The new Acer Enduro Urban N3 is a lightweight but durable mid-range laptop for those who need to work in the field or anywhere outside the comfortable climate-controlled office space.
Acer has a great range of work notebooks for every need and budget, like the portable Swift 3X series and more beefed-up ConceptD 7 for creators, as well as the budget-friendly Acer Nitro 5 line, suitable both for work and home use. So it’s only fitting that the manufacturer decided to take on the rugged devices market.
Let’s explore what the thinnest and lightest rugged laptop has to offer.
Acer Enduro Urban N3 Design and Features
The 14-inch Enduro N3 model has a honeycomb shell chassis and a Gorilla-panelled display to keep liquids and dust away. It has passed drop, vibration, and shock tests, as well as extreme temperatures. While it is still technically a semi-rugged laptop, it has an IP53 (dust and spraying water-proof) certification that also extends to vents, I/O ports, and speakers. The computer even has a drainage system in case of water spills.
This model is surprisingly light, weighing only 4.37 lbs, and is without a doubt the most lightweight of rugged notebooks. In addition, it has a great selection of I/O ports (all protected with covers), a spacious backlit keyboard, and a bright IPS screen panel.
Acer Enduro Urban N3 Display
The model features a 14-inch IPS display, and as we have mentioned, it is protected by the Gorilla Glass panel. It has a single FHD 1920 x 1080 option, 16:9 ratio, but it’s more than enough to perform basic work tasks outdoors. Besides, the display image is clear and rather bright, which means you can run apps and programs as if you were sitting at your office desk. Viewing angles are also pretty wide, and smaller image details are sharp.
The touchscreen option is not available for Enduro Urban N3 models.
Specs and Pricing
Enduro Urban N3 series is powered by the latest 11th generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors. Currently, Acer offers four different configurations online, ranging from $799.99 to $999.99. You can configure your Enduro to come with either 8GB or 16GB of RAM, 512GB, or 1TB SSD storage.
All four models feature integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. Unfortunately, no NVIDIA discrete graphics are available at this time. For that reason, the Acer Enduro Urban N3 may not be the best choice for engineers or architects, who often need to run power-demanding software. But thanks to the high-quality Intel processors, this model performs adequately with most productivity apps and programs.
All models come with Windows 10 Home preloaded and are eligible for a free Windows 11 upgrade.
Acer Enduro Urban N3 Keyboard & Webcam
Enduro Urban N3 has a pretty comfortable keyboard with dedicated Home, End, Page Up, and Page Down keys. It is a single-color backlit keyboard with a rubbery finish. The trackpad is on the smaller side, but it offers good tactile responsiveness.
Most rugged laptops do not come with built-in cameras. Still, this Acer model is equipped with a 720p webcam, traditionally positioned in the center-top edge of the screen bezel.
Connectivity Ports
Acer Enduro Urban N3 semi-rugged laptop has a decent selection of ports on both sides.
The left-side lineup includes:
- Ethernet port
- HDMI and VGA outputs
- Three Type-A USB ports
- One USB 3.2 Type-C port (Thunderbolt 4)
- Headphone audio jack
- SD card reader slot
On the right side, you have:
- RS-232 serial port
- Security lock
- SmartCard slot
The laptop, of course, connects to Wi-Fi via Wireless LAN Standard IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax card and is Bluetooth 5.0 capable.
Acer Enduro Urban N3 Battery Life
Compared to other brands, like Dell Latitude 5414, the Enduro Urban N3 yields a significantly longer charge time. But if you want your battery to last all day, you would need to do some tweaks. For one, set your system in a power-saving mode. Second, if you are not using Wi-Fi, turn it off. With these adjustments, you can easily get 13-14 hours on a single battery charge, which means you don’t have to bring a charger when working in the field.
Verdict
Acer Enduro Urban N3 may not be your toughest rugged laptop, but it is portable, very affordable, and offers excellent battery life. So if you get to work a lot outdoors or simply consider yourself clumsy, it just might make sense to upgrade to the Urban N3 model. With it, you can stop worrying about accidental drops and spills; besides, it will not weigh you down. Meanwhile, you can trade in your Acer laptop, or any other brand, for some cash. We at Gadget Salvation will gladly buy it!
