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Key Details:
CPU: Intel Core i5-1155G7 or Core i7-1195G7
GPU: Intel Iris Xe
Random Access Memory: 16 gigabytes
Storage: 512 GB or 1 TB
Screen size: 15.6 at 1920 x 1080 IPS
Weight: 3.9 lbs (1.8 kg)
Dimensions: 14.2 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches (363 x 239 x 23 mm)
Most people only look at price and specs when buying a laptop, but the Acer Aspire Vero forces buyers to consider environmental credentials as well.
Acer paid particular attention to green issues when designing this notebook, making it ideal for the student who really cares about sustainability – or anyone else looking to make their digital life more eco-friendly.
There’s more to love than Vero’s green pride. US and UK prices are great, and inside you get capable Intel processors and quiet performance.
On paper, there’s a lot to like about the Vero… but can it warrant a spot on our best laptops for students chart?
Acer Aspire Vero Review: Design
- Amazing eco credentials and good daily communication
- A comfortable, sturdy keyboard that’s easy to use all day
- Bigger and heavier than many other laptops with mediocre build quality
Vero certainly has good green credentials. 30 percent of the chassis and screen bezel use recycled material, and those figures rise to 99% and 50% on the screen and keyboard, respectively.
Relying on recycled materials means that each Vero produces 21% less CO2 than a typical laptop during production. Acer didn’t just consider the laptop; The box uses 85% recycled paper and cardboard, the plastic packaging is 100% recycled and the box converts into a laptop stand. Acer didn’t use harmful ink on this notebook either.
Acer should be commended for building an eco-friendly laptop, but the Vero isn’t the only green laptop — Apple’s MacBook Pro laptops are built with 100% recycled aluminum as of 2018, while the latest Dell XPS 13 uses low-carbon aluminum and 100 % Recycled packaging and HP sources ocean related plastics. That’s all good news, and the Apple MacBook Pro 13, Dell XPS 13, and HP Envy 13 have already taken their place in our picks for the best laptops for students.
Interestingly, Acer combines its environmental credentials with practical features. The Vero has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a slower USB 2.0 connection, and it also has a USB-C port, a fingerprint reader, and a webcam that supports Windows Hello. On the inside, connectivity comes from dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet. There is also an HDMI output.
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That range of features compares well with competitors. Apple and Dell laptops don’t have full-sized USB ports, and most of the machines in our student laptop guide also lack wired Internet.
If you want more from your laptop, the Vero may disappoint. There’s no USB-C port for charging, and the Vero doesn’t have a card reader or Thunderbolt.
Vero’s budget situation also appears elsewhere. 1.8 kg is too heavy for a daily 15.6 machine. At just 23mm thick, the body is a bit flimsy, and the build quality is mediocre – we’d use the protective sleeve if you want this laptop to survive years of campus trips.
When it comes to typing, the Vero handles long typing sessions: the keys are fast, crisp and quiet, and the keyboard has large keys and a number pad. You’ll get crisp typing action on the more expensive Dell and Apple rigs, but only the most discerning typists will notice the difference. The trackpad has soft clicks, but it’s fine.
Acer Aspire Vero Review: Specifications and Performance
- Intel processors offer good everyday performance in student-friendly workloads
- Hardly any fan noise means that Acer is always discreet
- Other machines with a slightly higher price offer more computing power
Acer Aspire Vero is sold in two specifications. The more affordable $584/£649 laptop uses an Intel Core i5-1155G7 processor, while the price class upgrades to the Core i7-1195G7. Both use Intel integrated graphics and deploy 16 GB of memory, and the 512 GB SSD in the Core i5 model doubles the capacity in the Core i7 notebook.
Acer processors have been replaced in the Intel range, but are still decent. The Core i5 unit has four Hyper-Threaded cores and a maximum speed of 4.5 GHz, while the Core i7 chip boosts the speed to 5 GHz.
It’s also easy to get inside the laptop to upgrade the memory and storage, although the Vero only has one memory slot and one M.2 connector.
In this laptop Core i5-1155G7 single and multi-core Geekbench presented (Opens in a new tab) 1,450 and 4,800 points, and the i7-1195G7 scored 1,650 and 5,000 points in the same benchmarks.
Those reasonable means Vero has the speed to handle most everyday tasks. The Core i5 version has no issues with Office apps, can multitask between work, media and communication devices, and won’t scramble across multiple browser tabs.
The Core i7 rig adds a bit of basic content-creation prowess, and Acer has powerful power-saving modes to reduce power consumption, even if the processing capabilities are reduced.
These performance levels are consistent with many of the machines we already provide to students. The HP Envy 13 is based on the same processor, while the HP Envy x360 13 deploys the same Intel chips and comparable AMD silicon. This laptop is faster than the Google Pixelbook Go.
