battery doesn't even come close to the Surface Pro 4's 7 hours and is even trumped by the 6 hours and 14 minutes of the HP Elite X2. This is by no means a bad score, but it might be best to switch on Battery Saver and use it a bit more conservatively when out and about. This is the downside of having a more powerful processor.
Conclusion
Overall, I feel Acer has done a noteworthy job here, with the Switch Alpha 12 really proving its worth. With a superbly crafted design and a surprising amount of oomph under the hood, you get a whole lot for your money, even if the display and keyboard aren't quite up to the best we've seen.
While I only got to try out the cheaper £600 option, the other models should give you even more power, while being around the same price as the starting prices of the Surface Pro 4. If you’re looking for a hybrid with a decent amount of performance with fantastic build quality and versatility that can hold its own against its often more expensive brethren, the Switch Alpha 12 is a fantastic choice. Just remember that you are trading some battery life for that extra processing grunt.
Still not made your mind up about what to spend your hard-earned cash on? Check out our Best Laptop 2016 guide for even more purchasing help.
Processor: Dual core 2.3GHz Intel Core i3-6100U, RAM: 4GB, Dimensions: 292x201x9.5, Weight: 910g, Screen size: 12in, Screen resolution: 2160x1440, Graphics adaptor: Intel HD Graphics 520, Total storage: 128GB SSD