The Apple iMac has always been our favorite All-In-One PC, thanks to its super-slim profile and aluminum construction. All of us wish to own one someday, however, the price is never easy to come by. In that case, Windows users are forced to do with alternatives like the HP Envy and the Lenovo A-Series, that put a good fight, but really don’t match Apple’s quality standard.
Acer is keeping with the Windows AIO competition with its line of Aspire systems, which have enjoyed some success in the notebook arena. Now, the company has brought some luxury treatment to the all-in-one with its new Acer Aspire Z24-890-UR11.
The system’s spec sheet is impressive. Though its display measures just 23 inches, the Aspire manages to pack a Core i5-8400T processor, a Full HD (1920 x 1080) edge-to-edge touchscreen display, 8GB RAM and 1 Tb hard drive storage. Wait, there’s more, the system includes 16GB Intel Optane Memory, which is a good thing to have.
Armed with a newer 8th gen processor and Intel’s Optane Memory module, the PRICE is not a lot of money to pay for an all-in-one. Are Acer’s refinements enough to make the Aspire Z24 a winner?
DESIGN
The original Aspire was a bulky box and weighed over 18 pounds. Both figures worked against an AIO that was meant to be seen, and easy to move. Acer addressed that by reducing the Acer Aspire Z24-890-UR11’s thickness to just 1.4 inches and dropping weight to 15 pounds. The back now holds I/O ports an along the height you have an optical drive.
It has a gorgeous, but incredibly thin border (‘bezel’ is the right name here) on the top and sides to a point that they are barely visible when staring from across the room. The bottom bezel is fairly wider than the top and sides, with a silver accent that matches the stand that attaches the display to the Aspire Z24’s base.
A hinge connecting the back of the screen to the base arm lets you rotate the screen slightly – up to an angle of 45 degrees. It doesn’t support height and swivel adjustments, but we’re satisfied with the level of adjustment it offers, as it provides a vantage point when the Aspire Z24 is placed on a kitchen counter or surface.
DISPLAY
Unlike the original Aspire, the new sequel uses a matte coat instead of a glossy display. And that’s not all. Acer picked a buttery-smooth finish that makes using the touchscreen exciting. Unfortunately, the sequel carries over the predecessors’ 1080p resolution. That translates to around 81 pixels per inch, almost three times fewer than Apple’s fancy new 4K Retina iMac. If you’re coming from an iMac, you will surely notice the difference.
The screen has rather low pixel density, which is noticeable in HD video, alongside with a high contrast ratio resulting from an extremely bright backlight. Still, it suffices for watching YouTube videos and streaming online content.
Audio quality is reasonable. The built-in speakers are loud at maximum volume and offer clear sound in most scenarios. It doesn’t have as much bass as you’d like, and some genres can feel flat as a result.
PERFORMANCE
The Acer Aspire Z24-890-UR11 we are reviewing is configured with intel’s mid-tier Intel Core i5-8400T quad-core processor, that delivers better performance over the standard Intel Core i5-8250U processor. In fact, it delivers up to 40 percent of the Core i5-8250U, which is mostly used in notebooks. Not bad, given the size and the oomph of the hardware.
Speaking of which the 16GB Intel Optane Memory speeds up things, delivering sequential speeds to boost the 1TB (5400RPM) hard drive. The results of this combination are absolute top-tier of what’s currently available on budget AIOs. It is a better performer than the Acer Aspire C24-865-ACi5NT, that uses Intel’s Core i5-8250U processor.
A final nifty of hardware is that the bezels are so thin to support a webcam. As such, Acer uses a top mounted webcam and mic inputs that hook to the USB ports on the back panel. A webcam is not a must-have, but it works well for video chats and even teleconferencing.
The Acer Aspire Z24-890-UR11 is a nice-looking all-in-one PC with strong performance than most of its direct competitors for a much lower price. If you’re coming from iMac, it may not excite you at first, but it will gradually win you over. And, Acer does offer less expensive options to consider like the Acer Aspire C24-865-ACi5NT, that downgrades to an Intel Core i5-8250U processor.
Is there a better alternative?
With a loaded wallet, you can’t miss alternatives in this category. For one, Apple’s newest 21.5-inch iMac is a big name in the AIO category for a good reason. You’ll churn a few more hundred dollars, but it delivers a stunning 4096-by-2304 Retina 4K display, fast hardware and the signature aluminum body.
If Windows is a must have, both the Acer Aspire C24-865-ACi5NT and Lenovo Ideacentre AIO 520-24AST are solid choices, and you’ll save a few dollars while at it. And the Lenovo Ideacentre comes with a touchscreen, if that’s something you must have in your AIO PC.
Should you buy it?
Yes. As far as mid-tier AIOs go, the Acer Aspire Z24-890-UR11 is among the fast, versatile and nice-looking choice available in the market. The other choices are perched on Apple’s iMacs that cost slightly more.
It doesn’t have an SSD (16GB Intel Optane Memory makes things faster, though), it isn’t the most powerful AIO around, but it gets the job done at a good price.
