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As an Ultrabook, Acer has delivered a solid, if not slightly larger, offering in the Aspire R13. Acer's transforming convertible is more affordably priced than many traditional Ultrabooks, yet delivers more form factors and usage modes for consumers to interact with, consume, and create content. Solid, if not average, specs and performance make this a great choice for those needing a touchscreen convertible.
We liked
The converting Ezel hinge makes for a versatile computing experience with six usage modes, highlighting a great IPS display. At its base configuration, this device offers a great value for its performance.
Solid build quality and a unique design also give the Aspire R13 plenty of desk appeal, but at this time it's unclear how well the glass lid will hold up over time.
We disliked
Given that most people wouldn't use all of the modes enabled by the Ezel hinge, it can sometimes feel like you're paying for unnecessary features. In my review of the Aspire R13, I find myself using only a few modes - tent mode in bed watching videos, display mode on my desk showcasing pictures and previewing presentations, notebook mode in my lap for a more traditional computing experience, and pad mode when reviewing documents for edits.
In fact, these commonly used modes are already found on Acer's competitors, like the Lenovo Yoga Pro 3 and the HP Spectre x360, making Ezel and stand mode seem like superfluous additions on the Aspire R13.
The major pitfall with the Aspire R13 is that despite its weaker benchmarked performance compared to systems with similar specifications, the unit runs warm and the fan is almost constantly on, leading to a rather distracting computing experience if you're hoping to use the Aspire R13 in a library or quiet room.
Final verdict
It's hard not to like Acer's interpretation of convertible notebooks. The Aspire R13 packs in a whopping six usage modes with a unique Ezel hinge, a design that as an Ultrabook makes the Aspire R13 feel unfinished with a partial frame. Even though real-world performance is on par with most Ultrabooks, the Aspire R13's benchmark scores were considerably lower than the business-class Lenovo ThinkPad T450s with a lesser processor.
While the base configuration delivers great price to performance value, what makes the Aspire R13 unique is its multimodal design. With more expensive configurations of the Aspire R13 - unless you need the multimodal computing experience Acer is selling - you may find better value in a fully configured Dell XPS 13 or Surface Pro 3, the former offering a more compact frame while the latter delivers a lighter body for use as a tablet with an optional keyboard to transform it into an Ultrabook.
