Best Acer laptops 2022

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
An Acer laptop on a desk next to a succulent, a notebook and a pen
(Image credit: Future)

The best Acer laptops are typically associated with affordability. These notebooks are so competitively priced, extremely reliable, and very capable. And, thanks to them, budget-minded shoppers can find plenty of reasonably priced options without sacrificing on performance or features. 

Plus, no matter what kind of laptop you need, one of the best Acer laptops is up to the task. Acer has everything from affordable Chromebooks and cheap laptops for students to premium Ultrabooks, versatile 2-in-1 laptops, and powerful gaming laptops. So, whatever you’re looking for, these portables are worth considering, particularly if you’re trying to get something a little more affordable than a MacBook.

Here are the best Acer notebooks 2022 has to offer, with our nifty price comparison tool included so you can find the best laptop deals. Before you make a decision, see what Acer promo codes could help.

Acer Swift 3x against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

1. Acer Swift 3x

Perfect for the road

Specifications

CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Max Graphics
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 14-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) IPS LCD
Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great battery life
+
Incredibly light

Reasons to avoid

-
Not cheap

Not every laptop is great for working on the road. The Acer Swift 3x is not one of those laptops. Thanks to its incredible light weight, long-lasting battery life, and smaller size, it’s perfect for digital nomads or anyone who needs to work on the go.

While the price is a bit more on the premium side, it’s a bit light on the ports, and the screen is smaller than what most people are used to (it is 14 inches after all), this is a computer that is able to deliver. Thanks to the 11th-gen Intel processors and Iris Xe graphics, this machine will be able to take just about any productivity task you can throw at it, not to mention some light photo editing and gaming.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 3x

Acer Spin 5 (2020) against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

2. Acer Spin 5 (2020)

A fantastic 2-in-1 laptop

Specifications

CPU: 10th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics
RAM: 8GB – 16GB
Screen: 13.5" (2256 x 1504) 3:2 touchscreen display
Storage: 256GB – 512GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Fantastic battery life
+
Feature rich stylus included

Reasons to avoid

-
3:2 display not ideal for 16:9 video

A great feature set definitely adds a lot of value, and if you’re looking for the best 2-in-1 laptops, that’s one thing to keep an eye out for. It’s that combined with its affordability that makes the Acer Spin 5 (2020) a terrific candidate. This 2-in-1 laptop isn’t just versatile due to its form factors and fantastic battery life. It also comes with a 3:2 display and a feature-rich stylus that together give it that extra advantage for students and professionals over its rivals: an easy and seamless note-taking experience. If you’re one of those folks who have a contempt for typing up notes in class, this old-school approach might just seal the deal.

Read the full review: Acer Spin 5 (2020)

Acer ConceptD 7 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

3. Acer ConceptD 7

A mobile workstation for creatives

Specifications

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 – 2080
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 15.6" 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 1TB

Reasons to buy

+
Very powerful
+
Cheaper than MacBook Pro
+
Good selection of ports

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive
-
Plain design
-
Not as thin and light as MacBook Pro

The formidable Acer ConceptD 7 is capable of handling complex and demanding tasks such as intensive video editing and 3D design, thanks in large part to its Nvidia RTX graphics. Clearly designed specifically with creative professionals in mind, it boasts that sheer power you’ll only find in workstations and gaming laptops. Beyond that excellent performance it delivers, it also offers decent port selection, a minimalist solid white design and that stunning Pantone-validated 4K IPS display. Obviously, it’s still pretty pricey, but no professional’s tool comes cheap. If you’re looking for a Windows-powered MacBook alternative for the creative tasks, this is among the best Acer laptops for you.

Read the full review: Acer ConceptD 7 

Acer Swift 3 2020 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

4. Acer Swift 3 (2020)

Punches above its ultralight-weight

Specifications

CPU: 11th-generation Intel Core i5 – i7
Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
RAM: up to 16GB LPDDR4X
Screen: 13.5” 3:2 IPS VertiView Display or 14” 16:9 FHD IPS
Storage: up to 1TB PCIe Gen SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Highly portable
+
Excellent multitasker

Reasons to avoid

-
Speakers are "meh"

The Acer Swift 3 (2020) exceeds expectations for a budget laptop proving that being portable doesn't have to mean pricey. It may have inherited some of the previous models’ flaws, but it’s also improved where it can, prioritizing upgrades in specs and battery life. That’s while keeping the price as it is. If you’re looking for a cheap laptop that’s more than competent, this is a solid option you should consider.

Read the full review: Acer Swift 3 (2020)

Acer Predator Triton 500 against a white background

(Image credit: TechRadar)

5. Acer Predator Triton 500

Devouring the competition

Specifications

CPU: up to Intel Core i7-9750H
Graphics: up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Storage: up to 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Extremely powerful
+
Beautiful display
+
Surprisingly long battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Kind of expensive
-
Flimsy lid

The Acer Predator Triton 500 isn’t exactly inexpensive. However, considering that it’s one of the best Acer laptops 2020 has on offer – not to mention, among the most powerful gaming machines – it’s certainly worth breaking that piggy bank. It’s packed with 8th and 9th generation Intel core chips as well as Nvidia RTX cards, which gives it enough juice to handle the most processor-intensive and graphics-heavy AAA games. The lid is a bit flimsy, but that won’t have any impact on its overall performance. You just have to be a tad more careful lugging it around.

