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Acer Switch 7 Black Edition (i7-8550U, MX150) Convertible Review

2 in 1 with an MX150. Acer’s flagship convertible, the Switch 7 Black Edition, offers powerful hardware and an innovative fanless cooling solution. Both the Intel Core i7-8550U and the Nvidia GeForce MX150 are cooled without any fans. You can learn how well this works out in everyday life by reading our review.
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition

During 2017’s IFA, Acer unveiled the Switch 7 Black Edition with Intel’s Core i7-8550U and Nvidia’s GeForce MX150. In combination with 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD, the convertible offers enough performance for demanding applications, content creation and streaming. The “Dual LiquidLoop” cooling system is supposed to ensure silent operation for both the CPU and the GPU.

The 2000-Euro (~$2281) Switch 7 Black Edition offers a powerful hardware package. However, there are quite a few competitors with similar offerings. The main competing devices with a Core i7 CPU include Microsoft’s latest Surface Pro 6 and Lenovo’s ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018. The other two competitors, the Fujitsu Stylistic Q738 and HP's Elite x2 1013 G3, are somewhat cheaper and feature Core i5-8350U processors.

Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP (Switch 7 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8550U 4 x 1.8 - 4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
NVIDIA GeForce MX150 - 2048 MB VRAM, Core: 936 MHz, Memory: 5010 MHz, GDDR 5, GPU version 1D12, 388.73, Intel UHD Graphics 620
Memory
16 GB 
, DDR3L
Display
13.50 inch 7:5, 2256 x 1504 pixel 201 PPI, capacitive, native pen support, KL.1350W.001, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U + iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
Liteonit CV3-SD512, 512 GB 
, LITEON CV3-SD512, 430 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 Thunderbolt, Audio Connections: combined audio jack, Card Reader: microSD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, USB Type-C
Networking
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 (a/b/g/h/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 15.29 x 329.4 x 236.4 ( = 0.6 x 12.97 x 9.31 in)
Battery
4870 mAh Lithium-Polymer, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 10 h
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Primary Camera: 5 MPix
Secondary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: stereo, Keyboard: chiclet-style, Keyboard Light: yes, keyboard cover, Acer Active Pen, Norton Security, Acer Collection S, 24 Months Warranty, fanless
Weight
1.55 kg ( = 54.67 oz / 3.42 pounds), Power Supply: 335 g ( = 11.82 oz / 0.74 pounds)
Price
2000 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - Rigid Windows convertible with a metal case

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features a black metal case. The build quality is very good and the junction where the back and the sides meet is adorned with a silver stripe. The power button and the volume rocker are located on the left side. All the ports are located on the right side.

The Switch 7 convertible comes with Acer’s AutoStand function, which automatically unlocks the stand when the bottom of the tablet is placed on a surface. The stand is functional at a wide variety of angles, which means that users can adjust the position of the screen much like a conventional notebook. 

In everyday use, the stand makes a rather lackluster impression and the material does not seem to be particularly rigid. When placed on a table, the high weight of the tablet and the very smooth stand make the Switch 7 appear quite unstable. However, once you connect the keyboard cover, the tablet starts to feel a lot steadier.

Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition

Despite its small screen size, the Acer Switch 7 appears almost as big as the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga X1 2018. Nevertheless, the dimensions are quite appropriate for a device with this screen size and hardware. However, users will have to contend with a rather high weight of 1.6 kg when the keyboard cover is connected. This is why the convertible becomes difficult to hold in one hand over time, which is necessary, because your other hand will have to be used to operate the device.

Size Comparison

333 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 17.05 mm / 0.671 inch 1.4 kg3.14 lbs329.4 mm / 13 inch 236.4 mm / 9.31 inch 15.29 mm / 0.602 inch 1.6 kg3.42 lbs315 mm / 12.4 inch 250 mm / 9.84 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.4 kg3.09 lbs300 mm / 11.8 inch 231.5 mm / 9.11 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 1.2 kg2.58 lbs292 mm / 11.5 inch 201 mm / 7.91 inch 8.5 mm / 0.3346 inch 1.1 kg2.4 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity - Acer Switch 7 with a Thunderbolt port

Except for the pins for the keyboard cover on the bottom of the Switch 7, all the ports are located on the right side of the device. This is where the Thunderbolt port is located, which can simulate a lot of the ports that Acer did not include in the Switch 7. Acer also did not include the Kensington Security Slot or a Smartcard reader. With only two USB ports, the versatility is quite limited.

