Acer unveils refreshed AI laptops with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips and Copilot+ features

Acer's new laptops at CES 2026 are perfect for both gaming and AI enthusiasts

* Acer unveils Copilot+ gaming laptops with NPUs delivering over 45 AI TOPS and Acer Intelligence Space. * Predator Helios Neo 16S AI: up to Core Ultra 9 386H, RTX 5070, 16-inch OLED, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD. * Nitro V 16 AI ships US Q2 2026; Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and Nitro V 16S AI due Q3; pricing TBA. It's easy to find a laptop PC that's either dedicated to handling AI processes or gaming, but you don't often see one targeted at both demographics. It makes sense on paper; both AI and gaming PCs need some beefy hardware to handle their workloads. However, we often see AI PCs for working professionals separated from the gaming scene. If you're looking for something that can do both, Acer has just the thing for you. The company is showing off a range of laptops at CES 2026 designed for both high-end gaming and performing AI tasks, and they're Copilot+ certified right out of the box. Asus ROG starts CES 2025 with a bang, announcing a ton of hardware for gamers Putting those new Nvidia GPUs to good use. Posts By Simon Batt Acer reveals the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and the Acer Nitro Series And they're all suited for both work and play At CES 2026, Acer is showcasing some of its latest gaming laptops, including the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and the Acer Nitro series. The king of the castle is the Predator, which comes with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 386H and a NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU. We're also seeing a 16-inch OLED screen, up to 64 GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 2 TB of SSD storage. Meanwhile, the Acer Nitro series is getting two new entries: the Acer Nitro V 16 AI and 16S AI. Both of them feature up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor 355 and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, alongside up to 32 GB of RAM and a 16-inch screen. However, the 16S AI comes with a slimmer chassis, knocking around 1-2mm off the height versus the 16 AI. As we mentioned earlier, all of these laptops will work with Microsoft's new AI-powered Copilot+ features: All new Predator and Nitro gaming laptops pair powerful hardware with Acer Intelligence Space, a suite of AI-enhanced tools for creativity, productivity, and gaming. As Copilot+ PC powered by Windows 11, they feature an NPU capable of performing over 45 AI TOPS to accelerate on-device AI, enabling unique experiences like Live Captions for real-time translations and Image Creator for custom content-enhancing play and creation beyond gaming. The Acer Nitro V 16 AI is scheduled to release in the US by Q2 of 2026, while both the Predator Helios Neo 16S AI and the Acer Nitro V 16S AI are arriving in Q3. Acer doesn't have pricing details for these laptops, so keep an eye out for a cost announcement later in the year.

Acer's new Swift laptops get lighter, thinner, and more intelligent

This year at CES, Acer's Swift laptop lineup really lean into the whole AI thing. Acer is back at CES 2026 with a fresh batch of Swift laptops, and as you might've guessed, the lineup still focuses on thin, light, and smart machines. The big headline this year is AI (no surprise there). Acer calls them Copilot+ PCs, which basically means your laptop can improve your day-to-day by doing stuff like cleaning up background noise on calls or summarizing meetings. There are three main families this time. First up is the Swift 16 AI, which is the fancy creator-focused one. It's got a huge haptic touchpad you can actually draw on, a 16-inch 2880×1800 OLED touch display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and Intel's Ultra X9 388H processor. It's clearly aimed at people who do heavy creative work (think editing or 3D modeling) without wanting to deal with a big old desktop setup. Then there's the Swift Edge AI, which is "super light but still tough." The 14- and 16-inch models weigh under 2.20 pounds (!!!) and meet military-grade durability standards, so you can easily toss them in a bag and be on your merry way. They still pack a punch with OLED displays, Intel's Ultra processors, and handy multi-control touchpads for media and conferencing. Finally, the Swift Go AI is the everyday option. It's still thin and stylish, but more practical with solid AI features for productivity and creative tasks. Both the 14- and 16-inch versions offer the same quality OLED screens, powerful Intel processors, and a diverse set of ports. All of these run Windows 11 and come with Acer's AI suite built-in. This suite boasts customizable hotkeys, smarter conferencing features, and so on. They're not exactly cheap, but if you want a lightweight laptop that also has AI brains, Acer is really leaning into that with these Swift notebooks. Availability varies by model and region, but we're looking at early-to mid-2026 for North America, Europe, and Australia.

