Acer announced an array of new and refreshed products at IFA 2015 in Berlin. Among those products are two new convertible notebook computers, designed with similar features, but aimed at very different segments of the market.

All About That Hinge

Acer will be launching an updated version of the Aspire R 13 notebook this fall. It features Intel's latest Core i5 and i7 (Skylake) processors, and a unique hinge design that the company calls an Ezel Aero hinge, which allows you to configure it in six different ways. Laptop, Display, Pad, and Tent mode are typically found on convertible notebooks, but Ezel and Stand Mode are made possible with the U-shaped hinge design. Acer said the display is sturdy and wobble-free thanks to the dual-torque hinge used.

The Aspire R 13 comes equipped with a precision touchpad that is capable of 3- and 4-finger gestures supported by Windows 10. The touchscreen is capable of 10-point tracking, and supports common gestures such as pinch and swipe.

The Aspire convertible notebook has the option of either a single SSD, or two SSDs configured in RAID 0. It also features support for some of the latest I/O technology. A single USB Type-C connector can be found, which supports Thunderbolt 3 for up to a 40 Gps transfer rate. Acer said this port enables the ability to plug in a discrete graphics card, housed externally. This option would be necessary if you chose the 1440p display option over the standard 1080p display.

Chromebook R 11

Acer will also be launching a convertible Chomebook this fall. The Chromebook R 11 features a 360-degree hinge that supports the typical four modes: Laptop, Display, Pad and Tent. It features an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 resolution touch screen with 10-point tracking, and built-in HD webcam.

The ChromeBook R 11 will have the option of two different Intel Celeron processors, and it comes equipped with up to 4 GB of memory. Storage is handled by eMMC memory, with 16 GB and 32 GB options available.

Model Aspire R 13 R7-372T Chromebook R 11 OS Windows 10 Home 64-bit ChromeOS Processor 6th Generation Intel Core i5-6200U or i7-6500U Intel Celeron N3050 or N3150 Memory up to 8 GB up to 4 GB Internal Storage 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB SSD - 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB SSDs in RAID 0 eMMC flash storage - 16 GB or 32 GB Display size 13.3-inch 11.6-inch Resolution 1920 x 1080 or 2560 x 1440 1366 x 768 Touchscreen 10-point Touch - Tap, Swipe, Pinch, Zoom 10-point Touch - Tap, Swipe, Pinch, Zoom Display Modes 6 Modes - Laptop, Display, Tent, Pad, Ezel, Stand 4 Modes - Laptop, Display, Tent, Pad Degrees of Rotation 180-degrees 180-degrees Wireless Qualcomm VIV 2x2 802.11ac with MU-MIMO Technology Qualcomm VIV 2x2 802.11ac with MU-MIMO Technology I/O Thunderbolt 3 over USB Type-C, 8x USB 3.0 1x USB 3.0 Webcam Acer Crystal Eye HD Webcam HD Webcam with HDR Dimensions 343.8 (W) x 230.35 (D) x 18.5 (H) mm / 13.54 x 9.07 x 0.71/0.73 inches 294 (W) x 204 (D) x 19.2 (H) mm / 11.57 x 8.03 x 0.76 inches Weight 1.6 kg / 3.53 lbs 1.25 kg / 2.76 lbs Availability October in North America, Europe, Middle-East and Africa October in North America, November in Europe, Middle-East and Africa MSRP Starting at $899 Starting at $299

Both notebooks will be available this October in North America. The Aspire R 13 will start at $899, and the ChromeBook R 11 starts at $299. Europe, Middle-East and Africa will receive the Aspire in October, but will have to wait until November to purchase the Chromebook.

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