By Because they are reasonably priced and offer decent performance and long battery life, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X CPUs are frequently an excellent option for a low-cost laptop. However, the majority of systems have smaller screens. With a plus-sized touchpad, Windows Hello facial recognition, USB4, and other capabilities, the Acer Aspire 16 AI offers a compelling big-screen choice.
Specs and features
The entry-level Snapdragon X CPU from Qualcomm, which has eight cores and a maximum multi-core speed of 3GHz, powers the Acer Aspire 16 AI. Additionally, it comes with a 512GB solid-state drive and 16GB of RAM. These are standard specs for a laptop with a Snapdragon X processor.
- Number of model: A16-11MT-X669
- CPU: X1P-26-100 Snapdragon
- Graphics/GPU: Qualcomm Adreno; Memory: 16GB LPDDR5X-8448; NPU: Qualcomm NPU up to 45 TOPs
- Display: 16-inch IPS-LCD, 1920 x 1200, 120 Hz
- 512GB M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD for storage
- Webcam: 30 frames per second, 1080p
- Connectivity: 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 2x USB-C 4 up to 40Gbps with Power Delivery and DisplayPort, and 2x USB 3.2
- Gen 1 (one with charging). MicroSD card reader
- Networking: Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 7
- Biometrics: Recognition of faces
- Capacity of the battery: 65 watt hours
- Measurements: 14 x 9.85 x 0.63 in.
- 3.42 pounds in weight
- Windows 11 Home is the operating system.
- Cost: $729.99 MSRP
At $729.99 MSRP, the Acer Aspire 16 is available in a single configuration at this time. In fact, some stores list it at $799.99. Because there aren’t many configuration options, choosing a laptop is easy—just get it from the seller who offers the best deal.
Design and build quality
Although the look of the Acer Aspire makes it clear that it is one of the more reasonably priced Windows laptops, the build quality is less clear.
Design comes first. Not much to say about it. With a subtle Acer emblem, the Aspire 16 AI is a straightforward slab of silver-gray plastic. Its profile is only 0.63 inches, making it slim (albeit the rubber feet on the bottom don’t seem to be included in that measurement). In addition, it weighs only 3.42 pounds, which is not a lot for a laptop with a 16-inch screen.
How about the quality of the construction? The Aspire 16 AI is not a high-end laptop because its shell and interior are made of plastic. However, for a low-cost machine, the materials feel and look well. Because the lower chassis and display lid only permit a small amount of flex when in use, it is also rigid.
Additionally, I saw that the laptop’s display hinge can swivel 180 degrees, allowing the screen to rest completely flat on a table while the laptop is opened. If you intend to utilize the laptop as a second screen with an external keyboard and mouse, that gives you some more setup options.
Connectivity
The Acer Aspire 16 AI’s connectivity is unquestionably one of its advantages. A microSD card reader, a full-sized HDMI connector, a 3.5mm combination audio jack, two USB-C 4 ports that enable DisplayPort and Power Delivery, and two USB-A ports are also included.
It’s fantastic to see all these connectors in a laptop that just costs $700, as this is a broad variety of connectivity for any Windows laptop released in 2025. Budget laptops occasionally only support USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 speeds, so having four USB-C ports is quite advantageous.
Since the Aspire 16 AI supports Wi-Fi 7, the most recent version of the standard, Acer also excels at wireless connectivity. That is paired with Bluetooth 5.3, which is not as advanced as the most recent 5.4 standard. Even though Wi-Fi 7 is now supported by many Windows laptops, some low-cost models (such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 and HP OmniBook 5 14) do not; therefore, the Aspire 16 AI gains another function.
Performance
Qualcomm’s entry-level CPU, the Snapdragon X X1P-26-100, has eight cores and can reach a maximum multi-core speed of 3GHz. Additionally, it features a simplified version of Qualcomm Adreno. However, the NPU is the same for all Snapdragon X CPUs, quoting performance at 45 TOPS.
The Acer Aspire 16 AI performed well in Cinebench 2024, a CPU test that uses a lot of threads, even though it used an entry-level Snapdragon X chip. The laptop outperformed the Intel-powered Dell 16 Plus and a number of other Qualcomm-powered systems.
It’s also noteworthy that, in comparison to the Snapdragon X Plus, which is a step higher in the product hierarchy, the Snapdragon X doesn’t appear to sacrifice anything. They both have the same number of cores; however, the latter’s maximum clock speed is higher. As a result, depending on the laptop, the two chips exchange blows.
Battery life and portability
A 65-watt-hour battery is included with the Acer Aspire 16 AI. In our standard battery test, which loops a 4K trailer of the short film Tears of Steel while setting the laptop’s display brightness to about 200 nits, it powered the laptop for about 15 hours and 30 minutes.
Depending on your viewpoint, this is either a good or mediocre outcome. The battery life of several laptops is comparable, and the Snapdragon laptops with the greatest battery life surpass the Aspire 16 AI.
The Aspire 16 AI, on the other hand, is a big laptop, and the majority of big Windows laptops have somewhat shorter battery lives. This is frequently because they mix better performance with a larger display, but the Aspire 16 AI’s frugal Snapdragon CPU doesn’t have high requirements.
In my opinion, 15 hours is a decent amount of time for a laptop this size, and it should be more than sufficient for the majority of users. Just be advised that choosing a more compact, well-designed alternative, such as the HP OmniBook 5 14, can result in even longer battery life.
An Acer Aspire 16 AI USB-C charger with 65 watts of electricity is included with the device. For a 65-watt adapter, it’s on the larger side. To increase portability, owners of Aspire 16 AI might want to investigate a 65-watt GaN charger. There is no rapid charging mode on the laptop.
Conclusion
For consumers seeking a low-cost Windows laptop with a 16-inch screen, the Acer Aspire 16 AI is a good option. It has an advantage in a number of ways, even though it lacks a headline feature that would set it apart. It features a wide touchpad, Windows Hello facial recognition, a 120Hz refresh rate display, USB4, and Wi-Fi 7. While many low-cost laptops might fulfill some of these requirements, the Aspire 16 AI fulfills them all.