Read the full review: Acer Predator Triton 500

Acer Chromebook 314 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

6. Acer Chromebook 314

A tremendous Chromebook harboring great performance and battery life

Specifications

CPU: Intel Celeron N4000
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14" HD (1366 x 768) 16:9 – 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 32GB – 64GB Flash Memory

Reasons to buy

+
Terrific, laptop-esque design
+
Excellent battery life and performance
+
Bright, crisp screen

Reasons to avoid

-
No touchscreen
-
No fingerprint reader

If you’re looking for a Chromebook, then you should take a look at the Acer Chromebook 314. This impressive device is what every Chromebook should be. It’s simple yet reliable in terms of performance, and delivers a long 12-hour battery life. Even better, it boasts a keyboard that’s satisfying to use, a decent selection of ports, a bright, crisp screen and a sleek design you’ll find in more expensive models. It may be held back by the absence of a touchscreen and a fingerprint reader, but those don’t exactly affect its overall performance. And, that amazing budget price tag single-handedly makes up for everything it doesn’t do.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 314

Acer Predator Helios 700 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

7. Acer Predator Helios 700

A desktop-bashing portable gaming beast

Specifications

CPU: 9th-generation Intel Core i7 – i9
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 – 2080
RAM: 16GB – 32GB
Screen: 17.3" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 512GB – 1TB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Epic specification
+
Outrageous cooling hardware
+
Huge performance

Reasons to avoid

-
Ridiculous noise levels
-
The overclocking ain’t all that
-
Barely a laptop at all

Premium gaming laptops are known to drain your bank account, and the Acer Predator Helios 700 is no exception. However, you’ll be happy to know that it’s cheaper than its top rivals with similar specs, saving you a couple of hundred dollars so you can buy your dream gaming keyboard or mouse. With that price tag, you’re also getting a high-end 360° surround sound system, Wifi 6, per-key RBG integration, the PredatorSense Key and a display with 144Hz refresh rate. Perhaps the one feature that’s most worthy of a mention, however, is its thermal performance that involves a sliding keyboard and extreme cooling.

Read the full review: Acer Predator Helios 700 

Acer Spin 5 against a white background

(Image credit: TechRadar)

8. Acer Spin 5

Mid-range is only a frame of mind

Specifications

CPU: up to Intel Core i7-8550U
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: Up to 16GB
Screen: 13.3" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS – 15.6" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 1 TB HDD – 512GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Solid performance
+
Decent battery life
+
Build quality and design

Reasons to avoid

-
Mediocre display
-
Dull speakers

With a mid-range price tag, it's easy not to expect a lot from the Acer Spin 5. But you’d be surprised – the Acer Spin 5 actually delivers a decent performance, combining it with a nice design and a decent battery life that will last you a while without charging, for the price. It cuts down the price with a subpar display and not-so-good speakers, that those are a small price to pay to get through most computing and productivity tasks without issues and without paying a hefty sum.

Read the full review: Acer Spin 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 311 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

9. Acer Chromebook Spin 311

A versatile and fun little Chromebook for work and play

Specifications

CPU: AMD A4-9120C – A6-9220C
Graphics: AMD Radeon R4 – R5
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 17.3" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 IPS
Storage: 32GB Flash Memory

Reasons to buy

+
Great design and build
+
Lovely size
+
Excellent touch screen and flip mechanism

Reasons to avoid

-
Dim screen
-
Massive bezels drastically reduce actual screen size

Supreme versatility is what the best Chromebooks have in common, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 has it in spades. This little Chromebook packs a lot of features in its 11-inch frame, including a great design, sturdy build, 2-in-1 form factor and a super responsive IPS touchscreen. That’s not to mention the USB Type-C port capable of fast-charging and decent battery life. And, all for the price of a set of premium headphones.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Acer Chromebook 714 against a white background

(Image credit: Acer)

10. Acer Chromebook 714

Seriously solid, if not especially stylish

Specifications

CPU: Intel Pentium 4417U – Intel Core i5-8350U
Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 610 – UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 8GB
Screen: 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 – 14" Full HD (1920 x 1080) 16:9 Touchscreen
Storage: 32GB – 64GB flash memory

Reasons to buy

+
Seriously solid metal chassis
+
Strong battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
Keyboard a little mushy

The best Chromebook for professionals right now, the Acer Chromebook 714 boasts a premium, seriously solid chassis that is just the ticket for the business-oriented bunch. It’s not especially stylish, sadly, but that decent performance and strong battery life makes up for its lack of fashion sense. And, aren’t those all the more important if you’re meeting with clients, tackling paperwork and balancing the books all day? In fact, the quad-core processor is good enough for light content creation tasks, making it a boon for those starting out in the content creation industry as well.

Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 714

Michelle Rae Uy
Contributor

Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.