Acer is bringing its glasses free 3D screen to a more affordable laptop

Purchasing products through a Verge link may result in a commission earning for Vox Media. I can assure you that the astronaut image on Acer's new Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition appeared to be extending its arms towards me when I viewed it directly. Even though I have dismissed 3D displays in the past, this one was so convincing that I touched the astronaut’s stomach as if it was the Pillsbury Doughboy. There were no glasses involved, making the experience strange but intriguing. One would typically expect such breakthrough technologies to be featured at events like CES 2024, yet this 3D laptop is set to be released next month with a similar price tag to the 15 inch M2 MacBook Air.

It’s important to warn that $1,399 isn’t a small amount for a laptop, particularly as this is the basic price. Nonetheless, considering other Acer SpatialLabs products, it’s quite a bargain. Past devices from Acer, each priced around $3,500 and $4,000 respectively, were significantly more expensive. This is our first encounter with a SpatialLabs laptop in this price range, broadening its accessibility to a larger audience of artists, developers and creators.

The stereoscopic 3D technology of Acer’s SpatialLabs works by tracking your eyes and head movements through two image sensors located in the top bezels. Your brain is tricked into seeing 3D by each eye perceiving separate, almost identical 2D images. Acer aims for more users to explore 3D entertainment and creative fields by lowering the entry price. For instance, a realtor could transform CAD files into a more understandable 3D model for potential house buyers. Additionally, Acer’s OpenXR platform and developer tools such as the SpatialLabs Unity and Unreal Engine plug-ins are supported.

The Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition features a 15.6-inch UHD panel, a maximum Intel Core i7 13620H processor, a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of storage. The available ports include an HDMI 2.1 port, USB Type C Thunderbolt 4 port, ethernet port, headphone jack, and three USB 3.2 ports. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and Microsoft Copilot. Although it can't outperform Acer's other SpatialLabs laptops in terms of specifications, it is more powerful than the usual Aspire laptops. Furthermore, I observed no significant 3D rendering lag.

Nonetheless, the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition shared the same flaws as earlier SpatialLabs laptops. Namely, the display can only be viewed by one person at a time and is affected by extremely bright backlighting. Despite these limitations, Acer's price reduction is appreciated.

Acer also announced the launch of the $1,999 Predator SpatialLabs View 27 gaming monitor, featuring a 27-inch 4K Ultra HD display, a 160Hz refresh rate, 400 nits of brightness, and the support of Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync. For audio, it includes two 2.5W speakers.

In addition to the 3D technology, Acer is also launching three new Swift laptops: the Acer Swift Go 14, Swift Go 16, and Swift X 14. Both Swift Go models come with Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel Arc graphics, a 1440p webcam, and new AI features like Microsoft Copilot. Each model differs in the display.

Subsequently, the Predator SpatialLabs View 27 will become available in Q2 of 2024, while the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition is set to launch in North America in February. The Acer Swift Go 14 and 16 are expected to be available in March for $749.99 and $799.99, respectively. The Acer Swift X 14 will be available starting in February for $1,399.99.