Acer Aspire S7 (2015) Ultrabook Review

Sharp as a knife. Slim, elegant and streamlined - the looks of the S7 will stop everyone from simply passing by Acer's premium range. Will the pricey first-rate configuration of WQHD screen and SSD Raid ultimately be convincing? We examined that in this in-depth test report.

For the original German review, see here.

In 2012, Acer launched a premium line that most certainly deserves this title with its Aspire S7. The thin yet firm and stiff casing was unmatched and the slim silhouette of the 13-inch device impressed testers and customers alike. Following the first generation based on an Ivy Bridge SoC (Aspire S7 391, 2012), the manufacturer upgraded to Haswell and a WQHD screen in late 2013. The modifications in the casing were slight, but the battery's capacity was increased. Now an absolutely unchanged S7 faces us. The casing is identical with that of the 2013 model. Never change a winning team? We will find out.

We will reexamine the build and input devices considering the time span between the tests and, of course, the brand new technological acquisitions, namely the Broadwell Core i7-5500U processor that still has to manage with an unchanged capacity of 47 watt hours.

The rivals can be found among our Top 10 Subnotebooks and Ultrabooks in the current market environment. Apple's MacBook Air 13 2014 belongs to this group just like Dell's XPS 13-9343 andAsus' Zenbook UX303LN. All three contenders are lightweight 13-inch devices with a very high-quality, attractive build. Except for the Air 13 (Broadwell version currently in review), Intel's new Broadwell SoC powers the devices, and the TFTs have a resolution of at least WQHD (2560x1440 pixels).

What does our review sample have to offer for 1500 Euros (~$1640)? Can it match the successfulDell XPS 13-9343 (2015)? Or is it even better?