Acer Aspire 16 AI ZDNET's key takeaways The Acer Aspire 16 AI is available on Amazon for $799.
It's a reliable, lightweight workhorse with a marathon battery that's ideal for long days.
However, its hardware has performance limitations. View now at Acer View now at Amazon more buying choices
Acer's new Aspire 16 AI is a humble laptop. It isn't flashy or over-the-top, it doesn't house high-end hardware or an OLED screen. Instead, it focuses on being a reliable work device with a midrange price tag. Considering how expensive things are nowadays, we need more laptops like this now more than ever before -- especially if you're a college student.
For students, the Aspire 16 is a reliable device with enough battery power to get through the day. Instead of bells and whistles, it delivers solid performance and a slim form factor that's easy to commute with.
Sleek design
The Acer Aspire 16 AI opts for a practical design, measuring 14 x 9.85 x 0.63 inches and weighing 3.42 pounds, it's sleek, sliding easily into most backpacks. Build quality is solid, and its weight is evenly distributed, passing the "one-finger test" without a hint of wobble.
I also appreciate the spacious touchpad, which measures 5.9 x 3.5 inches and provides plenty of room for comfortable navigating. You can move from one side of the screen to the other without needing to lift your finger off. Too often, budget laptops cut corners by equipping cramped touchpads.
Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET
Typing on the Aspire 16 felt mostly satisfying. The main set of keys is evenly spaced out and offers a decent amount of travel distance, making it easy to type quickly. That said, the keys have a slightly mushy feel; it's not the most crispy keyboard. Plus, the up and down arrow keys, as well as the number pad, are undersized. They're perfectly functional, although you may accidentally bump keys.
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