The Spin series is Acer’s bid to practical, yet powerful 2-in-1 laptops. This market is dominated by ASUS and HP. However, we’ve noticed a significant number of models being launched this year, which are more stylish and more desirable than the company’s usual lineup. The Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX is no different.
Review
This 2-in-1 is a prime example of a true mid-range device. It’s not terribly expensive, nor is it overpriced. It features great hardware options and plenty of features to satisfy most, if not all of its users.
And before you notice its design not being on par with the company’s flagship 2-in-1: the Spin 7, remember that the Spin 5 is twice more affordable, with some models closing in on being three time as cost effective.
Honestly, apart from a more toned down design, the Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX is a great companion to have around with you, whether it’s at home or someplace far from it.
Performance
The Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX is powered by a 7th generation, dual core Intel Core i5-7200 processor. This popular CPU has a clock speed of 2.5 GHz, 3 megabytes of cache size and is being features on so many mid-range laptops for good reasons. Most users won’t need more processing power from their laptops than this CPU will provide. Oftentimes, getting that i7 option is overkill if your needs don’t match its higher price. Therefore, I believe that the i5-7200U is a sensible option for the Spin’s target audience.
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Standard memory is rated at 8 gigabytes of DDR4 SDRAM. The vast majority of users won’t feel the need to upgrade it further, since 8 gigs is more than enough for Windows to run smoothly alongside whatever programs you may think of, including large data sets, heavy multitasking, photo editing and more.
Still, folks who are in need of more memory will be glad to know you can double it (up to 16 gigabytes) by adding an additional 8 gigabyte RAM module. Just make sure to check with Acer what modules are 100% compatible with the Spin’s motherboard.
As for storage space, the Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX comes with a speedy 256-gigabyte Solid-State Drive installed. Despite having four times less storage capacity than the ever-present 1 terabyte hard drives, operating from an SSD has many more benefits: no moving parts, no lag, low change of the system ever freezing, faster transfer rate, more energy efficient and so on.
I believe the 256-gigabyte solid state drive is the best anyone can ask from a convertible laptop in this price range.
Graphics and display
The Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX doesn’t have a discrete graphics card. It comes equipped with integrated HD Graphics 620 graphics. It will work great when viewing or streaming video content, but will really struggle with games, especially with AAA titles. You’ll get decent framerates and medium quality settings for some occasional Minecraft, LoL or CS:GO gaming, but that’s it.
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Its 13.3 inch LCD touchscreen has an LED-backlit FullHD IPS display. It produces a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and, thanks to IPS technology, colors will be richer, deeper and more vividly displayed, not to mention superior viewing angles.
Interface and connectivity
As it stands, there are no USB-C ports on the Spin 5, but I don’t see this as a major issue. At least, not if want to avoid carrying an adapter after you all the time. Here are the available I/O options:
- 1 x USB 3.0 port
- 2 x USB 2.0 ports
- 1 x HDMI-out
- 1 x COMBO audio jack
- 1 x microSD card reader
Internet connectivity is achieved through a 802.11ac wireless card, which is up to 3 times as fast as older wireless protocols.
Portability
The Acer Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX is a moderately lightweight device, weighing 3.5 pounds. This is due to the touchscreen being heavier than classic display options. I can see it being carried around town, or around campus. However, travelers who enjoy light luggage have better alternatives to consider.
It’s also moderately thin, measuring 0.8 inches from top to bottom. What’s more, the 4-cell, 3220 mAh Li-Ion battery pack will power this laptop for more than 7 hours, without needing to be recharged.
Final words
This 2-in-1 from Acer, the Spin 5 SP513-51-51VX is, perhaps, the most well-rounded convertible laptop to be released in the last couple of months. There aren’t any apparent faults I can find, with the exception of not having an USB-C port. Apart from that minor inconvenience, the Spin 5 offers great value for money – it’s a mid-range laptop which manages to perform above what the asking price might suggest.
