The Porsche Design Acer Book RS brings sports-car flair to the laptop

With a name like that, it has a reputation to uphold.

- MELISSA RIOFRIO

The Porsche Design Acer Book RS is a beautiful laptop with a lot riding on its slim shoulders. With a name like that (Porsche Design is owned by the same parent company as automaker Porsche AG), it is naturally expected to combine performance along with style. The lofty prices—$1,400 for the base model and $2,000 for the “premium package”—also carry some pressure to deliver. Will this product rise to defend its good name? Partner Acer’s considerable skill at making laptops is a solid starting point.

Announced in October and available in December, the Porsche Design Acer Book RS does appear to bring sports-car flair. The lid for its 14-inch display is made of 3k carbon fiber for lightness as well as aesthetics. The all-metal, CNC-machined chassis has diamond-cut edges, an accent largely reserved for other premium products like the HP Spectre x360 14 (go.pcworld.com/sp14).

The specs are what I’d call high-end mainstream rather than performance-oriented— this is not a gaming laptop—but within that context they’re largely good:

CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 or Core i7-1165G7