The Acer Aspire Vero: A Sustainable Laptop With Solid Performance?
In a world increasingly conscious of our environmental impact, tech companies are striving to tread lighter. Acer, known for its diverse range of devices, has taken a significant step towards sustainability with its Vero line of laptops. This line, built with a focus on recycled materials and eco-friendly manufacturing, aims to provide consumers with environmentally conscious options without compromising performance. The Acer Aspire Vero, the first model launched in this line, caught our attention, and we’ve put it through its paces to see if it truly delivers on both performance and sustainability.
Acer Aspire Vero Price in India
The Acer Aspire Vero initially launched in India at an MRP of Rs. 79,999. However, its price has since dropped significantly, making it a more enticing option for budget-conscious consumers. At the time of writing, Acer’s official online store offers two variants – one with 8GB of RAM priced at Rs. 57,999 and another with 16GB of RAM priced at Rs. 62,999. While the RAM differs, both variants share the same core specifications, including an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 CPU and a 512GB SSD.
Acer Aspire Vero Design: A Statement of Sustainability
The Acer Aspire Vero’s design immediately distinguishes it from other Aspire laptops. The square, un-tapered base and the pale grey chassis with a distinct hexagonal texture gives it a unique and rugged aesthetic. This textured finish is a result of the 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics used for the chassis and display frame, further enhancing its eco-friendly appeal.
The Aspire Vero is sturdy and well-built, with minimal flex in the lid and keyboard area. The use of embossed labels instead of paint or stickers further underscores the commitment to a sustainable design.
Port Placement and Connectivity:
The port selection on the Aspire Vero is fairly comprehensive. While the right side provides a single USB 2.0 Type-A port, Kensington lock slot, headphone/microphone combo, and two status LEDs, the left side houses the bulk of the ports, including the charging socket, Gigabit Ethernet port, HDMI, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging), and a USB Type-C port (not for charging). However, the lack of an SD card slot might be a drawback for users who require external storage.
Ventilation and Build Quality:
The Aspire Vero features a standard ventilation system with ample inlet slits on the bottom of the chassis for air intake and expulsion through the opening between the hinges. Rubber feet provide adequate elevation and stability. The rubber padding on the back of the lid also helps push the base upwards at an angle when opened, improving base stability.
Keyboard and Trackpad:
The full-sized keyboard boasts black, chiclet-style keys with white backlighting. Acer emphasizes its use of 50% PCR plastics for the keycaps. While the keys are comfortable to type on, the small size and proximity of the Up and Down direction keys can be a minor inconvenience for some users. The large palm rest and trackpad enhance the typing experience, although the trackpad isn’t the most responsive, requiring a touch of adjustment for precise gestures. A fingerprint sensor integrated into the upper left corner of the trackpad adds a convenient layer of security.
Acer Aspire Vero Specifications and Software: A Solid Base for Work and Play
The Acer Aspire Vero, for the Indian market, is exclusively available with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 quad-core CPU, paired with an integrated Intel GPU. The available RAM options are 8GB or 16GB of DDR4 RAM. The 8GB model allows expansion to 12GB of RAM. While the base panel access is easy with standard Philips screws, swapping out the RAM or SSD will void the warranty, urging users to seek Acer service for any upgrades.
Storage and Connectivity:
The laptop comes equipped with a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, easily accessible for potential upgrades. The Aspire Vero also boasts stereo speakers, a 720p webcam, and a 48WHr battery. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 ensure seamless connectivity.
Software and Pre-installed Apps:
The review unit shipped with Microsoft Windows 11. Buyers also receive a complimentary license for Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Student (including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). A trial version of Norton Security Ultra is provided, along with Acer’s first-party apps such as Care Centre and Pure Voice Console. Cyberlink’s PhotoDirector and PowerDirector editing apps are also pre-installed. The Vero Sense battery management app allows users to choose between various battery profiles and limit charging to 80% for extended battery life.
Acer Aspire Vero Performance and Battery Life: Balancing Sustainability and Capability
The Acer Aspire Vero delivers consistently strong performance for general productivity tasks. MS Office apps, browser-based activities, and multitasking are handled with ease thanks to the SSD, ensuring swift boot times and app loading. The Aspire Vero remains impressively cool during casual use and only gets slightly warmer under heavy load, such as during charging or gaming. While gaming performance requires a realistic approach, casual titles from Steam, Epic Games, or the Microsoft Store run smoothly, while heavier titles struggle.
Benchmark Results:
The Aspire Vero performed well in synthetic benchmarks, scoring 3,972 points in PCMark 10 and 12,519 points in the 3DMark Night Raid graphics test. Real-world tests show the laptop compressing a 3.24GB folder in 3 minutes and 16 seconds and transcoding a 1.3GB AVI file in 1 minute and 17 seconds.
Display and Webcam:
The sharp and bright 15.6-inch IPS LCD panel with a full-HD (1920×1080 pixels) resolution is well suited for both work and leisure. The matte finish minimizes reflections, enhancing indoor viewing. Streaming videos on platforms like YouTube and Netflix look great, with adequate brightness and saturated colors.
The 720p webcam produces decent quality video footage, with minimal noise even in dimly lit environments.
Battery Performance:
While Acer claims a 10-hour battery life, our testing revealed a more realistic figure. With conservative use, including moderate screen brightness, browsing, and video watching, we achieved around five hours of runtime before the power saver mode kicked in. The Vero+ battery mode, activated below 15% battery, adds about 20 minutes of runtime before needing to charge. Overall, expect around six hours under light to medium workload.
Battery Eater Pro, a demanding benchmark, pushed the battery to its limits, depleting it after two hours. While decent, battery life could have been improved.
Verdict: The Acer Aspire Vero – A Sustainable Choice with Room for Improvement?
The Acer Aspire Vero is a solid mid-range laptop with no major drawbacks. It appeals to environmentally conscious buyers who value sustainable practices without sacrificing performance. Its sturdy build quality, decent performance, comprehensive port selection, bright display, and comfortable keyboard make it a compelling option. Battery life, while decent, could use some improvement. The only significant drawback is its weight, which could be inconvenient for frequent travelers.
At a market price of Rs. 57,999 for the 8GB version, it’s competitively priced, but for a similar price, you can find laptops with similarly powerful specs and even Intel’s 12th Gen CPUs, such as the Asus VivoBook 15.
The Acer Aspire Vero embodies a commendable step towards sustainable computing. While its battery life could be stronger, its solid performance, eco-conscious design, and overall value make it a worthy consideration for users seeking a blend of sustainability and functionality.
