Acer has introduced the Vero 16, a modular laptop built with sustainable materials and easy repair options in mind. The new machine packs up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 388H processor, a 16 inch OLED display, and a chassis made from recycled metal and plastic. Most surprisingly, Acer promises the motherboard architecture will support at least 2 future generations of processor upgrades.
Laptop processors are almost always soldered permanently to the motherboard. Acer is trying to change that norm. The fourth generation Vero 16 is engineered so users can swap out the processor across at least 2 hardware generations. The bottom plate pops off using quick release latches rather than stubborn screws. Inside, the battery and solid state storage are completely user replaceable. Even the display hinges can be detached from the main body, and the side port covers can be swapped out if they get damaged. Clear repair guides are etched directly onto the chassis itself to help owners service their own hardware.
Acer expanded its environmental focus by rethinking the exterior build. The top lid and keyboard deck use a mix of 50% post industrial recycled aluminum and 50% low carbon aluminum. Around the display, the bezel uses 30% post consumer plastic, while the entire bottom shell consists of 60% recycled plastics. Despite the reinforced modular design, the whole computer weighs just 1.56 kilograms.
Under the hood, the top tier configuration runs an Intel Core Ultra 9 388H chip alongside up to 32GB of fast LPDDR5X memory. Storage reaches 512GB on a PCIe Gen4 NVMe solid state drive. The visual experience is anchored by a 16 inch OLED panel with a tall 16 by 10 aspect ratio. Other hardware highlights include a 5MP infrared webcam for facial recognition logins, Wi Fi 7 networking, and a large 71Whr battery.
