Acer TravelMate Spin B3: A silent 2-in-1 device with pen input and Power Delivery

With the TravelMate Spin B3, Acer offers a 2-in-1 device that is primarily targeted for usage in schools. The price level of barely 330 Euros (~$375), the included input pen, and the preinstalled Windows 10 Pro operating system should also generate some interest in private buyers.

The Pentium Silver N5030 processor (Gemini Lake) and 4 GB of working memory (DDR4-2400, single-channel mode, soldered in, no storage slots) should satisfy the demands of simple office and Internet applications. However, you shouldn't put too many demands on the system, since it is targeted for usage scenarios that need only few concurrent applications or opened browser tabs. The storage space (128 GB), which is not very abundant, can be expanded if necessary, since the TravelMate uses a standard NVMe SSD.

Thanks to its passive cooling, the Spin B3 runs silently. In addition, the laptop doesn't get particularly hot. A 50.3-Wh battery ensures a realistic battery life of almost 9 hours, so you don't necessarily have to take the charger with you. Another positive point is the ability to charge the convertible either using the included proprietary Acer charger or a USB charger. The USB-C port supports Power Delivery.

The technology of the Spin is housed inside a robust, black plastic case, whose slightly roughened surface offers a good grip to the fingers and is not prone to fingerprints. The short sides of the Spin B3 are also protected from bumps by some rubber slats. The touchscreen can be operated either with your fingers or the included input pen, which is housed in a slot in the base unit and can also be charged there.

You can find additional information and many benchmark results in our review of the Acer TravelMate Spin B3 TMB311RN-31.