Within the Vero product line, manufacturer Acer releases notebooks, monitors or peripherals that place special emphasis on sustainability and are, for example, largely made of recycled plastic. In the case of the Vero AV14, this results in a unique, chic design. But the compact office ultrabook has quite a few other advantages, as our Acer Aspire Vero AV14 review clarifies.
Technical data
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1255U (10 cores, 12 threads, 1.2 – 4.7 GHz) |
| Graphics performance | Intel Iris Xe |
| Display | 14.0 inch; Full HD; 60.05 Hz |
| Storage | 1,000 GB SSD PCIe 4.0 installed |
| Memory | 16 GB LPDDR4X RAM (soldered) |
| Keyboard | Compact; with RGB lighting; QWERTY layout (test model only) |
| Operating system | Windows 11 Home |
| Connectivity | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX201; Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 328.5 mm x 223.5 mm x 17.9 mm |
| Weight | 1.5 kg (without power supply) |
| Price | € 18.90 * |
Acer Aspire Vero AV14 review: package contents and design
- Striking blue design made of PCR plastic
- Comfortable haptics
- Workmanship without any notable glitches
Sustainability is the magic word in Acer’s Vero range. Both the outer packaging and the notebook itself are designed with the environment in mind. For example, the packaging is made entirely of paper – apart from the adhesive strips that protect the box from unwanted looks, everything here is recyclable.
Accordingly, the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 only comes with the required 65-watt power adapter with a convenient USB-C port and the obligatory paperwork like the manual or warranty.
As unpretentious as the scope of delivery is, the laptop’s design is unique. The case, the keycaps and much more are largely made of recycled materials – plastic in this case.
Acer calls the navy blue hue that almost completely adorns the AV14 “Mariana Blue.” Again and again, the blue device is interspersed with white plastic particles, which provides a pleasant color accent. In addition, the surface is pleasantly grippy and scores with a pleasing haptic, which skilfully stands out from most notebooks that you get to see.
There is almost nothing to see on the upper side. On the underside of the notebook, quite large ventilation slots catch the eye, which blow the hot air out of the AV14. There are also large, light blue rubber feet in the corners that provide a secure grip.
Another large ventilation slot can be seen above the keyboard. Plus points are awarded for the display hinge, which raises the underside of the notebook a bit when it’s opened and thus ensures better air circulation.
Otherwise, there isn’t much to complain about in terms of build quality either. The PCR plastic doesn’t look quite as robust as an aluminum case, but that isn’t problematic either, especially since there aren’t any sharp edges or inconsistencies.
Features and connections
- Fast and efficient CPU
- PCIe 4.0 SSD
- Fast Wi-Fi 6E
With dimensions of 328.5 mm x 223.5 mm x 17.9 mm (width x height x depth), the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 is in a good range to pass as a compact notebook for everywhere. The weight of around 1.5 kilograms also contributes to that, whereby the laptop even feels a bit lighter purely subjectively.
In terms of features, Acer clearly positions the device in the business and office segment and forgoes a dedicated graphics solution, for example. The Vero AV14 competes with the Huawei Matebook D16 (our review) or the Dynabook Portégé X30L-K-139 (our review), among others, which offer a comparable configuration.
Specifically, the manufacturer equips our test model with an Intel Core i7-1255U processor with ten cores, 16 gigabytes of LPDDR4 RAM and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD from Micron. The bottom panel can be removed quickly and easily via a total of eleven screws, for example to replace the SSD or the screwed battery. Only the soldered-on working memory cannot be expanded.
Modern and fast Wi-Fi 6E and of course Bluetooth 5.2 are included as wireless standards. Acer also installs stereo speakers with a decent, but not overwhelming sound, a Full HD webcam (2.1 megapixels) and a fingerprint sensor for logging in using biometric data.
The ports of the Acer Aspire Vero AV14
- Thunderbolt 4
- Unfortunately, no SD card reader
For a notebook in this price range, the selection of ports turns out to be quite good. On the right side, the notebook has a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type A port and a Kensington Lock port.
On the left, there is a power port (which I do not understand due to the included USB-C power adapter), a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 4 support with PowerDelivery and DisplayPort function, HDMI 2.0 and another USB-A port of type 3.2 Gen 2, as well as a 3.5 mm jack.
It is a bit unfortunate that Acer only installs one of the modern USB Type-C ports here. Moreover, it is already occupied when the power supply is connected. An SD card reader or similar would have been nice, but is unfortunately conspicuous by its absence.
Keyboard and trackpad
- Keyboard with pleasant travel and typing feel
- Precise trackpad
- Fast and reliable fingerprint scanner
We were not completely convinced by the keyboard and trackpad in the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 review. The manufacturer provided us with a model with an English QWERTY layout for the test – however, the device should also be available with a German layout.
Furthermore, the trackpad initially refused to work when we used it. It first had to be activated via an FN key combination. Once it is working, the multi-touch capable ClickPad does a good job and also implements swipe gestures accurately with its smooth surface. The size of 10.5 cm x 6.5 cm (width x height) is in the medium range.
The chiclet keyboard has a white backlight, which is quite discreet and can be adjusted in two brightness levels via the F11 key. Otherwise, it is quite pleasant to type on the keys with a key drop of around 1.5 mm. We have had worse notebook keyboards in this respect.
