Acer's Swift 16 AI touchpad might render your tablet unnecessary.
Acer has announced that the Swift 16 AI features a large haptic touchpad and supports MPP 2.5 stylus input, enabling creators to sketch, model, and edit directly on the laptop.
Acer is emphasizing the touchpad as a prominent aspect of its updated Swift lineup. The concept is straightforward: With a sufficiently large and responsive touchpad, users may find it unnecessary to reach for a separate tablet for quick sketches, annotations, or precise adjustments.
This design aligns with the wider trend of AI-equipped Windows laptops, as the Swift 16 AI is part of Acer's Swift AI Copilot+ PC series, which is built on Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. However, potential buyers will be looking for information on pricing and user experience, as those factors will determine whether the device becomes a daily utility or merely a novelty.
A Functional Drawing Surface
Acer states that the haptic touchpad measures 175.5 x 109.7mm in a 16:10 aspect ratio. It supports MPP 2.5 stylus input, making it suitable for more than just gestures and clicks.
The company claims that users can sketch, animate, model, and edit directly on the touchpad, including using AI creation software. Additionally, it is covered with Gorilla Glass, and the haptic technology aims to provide accurate feedback while utilizing fewer moving parts compared to a traditional click system.
Acer also asserts that this is the largest haptic touchpad available on a laptop, according to its own market research as of December 15, 2025.
The Overall Laptop Performance is Important
A large touchpad is only effective if the laptop itself can support it. Acer offers configurations featuring an Intel Core Ultra X9 388H processor and Intel Arc B390 graphics, with options for up to 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM and 2TB of M.2 SSD storage.
The display is a 16-inch 3K OLED touchscreen with a refresh rate of 120Hz and 100% DCI-P3 color coverage. For connectivity, Acer provides Wi-Fi 7, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, HDMI 2.1, and a MicroSD slot, which is beneficial for those frequently transferring camera files.
What to Consider Before Purchase
Pricing details are not yet available, and Acer notes that final specifications and availability may differ by market. The Swift 16 AI is expected to launch in North America in Q1 2026, in EMEA in March 2026, and in Australia in Q1 2026, meaning the release timeline will vary by region.
If you're interested, pay attention to practical aspects. Check if a stylus is included, how palm rejection works with a touchpad of this size, and whether your essential creative apps recognize pen input as a primary tool instead of just a mouse alternative. If these criteria are met, this could be a distinctive laptop touchpad that transforms your workflow.
Paulo Vargas is an English major turned reporter turned technical writer, with a career that has always circled back to...
Save $220 on a Core Ultra desktop with 16GB DDR5 and a 1TB SSD
Save $220 on a modern Core Ultra desktop that's suitable for work, school, and everyday tasks. If you’re looking for a dependable desktop that won’t feel outdated immediately upon unboxing, this is a sensible option. The HP OmniDesk desktop featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 225 (2025), 16GB DDR5, and a 1TB SSD is now available for $549.99 (compared to $769.99), offering a saving of $220. This configuration provides enough memory for swift performance, ample storage to evade external drive hassles, and a contemporary CPU for smooth regular operations.
Get the deal
Read more
GMKtec EVO-X1 price drop: get a Ryzen AI 9 mini PC for $899.99
Save 27% on a Ryzen AI 9 mini PC that can manage triple displays and handle serious multitasking. Mini PCs often fall into either the "cheap and basic" or "surprisingly expensive for their size" categories, so a genuine discount is appealing. The GMKtec EVO-X1 AI mini PC, equipped with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX-370 series processor, is currently priced at $899.99 (typically $1,239.99), representing a savings of $340 with a 27% discount. If you need a compact desktop that can efficiently perform heavy multitasking, maintain a tidy workspace, and support multiple monitors without requiring a full tower, this is an excellent price for a high-spec model.
Get the deal
Read more
Dell revitalizes Area 51 gaming PCs with the world’s fastest gaming CPU
Alienware Area-51 makes a return with the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D and NVIDIA RTX 5090 graphics. Dell is bringing
Other articles
Lenovo's latest Yoga laptops provide an intelligent alternative to replace your pen tablet.
Lenovo's latest Yoga Pro 9i and 7i include an innovative trackpad that can also serve as a drawing surface.
Your Zenbook A16 is equipped with an 18-core Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme.
ASUS is combining Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme with a 1.2 kg 16-inch Zenbook A16, offering significant screen portability, an 80 TOPS NPU, a 120 Hz OLED display, and extended battery life.
Your headphones have just been equipped with two cameras; introducing Project Motoko.
Razer Project Motoko is a concept headset featured at CES 2026, equipped with two cameras at eye level and multi-microphone audio, designed for hands-free point-of-view recording and computer vision applications. A Developer Kit is expected to be released in the second quarter of 2026.
Motorola's new Signature delivers flagship performance in a sleek design.
Motorola has introduced a new sleek flagship named the Signature at CES, though it may not be released in the US.
LMArena secures $150 million with a valuation of $1.7 billion to reshape AI evaluation.
The AI evaluation platform LMArena has raised $150 million, achieving a valuation of $1.7 billion as it broadens its comparisons of human-driven models. Discover more in our article!
The redesign of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon's Space Frame may simplify your next repair.
The ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 from Lenovo features a redesigned Space Frame, which is intended to enhance cooling and reduce downtime. This updated design allows for simpler repairs and incorporates quicker Core Ultra processors.
Acer's Swift 16 AI touchpad might render your tablet unnecessary.
Acer's Swift 16 AI features a prominently sized haptic touchpad and supports the MPP 2.5 stylus for drawing and making edits. Here are the key details to consider before the pricing and configurations are announced.