Sarah Tew/CNET
The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a wonderful center floor between too-small-but-ultraportable 11.6-inch fashions and large-but-not-as-portable 15.6-inch Chromebooks. The bigger 14-inch 1080p show offers you further room to work while you’re away out of your desk however nonetheless compact sufficient for a every day commute or carrying round campus. Plus, it has an excellent port assortment making it an excellent decide for anybody who’s doing a mixture of distant work and being in an workplace with hoteling or hot-desking.
A sturdy metallic physique, sturdy efficiency, practically 10 hours of battery life and a snug backlight make the Spin 514 simple to advocate, particularly if you will discover it on sale. That stated, if you happen to want one thing that is higher for video conferencing and has quicker wi-fi for the long run, an Intel-based model is coming quickly that will likely be a greater match.
Like
Strong performanceDurable buildExcellent port assortment for hybrid work
Don’t Like
Dim displayOlder 802.11ac wi-fi
The base mannequin is about $440 operating on an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor, 64GB of eMMC flash for storage and 4GB of DDR4 reminiscence. The configuration I examined doubles the reminiscence and storage within the base mannequin and has an AMD Ryzen 5 3500C processor for $629. This mannequin usually goes on sale for greater than $100 much less, although, which is a real discount for all that you simply’re getting inside and outside. The AMD-based Spin 514 is on the market within the UK for £400. It’s not at present obtainable in Australia, however the value converts to roughly AU$760.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H)
Price as reviewed
$629
Display dimension/decision
14-inch 1,920×1,080-pixel contact show
Processor
2.1GHz AMD Ryzen 3500C
Memory
8GB DDR4 (dual-channel)
Graphics
Radeon Vega 8
Storage
128GB eMMC
Ports
USB-C (x2, 3.1 Gen 1), USB-A, audio/mic jack, HDMI out, microSD card slot
Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth 5.0
Operating system
Chrome OS/Android 9.0
Weight
3.6 kilos (1.7 kg)
The Spin 514’s port assortment means you possibly can join equipment and not using a dock.
Sarah Tew/CNET
On our Chromebook benchmarks, its efficiency is on par with Tenth-gen Intel Core i5 Chromebooks and barely behind Eleventh-gen Intel Core i3-based fashions with in any other case related configurations. Battery life is respectable at 9 hours, 48 minutes on our streaming video take a look at. The eMMC flash storage is slower in comparison with the PCIe NVMe solid-state drives sometimes present in premium Chromebooks and will decelerate its efficiency some. But, I did not run into hiccups or lag.
For me, it is the older 802.11ac wi-fi (Wi-Fi 5) that is extra disappointing at its value. Considering the Spin 514’s auto-update expiration date is June 2029, newer, quicker 802.11ax Wi-Fi help would’ve given this Chromebook a little bit of future-proofing.
The huge display is nice for leisure.
Sarah Tew/CNET
The Chromebook Spin 514 is a two-in-one convertible, so you’ve gotten the choice to make use of this as a pill or in tent or presentation modes. The 14-inch widescreen mixed with this Chromebook’s 3.6-pound weight makes it awkward and heavy to make use of handheld as a pill. But, the touchscreen does help USI pens so placing this down on a desk or in your lap in pill mode to attract or write on the display is actually doable. The show would not get terribly brilliant, although, and that makes it robust to see previous reflections when working outdoor or subsequent to a sunny window.
However, if you happen to’re searching for a Chromebook that allows you to simply join as much as an exterior monitor and different peripherals at residence, faculty or within the workplace, the Spin 514 has you lined. There’s a full-size HDMI port together with two USB-C ports, a USB-A port and a microSD card slot. The bolstered metallic chassis appears and feels nice, too, and it is constructed to mil-spec sturdiness requirements. It ought to stand as much as common journey simply tremendous.
The Spin 514 I examined was bundled with a slim cellular wi-fi mouse.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Intel replace definitely worth the wait?
They would possibly share the identical title, however the upcoming Intel model of the Chromebook Spin 514. Starting at $700 when it arrives early this 12 months, the 14-inch convertible could have as much as an Eleventh-gen Intel Core i7 processor inside a fanless physique design for silent operation. Paired with a 1080p webcam, twin mics and stereo audio system flanking the keyboard, this replace is aimed toward individuals who want a greater video-conference expertise from their Chromebook.
Also, the 14-inch show on the Intel model could have slim bezels on all 4 sides to actually minimize down on the Chromebook’s general footprint and the physique remains to be created from bolstered aluminum. The replace could have quicker Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), too, in addition to twin USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 6, a backlit keyboard and a Gorilla Glass touchpad.
The modifications aren’t insignificant however not everybody wants higher video conferencing and quicker Wi-Fi. Also, the highest AMD configuration remains to be inexpensive than the anticipated beginning value of the Intel mannequin. If you are searching for a premium two-in-one Chromebook for work or faculty, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a simple advice. You would possibly nonetheless wish to anticipate a sale, although.
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