Bottom: pins for the keyboard cover
Bottom: pins for the keyboard cover
Top: microphone
Top: microphone
Left side: slot for the Active Pen, power button, volume rocker
Left side: slot for the Active Pen, power button, volume rocker
Right side: microSD card slot, headphone jack, power socket, USB 3.1 Type-A port, Thunderbolt port
Right side: microSD card slot, headphone jack, power socket, USB 3.1 Type-A port, Thunderbolt port

SD Card Reader

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features an SD card reader. With our reference grade SD card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501, it achieves write and read speeds that are slightly higher than those of comparable devices. Nevertheless, with a read rate of 83.4 Mb/s and a write rate of 70.2 Mb/s, the Switch 7 lands near the bottom of our comparison chart.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
191.1 MB/s +172%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
78.5 MB/s +12%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
77.8 MB/s +11%
Average of class Convertible
  (17.7 - 177.7, n=36, last 2 years)
73.8 MB/s +5%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
70.2 MB/s
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
223.9 MB/s +168%
Average of class Convertible
  (22.6 - 263, n=34, last 2 years)
95.1 MB/s +14%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
86.4 MB/s +4%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
83.4 MB/s
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
76.3 MB/s -9%

Communication

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition is equipped with Intel’s Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265 Wi-Fi adapter. It supports Bluetooth 4.0 and can operate in both 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless networks. The 2x2 MIMO antenna is supposed to provide a boost in performance. However, our review device performs somewhat worse than the other convertibles in our comparison chart.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (1003 - 1395, n=2, last 2 years)
1199 MBit/s +440%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
598 MBit/s +169%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller
559 (519min - 577max) MBit/s +152%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
511 MBit/s +130%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
222 (110min - 353max) MBit/s
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Convertible
  (1178 - 1578, n=2, last 2 years)
1378 MBit/s +279%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
633 MBit/s +74%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Marvell AVASTAR Wireless-AC Network Controller
593 (560min - 611max) MBit/s +63%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7265
364 (233min - 410max) MBit/s
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
314 MBit/s -14%
0255075100125150175200225250275300325350375400Tooltip
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP; iperf3 receive AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø363 (233-410)
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP; iperf3 transmit AX12; iperf 3.1.3: Ø222 (110-353)

Security

There is a fingerprint reader on the right screen bezel under the glass surface. With the feature called Power on Authentication, the convertible can be switched on as soon as a registered fingerprint is recognized by the scanner, without having to press the power button. Over the course of our review, the fingerprint sensor worked quickly and reliably. All in all, it is a good alternative to other authentication methods.

Accessories

The box contains a power adapter, a keyboard cover and Acer’s Active Pen. The stylus can be stored directly in the convertible in a dedicated slot. 

Acer does not offer any other accessories specifically designed for the Switch 7 Black Edition. However, it offers a range of other products such as carrying bags and docking stations.

Maintenance

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition does not offer any maintenance options

Warranty

The Switch 7 Black Edition comes with a 24-month warranty. The manufacturer does not offer any additional warranty options. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices - Acer’s convertible has a stylus in the box

The keyboard cover of the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features a backlight and a solid layout. All keys are easy to reach and have a very short travel distance and a weak actuation point. The keyboard cover is attached magnetically to the convertible. If you put the keyboard cover on a flat surface, it will not be flush with it. This is why the keyboard cover bounces up and down during typing. The keyboard cover is not really suited for regular typing. 

keyboard cover
keyboard cover

Touchpad

The Touchpad of the Switch 7’s keyboard cover can also recognize mouse clicks. It has a very smooth surface and provides some haptic feedback for mouse clicks. It sits firmly in its cutout. The entire surface of the Touchpad responds reliably to inputs.

Acer’s convertible comes with the Acer Active Pen in the box. The pen can be stored in a slot on the side of the device. Thanks to WACOM’s EMR technology, the Acer Active Pen can distinguish 4,096 different pressure levels and can also recognize inputs at an angle, which is especially useful for writing. This is why you can draw finely detailed pictures with the stylus, which is what we were able to confirm in the course of our review. Palm rejection also works well. All in all, there are no limits to what creative professionals can do on the Switch 7 Black Edition.