I checked out the new Acer Swift Go 16 at CES -- and this is one seriously promising laptop

Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. The new Acer Swift Go 16 AI could be a sleeper hit laptop for 2026. Sure, it's not all that visually different from previous Swift Go laptops, but as they say, it's what's on the inside that counts. You see, this ultraportable packs the heart of a jungle cat. Or to be more specific, an Intel Core "Panther Lake" CPU. I briefly got to check out the Acer Swift Go 16 AI during a CES event, and was amazed by how thin and light this laptop was. In case you're wondering, its smaller sibling, the Acer Swift Go 14 AI, is also extremely light for its size. While the MacBook Air-rivaling design is almost enough to win me over, it's the potential of that Intel Core Series 3 chip that has me truly intrigued. Here's everything you need to know about the Acer Swift Go 16 AI and my early impressions of this svelte notebook. Both the Acer Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI will release in the second quarter of 2026. We'll get exact pricing closer to launch. Hopefully, the ongoing RAMageddon crisis won't affect the laptop's price too much. Whether it's the 16- or 14-inch model, the Swift Go is one thin and light laptop. For example, "whoa" was the first word that involuntarily escaped my lips when I held the Swift Go 14. At 2.4 pounds, it's lighter than the 2.7-pound MacBook Air M4. Apple's laptop is smaller since it's a 13-inch notebook instead of 14, but the fact that Acer's machine is lighter (even if just a tad) than the MacBook Air is certainly intriguing. Besides its weight, the Swift Go 14 and Go 16 are simply beautiful laptops to behold. The laser-etched aluminum chassis not only looks great, but feels smooth to the touch. You can even open the sturdy lid a full 180 degrees. And despite being a thin laptop, there's no shortage of ports, as you get a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, and even an HDMI 2.1 port. Few ultraportables pack that many ports, so color me impressed! Display-wise, you can opt for a 2K or 3K OLED touch panel. I didn't get to see much beyond the Windows desktop, but I was impressed by the deep contrasts, vivid colors, and overall brightness. We'll have to benchmark the display in the lab, but I expect strong results, based on what my eyes saw. Ironically, the thing I'm most excited about is also the element I've yet to have full hands-on experience with -- the Panther Lake CPU's performance. That said, what I've heard about Intel's third iteration of the Core Ultra processor has me extremely excited. Panther Lake promises to deliver 25% faster performance and 38% better efficiency over last gen's Intel Core Ultra 2. AI-wise, Intel claims an uplift from 120 trillion operations per second (TOPS) to 180 TOPS, thanks to an updated NPU and a more powerful GPU that's sporting 12 Xe3 cores, which is a 50% bump over Lunar Lake. The updated GPU features the latest XeSS tech that could give AAA games a serious boost even on non-gaming laptops like the Acer Swift Go 16 AI. Lastly, Intel claims over 24 hours of battery life, which is in MacBook Pro territory. I'm eager to get the Acer Swift Go 16 AI and its larger sibling into our testing lab to see what these ultraportables can really dish out, especially in performance. If we get the perfect storm of performance, battery life, easy portability, and a gorgeous display, the Acer Swift Go 16 AI and its smaller sibling could be a contender for one of the. best laptops. But as I said, let's keep our fingers crossed and hope the ongoing RAM price increases don't place Acer's svelte laptop out of people's price range.

