2-in-1 laptops are not a new thing yet they still sell well. I guess this is because people often seek convenience. Indeed, such a notebook offers plenty of ease, given it has both laptop and tablet functions available. A decent, recent example should be Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) which has received some favorable reviews quickly. There should be a reason for its popularity which I intend to find out in the review here!
General performance
My premise is that Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) fits the bill for users demanding high performance from the system. For one, the processor isn’t anything to be ashamed of: Intel Core i5-7200U, a 7th generation CPU offering 2.5GHz clock frequency and 3.1GHz turbo boost. It’s a dual core unit but don’t let that put you down, the CPU Mark score is still as high as ~4700. For a laptop processor, that is good. Suitability for occasional photo editing is guaranteed.
The good continues in memory section too. It is 8GB DDR4 RAM the system has by default. It’s installed on one slot and there are no extra slots free. The manufacturer says you can in theory upgrade to 16GB but it would require disassembly of the laptop bottom. So in practice, if you know how to take apart the notebook, you will be able to go to 16GB memory here!
There are very few 2-in-1 laptops without a solid-state drive, this Acer being no exception. Inside is a 256GB SSD with Windows 10 Home loaded on it. The free actual space will be around 230 gigabytes. Like with the memory, also the drive can be upgraded by removing the laptop bottom. Keep in mind, however, there are no extra slots for additional drives of any sort.
Does it work for gaming?
I wouldn’t hold my breath about gaming performance of Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC). It’s a small laptop meant primarily for software purposes. The graphics engine is not dedicated, but an integrated Intel HD 620. With that, older games will spit decent frame rates, like Counter-Strike: Go or sports games. But if you want to play newer/demanding titles and expect great graphics… well, just don’t. With minimum eye candy on, games like Doom and Fallout 4 would get around 20 FPS which is not smooth at all.
Video
Ports and interfaces
Convertible models are not known for huge amount of ports. Indeed,
Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) would only feature two USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0. I’m not saying that’s bad, often three USB interfaces is all it takes. Especially when two of those, not one, is the faster USB 3.0. Bear in mind, no USB Type-C is found on this machine.
The machine comes with a wireless adapter supporting the 802.11ac standard. So, expect robust and long-range signal. Oh, and Bluetooth 4.1 too. There’s no built-in Ethernet port but you are free to get USB adapter for that!
It is possible to connect PC monitor, or just your PC display. This laptop has a full-sized HDMI output available.
You may have guessed this, but the laptop doesn’t have a DVD drive. You can always connect an external one to the USB port. One functionality the Acer has is microSD card slot for moving data quickly.
Miscellaneous things
A big selling point of Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) is its screen. Featuring a 360 degree hinge, the display seamlessly rotates from laptop mode to a tablet. Having 13.3″ diagonal it’s also rather compact, yet the 1920×1080 resolution ensures plenty of screen estate and decent image quality. The display has a multi-touch support and IPS panel technology for accurate colors, something digital artists value I guess.
Computer comes with a 4-cell 3220mAh Li-ion battery and Acer claims it lasts 10 hours. There are several user reports backing up this claim – so yes, expect a full day battery life. The battery can be replaced if you remove the laptop bottom and some components which obviously takes some effort.
The keyboard has backlight function.
Reasons to buy this
Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) is essentially two devices, a laptop and tablet. By getting this you don’t need to invest in both separately. It’s an ultrabook and very powerful tablet in one machine.
Speaking about performance, it is very decent. The 7th generation Core i5 processor is fast for heavier use. The SSD helps with Windows loading in no time, in a matter of seconds.
The price is still rather tolerable. I’ve often witnessed this with Acer products. The performance is high but price is not. Go figure.
Reasons not to buy this
The one thing this Acer fits poorly is gaming. It has nothing special in the graphics department. Just an integrated graphics. For lightweight gaming it goes, but if you really want the experience, go with a laptop that was built for gaming from the ground up.
Summary
Acer Spin 5 (SP513-51-53FC) is a 2-in-1 laptop with a power user twist. See, it might be smallish, but the performance can not be easily beaten. Yes, the Kaby Lake processor and solid-state drive are a treat for users demanding a lot from their systems. Another feature that can not be disregarded is the screen – you’ll be looking at a beautiful Full HD display. Despite all this, the price is rather affordable, so I can certainly recommend the Acer for you if powerful convertible is what you seek.
