Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14: no spin here, just a good ol’ purpose-built convertible

Acer keeps it simple and dependable with its pragmatically-designed 2-in-1.

by Justin Choo

Not everyone needs a 2-in-1, but there’s a certain thrill in using a laptop that feels like it can do it all. The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 convertible is one such device, albeit designed with business in mind.

It shows in its appearance: somewhat modest, but that’s not always a bad thing for this category, where discretion is the better part of a great many things. Its 1.49kg weight and 18.9mm thickness are as middle-of-the-road as convertibles go, but at least it’s MIL-STD 810H certified. The hinges are pretty rigid, so it is quite sturdy, even in a tent position.

Acer chose to go with a matte display, which helps with visibility outdoors by minimising glare. The implementation here is decidedly more pragmatic; the 1920 x 1200 resolution IPS panel only has a 100% sRGB colour gamut, and it will feel a little dull compared to most other mainstream displays. The speakers aren’t loud and lack bass, but there’s clarity, at least.

The stylus is embedded on the side and is asymmetrically shaped, so it’s easy for you to slot it back in the correct orientation. It’s responsive with a high degree of pressure sensitivity for writing, so you can comfortably make notes or do Google searches while in tablet mode.

Our P4 Spin 14 came with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155U (also available with Ultra 5 125U) and 16GB of RAM, which makes it OK for everyday tasks — this is a laptop that would be handy for everyday administrative work plus you need to sign a lot of documentation — and is best suited for the road. Battery life is modest, and I can get around eight hours of regular mixed-use and stretch it closer to 10 with some optimisations.

This laptop also features Acer’s PurifiedVoice and PurifiedView, which are AI-enabled optimisations for the FHD camera (also supports Windows Hello login) and microphone, which improves the call experience when you are stuck in a less-than-quiet place with poor lighting.

One downside, if you can call it that, is that it only supports Wi-Fi 6E. However, it makes up for this with its robust selection of ports, which includes two USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4, two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, and a microSD card reader.

  • 7.5/10
    Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 - 7.5/10
7.5/10

Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14

Price: From $1,698; $1,898 for configuration tested

The Acer TravelMate P4 Spin 14 may not have a bag of gimmicks to dazzle you, but it does its job quietly and helps you throughout your day. It may not dazzle visually or offer the most premium finishes and features. Still, as a functional package built for durability and a reasonable battery life, it is a compelling option for the price.