Acer Active Pen
Acer Active Pen
Touchpad
Touchpad

Display - Touchscreen with a high resolution

Pixel arrangement
Pixel arrangement
Screen bleeding
Screen bleeding

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features a 13.5-inch IPS panel with a 7:5 aspect ratio. It has a native resolution of 2256x1504. The convertible has an average screen brightness of 344 cd/m², which is why it takes the next-to-last spot in our comparison chart. The Switch 7 Black Edition also has the worst brightness distribution (82%) of any device in our comparison chart. Acer does not offer any alternative display options.

338
cd/m²
336
cd/m²
315
cd/m²
371
cd/m²
382
cd/m²
319
cd/m²
369
cd/m²
349
cd/m²
317
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
KL.1350W.001 tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 382 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 344 cd/m² Minimum: 20.7 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 82 %
Center on Battery: 379 cd/m²
Contrast: 868:1 (Black: 0.44 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 6.23 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.62
ΔE Greyscale 8.34 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
95% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
61% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
66.1% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
94.8% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
66.4% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.43
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
KL.1350W.001, , 2256x1504, 13.50
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
LGPhilips LP123WQ112604, , 2736x1824, 12.30
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
AU Optronics AUO101A, , 3000x2000, 13.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Lenovo 40AE / B140QAN02.0, , 2560x1440, 14.00
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Sharp SHP149B, , 1920x1080, 13.30
Display
2%
2%
28%
3%
Display P3 Coverage
66.4
67.1
1%
67.5
2%
86.5
30%
67.8
2%
sRGB Coverage
94.8
95.5
1%
96.7
2%
100
5%
96.6
2%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
66.1
67.9
3%
68.2
3%
99.4
50%
69.4
5%
Response Times
32%
28%
22%
43%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
59 ?(29, 30)
43 ?(21, 22)
27%
47 ?(23, 24)
20%
56.8 ?(21.2, 35.6)
4%
35 ?(17, 18)
41%
Response Time Black / White *
40 ?(22, 18)
25 ?(13, 12)
37%
26 ?(14, 12)
35%
24 ?(6.8, 17.2)
40%
22 ?(12, 10)
45%
PWM Frequency
22000 ?(50)
208 ?(10)
Screen
32%
19%
46%
14%
Brightness middle
382
484
27%
452
18%
562
47%
292
-24%
Brightness
344
473
38%
412
20%
522
52%
277
-19%
Brightness Distribution
82
91
11%
85
4%
86
5%
90
10%
Black Level *
0.44
0.33
25%
0.48
-9%
0.3
32%
0.32
27%
Contrast
868
1467
69%
942
9%
1873
116%
913
5%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
6.23
4.29
31%
4.05
35%
2.8
55%
3.69
41%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
12.41
6.46
48%
6.64
46%
5.8
53%
6.9
44%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.62
1.34
49%
1.56
40%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
8.34
4.3
48%
4.87
42%
4.5
46%
4.11
51%
Gamma
2.43 91%
2.51 88%
2.71 81%
2.16 102%
2.3 96%
CCT
7853 83%
7315 89%
7160 91%
7205 90%
7140 91%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
61
62
2%
62
2%
88.9
46%
63
3%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
95
95
0%
97
2%
100
5%
97
2%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
22% / 26%
16% / 17%
32% / 39%
20% / 16%

* ... smaller is better

The contrast ratio of our review device is comparatively low (868:1) and the black value is rather high (0.44 cd/m²). The Switch 7 only manages to cover 95% of the sRGB color space and 61% of the AdobeRGB color space. This is why it takes last place in our comparison chart. That being said, when taken by itself, the screen appears quite good.

According to our CalMAN measurements, the display suffers from a bluish cast straight out of the box. However, it almost completely disappears after calibration. Readers can download our calibrated profile from the box containing display measurements (the ICC profile is located below the gamma value).

CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - color accuracy
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - grayscale
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - saturation
CalMAN - color accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - color accuracy (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscale (after calibration)
CalMAN - grayscale (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
CalMAN - saturation (after calibration)
sRGB - 95%
sRGB - 95%
AdobeRGB - 61%
AdobeRGB - 61%

The relatively low screen brightness of the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition makes using it outside quite difficult. The screen content is somewhat readable in the shade. However, it is not really legible in direct sunlight, because of the strong reflections of the environment. Indoors, the screen is marred by the reflections of artificial light sources.

Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
40 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 18 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 97 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
59 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 29 ms rise
↘ 30 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 94 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

The viewing angles of the IPS panel in the Switch 7 Black Edition are very good. The screen content can be read from almost any angle without any distortions or color degradation. As long as there are no annoying reflections of objects in the environment on the screen, Acer’s convertible can be used in any position.

Viewing angles
Viewing angles

Performance - gaming-capable Windows tablet

The Switch 7 Black Edition comes with Intel’s Core i7-8550U, Nvidia’s GeForce MX150, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. Therefore, the Windows convertible provides enough performance for demanding tasks, image-editing and 3D applications. Acer does not offer any other hardware configurations.

 

Processor

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features Intel’s Core i7-8550U. It is a Kaby Lake-based quad-core processor with a base clock of 1.8 GHz and a boost clock of 4 GHz. Thanks to Hyper-Threading, the CPU can process eight threads at the same time. The cooling solution determines how long the boost clock can be maintained.

In the multi-core section of the Cinebench R15 benchmark, the Switch 7 performs almost as well as the HP Elite x2 1013 G3 with the Intel Core i5-8350U. However, under continuous load, the CPU of the Acer convertible keeps throttling down over time, reaching lower and lower scores. The Switch 7 takes the next-to-last spot in our comparison chart when it comes to multi-core performance. However, it takes second place in our single-core benchmarks.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595630665Tooltip
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø435 (390.78-511.9)
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel Core i7-8650U: Ø571 (559.56-638.59)
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel Core i5-8350U: Ø486 (481.08-516.94)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00 Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel Core i7-8550U: Ø607 (551.32-678.21)
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738 Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel Core i5-8350U: Ø330 (326.69-345.98)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (68.6 - 287, n=64, last 2 years)
229 Points +38%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
168 Points +1%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U
166 Points
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U
163 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (108 - 172, n=76)
159.6 Points -4%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U
147 Points -11%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U
128 Points -23%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Convertible
  (110.1 - 2889, n=66, last 2 years)
1554 Points +204%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U
699 Points +37%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U
639 Points +25%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U
  (301 - 761, n=78)
576 Points +13%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U
517 Points +1%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U
512 Points
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U
346 Points -32%
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
166 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
512 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
91 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Help

System Performance

In PCMark 10, the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition performs only as well as a convertible with the Core i5-8250U. The results in the PCMark 8 benchmarks are on a normal level for this kind of device. In day-to-day use, Acer's convertible provides enough performance for the smooth operation of Windows 10. Moreover, applications on the Switch 7 launch without any delays and the file explorer works very well.

You can find out what kind of performance Intel’s Core i7-8550U achieves in other systems on our “CPU Benchmarks” page.

PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Convertible
  (1486 - 7963, n=59, last 2 years)
5616 Points +84%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3829 Points +25%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3056 - 4106, n=19)
3631 Points +19%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3559 Points +16%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
3448 Points +13%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
3056 Points
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
3004 Points -2%
Essentials
Average of class Convertible
  (3975 - 12059, n=59, last 2 years)
10504 Points +73%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7919 Points +30%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (5448 - 8412, n=19)
7198 Points +18%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
7039 Points +16%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
6994 Points +15%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
6084 Points
Productivity
Average of class Convertible
  (2764 - 10800, n=59, last 2 years)
7383 Points +54%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4779 - 7244, n=19)
6104 Points +28%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5698 Points +19%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
5353 Points +12%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
5004 Points +5%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
4779 Points
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Convertible
  (811 - 12360, n=59, last 2 years)
6335 Points +138%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2036 - 3518, n=19)
2984 Points +12%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
2952 Points +11%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
2714 Points +2%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
2665 Points
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
2103 Points -21%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Convertible
  (4404 - 5830, n=3, last 2 years)
4890 Points +48%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3824 Points +16%
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (3145 - 4130, n=21)
3656 Points +11%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3413 Points +3%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
3306 Points
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
3281 Points -1%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
3063 Points -7%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (4063 - 5228, n=20)
4771 Points +7%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4719 Points +6%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512
4450 Points
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
4262 Points -4%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8350U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4200 Points -6%
Average of class Convertible
  (2921 - 6089, n=3, last 2 years)
4045 Points -9%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3306 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4450 points
PCMark 10 Score
3056 points
Help

Storage Devices

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition comes with a 512 GB SSD from Liteon. In our SSD benchmarks, it performs worse than most of the competition. Almost all other devices offer better transfer rates. However, the SSD in the Switch 7 is still pretty fast, which is why folders and files can be accessed without any delays.