Acer's new Aspire AI laptops keep it simple, and that's a good thing

At CES 2026, Acer showed off the Aspire 14 and 16 AI laptops, which are light, simple, and packed with decent specs. Sometimes all you need is an uncomplicated laptop for everyday stuff, which is exactly what Acer showed off this year at CES in Las Vegas. Dubbed the Aspire 14 AI and the Aspire 16 AI, they run on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips (aka Panther Lake), meaning you'll have access to those fancy Copilot+ features. But how does this translate performance-wise? Well, we haven't tested these machines personally yet, but I suspect they'll feel a bit snappier when juggling a bunch of tabs. The design itself is fine, though it's not really innovative so it doesn't stand out -- just your run-of-the mill grey rectangle. They're thin and light, and the 180-degree hinge lets the screen lie flat. The touchpad is pretty big, too. As for display options, you've got quite a few. You can spring for a regular screen, a touchscreen, or an OLED. That last option is nice for making Netflix or YouTube to feel more cinematic. It's a 1920×1200 panel, by the way (this goes for either model). That resolution isn't jaw-dropping by any means, but it's sharp enough for daily use. Specs are more than fine for everyday needs. You can get up to 32GB of RAM and plenty of fast storage (up to 1TB for the 14-inch model, up to 2TB for the 16-inch model), so it should last you a while. Acer also stuffs in a 1080p webcam, triple mics, and AI features that clean up your voice and video on calls. Ports? Yep, the usual stuff is covered. Thunderbolt, HDMI, USB-A. Nothing fancy, but also nothing missing. It's a good spread. The 16-inch hits stores in Q2 2026. The 14-inch follows in Q3. Prices? No clue yet, but we'll update as soon as we hear back from Acer.

Acer Refreshes Swift, Predator and Nitro Laptops With Panther Lake Chip

Swift and Aspire launch in February; Nitro and Predator follow in March Acer on Tuesday announced a refreshed lineup of laptops across productivity, gaming and mainstream segments at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026. The refreshed lineup includes models from the Swift AI Copilot, Predator and Nitro series families, powered by Intel's new Core Ultra Series 3 processors. As per the company, the Acer Swift 16 AI features the world's largest trackpad. The Nitro and Predator models, meanwhile, are equipped with up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs. CES 2026: Acer Swift and Aspire Feature 3K OLED Panels As per the company, the new Acer Swift lineup includes five models -- Swift 16 AI, Swift Edge 14 AI, Swift Edge 16 AI, Swift Go 14 AI, and Swift Go 16 AI. These are aimed at productivity-focused users, students and creators. The Swift Edge 14 and 16 AI feature a 180-degree hinge Photo Credit: Acer The new Swift laptops are offered in 14-inch and 16-inch form factors, with display options that include high-resolution 3K OLED panels on select models. Refresh rates vary by model and configuration, with higher-end Swift models offering up to 120Hz panels. Acer has equipped its refreshed Swift lineup with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, paired with Intel Arc integrated graphics featuring up to 12 Xe cores, up to 32 GB LPDDR5x RAM, and up to 1 TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. They are Copilot+ PCs and feature an NPU for on-device AI tasks. Acer's new Aspire lineup features Acer Aspire 14 AI and Acer Aspire 16 AI models, powered by the same Panther Lake chipset and similar RAM and storage configurations. The laptops have thin-and-light chassis, 180-degree hinges, and optional OLED screens. The Aspire lineup is offered in 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes, with full HD+ displays. The company said the Swift and Aspire laptops will begin rolling out globally from February 2026, with regional pricing and India availability to be announced closer to launch. CES 2026: Acer Nitro, Predator Laptops Arrive With GeForce 50 Series GPU For gamers, Acer refreshed both its Nitro and Predator series lineups. The new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI is offered as a premium OLED gaming laptop, equipped with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 386H and up to Nvidia GeForce 50 Series Laptop GPU. As per the company, it supports ray tracing, DLSS technology, and gaming accelerated by artificial intelligence (AI). Acer's new Predator Helios Neo 16S AI comes with up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPU Photo Credit: Acer The Predator Helios Neo 16S AI features up to 16-inch QHD+ displays with up to 240 Hz refresh rate. For thermals, it comprises a fifth-generation AeroBlade 3D fan and liquid metal thermal grease, as part of an advanced cooling solution. The Nitro series, comprising Acer Nitro V 16 AI and Acer Nitro V 16S AI, pairs the same Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 40 or select RTX 50 Series GPUs, depending on configuration. The laptops are available with 15.6-inch and 16-inch displays, offering 144 Hz or higher refresh rates. Acer says the Nitro cooling system focuses on efficient airflow and balanced acoustics for extended use. Both Nitro and Predator models support AI-enabled features for performance optimisation and multitasking. The company confirmed that the Nitro and Predator laptops are expected to go on sale starting in March 2026, with prices to vary based on specifications and markets.

