Like the 14″ version of the TravelMate P2, the TravelMate P2 16″ is aimed at SME (small to medium-sized businesses) employees who require a tough notebook PC that can run all of their vital business applications and software, while helping to keep their corporate data secure. The TravelMate P2 16″ notebook PC ticks all those boxes seeing that it is MIL-810H certified, meaning it has been designed by Acer to be durable, and able to roll with the punches that first line workers and roadwarriors are able to throw at it.
This laptop boasts a 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200; 16:10 aspect ratio; 400 nits) display with narrow bezels that delivers clear visuals in 100% sRGB colours and at good viewing angles. At 400 nits it is bright enough to use in harsh office lighting environments or even outside in direct sunlight for those lucky enough to still get to work from home occassionally. The accompanying sound is certainly loud enough and doesn’t get all that tinny at the highest volumes.
Performance within Windows 11 Pro is kept brisk and smooth thanks to Intel’s Core i5 120U clocked at 1.4 GHz that is coupled with 16 GB RAM and a 250 GB SSD for storage. In terms of connectivity, you are well catered to thanks to a USB 3.0 port, HDMI port, plus two USB-C slots on the left, and LAN, another USB 3.0 port, as well as a 3.5mm audio jack being included on the right.
When creating content the keyboard (features classy white backlighting) is quite comfortable to type on for extended periods while the trackpad is large and sports a smooth action for multitouch gestures within Windows 11. Additional security features include a finger sensor on the trackpad that helps protect against unauthorised access and safeguards your personal data, along with a physical camera cover for the webcam that ensures no unwanted eyes can access your webcam, keeping you safe from potential threats and embarressing Zoom mishaps.
All this security and capability does come at a price though, with the range going for around R22 000 (at least for the i5-1335U, 8GB RAM,1024 NVMe storage version) at local retailers like Takealot. For that money, you can also check out alternatives such as HP’s ProBook 450 G10 powered by a Core i7-1355U, or the Lenovo ThinkPad E16 G2 16-inch Laptop powered by Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H.