You can learn how the LITEON CV3-SD512 compares against other storage devices on our HDD/SSD Benchmarks page.

Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Liteonit CV3-SD512
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ
Average Liteonit CV3-SD512
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
69%
173%
260%
1%
0%
Write 4K
61.4
83.2
36%
91
48%
138.8
126%
79.5
29%
61.4
0%
Read 4K
29.98
43.84
46%
36.84
23%
45.21
51%
19.71
-34%
30
0%
Write Seq
432.8
636
47%
1197
177%
1896
338%
385.2
-11%
433
0%
Read Seq
448
900
101%
1705
281%
2070
362%
435.9
-3%
448
0%
Write 4K Q32T1
226.7
192.9
-15%
355.8
57%
483.3
113%
222.4
-2%
227
0%
Read 4K Q32T1
302.2
247.4
-18%
256.9
-15%
451.8
50%
212.8
-30%
302
0%
Write Seq Q32T1
353
861
144%
1222
246%
2066
485%
534
51%
353
0%
Read Seq Q32T1
521
1615
210%
3460
564%
3423
557%
544
4%
521
0%
AS SSD
4%
126%
13%
0%
Seq Read
509
1154
127%
2062
305%
432.9
-15%
509
0%
Seq Write
456.9
393.6
-14%
832
82%
253.6
-44%
457
0%
4K Read
22.65
34.42
52%
41.45
83%
22.47
-1%
22.7
0%
4K Write
43.98
68.9
57%
91.1
107%
76.7
74%
44
0%
4K-64 Read
325.5
494.1
52%
669
106%
377.8
16%
326
0%
4K-64 Write
243.7
171.3
-30%
596
145%
282.1
16%
244
0%
Access Time Read *
0.213
0.063
0.148
Access Time Write *
0.08
0.3
-275%
0.041
49%
0.046
42%
0.08
-0%
Score Read
399
644
61%
917
130%
444
11%
399
0%
Score Write
333
280
-16%
770
131%
384
15%
333
0%
Score Total
941
1225
30%
2105
124%
1052
12%
941
0%
Copy ISO MB/s
985
761
Copy Program MB/s
143.1
237.3
Copy Game MB/s
676
512
Total Average (Program / Settings)
37% / 33%
150% / 147%
260% / 260%
7% / 7%
0% / 0%

* ... smaller is better

Liteonit CV3-SD512
Sequential Read: 511 MB/s
Sequential Write: 389.8 MB/s
512K Read: 206 MB/s
512K Write: 237.8 MB/s
4K Read: 24.08 MB/s
4K Write: 51.4 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 313.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 221.1 MB/s

Graphics Card

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition features two graphics cards, Intel’s integrated UHD Graphics 620 and Nvidia’s dedicated GeForce MX150. While the integrated graphics solution from Intel is useful for simple tasks, the graphics card from Nvidia is suitable for demanding applications. However, the Switch 7 comes with the less powerful but more energy-efficient 1D12 version, which has a core clock of 936 MHz and a 10-watt TDP. It is still much faster than the integrated GPU, but it cannot really match the performance of a full-fledged MX150.

In the 3DMark benchmarks, Acer’s convertible does better than the competing devices that come with integrated GPUs.

