Acer just unveiled one of the lightest laptops on the market.
The technology company revealed its Swift Air 16 laptop in Berlin on September 3, introducing a device that manages to pack a 16-inch display into a chassis weighing less than one kilogram. This makes it even lighter than Apple's MacBook Air (1.24kg).
This achievement is made possible through the use of magnesium-aluminium alloy construction, which provides durability while maintaining the featherweight design. The laptop represents Acer's newest entry in its Swift range, specifically engineered for professionals who need portable computing power.
If you've never shopped the brand before, Acer is a Taiwanese multinational technology company known for designing and manufacturing electronics, primarily personal computers, laptops, monitors, and accessories. Founded in 1976, Acer is one of the world’s largest PC vendors, offering a range of products for home, business, and gaming use, including its popular Predator and Aspire series.
The new laptop may be ideal for travellers as it boasts a lightweight designed and is optimised to work with high-powered applications
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So, what's new about this model?
The Swift Air 16 runs on AMD's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors, with options ranging from the AI 5 330 to the top-tier AI 7 350 model. This means the laptop is designed to run on optimised performance to streamline your workflow. For example, the chips enable you to run high-powered artificial intelligence applications directly on your device while maintaining energy efficiency.
The new laptop will be available in four colour choices: Light Silver, Fresh Blue, Steel Grey and White
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The laptop may also be a good option if you're looking to upgrade to Windows 11.
If you're still using Windows 10, you've got just five weeks before Microsoft pulls the plug on security updates and technical support on October 14, 2025.
This means that Microsoft will no longer issue regular software updates to fix vulnerabilities, bugs, and critical glitches in the desktop operating system. Without these, Microsoft warns that anyone who continues to use Windows 10 will be left "at greater risk for viruses and malware".
Once a flaw in the operating system has been uncovered, hackers can continue to exploit the vulnerability in millions of PCs with no fear that Microsoft will issue a fix. Beyond security concerns, compatibility issues will mount. Microsoft recently extended support for its own 365 apps, including Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Since the Swift Air 16 runs on Windows 11, you'll have access to AI-powered features, including Recall and Click to Do. Recall is an AI-powered Windows feature that creates snapshots of your screen to help you retrace your steps and find information, while Click to Do is a complementary feature that works with these snapshots and across your entire Windows interface. These tools aim to enhance your productivity by streamlining content creation and collaboration tasks.
Battery performance reaches up to 13 hours based on video playback testing, ensuring you can work through extended periods without needing to recharge. The system also promises rapid startup times and responsive performance for demanding applications such as video editing and 3D rendering programmes.
You can select between two display configurations to suit your needs. The premium option features a WQXGA+ AMOLED panel with 2880x1800 resolution, delivering a high-resolution, premium display with vibrant colours, deep blacks, and high refresh rates.
Alternatively, there's a WUXGA IPS screen offering 1920x1200 resolution at 60Hz. This provides greater screen real estate for multitasking and applications. Both displays also utilise a 16:10 aspect ratio, providing extra vertical screen space for your work.
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Connectivity won't be an issue either, as the laptop is designed with dual USB Type-C ports offering full functionality, plus USB 3.2 Type-A and HDMI 1.4 connections. You'll also benefit from Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.4 or higher for wireless connections.
The laptop includes a 2MP infrared camera with a privacy shutter, supporting Windows Hello facial recognition for secure access. This is a feature that allows you to log in to your device by scanning your face using a special infrared (IR) camera.
If you're looking to get your hands on this new model, the Swift Air 16 will officially be released in November with a starting price of €999, which is roughly £860. Acer hasn't officially disclosed UK-specific pricing yet.
You'll have four colour choices: Light Silver, Fresh Blue, Steel Grey and White, allowing you to match your personal style or professional environment.