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We’re big fans of Acer’s TimelineX series of laptops, and the 4820TG does nothing to change that fact. Acer claims eight hours of battery life despite the powerful Core i5 450M processor, but we actually saw nine hours, 39 minutes in our light-use battery test. This is fantastic for a general-purpose laptop. However, the hefty battery adds a lot weight, making the 4820TG heavier than most 14in laptops at 2.2kg. The TimelineX also tends to get rather warm – not hot enough to cause discomfort, but it was certainly noticeable.
Build quality is very good, as we’ve seen with previous TimelineX models. The lid is surprisingly thin, though, which makes it feel a little vulnerable. The 14in 1,366×768 screen has a glossy finish, which makes it very reflective under some lighting conditions. However, it’s bright and clear with pleasingly realistic colours, which still looked good at reduced brightness settings. Plus, we had no complaints about viewing angles, which meant we didn’t have to be square-on to get the best contrast and colours.
The speakers produce a full-bodied sound with plenty of volume. They become a little muddy on busy or complex tracks, but are reasonably good if you’re watching a film or listening to the odd pop song.
The fact that it’s faster in both applications and games than many more expensive laptops means the TimelineX 4820TG is an excellent choice. Add the fact that it also lasts far longer on battery power, and it’s a deserving winner of our Best Buy award.