You can learn what kind of results Nvidia’s GeForce MX150 achieves in other notebooks on our GPU benchmarks page.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Convertible
  (471 - 40768, n=64, last 2 years)
7541 Points +116%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2796 - 4905, n=47)
4191 Points +20%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
3486 Points
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8650U
1977 Points -43%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1869 Points -46%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
1660 Points -52%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
1235 Points -65%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (2965 - 154219, n=50, last 2 years)
31444 Points +72%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16227 - 22183, n=43)
19512 Points +7%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
18258 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
10493 Points -43%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8650U
10213 Points -44%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
8330 Points -54%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (365 - 29684, n=64, last 2 years)
5690 Points +101%
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (2323 - 3739, n=44)
3310 Points +17%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, Intel Core i7-8550U
2837 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i7-8550U
1288 Points -55%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
1131 Points -60%
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Convertible
  (94 - 11749, n=63, last 2 years)
1943 Points
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (830 - 1147, n=16)
995 Points
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8350U
335 Points
3DMark 11 Performance
3800 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
12420 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
2575 points
Help

Gaming Performance

When it comes to gaming, the Switch 7 Black Edition is significantly faster than comparable convertibles. The Nvidia GeForce MX150 can run most modern games on low settings. The titles that we benchmarked for this review are actually playable on high settings. However, these titles are somewhat old now. Users should be aware that Acer’s convertible overheats rather quickly and then starts to throttle down. This means that the Switch 7 is not going to be able to maintain its full performance over time.

You can learn which games can be run smoothly with Nvidia’s GeForce MX150 on our Gaming Benchmarks page.


In the FPS graph below, you can see how The Witcher 3 performs over an extended period of time. Over a 30-minute period, the frame rate falls from 19 FPS down to 17 FPS. The performance of the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition deteriorates over time, because of the overheating of internal components. How much the performance drops depends on the workload. All of this means that users will have to contend with thermal limitations especially when gaming for long periods of time. 

0123456789101112131415161718Tooltip
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, Liteonit CV3-SD512: Ø17.8 (17-19)
BioShock Infinite
1280x720 Very Low Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (98.1 - 203, n=33)
163.3 fps +31%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
125 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
78.1 fps -38%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
60.6 fps -52%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
43.8 fps -65%
1366x768 Medium Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (60 - 115, n=33)
98.1 fps +5%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
93 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
40.9 fps -56%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
31.1 fps -67%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
24.5 fps -74%
1366x768 High Preset
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
88 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (59.7 - 98, n=33)
83.5 fps -5%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
33.7 fps -62%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
26.8 fps -70%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
20.9 fps -76%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (27.8 - 35.2, n=33)
31.8 fps +6%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
30 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
10.2 fps -66%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
8.7 fps -71%
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
7.4 fps -75%
Thief
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FXAA & High SS AF:8x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (16 - 23.2, n=6)
18.5 fps +16%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
16 fps
1366x768 High Preset AA:FXAA & Low SS AF:4x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (30.2 - 44.1, n=6)
33.8 fps +6%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
32 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
12.1 fps -62%
1366x768 Normal Preset AA:FX
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
43 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (32.5 - 51.9, n=6)
39.5 fps -8%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
13.3 fps -69%
1024x768 Very Low Preset
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
70 fps
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (41.5 - 79.2, n=6)
59.5 fps -15%
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
26.5 fps -62%
Rise of the Tomb Raider
1024x768 Lowest Preset
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (41.6 - 86, n=28)
64.6 fps +9%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
59 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
21.7 fps -63%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
Intel Core i7-8550U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
21.3 fps -64%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
17.2 fps -71%
1366x768 Medium Preset AF:2x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (28.2 - 60, n=29)
38.7 fps +14%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
34 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
14 fps -59%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
11.4 fps -66%
1920x1080 High Preset AA:FX AF:4x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (14.8 - 27, n=28)
20.9 fps +16%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
18 fps
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
7.5 fps -58%
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
6 fps -67%
1920x1080 Very High Preset AA:FX AF:16x
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
  (14.8 - 26, n=23)
18 fps +20%
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
Intel Core i7-8550U, NVIDIA GeForce MX150
15 fps
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
Intel Core i5-8350U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
3.1 fps -79%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 125 93 88 30
Thief (2014) 70 43 32 16
The Witcher 3 (2015) 19
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 59 34 18 15

Emissions - The Switch 7 gets really warm

System Noise

Because the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition is passively cooled, it does not produce any noise while in operation. We did not observe any coil whine or any other unusual sounds.

Temperature

Acer’s Switch 7 relies on a liquid-cooling system, which has been expanded for the dedicated GPU. Acer’s “Dual LiquidLoop” technology allows for the use of powerful components without active cooling. This is why the Windows convertible does not produce any noise while in operation. In our stress test, the surface temperatures do not exceed the 30 °C (86 °F) mark when idle. Under load, the surface temperatures reach up to 45 °C (113 °F).

