The Acer Aspire Switch 12 SW5-271-62X3 (128GB) was easy to use for a wide variety of functions. It was easy to move from screen to screen using finger swipes, and to move app icons among screens. Home screens have useful custom widgets.
Photos can be displayed full height without interference from the navigation bar. Turning from portrait to landscape while reading a book worked well. Websites open in full detail instead of simplified mobile view. A voice-typing feature lets you dictate emails and text documents. A built-in file manager app makes it easy to transfer files from a memory card.
The display quality was very good overall. Colors were accurately reproduced, realistic, and natural-looking. The screen was brighter than on most tablets and readability in daylight was very good. Viewing angle was quite wide in landscape orientation, making it easy to view photos or video with another person. Viewing angle was quite wide in portrait orientation, making it easy to share the screen with another person.
Touch response was excellent. The capacitive touchscreen responds to a light finger touch, and allows multiple fingers to perform gesture actions. Moving objects and using finger gestures is easy and precise. Icons were easy to move and place precisely. A special coating on the screen resists fingerprints and makes cleaning easier.
This tablet has a very good set of useful features that make it convenient and versatile to use - see the "About" section for more details. There is full access to the Microsoft app market, with a large and varied selection of apps. There is also access to a large media market through Microsoft, for downloading movies, music and books. The tablet can send pictures, video and music to another "DLNA" (Digital Living Network Alliance) capable home entertainment device, such as a TV.
There are a variety of sensors to provide positional and environmental info to apps and games. These include, an accelerometer to give motion feedback to apps, a gyroscope to give rotational feedback to apps, a magnetic compass to give directional feedback, and an ambient light sensor to reduce the screen brightness to extend battery time. The long charging cord makes it easier to use the tablet while charging.
This tablet's combination of size, weight, and battery life make it not as portable as most others. Its battery life of 8.2 hours is meager for a tablet. It's about average in bulk for its screen size, and at 2.4 pounds, it's heavy for its size.
