The moment I saw the Aspire Vero, I knew the laptop was different. It seems major tech players in the industry are finally making greener choices and this is why this laptop is made of post-consumer recycled (PCR) materials. Whenever a tech product is made with a clear conscience and keeps the environment in mind, it excites me as a journalist. After using the new Aspire Vero for a few days, I can say this notebook is definitely a refreshing, positive step forward for a greener future. But is it the right laptop for you? I tried to find out the answer in my review. Acer Aspire Vero review: Design and aesthetics The Acer Vero has a contemporary aesthetic that never goes out of style. It’s like the magic of the backwaters of Alleppey and the old-world charm of the houseboat. You know Acer is using post-consumer recycled plastic, but the overall aesthetics is calm and relaxing. The notebook’s chassis is covered in speckled grey coloured plastic reminiscent of paper mesh greeting cards, with a flecked yellow pattern. Acer says the laptop’s body is made from 30 per cent PCR materials, while the keycaps are made up of 50 per cent PCR. Even the panel is 99 per cent recyclable, and the laptop comes in a cardboard box that’s 100 per cent recyclable. Instead of throwing away the box, the company encourages you to use it as a mini-laptop stand. The chassis is totally paint-free, a step towards its sustainability promises for the future. The laptop feels solid and unique, although it’s not as sleek as the MacBook Air. At 1.8 kg, it’s lightweight, which could make it a good pick for university students or someone who is looking for a notebook for casual use. Although I liked the build quality of the notebook, I did notice a little flex on its deck. Also, it would have been great to see shrunken-down bezels around the screen. But I am glad that Acer is making it easy for users, especially on a mid-range notebook, to get inside the device and replace or upgrade components. The notebook has two USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a USB 2.0, an HDMI and a headphone jack. Other connectivity options include dual-band Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit Ethernet, and there’s a fingerprint reader and a webcam. It, however, lacks a built-in SD card reader and Thunderbolt connectivity. Acer Aspire Vero review: Display and speakers The display is large, stretching nearly 15.6- inches. It’s a non-touch IPS panel, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The screen is fine for web browsing, working on presentations and consuming multimedia content but the large bezels around the sides now look a little dated. I was not even expecting the display to be precise enough for Photoshopping and supporting HDR video. My only gripe about the notebook’s display is that it’s a little dim and the flaw is clearly visible when you take the notebook outside. Because the display’s brightness level maxes out at 250 nits, it’s best to use the notebook indoors. The 720p webcam is mediocre, although it’s fine for video calls. The speakers are good enough for media consumption, but they lack bass. And since they are downward-firing speakers, as I have noticed during the testing, the output often gets muffled. That said, the stereo speakers aren’t bad and can be used for casual music listening and watching YouTube videos. Acer Aspire Vero review: Keyboard and trackpad The backlit keyboard is surprisingly good. Keys are well-spaced, stable, fairly quiet, with satisfying travel and good feedback when pressed. I also liked the inclusion of a number pad. The trackpad is large and responsive and includes a fingerprint scanner to let you log in without typing your password via Windows Hello. Acer Aspire Vero review: Performance and battery The version I tested had Intel’s 11th gen Core i5, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and Iris Xe integrated graphics—and performed as you would expect from a mid-tier laptop. It handled general computing with no slowdown at all, even with 15 Chrome tabs open in the background, being able to edit images of Pixlr and listening to my music on Apple Music all at the same time. As I said, the notebook is capable of anything, except for high-end gaming. But the fans were considerably more noticeable on the Core i5 version. The notebook never became overly hot to the touch. The Aspire Vero ships with Windows 11 Home. Battery life was slightly disappointing, with the Core i5 version lasting between 4 and 5 hours between charges, which wasn’t quite long enough to complete my workday without reaching for the charger. I’d also like to point out that while the notebook has a USB-C port, it doesn’t work for charging the notebook, which is bizarre. That means I will be forever stuck with a barrel-style power plug. Acer Aspire Vero review: Should you buy it? The Aspire Vero, although not a high-end laptop, shows that it is possible to make a fairly capable mid-range notebook whilst being socially responsible but without losing out style and build quality. Priced at Rs 57,999, the Aspire Vero is a simple notebook that covers the basics. I see the Vero as a fantastic laptop held back by a few issues, most of which are traditionally associated with most mid-range Windows notebooks.