Stress test
Stress test

During our stress test, the core temperatures reach up to 70 °C (158 °F). The core clock of the processor drops significantly below the base clock. The core clock does not recover until the test is over. During the stress test, the case becomes too hot to hold in the hand. However, the utilization levels seen during the stress test are very unlikely to occur in everyday life. Nevertheless, the Switch 7 still becomes quite hot under continuous load due to its passive cooling solution. This can lead to thermal throttling.

Max. Load
 34.3 °C
94 F
40.2 °C
104 F
43.4 °C
110 F
 
 33.5 °C
92 F
40.9 °C
106 F
42.6 °C
109 F
 
 36 °C
97 F
41.9 °C
107 F
42.2 °C
108 F
 
Maximum: 43.4 °C = 110 F
Average: 39.4 °C = 103 F
43.9 °C
111 F
43.8 °C
111 F
39 °C
102 F
45.3 °C
114 F
44 °C
111 F
38.5 °C
101 F
43.4 °C
110 F
41.7 °C
107 F
38 °C
100 F
Maximum: 45.3 °C = 114 F
Average: 42 °C = 108 F
Power Supply (max.)  43.2 °C = 110 F | Room Temperature 23.2 °C = 74 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 39.4 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 30.2 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Convertible.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 43.4 °C / 110 F, compared to the average of 35.3 °C / 96 F, ranging from 19.6 to 55.7 °C for the class Convertible.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 45.3 °C / 114 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(-) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 52 °C / 126 F, compared to the device average of 30.2 °C / 86 F.
(-) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 42.2 °C / 108 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.1 °C / 82.6 F (-14.1 °C / -25.4 F).
Heat distribution at idle (upper side)
Heat distribution at idle (upper side)
Heat distribution at idle (underside)
Heat distribution at idle (underside)
Heat distribution under load (upper side)
Heat distribution under load (upper side)
Heat distribution under load (underside)
Heat distribution under load (underside)

Speakers

Pink noise
Pink noise

The speakers of the Switch 7 Black Edition do not sound particularly loud and offer an unbalanced sound reproduction. This is especially evident in the punchless mids. The speakers are only good enough for occasional use. Those who consume media content quite often should get external speakers or headphones.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper HighsAF(Hz)02043.539.443.52539.634.239.63138.931.238.94038.832.338.85041.333.141.36340.633.840.68039.328.839.310041.228.341.212542.825.442.816044.725.344.720047.226.147.225050.52450.531554.423.554.44005421.85450053.821.553.863060.220.460.280065.219.365.2100067.51967.5125059.618.559.6160060.31860.3200062.217.962.2250062.217.462.2315056.817.456.8400053.21753.2500050.917.350.9630047.517.347.5800046.717.346.71000046.317.246.31250049.41749.41600045.817.145.8SPL72.430.872.4N26.11.326.1median 53.2median 18.5median 53.2Delta6.92.76.735.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.72.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAcer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNPApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (67.5 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 6.8% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (26.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 80% of all tested devices in this class were better, 4% similar, 16% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 21%, worst was 57%
Compared to all devices tested
» 79% of all tested devices were better, 4% similar, 17% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Apple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (10.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 5% of all tested devices in this class were better, 2% similar, 93% worse
» The best had a delta of 5%, average was 19%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 3% of all tested devices were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Energy Management - The Switch 7 lasts only four hours

Energy Consumption

Acer Switch 7 Black Edition - AC adapter
Acer Switch 7 Black Edition - AC adapter

The Acer Switch 7 is not the most energy-efficient device in our comparison chart. Most competing convertibles draw less power. However, the Switch 7 is no power hog, either, since it consumes only 7.5 watts when idle and about 50 watts under full load. The included 65-watt AC adapter should be able to reliably supply the Windows convertible with power without any problems.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.37 / 1.65 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.5 / 7.6 / 10.2 Watt
Load midlight 48 / 50.3 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, Liteonit CV3-SD512, IPS, 2256x1504, 13.50
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, Toshiba KBG30ZPZ512G, IPS, 2736x1824, 12.30
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 3000x2000, 13.00
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS Dolby Vision HDR, 2560x1440, 14.00
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM871b MZNLN256HAJQ, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Average NVIDIA GeForce MX150
 
