Price When Reviewed

$599.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Chromebook Spin 513

$599.99

$599.99

Chromebooks have a status for low pricing, however a couple of buck the pattern. Acer’s new Chromebook Spin 513-2H-K627 is one such exception. It delivers a number of key upgrades over inexpensive alternate options together with a tack-sharp display and nice battery life, however are these upgrades price a premium value? Let’s dive in and discover out.

Acer Chromebook Spin 512 specs and options

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513-2H-K627 has a MediaTek Kompanio 1380 SoC with Mali-G57 MC5 graphics. This is a current MediaTek chip introduced in January of 2022 that particularly targets Chromebooks. It’s paired with 8GB LPDDR4X reminiscence and 128GB of eMMC storage.

• CPU: MediaTek Kompanio 1380
• Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
• Graphics/GPU: Mali-G57 MC5
• Display: 2256 x 1504 IPS touchscreen
• Storage: 128GB eMMC
• Webcam: 720p
• Connectivity: 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 with Power Delivery, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, MicroSD card, 3.5mm audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 45 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 11.81 x 9.25 x .64 inches
• Weight: 2.82
• MSRP: $599.99

Priced at $599.99, the Chromebook Spin 513 stays inexpensive. However, its {hardware} specs don’t appear to justify the value. A lot of Windows and ChromeOS units pack superior AMD, Intel, and even Qualcomm processors, and sometimes for much less. 

Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 513 depends on the easy, purposeful aesthetic discovered on many current Acer Chromebook units. It has a fundamental, although not unattractive, gunmetal exterior with a steel lid and decrease chassis. 

The inside differs barely in colour, with extra of a silver-charcoal look. I don’t suppose the colour distinction is meant however merely the results of Acer’s various use of supplies. The 2-in-1’s seams do a very good job of hiding this and I doubt most homeowners will discover.

This is a 2-in-1 gadget with a touchscreen and 360-degree hinge. The show can rotate again till it touches the “bottom” of the laptop computer, successfully making it a pill. Tablet mode is beneficial for brief bursts however not a severe iPad or Android pill alternative. The Chromebook Spin 513 weighs in at 2.82 kilos and is .64 inches thick. Both specs make it a bit unwieldy to deal with.

Alternatively, the show might be rotated partially again, which turns the keyboard right into a stand for the show. This “tent mode,” because it’s typically referred to as, is nice for common use in a good area (like a packed espresso store or airplane) and excellent for watching Netflix.

A 360-degree design places a variety of stress on each the hinges, and I’m unsure Acer’s construct high quality is as much as the duty. The steel show lid feels good when touched however does enable some flex, and the hinges appear clad in plastic (although I’d wager the internals are steel). The keyboard additionally permits minor flex when typing. 

I’ve dealt with far much less spectacular Chromebooks, to make certain, however the Chromebook Spin 513 is a comparatively costly mannequin. A steel inside panel or some added show reinforcement can be appreciated at this value.

Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

Touch typists will just like the Chromebook Spin 513’s keyboard. It has a spacious format and enormous keys, every of which prompts with prolonged key journey and a few tactile suggestions. I do discover the bottoming motion a bit imprecise, however it is a nitpick: the keyboard is instantly comfy and acquainted underneath my fingertips.

The touchpad is much less spectacular. It gives an inexpensive quantity of area, measuring about 3.5 inches extensive and three inches deep. The floor is easy and it responds properly to enter. Yet the touchpad proves finicky when utilizing multitouch gestures. Scrolling is overly delicate and by no means fairly stops the place desired. 

Of course, the touchpad might be bypassed through the use of the touchscreen, and the 2-in-1 design makes this handy. The touchscreen is massive, responsive, and easy, although no extra so than some other Windows or ChromeOS 2-in-1. 

Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

Display high quality is arguably the Acer Chromebook Spin 513’s defining trait. It comes with a 13.5-inch, 2,256 x 1,504 IPS touchscreen with a pixel density of about 200 pixels per inch. That’s not as excessive as a 4K show, to make certain, however in fact it’s shut sufficient that the distinction can be onerous to note. Content is crystal-clear and small fonts seem crisp with no trace of aliasing round edges. 

The show additionally gives a 3:2 facet ratio, which is nearer to sq. than the extra widespread 16:9 or 16:10 facet ratio. As a consequence, the 13.5-inch display feels a lot taller than anticipated. The wealth of vertical show actual property makes it particularly superior to be used with websites, paperwork, and spreadsheets. It’s not nearly as good for streaming, as you’ll typically see massive black bars above and under content material.

Brightness is respectable at a most of 359 nits. That’s sufficient for common use indoors however it may be an issue close to a window on a sunny day. The shiny show doesn’t assist, in fact, because it permits vital glare and reflections and simply exhibits fingerprints. 

