We've seen a wide range of new technologies announced and showcased at CES 2025, including everything from handheld gaming devices to electric scooters. The star of the show has certainly been the AI, and the new Acer Aspire Vero 16 makes the most of everything while encased in a mix of post-consumer recycled plastic and a new oyster shell material.
Acer has stated that the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is committed to carbon neutrality throughout its life cycle. In addition to using bio-based materials, it uses an easy-to-repair design to ensure repair is an option before replacing.
Price and availability
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 is ready to launch in April in the United States at $799.99 and then later on Q2 in Europe in €1,199. These are starting prices that will fluctuate depending on the specifications you are looking for.
It is definitely one of the most affordable options on the market, especially in the United States. However, regional pricing puts it at a much higher price elsewhere.
Design
When I first saw the Acer Aspire Vero 16, I think it's pretty clear that it's made from recycled material because of the color and design. It looks pretty, with a marbled green chassis that encloses the entire device, including the trackpad. In addition to recycled plastic, the chassis is also made from oyster shell material, making it carbon neutral and 100% recyclable.
Unfortunately, when holding and using the Acer Aspire Vero 16, it feels like cheap plastic. The case has a fairly light and fragile feel to it, and I wouldn't fully trust the Vero 16 in my backpack without an extra layer of protection like a case or sleeve, and even then, it's a risk.
Despite being clad in plastic, the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is actually a little heavier than I expected. It weighs 3.97 pounds (1.8 kg), which isn't the lightest option out there, but it's also not too heavy to carry to and from work or to take with you while traveling. Just make sure you pack it comfortably and securely.
The Acer Aspire Vero 16 measures less than 2cm and despite being so slim, it still comes packed with ports. You can take advantage of two Thunderbolt ports, as well as a USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio jack.
You get an LCD display panel on the Vero 16, which has 1920 x 1200 pixels. Despite not being OLED, the screen is very bright and vibrant. It looks absolutely stunning, but left me wanting a little more in terms of resolution; However, at this price you can't complain too much.
Budget
| Price: | $799.99 |
| UPC: | Up to Intel Core Ultra 7 255H |
| Graphics: | Intel Arc Graphics |
| RAM: | 32GB LPDDR5X |
| Show: | LCD, up to 16 inches, 1920 x 1200p |
| Storage: | Up to 2TB M.2 |
| Ports: | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (DP compatible), 1x USB-A, 1x audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 (TMDS) |
| Connectivity: | Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Camera: | 1440p QHD |
| Weight: | 3.97 lbs (1.8 kg) |
| Dimensions: | 259.4 (width) x 247 (depth) x 12.4 x 19.6 (height) mm |
| Battery: | 65Wh |
Performance
Buying the Acer Aspire Vero 16 allows you to take advantage of up to an Intel Core Ultra 7 255H processor combined with Intel Arc graphics and 32GB of RAM. This machine offers absolutely incredible performance, especially for its price. Regardless of what you intend to use it for, it offers a high level of performance for a wide range of productivity and creativity tasks.
Of course, having this processor means you can take advantage of a variety of AI features, including Copilot+, to help speed up the process of daily tasks. But as AI slowly takes over the laptop space, this is becoming more common.
With a 65Wh battery, you'll get decent battery life out of this laptop. Acer claims it will run for about 10.5 hours, getting you through a workday and then some on a full charge.
Early verdict
Overall, the Acer Aspire Vero 16 is an amazing laptop that gives you great performance at a low price. As if that weren't enough, you'll have a clear conscience because the case is made from 70% recycled materials and is beautiful.
One downside is that the material seems quite inexpensive, but this can be easily overlooked when you consider all the other benefits on offer. It's somewhat frustrating that the regional pricing of this laptop makes it less affordable outside of the US, and I hope Acer can adjust this before the laptop launches in April.