This review first appeared in issue 360 of PC Pro.
Most all-in-one PCs include 24in or 27in panels, but Acer is thinking big with the Aspire S32. This includes a 31.5in display, and the company doesn’t stop there: via a set of pogo pins at the rear, it bundles a veritable feast of add-ons.
The first is a plain 1080p webcam, which is more than good enough to use for video calls. Second comes a 720p camera with a ring light: tap the top and it cycles from off to full-blast white. And the third is a strip light that switches between white, yellow or a mix of the two. All of the add-ons work via USB-C, too, so you can mix and match.
Acer also bundles an enormous detachable touchpad. This can even act as a graphics tablet, so those with artistic leanings can use the bundled stylus – which clips via magnets to the side of the touchpad when not in use – to sketch. And if you use the Aspire S32 as a surrogate TV in a den or student digs then you can detach the touchpad and use it from sofa distances. I spent a very enjoyable ten minutes watching Greg Davies’ The Cleaner – the pad works like a gigantic remote, with controls for volume and brightness – from this distance until I remembered I had to actually write this review.
Audio could be improved: soundtracks lack the gusto their creators intended, and even though I pushed the volume to the maximum (with minor distortion), I would have liked more. However, the image quality is more than good enough for TV viewing and work.
It has three minor weaknesses as a PC monitor. Some might want more detail than 2,560 x 1,440 when stretched across 31.5 inches, although in practice I found its 93ppi sharpness fine even when sitting up close.
Second, color accuracy only just the right side of acceptable, with an average of 2.62. And third, its native color temperature is a yellow-tinged 5653K, so those who like crisp whites will be disappointed.
The panel has one big strength that arguably outweighs its flaws, which is color coverage. With 90% of the DCI-P3 gamut in view, even Hollywood films look good on this all-in-one, and a peak brightness of 347cd/m2 is plenty, too.
You won’t find the latest silicon inside, but I have no argument with Intel’s Core i7-1360P processor. It remains a speedy performer in everyday use, even if it doesn’t wow in benchmarks. Here, it was hampered by having 8GB of RAM rather than the 16GB you’ll find in retail units; this will also significantly boost its graphics performance. I would expect around 2,000 in 3DMark Time Spy rather than the 1,415 it returned in my tests, while Shadow of the Tomb Raider’s 15fps at 1080p would hopefully be boosted to over 25fps (at Lowest settings).
All the computer components are crammed into the stand, which is perhaps one reason why the height isn’t adjustable; there simply isn’t room to fit in a sliding mechanism. That means you’re stuck with the bottom of the panel sitting around 150mm above the desk and the top 550mm above desk height, which means it will tower over most people.
The other downside of cramming the electronics into the narrow stand is that things get hot. I could hear the low hum of the fan throughout my time testing this PC, growing to a loud whirr in more intense benchmarks. I had also hoped for more than one USB-C port, but with a total of four USB-A ports, an SD card slot, gigabit Ethernet and two HDMI ports (one output, one input) there’s no shortage of connectivity overall.
Wi-Fi 6E is another welcome inclusion.
One USB-A port is needed for the wireless keyboard and mouse connector, which are of precisely the quality you would expect for bundled extras. Acer is more generous with its storage, throwing in a 1TB SSD.
Despite my criticisms, I grew fond of this machine. Even when hampered by that 8GB of RAM it sped through everyday tasks, while all the extras lift it above the normal all-in-one. Then again, so does the price: at £1,499 it’s too expensive. If that price drops – and I suspect it will – then I might just be tempted to nab one for my future den.
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