Newsletter
Acer is unveiling a ton of new products at CES this year, and that includes a suite of new AI-powered laptops and a pair of gaming routers in its Predator lineup. For the laptops, Acer is announcing the Swift Go 16, the Swift Go 14, and the Swift X 14. As for the routers, there’s the Predator Connect X7 5G CPE, and the Predator Connect T7. Acer partnered with Qualcomm on both of these routers and both serve the needs of gamers. But each one of the routers is a little unique in what they offer too.
The Predator Connect X7 5G model mixes both Wi-Fi 7 and 5G connectivity for a better and more reliable connection. The tech inside uses Qualcomm’s ‘Immersive Home Platform‘ and Acer says the idea is that the router will minimize the disruption you might have with the connection. That way you get more reliable internet for gaming or any other connection-based activities.
The Predator Connect T7 does things a little differently. It still promises a fast and reliable connection for your home wireless network. But instead of mixing the Wi-Fi 7 and 5G, it’s a mesh router system that allows you to link access points together for better coverage. Acer says “wired-level latency is possible” with this mesh setup. So if wired-level latency is what you’re after, this could be a good way to get it without actually hardwiring your PC.
You can also control and manage both routers using the Predator Connect utility app.
Acer doesn’t mention the pricing or availability of the Predator gaming routers
Acer doesn’t mention pricing or availability on these yet. But does say exact pricing and availability will vary by region. These should be available for consumers in North America as most of Acer’s other Predator products are. But for now, there’s no word on cost or when they’ll hit shelves.
Acer’s new Swift laptops are powered by AI with Intel Ultra
Intel Ultra chips are becoming more and more entwined with the latest PCs, and Acer’s new Swift laptops are the latest recipients. Last year, Acer announced a range of new gaming laptops powered by Intel Ultra, and now it’s using the CPUs in one of its more mainstream lineups. The Swift Go 16, Swift Go 14, and Swift X 14 will all come with an Intel Ultra CPU but they’ll use different model chips and vary slightly with the GPU offering. Since these aren’t gaming laptops there’s nothing intense happening with the specs or features.
However, you will be able to get the Swift X 14 with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. So think of it like an under-the-radar gaming laptop that doesn’t look like a gaming laptop. It’ll also come with a Calman Verified 2.8K OLED display, and up to 32GB of RAM as well as 1TB of storage. The Swift X 14 is geared towards “creators and students” but it should also suit gamers just fine if they want something a little more on the down low.
The Swift Go 16 and 14 meanwhile will use Intels Arc GPUs for graphics processing, and they support up to 32GB of RAM as well as up to 2TB of storage. These definitely feel like they are designed more for students and general PC use, with battery life rated at 10.5 hours on the Swift Go 16 and 12.5 hours on the Swift Go 14.
Pricing and availability
Acer is using some quite nice displays on both models though. The 14-inch model will get a 2.8K display with a 90Hz refresh rate. Meanwhile, the 16-inch model is getting a 3.2K display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Both are also OLED panels. So expect really deep blacks and nice vibrant color contrasts. Both the Swift Go laptops will be available in March. Prices will start at $749.99 for the Swift Go 14 and $799.99 for the Swift Go 16. The Swift X 14 goes on sale in February. It will be a little more thanks to the NVIDIA GPU and other features though. Prices will start at $1,399.99.