While 3D displays haven’t quite hit the mainstream yet, they’re far from dead. At CES 2024, Acer made a major splash with its new SpatialLabs lineup, showcasing its commitment to bringing this immersive technology to the masses. From the new Predator SpatialLabs View 27 gaming monitor, which lets gamers experience the thrill of 3D visuals without clunky glasses, to the Aspire 3D 15 laptop that empowers content creators to seamlessly convert 2D footage into captivating 3D experiences, Acer is putting the future of display technology right at your fingertips.
Acer first introduced its SpatialLabs 3D tech back in 2021 on the high-end (and pricey) ConceptD laptop, followed by the Predator Helios 300. However, the company is now democratising the technology by bringing it to mid-range laptops like the Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition (which starts at USD$1,400). This wider accessibility opens up new possibilities for artists, developers, and creatives of all levels to mess around with the immersive potential of 3D content creation.
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Acer’s SpatialLabs stereoscopic 3D technology, bundled with the SpatialLabs Experience Center Pro, operates by precisely tracking the movement of your eyes and head via the sensors crammed in the top bezels. It delivers slightly different 2D images to each eye, producing a convincing depth effect and adding a lifelike dimension to whatever content you’re watching.
“Whether it is a photo of beautiful scenery, a video of precious memories, or even a YouTube video, SpatialLabs Go generates depth maps for your 2D content and turns it into stunning stereoscopic 3D in the blink of an eye,” Acer said in a release.
The Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition boasts a stunning, high-resolution UHD IPS 15.6-inch display “with 100 per cent support for Adobe RGB colour gamut.” It switches between 2D and immersive 3D viewing modes without requiring special glasses, making it perfect for both entertainment and creative pursuits like 3D modeling and animation. The laptop can be paired with the cutting-edge Intel Core i7-13620H processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 graphics, backed by 32GB of DDR5 RAM (configurable) and 2TB of storage, ensuring smooth performance for even the most demanding tasks.
To help it remain cool during extensive 3D rendering tasks, the Aspire 3D 15 features Acer’s TwinAir technology and thermal management system with three copper pipes that help “dispel heat efficiently.” The laptop also has a versatile port selection including HDMI 2.1, USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4, and Wi-Fi 6, along with Microsoft Copilot support.
Acer also grew its stereoscopic 3D display family with the new Predator SpatialLabs View 27 gaming monitor, allowing gamers to “dive deeper into the depths of 3D worlds.” The 27-inch 4K Ultra HD display boasts a 160Hz refresh rate, 400 nits of brightness, Delta E<2 colour accuracy for stunning visuals, and support for both Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync for smooth, tear-free gaming. This monitor also features SpatialLabs TrueGame, a technology that “leverages its proprietary shader and driver technique to develop individual 3D profiles with existing depth information from the games.”
According to Acer, “The latest 3D Ultra mode, with its second virtual camera, showcases greater depth and geometry in every scene, while also offering a wider collection of 3D stereo configurations to allow gamers to customise visual effects and intensity to their liking.”
For immersive audio, the monitor has dual 2.5W speakers powered by Acer Immerse Audio, creating a 3D soundscape enhanced by AI-driven beamforming and head tracking. Acer claims this delivers the full impact of every scene, sound, and emotion in your favourite games, “even without the actual hardware.”
In terms of ports, it features one HDMI 2.1 port for high-resolution gaming and video, a DisplayPort 1.4, a USB Type-C port with DisplayPort support for convenient single-cable connections and data transfer, and two USB 3.0 Type-A ports.
While no Australian release date or pricing has been revealed, Acer plans to ship the Acer Aspire 3D 15 SpatialLabs Edition (A3D15-71GM) in North America sometime in February, starting at USD$1,399.99 and the Predator SpatialLabs View 27 in the second quarter of 2024, starting at USD$1,999.
