Light, economical and very functional. The Acer Aspire R 11 R3-131T is a notebook for users who want a reliable and versatile travel companion. A small convertible computer with an 11.6-inch touch screen that we can rotate up to 360 degrees to use as a tablet. Thanks to the strength of its hinges, it is also placed in a tent format to watch movies or with the screen inverted to enjoy touch apps. In addition, the audio output automatically adapts to the position of the screen to always enjoy the best audio experience .
Inside we find an Intel Celeron or Intel Pentium processor, up to 8 GB of RAM and a memory of up to 500 GB in hard disk format. In addition, thanks to the latest version of Windows 10 Home (you can also opt for Windows 8.1) we will enjoy a good balance between desktop applications and apps. This laptop becomes an excellent tool both for classrooms and to take on a trip or at home . The Acer Aspire R 11 R3-131T can be found in stores for a starting price of 350 euros . We tell you all its details in the following in-depth analysis.
Design and display
We are facing an entry team, but that does not mean that Acer has neglected its design. Quite the opposite. The company has enhanced the appeal of this equipment with a grainy pattern throughout the case . This differential touch is a leap compared to previous generations, which used a less worked smooth plastic design. Of course, it seems to us an intermediate step compared to the Acer Aspire Switch 10E (SW3-013) , which has a more elegant point. The company markets the Acer Aspire R 11 in two configurations, one in white and the other in blue . The two bet on black in the area of the keyboard and the panel.
But beyond its looks, the great appeal of the Aspire R 11 is in its ability to rotate the screen up to 360 degrees . This is made possible by a pair of sturdy hinges that keep the laptop in any position. For example, we have the option to completely rotate the screen to use the equipment as a traditional tablet. The position in store mode is very comfortable to view movies or YouTube videos , while the screen in reverse position is designed to favor the use of touch apps .
The dimensions of the Acer Aspire R 11 R3-131T are placed in 29.8 x 21.1 x 2.09 cm and its weight rises to 1.58 kilos. These are competitive figures, although it is true that they are a step above what we usually see in laptops of this size. Still, this equipment is easy to transport and carry in a backpack.
In the field of display, the Aspire R 11 bets on an 11.6-inch LED panel with a standard resolution of 1,366 x 768 pixels. At this point we must highlight two technologies that Acer has introduced . On the one hand, Acer Zero Air Gap technology has been created to reduce the gap between the glass and the touch panel. Thanks to this, it is possible to reduce the number of reflections that disturb our vision of the panel when it receives the impact of a light source (either the light of a flexo or the sunlight itself). In addition, this technology also improves the contrast and clarity of the image. On the other hand, Acer BlueShield technologyIt can give us a lot of play in an environment like school where you have to read texts very often. By reducing the emission of blue light, Acer BlueShield also limits the effects of eyestrain and allows students to work longer with the screen without these problems. This technology can be activated and deactivated at any time it is necessary. By the way, the Aspire R 11's panel is protected with Gorilla Glass, to improve its resistance to bumps and scratches. And with its special anti-fingerprint coating , so many fingerprint marks are avoided after continued use.
Memory and power
The Acer Aspire R 11 brings us two main options both in terms of processor and storage. The basic version of the computer includes an Intel Celeron N3050 dual-core processor with a power of 1.6 GHz . If we are looking for a higher performance point, we can opt for a more powerful Intel Pentium N370 quad-core chip with 1.6 GHz per core. The RAM memory in these configurations is 2 GB or 4 GB, although the option of integrating up to 8 GB of RAM is offered . As a tip, it is recommended to include a minimum RAM of 4 GB to enjoy the Windows platformwithout us having performance problems. It is true that with 2 GB of RAM there is no problem using the system and most desktop applications, but it is easy to notice this limitation if (as is my case) we are used to having many browser tabs open with tools and YouTube videos .
In the storage field, we have the option of integrating a 32 GB SSD memory or a 500 GB hard drive memory . In the first case, the computer startup or access to applications will be faster. In the second, we can store a greater number of applications, games and multimedia files without having to be so aware of the available space. Be that as it may, you can take advantage of one of the USB ports to insert an external hard drive or use the SD card reader. In addition, the platform BYOC of Acer we will create a personal cloud to store personal files of all our devices.