Average of class Convertible
 
Power Consumption
14%
5%
-11%
31%
-8%
-12%
Idle Minimum *
4.5
3.2
29%
4.9
-9%
3.4
24%
4.2
7%
4.48 ?(2.2 - 11.6, n=45)
-0%
5.48 ?(1.6 - 16.6, n=60, last 2 years)
-22%
Idle Average *
7.6
8.7
-14%
8.9
-17%
8.8
-16%
7
8%
7.88 ?(5 - 13.8, n=45)
-4%
8.27 ?(3.8 - 20.7, n=60, last 2 years)
-9%
Idle Maximum *
10.2
10.4
-2%
11
-8%
11.9
-17%
7.9
23%
9.76 ?(6.2 - 14.7, n=45)
4%
10.5 ?(4.7 - 29.9, n=60, last 2 years)
-3%
Load Average *
48
29.2
39%
32
33%
50.4
-5%
19.8
59%
54.7 ?(33 - 75, n=44)
-14%
46 ?(7.6 - 101.3, n=60, last 2 years)
4%
Load Maximum *
50.3
40.8
19%
36
28%
71.2
-42%
22
56%
63.5 ?(40.4 - 89.2, n=45)
-26%
65 ?(10.5 - 155.7, n=60, last 2 years)
-29%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

In our practically oriented Wi-Fi test, the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition achieves a runtime of about four hours. This is why it takes last place in our comparison chart.

The convertible’s 4870-mAh battery takes more than four hours to fully charge with the included charger.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
3h 13min
WiFi Websurfing
4h 04min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 46min
Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150,  Wh
Microsoft Surface Pro 6, Core i7, 512 GB
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
HP Elite x2 1013 G3-2TT14EA
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620, 50 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga 2018-20LES01W00
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 54 Wh
Fujitsu Stylistic Q738
i5-8350U, UHD Graphics 620,  Wh
Average of class Convertible
 
Battery Runtime
198%
141%
207%
57%
211%
Reader / Idle
193
1083
461%
781
305%
1203
523%
1138 ?(680 - 1667, n=25, last 2 years)
490%
WiFi v1.3
244
509
109%
459
88%
517
112%
383
57%
557 ?(329 - 876, n=63, last 2 years)
128%
Load
106
131
24%
137
29%
91
-14%
121.2 ?(53 - 219, n=46, last 2 years)
14%

Verdict - Powerful convertible with poor battery life

Pros

+ good system performance
+ Thunderbolt port
+ Active Pen included in the box
+ passive liquid cooling

Cons

- not a lot of ports
- overheating
- low display brightness
- poor battery life
- severe performance drops under continuous load
In review: Acer Switch 7 Black Edition. Provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de
In review: Acer Switch 7 Black Edition. Provided courtesy of: notebooksbilliger.de

In our review, the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition proves itself as a powerful Windows convertible. The system performance is on a good level and the included hardware can give the competition a run for its money. However, there were some compromises made in terms of the selection of ports. That being said, you can connect a docking station via the Thunderbolt port to recreate all of the missing ports.  

Thanks to Nvidia’s dedicated GeForce MX150, the Switch 7 offers much better gaming performance than competitors with integrated GPUs. However, the Switch 7 can get quite hot. This leads to thermal throttling, and the higher the utilization the faster the Switch 7 throttles. Creative professionals who do a lot of image-editing and need a stylus should give the Switch 7 a closer look. Having said that, the high weight of the tablet can make working on it difficult in some circumstances. 

The Acer Switch 7 Black Edition is a very powerful Windows convertible that is suited for many various tasks. 

Acer Switch 7 BE SW713-51GNP - 11/19/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
83 / 98 → 85%
Keyboard
82%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
43 / 80 → 54%
Weight
68 / 35-78 → 78%
Battery
75%
Display
82%
Games Performance
73 / 68 → 100%
Application Performance
81 / 87 → 93%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
56 / 91 → 62%
Camera
45 / 85 → 53%
Average
74%
82%
Convertible - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Acer Switch 7 Black Edition (i7-8550U, MX150) Convertible Review
Mike Wobker, 2018-11-20 (Update: 2019-02-26)