Acer Aspire Vero AV14 with Full HD display
- Full HD resolution
- About 300 cd/m² brightness
- Good color space coverage; only 60 Hz
Acer equips the Aspire Vero AV14 with a 14-inch IPS panel that resolves in Full HD with 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The matte display achieves a brightness of just over 300 cd/m² and scores with good contrast rates.
The matte panel also has the advantage that it is still quite legible outdoors in direct sunlight. Although a higher maximum brightness would have been desirable here, of course. The maximum refresh rate is 60.05 Hz to be exact – so the AV14 does not offer the fastest panel. However, it is sufficient for office applications and everyday tasks.
Practical test, volume and heat development
- Disturbing, whistling fans
- Smooth everyday performance
- Software with different operating modes
The built-in hardware of the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 promises a snappy performance and a pleasant work speed in practice. On the other hand, the fans are conspicuous even under low load, as they emit a constant whistling noise. Although this is not too loud, it is still annoying.
Especially since the intensity and frequency of the whistling increases under load. Unfortunately, the notebook is never whisper-quiet even in idle mode. With a maximum of 55 dB(A) under full load, the fan noise is in the midfield of the notebooks we tested.
Otherwise, the laptop copes very well with most tasks in practice and scores with an excellent WLAN speed and range. Acer also offers a software with “VeroSense”, in which you can, for example, set the operating mode of the notebook and adjust the battery charge.
The modes are Eco+ for the best possible energy efficiency and longest battery life, Eco, Balanced, and a Performance mode in which the notebook uses the maximum possible performance. For the battery, you also have the choice between an optimized charge (where the charge capacity is limited to a maximum of 80 percent to extend the battery life) or a full battery charge.
Benchmark: Productivity, System, and SSD
Of course, as part of the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 review, I put the notebook through a variety of benchmark tests to check its performance. I only did not want to subject the ultrabook to gaming and complex graphics tests due to the lack of a dedicated graphics unit.
However, the Intel Iris Xe graphics unit with a clock rate of 1250 Hz should be quite suitable for less demanding games in medium or low details.
I measured the productivity and system performance with PCMark 10 and Cinebench R23. PCMark 10 simulates different workflows that include word processing, web browsing and spreadsheets when running the benchmark. Cinebench, on the other hand, measures the speed of the CPU cores individually as well as in multi-core mode. I performed all benchmark tests in the notebook’s performance mode.
SSD benchmark
- PCIe 4.0 SSD with good speeds
Around 950 gigabytes of the installed 1 TB SSD from Micron are available for free use, the rest is used for the operating system and the preinstalled applications. The SSD is connected via PCIe 4.0 and achieves good, albeit not outstanding, rates of around 3000 MB/s for sequential reading.
However, the given speed is more than sufficient for the laptop’s application fields. Especially when you consider that a gaming notebook like the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (our review) achieves almost identical speeds here.
Cinebench R23 and PCMark 10
There are hardly any surprises in the two system benchmarks. Here, the AV14 performs about as one would expect from the installed components. Especially in the CPU test Cinebench R23, the laptop delivers very good results.
But the results in PCMark 10, which tests the system as a whole and includes various tasks, are also more than respectable. Unsurprisingly, Acer’s notebook is particularly good in the essential tasks that do not place a particularly high load on the graphics chip. Compared to the i5 of the already mentioned Dynabook Portégé X30L-K-139, the additional cores of the i7 are also noticeable in the area of digital content creation.
All in all, very good results that certify that the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 is absolutely suitable for more demanding tasks like image or video editing. This is also evident in practice, where smooth and problem-free work was always possible. However, the SD card reader is again missing for a completely satisfactory practical suitability.
| Benchmark | Result |
| Cinebench R23 Multi Core | 7,898 points |
| Cinebench R23 Single Core | 1,656 points |
| PCMark 10 Total | 5,548 points |
| PCMark 10 Essentials | 10,674 points |
| PCMark 10 Productivity | 6,961 points |
| PCMark 10 Digital Content Creation | 6,239 points |
Battery: runtime and charging time
- Excellent battery life
- Recovers a full charge quickly
Despite the rather tight battery capacity of 55.9 watt hours, the Acer Aspire Vero AV14 achieves a really excellent, surprising result in the test. In our battery test with WLAN use and minimum brightness, the laptop achieves a runtime of around 12 hours.
Depending on the application, operating mode and brightness setting, the runtime will naturally decrease. Nevertheless, you’ll get through a whole workday with the notebook even under permanent load and maximum brightness. Charging is also pleasantly fast. The notebook is fully charged again after about 88 minutes.
Acer Aspire Vero AV14 review: Conclusion
Under the striking blue hood of the Acer Aspire Vero AV14, there is clearly more than meets the eye. Acer has created a sustainable and at the same time powerful office and multi-media notebook, which can’t really shine in any aspects, but on the other hand doesn’t stand out negatively anywhere either. With the exception of the unattractive whistling fan.
In addition, there is the excellent battery life, a fast and strong Wi-Fi module and Thunderbolt 4. However, it is a pity that this port is already reserved for the power adapter, unless you buy the additional and separately available proprietary power adapter.
In the end, you’re left with a really good notebook that can easily handle most applications aside from gaming and leaves you with the good feeling that you’ve done a bit for the environment.
Acer Aspire Vero AV14
Design & workmanship
Display
Features
Performance
Battery
Value for money
86/100
The Acer Aspire Vero AV14 scores with a thoroughly good performance, fast Wi-Fi 6E, a unique look and a strong battery life. However, whistling fans and somewhat few ports tarnish the impression a bit.
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