Operating system and applications
Two options are also offered in this field: Windows 10 Home and Windows 8.1. Even if the Windows 8.1 version reaches our hands, we have the option to upgrade to Windows 10 for free (this promotion will run until next summer). Microsoft's new platform abandons the concept of two separate interfaces and focuses all computer use (back) on the desktop . Of course, it brings with it several concepts that were developed in Windows 8, such as the icons of the applications in the form of icons (which will be found in the start menu). There is also progress in the tactile use of the different menus and the Microsoft store is maintained to get different apps that take advantage of the touch functionality of the equipment. And that without forgetting thecomplete universe of desktop applications that open up a world of possibilities.
Another important new feature in Windows 10 is the arrival of the voice assistant Cortana . An intelligent tool that transforms the way we interact with the PC. From Cortana we can open applications, search the Internet (through Bing, yes), know the weather forecast in any city or open files. All this in a natural and very comfortable way. The ability to create several virtual desktops with their own open applications can also give us a lot of play . The Taiwanese company does its part with several useful applications. We have already named Acer BYOC,an easy-to-use cloud platform that works through several specific applications for file types (photos, music, documents…). In addition, with Acer Touch Tools screenshots are made that we can share in a few taps.
Connections and multimedia
Despite being a compact size notebook, Acer has bolstered its functionality with an excellent set of connections. For example, it is very surprising to enjoy an Ethernet port on an 11.6-inch model. We also have a full-size HDMI port for displaying high-quality images on a monitor or television. This model incorporates a high-speed USB 3.0 port with transfer rates ten times faster than traditional USB. And a USB 2.0 port to take advantage of those peripherals that do not need a higher speed, such as a mouse or a less powerful external hard drive. Another of the additions that will give us a lot of play is the compatibility with the WiFi AC protocol. This technology requires a compatible router and allows us to connect to the 5 GHz bandwidth to achieve greater stability and speed in our Internet connection. Connections are completed with an SD card reader and Bluetooth.
In the multimedia section, you could not miss a webcam and a microphone to use apps like Skype or the voice assistant Cortana itself . In addition, we must highlight the Acer TrueHarmony technology . The speaker design in this computer limits audio distortion and increases the volume to fill the entire space. With its custom equalizer, we can improve the performance of the Aspire both in movies and games. Finally, we must highlight the audio output that adapts to the position of the screen to give us the best experience in any position of the Acer Aspire R 11 .
Autonomy, price and opinions
The integrated battery in the Acer Aspire R 11 R3-131T gives us for a maximum of eight hours of use. It is a competitive figure that makes it an excellent tool to take with us on a trip or to school . The Aspire R 11 can already be found on the market for a starting price of 350 hours. In short, a very reliable computer for housework and the use of simple desktop applications or navigation. All with a more refined design and an excellent set of connections that becomes one of the great surprises of this model. Without a doubt, a good option as a gift for this Christmas.
Acer Aspire R 11 R3-131T
Brand | Acer |
Model | Acer Aspire R 11 (R3-131T) |
Type | Touch laptop with rotating screen |
Display and keyboard
Size | 11.6 inch |
Resolution | 1,366 x 768 pixels |
Density | 135 dpi |
Technology | LED, Zero Air Gap, protected by Corning Gorilla Glass |
Tactile | Yes |
Brightness | - |
Backlight keyboard | Not |
Power and graphics
CPU processor | Intel Pentium N370 quad-core 1.6 GHz per core Intel Celeron N3050 dual-core 1.6GHz per core |
Number of cores | 4/2 |
Power | 1.6 GHz |
Graphics processor (GPU) | Intel HD Graphics |
RAM | 4GB / 2GB (8GB maximum) |
Memory
Format | SSD / Hard Drive |
Capacity | 32 GB in SSD / 500 GB HDD |
Extension | SD card reader |
Design
Dimensions | 29.8 x 21.1 x 2.09 cm |
Weight | 1.58 |
Colors | White blue |
Others | - |
Sound
Technology | - |
Speakers | Two stereo speakers |
Microphone | Yes |
software
Operating system | Windows 10 Home / Windows 8.1 |
Applications | Desktop applications Microsoft Store |
Connections
Mobile Network | Not |
Wifi | WiFi a / b / g / n / AC |
USB ports | 1 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 |
HDMI | Yes |
Ethernet | Yes |
Vga | Not |
DisplayPort | Not |
Card reader | SD card reader |
Bluetooth | Bluetooth 4.0 |
Others | Webcam, microphone |
Autonomy
Capacity | Lithium ion |
Official figures | Up to eight hours |
Figures in more intensive use | - |
+ info
Release date | Available |
Manufacturer's website | Acer |