But if you’re willing to spend a little more money, you can get even more power. The Dell XPS 13 uses new Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors that offer big improvements in multi-threaded performance – great if you want to multitask or use heavy content creation software.
Apple’s MacBook Pro 13 and Air use factory-fresh M2 chips: in the thin Air they offer similar speeds to the new Intel processors, and in the Pro they’re even faster.
Acer Aspire Vero review: Screen and speakers
- Enough quality and quality to handle daily work and web browsing
- Low-quality color resolution means the display doesn’t have much punch.
- The speakers are good, but the lack of bass means they feel a little toothless
The comparable Acer doesn’t push the envelope when it comes to the display. Inside the panel is a 15.6 inch non-touch IPS display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 and a matte finish. That’s a good specification for web browsing, working in office tools, and watching media.
Unfortunately, benchmarks show that the Vero panel is limited. Its maximum brightness level hovers around 270 nits, which is fine for indoor use – but struggles in the sun. A contrast ratio of 1,350:1 means you get good depth, but there simply isn’t enough backlight power to deliver a lot of vivid work.
The display’s Delta E is an average figure of 5.16, which means that colors are not very accurate and the screen only covers 58% of the sRGB gamut, so this screen should look great with games, TV shows, and websites.
Make no mistake: Despite those results, this screen is great for web browsing, everyday workloads, and casual media viewing. But the panel isn’t particularly bold, and you’ll get better quality than Apple, Dell, and HP machines.
The speakers deliver plenty of volume and a pleasingly clear mid-range sound, and with little top end, they’re easily adequate for watching YouTube videos and TV shows. Like many small notebooks, but not much bass. Also, keep in mind that their downward-firing design means that beds or couches will muffle sound.
Acer Aspire Vero review: Battery life
- Expect 12 hours of lifespan at best – and that’s if you’re careful.
- If you push the internals, the Acer battery will last at least seven hours
Acer’s eco-friendly laptop will last around 12 hours if you’re playing media and seven to eight hours if you’re using it for core workloads, so there’s enough longevity here to handle a day on campus.
Considering the Vero’s price, that’s pretty good performance. But, as always, its value competitors fare better here: Apple’s MacBook Pro 13 and Air Rigs typically last between 14 and 15 hours, and the Dell XPS 13 and HP Envy 13 offer similar longevity.
The Google Pixelbook Go and HP Envy x360 13 come a little closer to the Acer in terms of battery life, but those more affordable rivals still outlast the Vero in most cases.
Acer Aspire Vero Review: Price
The more powerful Core i7 version of this laptop costs $749 in the US. (Opens in a new tab). and £849 in the UK (Opens in a new tab)and the Core i5 model costs just $584 for US buyers and £649 for the British.
Those are great prices, especially if you’re a student on a budget. A MacBook Pro 13 starts between $1,299 and £1,349. An Air will cost between $1,199 and £999. High prices aren’t limited to Apple: the Dell XPS 13 starts at $999 and costs £949. Those laptops are sleeker, slimmer, and faster than Acer’s, with better displays and batteries — but you’ll have to pay for it.
Google’s Pixelbook Go is more affordable at $849 and £829, but that laptop is only suitable for people who want to stick with Chrome OS. The HP Envy 13 and x360 13 match or duck the Acer in price. They’re smaller than the Acer and offer comparable performance and slightly better battery life – but they’re smaller than the Acer and have mediocre build quality.
Should you buy an Acer Aspire Vero?
There are several key areas where the Acer Aspire Vero excels. It has the performance to handle everyday student and work tasks and has a satisfying keyboard and enough battery life to last for several days. Its environmental performance is impressive, and it’s cheaper than many competitors.
But the budget will bite. Relatively heavy, the build quality is average, and the display is dull. If you’re willing to spend a little more, you can get more power, and it’s not just a laptop with impressive green credentials.
Still, Vero offers everyday eco-friendly computing at a good price, so the 15.6 is a good choice if you want to be a little kinder to the planet in your student notebook.
If this product is not for you
If you have extra cash, you have many options. Dell XPS 13 if you prefer to stick with Windows (Opens in a new tab) It’s stylish and classy, and the Dell XPS 15 elevates its design for a better immersive experience.
On the Mac OS side of the fence, the MacBook Pro 16 (and 13- and 14-inch ones too) all have amazing design and display quality, albeit at a much higher price point. And, if you’ve already seen a lot of talk, the MacBook Air is a featherlight.
If you’re on a tight budget, the HP Envy 13 (Opens in a new tab) and HP Envy x360 13 (Opens in a new tab) It offers thin, simple designs and has a rear screen and works like a tablet. And if Chrome OS is your operating system of choice, Google Pixelbook Go (Opens in a new tab) It will be more suitable.
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