An all-in-one PC like the Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93 often needs to be all things to all members of the household, from a learning hub for kids to a photo- and video-editing machine and a desktop capable of handling work projects for Mom and Dad. The Aspire C27 checks most of these boxes without costing an arm and a leg, delivering one of the best AIO PCs for the price, with powerful processing and overall capability for much less than competitors.
While it may not satisfy your kids’ hunger for a serious gaming PC, it does just about everything else pretty well. It will not compete in performance with the Apple iMac or the Microsoft Surface Studio 2, but the Acer Aspire C27 takes a pleasingly affordable approach, but easily tackles mainstream home and office tasks with ease – and looks smart while doing it.
Acer Aspire C27 Specs
| Desktop Class | All-in-one |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-1165G7 |
| Processor Speed | 2.8 GHz |
| RAM (as Tested) | 16 GB |
| Boot Drive Type | SSD |
| Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 512 GB |
| Secondary Drive Type | Hard Drive |
| Secondary Drive Capacity (as Tested) | 1 TB |
| All-in-One Screen Size | 27 inches |
| All-in-One Screen Native Resolution | 1920 by 1080 |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce MX330 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
Price and Availability
There are three Acer Aspire C27 models, and all of them are affordable.
The model we’ve reviewed has an 11th Gen., Core i7 processor alongside 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD + 1TB HDD storage. There’s another machine – the Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA91 – at a much lower price that includes an 11th Gen., Core i5 processor, and a 12GB RAM alongside identical SSD allocations.
And then, finally, there’s last year’s model – the Acer Aspire C27-962-UA91 – with a 10th Gen., Core i5, 12GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, all models are bundles with a standard mouse and keyboard combo.
Design and Features
The 27-inch Apple iMac remains the gold standard among large-screen all-in-one (AIO) PCs, but the Aspire C27-1655-UA93 strikes a clean design and a thin profile for much less. You’ll love this AIO desktop’s styling, granted the plastic build doesn’t feel cheap either. Everything is straight on, the system is nondescript, with thin bezels framing a display propped atop a V-shaped stand. All components are packed behind the bottom half of the screen, and the top is only 0.25 inches thick.
At 24.2 inches wide by 17.7 inches high, the Aspire C27 is more compact than the competing 27-inch iMac, and weighs half as much (only 8.8 pounds versus 19.7). The Acer Aspire C27 is not only a great choice for tight budgets but also if you don’t have much space on your desk.
One reason the Aspire C27 is so petite is that Acer opted to place the speakers behind the display, instead of a speaker bar beneath it. Therefore, you don’t have front-facing speakers, but down-firing. I initially doubted this setup, but the audio output remains impressive as it bounces off the desk and can easily fill a small office. Nonetheless, without a subwoofer, the pair of stereo speakers lack much of a bass response, but still deliver ample volume for watching Netflix and YouTube.
As mentioned, the difference in display resolutions sets apart the Aspire C27 and the 27-inch Apple iMac. The Acer’s full HD (1,920-by-1,080-pixel) panel offers a fraction of the iMac’s Retina 5K (5,120-by-2,880-pixel) screen. Ideally, 1080p resolution is a better fit for a 22- or 24-inch panel, but stretching it over the 27-inch diagonal size is a little too much. Text and the edges of icons look fuzzy, and you can easily see individual pixels when sitting a normal distance from the display.
No USB-C port here
The Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93 gets a decent selection of ports, but it’s far from perfect. All ports are located in a neat row on the rear panel. A front- or side-mounted port or two for easier access would’ve been better, but it’s not too difficult to reach the ports around the back. What you have here, however, only covers the basics: an HDMI video output, for USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an Ethernet jack, and audio line-in and-out ports.
The biggest omission from this array of ports is a USB Type-C port. If you have USB-C storage drives, phone charging cables, or other devices, you’ll need to invest in a USB-C adapter.
We usually see an inexpensive, wired keyboard and mouse in low-end to midrange AIOs, but Acer aces the Aspire C27 with a wireless set. The keyboard isn’t the gaming type but is still compact, comfortable, and very useful. The mouse works well but is a bit undersized.
Another item that you don’t usually find on a laptop but get with the Aspire C27 is an extra storage drive. The Aspire C27-1655-UA93 features both a 512GB solid-state boot drive for snappy access and a 1TB hard drive for extra storage space.
Performance
- SLIM. PREMIUM. STUNNING: This premium AIO PC pair’s unmatched speed with Windows 10 Pro...
- Breaking the boundaries of performance with the Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor - up to...
- 27.0" Full HD Widescreen IPS LED Back-lit Screen ; 16GB 2666MHz DDR4 Memory ; 512GB NVMe...
Our review model of the Acer Aspire C27 features an 11th Generation Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, 16GB of memory, the 512GB SSD (loaded with Windows 11 Pro), and 1TB hard drive, and Nvidia GeForce MX330 graphics. The Core i7 used here is a quad-core mobile CPU, while the GeForce MX330 is an entry-level mobile GPU with 2GB of dedicated memory, a step up from the usual CPU-based integrated graphics.
On the whole, this configuration of the Acer C27 feels peppy and handles various multitasking scenarios without a hiccup. Just like the Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3, it runs quietly and efficiently, thanks to efficient mobile components that offer a big boost during everyday work.
For general use, the Aspire C27-1655-UA93 has more than enough muscle to deliver a pleasant Windows 11 experience and can even handle some light media editing tasks. Also, with the GeForce MX330 graphics card, the Aspire can’t be classified as a gaming PC – far from it – but it’s capable of playing casual games at its native resolution.
Verdict – Needs more pixels
The latest Acer Aspire C27 looks the part, with a metal-effect plastic proving easy on the eyes and a physical design that’s smart and subtle.
It will look equally great at home, in an office, or in the living room, and its build quality is good. You get a couple of USB 3.1 ports and HDMI, decent connectivity inside, and a quad-core 11th generation Intel Core i5 CPU, lots of RAM, and lots of storage space. The thin, compact design is also a plus for those short on space but looking for a big-screen AIO.
Elsewhere, it’s that big screen that gives us a pause: It’s a pity that Acer doesn’t offer a QHD or 1440p display upgrade that would solve the Aspire’s biggest problem. The 1080p resolution just doesn’t push enough pixels across a 27-inch panel to provide a sharp picture. For casual home use, the 1080p screen might suffice, but you’ll have to settle for either a smaller display or, more likely, higher resolution for content creation and media editing.
That said, if you need an affordable big-screen all-in-one, then the Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93 fits the bill, granted you can do with the 1080p resolution.
Otherwise, the cheaper 24-inch Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 provides a sharp picture, and a little more money will get you the 27-inch Apple iMac with a Retina 5K (5120-by-2880 pixels) display, an Intel Core i7 processor, and AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT graphics. It remains our Editors’ Choice for midrange All-In-One PCs.
The Review
Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93
The Acer Aspire C27-1655-UA93 looks good, is sturdy enough and has lots of fast storage, and packs a capable 11th generation Core i7 CPU, but a sharper display would go a long way towards improving Acer’s otherwise well-rounded, compact AIO desktop.
Recommended Configuration
Lenovo IdeaCentre AIO 3 AMD All-in-One Computer, 24" FHD Display, Ryzen 5 5500U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, DVD RW Drive, Windows 11
$699.88 in stock
PROS
- Compact design for a 27-inch all-in-one
- Competitive performance for the price
- Dual storage drives offer speed and space
CONS
- Grainy, dim display
- No USB-C ports
Review Breakdown
-
EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-11-18 at 22:26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
