For office workers and entry-level gamers alike, the Acer brand is largely synonymous with budget laptops: Workhorse machines that aren't too flashy. Acer Aspire and Swift offerings at CES 2026 largely continue this trend, with updates to existing product lines, including new 14- and 16-inch Aspire AI models.

But it seems like the Swift series is ostensibly positioned as the biggest object of intrigue this time around. The basic 16-inch Swift model is getting an AI overhaul, while the Swift Go and the Swift Edge are receiving 14- and 16-inch model upgrades that focus on integrating a stronger, thinner chassis into familiar designs.

Watch this: Acer Preps Advanced AI Ultraportables, Gaming Laptops With Refined Designs

04:15

While the Aspire and Swift lineups were front and center, Acer's gaming lineup did not go untouched. We've got all the information you need about the new Predator and Nitro laptops right here. CNET is keeping up with all of the latest news from CES 2026, so stay tuned as we appraise the latest and greatest technology showcased at the event.

Acer Swift Edge 14 AI and Acer Swift Edge 16 AI

The slim and sleek Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI feel like the piece de resistance of Acer's CES 2026 showcase. The latest upgrades to these lightweight laptops focus heavily on refining physical form, but the insides of these computers have received an update as well.

These new models aren't quite as thin as the previous versions, but they're light, weighing even less than their 2.2-pound predecessors. Acer incorporated a stainless steel-magnesium alloy into the familiar chassis shape, ensuring that the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI are also built to last.

Both of the new Swift Edge laptops come with an OLED display, with a standard 1,920x1,200-pixel resolution. The 14- and 16-inch Swift Edges both max out with 2,880x1,800-pixel panels, but only the Swift Edge 16 AI model has a touchscreen display.

Internally, the Swift Edge 14 AI and Swift Edge 16 AI are very similar. Both laptops can house up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, have integrated Intel graphics, up to 32GB of memory and up to 1TB of storage space.

Acer Swift 16 AI

Acer revealed a new baseline model for its midrange laptop series, as the company showcased the Swift 16 AI at CES 2026. The Swift 16 AI has been positioned as a reasonably priced system for creatives who write, draw, animate and more -- the model's touchpad is a big focus here.

That touchpad is a haptic feedback panel that functions with touch or stylus inputs. It does take up a pretty sizable amount of real estate in front of the keyboard, but if you want to drag your stylus around without lifting your hand, this will do the job. It's covered in Corning Gorilla Glass, which means artists will be able to work away with minimal worries about scratching up a part of their new computer.

The Swift 16 AI has been on the receiving end of some other design upgrades as well. The model is based on a 16-inch display and weighs less than 3.5 pounds. The display also received an update -- the Swift 16 AI model from last year already featured OLED panels, but this time around users can expect a 2,880x1,800-pixel panel to offer a bump in resolution.

Internally, the Swift 16 AI has configurations that support up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor, integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.

Acer Swift Go 14 AI and Acer Swift Go 16 AI

The Swift Go 14 AI and the Swift Go 16 AI are the Swiss Army knives of Acer's Swift lineup. These laptops are still extremely portable, but they aren't as thin or sturdy as the Swift Edge series computers. What's lost in sleekness is made up for with slightly better processing power and a more affordable price tag.

The sleeker Swift Edge laptops certainly won't be performing poorly with their Panther Lake-design Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processors, but this update to the Swift Go line outfits these computers with Intel Core Ultra X9 388H CPUs. Both the 14- and 16-inch display Swift Go models also feature integrated Intel Arc B390 graphics, up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of system storage.

Acer's Swift Go series continues to have really solid display specs compared to other similarly priced laptops. Both the Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI feature OLED panel displays. The 1,920x1,200-pixel panels are the standard resolution for these computers, but you can opt to splurge a bit more and get a 2,880x1,800-pixel display instead. The Swift Go 14 AI and Swift Go 16 AI both have touchscreen and non-touchscreen display iterations.

Acer Aspire 14 AI and Acer Aspire 16 AI

During last year's show, Acer unveiled the sustainable Aspire Vero 16, showcasing a build that was mostly composed of recycled plastic. It was a genuinely interesting addition to the budget Aspire lineup -- but there's nothing quite as exciting on display this year. Nonetheless, Acer has debuted new variants of its 14- and 16-inch Aspire AI laptops at CES 2026.

Both of the new Aspire laptops retain the 1920x1,200-pixel resolution LCD panel that CNET's Matt Elliot previously pointed to as one of the weaker aspects of the model's design. The upside is that the OLED panel upgrade is available for both Aspire laptops now, instead of being limited to the 14-inch model.

The Aspire 14 AI and Aspire 16 AI share most of their internal specs: Both of these laptops can house up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H CPU, have integrated Intel graphics and have up to 32GB of RAM. Whereas the Aspire 14 AI has a maximum of 1TB of system storage, though, the Aspire 16 AI can have up to 2TB of storage space.

All these laptops are expected to ship this year, but Acer hasn't yet released their pricing.