The Acer Aspire Vero is a sign of our times. It is an eco-friendly laptop with 30% of its chassis made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Which would make it a good fit for Singapore consumers, who are apparently the most willing to take individual climate action (56% of respondents) in a recent survey of 10 countries. The laptop itself is priced at just over S$1,000, making it an affordable mainstream model that's intended for less demanding users. In short, the Vero may be a green laptop, but premium, it is not.
Quick specs
- 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel IPS display
- Intel Core i5-1155G7 processor with Intel Iris Xe graphics
- Windows 11
- 1.8kg
The first thing you'll notice about the Vero is its PCR plastic body. It's grey with specks of yellow and blue. It feels slightly rough, like the texture of recycled paper cups. There's a bit of flex in the chassis and lid, but nothing too alarming. Acer has engraved the logos instead of painting the chassis for eco reasons, though the inevitable Intel Core CPU sticker is still around. It's now on the bottom of the Vero. The Vero uses standard Philips screws, which means you can easily open it up for repairs or upgrades. It is also slightly heavier than I expected at around 1.8kg.
The Vero's Full-HD display is probably my least favourite feature. While the display's matte finish reduces glare decently, the screen is simply not bright enough. It only looks somewhat acceptable at maximum screen brightness. Even then, the screen looks dim and barely legible when used outdoors in the day. Colours are also on the dull side, while the top screen bezel could be slimmer. I'm not a fan of the keyboard, which flexes under moderate pressure. The number pad is a tad too small and cramped. And to my annoyance, the Vero's USB-C port does not recharge the laptop. Hence, I have to use the bundled power adapter, which is an additional item to carry around when I could have brought a smaller and more versatile USB-C charger like the Mi 65W Fast Charger for the Vero and my smartphone.
Except for the lacklustre screen, the Vero's flaws are mostly minor. Crucially, it has all the features you'd expect for a modern mainstream notebook, such as a fingerprint reader and a 720p HD webcam. Ports are aplenty, including HDMI, Ethernet, USB-C and three USB-A ports. And the specs are decent, too. Its Intel Core i5 processor is one of the more capable variants with Intel Xe Graphics. The laptop feels snappy enough for everyday computing tasks like web browsing or media consumption. It scored 4,860 in PCMark 10, which is similar to that of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 4.
Battery life, though, could be a concern for those who intend to use the Vero on the go. It lasted a middling 6.5hr in our usual video-loop battery test with the screen set to maximum brightness. Personally, I don't see it as a major issue because I'm not lugging a 15-inch notebook around unless it's absolutely necessary. Overall, the Vero offers decent performance and competitive features despite some niggling flaws. It is also affordably priced at S$1,098. In short, you don't have to pay a premium for picking the eco-friendly option, which is great news. Get it now at Shopee or Lazada.
Note: Review unit provided by Acer.
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