Acer's slick Swift ultraportable laptops get an Intel Core Ultra Series 3 overhaul

Thin and light has been the mantra of Acer's Swift ultraportable laptop line for a while now, but the class of 2026 aims to add more power - and battery life - to the mix by making the jump to Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Other big ticket upgrades include OLED screens across the board and a new-found focus on usability. The star of the show is the Acer Swift 16 AI, which might only be a scant 14.9mm thick and weigh under 1.55kg, but finds room (and cooling ability) inside for up to a Core Ultra X9 Series 3. Desktop performance should be a small step up from the previous generation, but Intel's latest Arc graphics promise to be a lot better at 3D tasks - and even some modest gaming. Efficiency has also seen gains, with as much as 25 hours of video playback promised. While there haven't been too many chassis changes from the previous generation - it's still super skinny and the hinge still opens up a full 180 degrees - Acer has found room to add what it reckons is the world's largest haptic touchpad. Having seen one in person at a pre-CES event, it's undeniably huge - eating up more room beneath the keyboard than the space for your wrists either side of it. You can use a stylus on it too, which creative types will appreciate. Other upgrades include noticeably larger keys with per-key backlighting, which seemed comfortable enough to tap away at during my brief hands-on. It's not short on ports for such a skinny machine - none of Acer's new models are, really - with full-size HDMI, multiple USB Type-A and Type-Cs, a 3.5mm headphone port, and a microSD card slot. The 1080p webcam supports Windows Hello facial recognition, and it's got both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 onboard. For me the highlight was the 3K resolution OLED touchscreen, which had colours that properly popped and a 120Hz refresh rate that guaranteed smooth motion. DisplayHDR and eyesafe certifications suggest colours will hold up well in a full review, too. Expect one later this Spring once the Swift 16 AI starts shipping. If pure portability matters more than a titanic touchpad, the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI might be more up your alley. Depending on spec they can dip under 1kg, but are built for a life of travel and on-the-go working. Acer has put them through military-grade toughness tests, with metal builds that can take a beating. Inside, up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 CPUs are running the show, along with as much as 32GB of RAM and 1TB of speedy NVMe SSD storage. They also get up to 3K resolution OLED touchscreens, Copilot+ AI smarts and a generous helping of ports. Acer has also tricked out the touchpads with multi-function shortcuts, illuminated by a subtle backlight that shines through the glass when set to multimedia control or video conferencing tools. I'm a fan of the darker colour option here, and Acer's subtle yet stylish lid graphics. Finally, anyone on more of a budget will want to check out the Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI. While not quite as slim or light as their bigger brothers, there's been no skimping on spec, with Core Ultra Series 3 processors running the show and OLED screens still the norm. All-day battery life should still be on the cards here, and the multi-control touchpad sticks around too. It didn't feel obviously stripped-back or compromised when I briefly got my hands on one, so it'll be interesting to see how affordable Acer can make it. There's no word on official pricing for any of the new models just yet. The Swift 16 AI will launch first, hitting Europe in March and the USA in Q1; the Swift Go 16 AI and Swift Go 16 AI are next in line, with the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI due by the summer.