Image high quality is in any other case nice for the value. The Chromebook Spin 513 gives respectable colour efficiency and good element. Contrast is the place it falls quick: motion pictures and video games lack depth and darkish scenes look hazy. Still, the show is sharper and extra colourful than most comparable units. A typical Windows various, like an Acer Spin 5 or Lenovo Yoga 6, could have a decrease show decision. Many even have a much less spacious 16:9 show facet ratio.

The built-in audio system are a disappointment. Blame their quantity. The downward-facing audio system are quiet even at most. Audio high quality is okay however, on the quantity obtainable right here, I might count on that—there’s not sufficient oomph to trigger distortion or harshness. Most individuals might want to connect exterior audio system or headphones.

Webcam, microphone, biometrics

A easy 720p webcam with a microphone is packed within the Chromebook Spin 513’s skinny higher bezel. It produces a usable picture and handles combined lighting pretty properly, however picture high quality is tender and grainy. The microphone is comparable: it’s loud sufficient for a video name or assembly, however its presentation is distant and hole. 

The 2-in-1 doesn’t provide biometrics.

Connectivity

A pair of USB-C ports present a lot of the Chromebook Spin 513’s connectivity. Both provide energy supply, and the port on the correct facet helps DisplayPort Alternate mode. The USB-C ports are joined by a single USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. 

This is an appropriate, although not excellent, vary of connectivity for a Chromebook. The solely port I miss is HDMI. The Chromebook Spin 513 requires an adapter to connect with a monitor or TV over HDMI, which is annoying.

Wireless connectivity is typical with assist for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The Chromebook Spin 513 lacks assist for the most recent Wi-Fi 6E customary, however that’s acceptable on a cheap laptop computer. I had no points with wi-fi connectivity in my time with the gadget. 

Performance

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 513 opts for an ARM-based MediaTek Kompanio 1380 SoC with eight cores and Mali-G57 graphics. This is a bit uncommon, as most Chromebooks that depend on ARM intention for a cheaper price level. The SoC is supported by 8GB of reminiscence and 128GB of eMMC storage. 

Here’s how the Chromebook Spin 513 carried out in ChromeOS benchmarks.

• CrXPRT 2 efficiency rating: 86
• Speedometer 2.0: 45
• Basemark Web 3.0: 632.32
• Kraken Javascript 1.1: 1440.7
• Jetstream: 170.53

How these scores look is dependent upon the attitude. When in contrast towards different ARM-based Chromebooks like HP’s Chromebook x2 11, the Chromebook Spin 513 does properly. However, it nonetheless lands far behind the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, which performs a lot better throughout all 5 benchmarks (and does so at a cheaper price).

Putting scores to the facet, the Chromebook Spin 513 feels speedy in day-to-day use. It can deal with a dozen open browser tabs with ease and strikes rapidly between home windows. Video streaming is freed from hesitation, even when related to a 4K monitor.

The Chromebook Spin 513 handles Android video games properly. Call of Duty Mobile, Pokemon Unite, and Asphalt 8 performed properly at default settings with no signal of dropped frames or hesitation. The video games loaded rapidly, too, making it simple to leap in for a match. The identical can’t be mentioned of AMD and Intel-based Chromebooks. 

Battery life

Battery life is commonly a perk of ChromeOS units, and the Chromebook Spin 513 is not any exception. It managed to ship nearly 12 hours and 34 minutes of battery life within the CrXPRT 2 battery life benchmark. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5, powered by an Intel Pentium processor, lasted eight hours and 22 minutes in the identical benchmark. 

Lenovo’s ThinkPad X13s, a Windows laptop computer with an ARM-based Qualcomm processor, lasted barely longer at 12 hours and 53 minutes (however was examined with video loop, not CrXPRT 2). The ThinkPad X13s is costlier, nonetheless, with a base MSRP round $1,000. Most price-competitive Windows laptops and 2-in-1s will ship round six to eight hours of battery life. 

In quick, the Chromebook Spin 513 has nice battery life and can outperform most units obtainable at an analogous value. It can final a full eight-hour work day in most conditions and can deal with a flight throughout the United States.

Conclusion

Acer’s Chromebook Spin 513 is outlined by its show. The 13.5-inch show’s unusual 3:2 facet ratio and sharp decision add as much as a stunning quantity of usable display area. It’s excellent for shopping the net or enhancing paperwork—that are the duties Chromebooks are finest suited to. 

The wonderful show is supported by nice battery life and an fulfilling keyboard, but it surely’s not all excellent news. Audio high quality is disappointing, the touchpad is simply common, and efficiency doesn’t stand out (although recreation efficiency is respectable). 

These issues maintain the Chromebook Spin 513 wanting greatness, but it surely nonetheless stays a very good possibility for ChromeOS followers who desire a large, engaging touchscreen with tons of usable area.