Acer has rolled out the Windows 10 Switch 5 2-in-1, sporting a stylus, fingerprint reader, a fanless cooling system, and Intel’s latest Core i processors.
The new device is the successor to the Taiwan-based firm’s Switch Alpha 12, the first product to feature the Acer fanless cooling system. At $599, the Alpha 12 was largely seen as an alternative to the Microsoft Surface Pro 4.
However, Switch 5 is going to be a lot more expensive compared to its predecessor. Starting at $799 (€1,099 in Europe), the device is expected to go on sale in June 2017. The aforementioned prices cover for the accompanying Acer Active Pen and a detachable keyboard.
Note that on a casual look, despite a slimmer build, the Switch 5 doesn’t seem to be much different from the Switch Alpha 12. One key difference would be that it has a fingerprint sensor in the power button.
Under the hood, the device packs an Intel seventh-generation Core i Kaby Lake processor. (Side note: Switch 5 happens to be first ever device to use the new Intel Core i CPU).
The company claims that the addition of Core i will ensure that the device has enough juice to run at least 10.5 hours on a single charge. Other key specs include up to 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM, Core i5 or i7 CPU, and 256GB or 512GB of PCI-e SSD storage.
As for the design, the Switch 5, powered by Windows 10, comes in an anodized aluminum body and a Full HD+ 12-inch touch display offering a resolution of 2,160 x 1,400-pixel resolution. With the keyboard attached, it weighs approximately 1.27kg with a form factor of 292mm wide x 201.8mm deep x 12mm high (11.5 x 7.94 x 0.47 inches)
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