Price When Reviewed

$699.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Chromebook Spin 514

Want a quick Chromebook? The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is prone to land close to the highest of your search. Powered by AMD’s six-core Ryzen 5 5625C processor, the Spin 514 provides a substitute for rivals with the Intel Core i5-1240P and delivers large beneficial properties over Chromebooks with Qualcomm or MediaTek {hardware}. However, these in search of finances laptop computer thrills could discover the Windows options extra interesting.

Looking for extra choices? Check out our roundup of the best Chromebooks.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Specs and options

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is powered by AMD’s Ryzen 5 5625C, a six-core, 12-thread processor that features AMD Radeon Graphics with seven graphics cores. It’s beefy {hardware} for a Chromebook, and the configuration examined represents a premium mannequin. Acer sells a number of much less highly effective variations of the Spin 514 with Ryzen 3 processors.

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5625C 
• Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
• Graphics/GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics 
• Display: 1920 x 1080 IPS Touchscreen
• Storage: 128GB 
• Webcam: 720p
• Connectivity: 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 with Power Delivery and DisplayPort Alternate Mode, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio-out
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 39 watt-hour
• Dimensions: 11.81 x 9.25 x .64 inches
• Weight: 3.31 kilos
• MSRP: $699.99

Premium {hardware} comes at a premium value (for a Chromebook). The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with AMD Ryzen 5 5625C will set buyers again virtually $700 at MSRP. Less performant fashions are inexpensive, nevertheless: versions with the AMD Ryzen 3 3250C and half as a lot RAM and storage are beneath $400 at some on-line retailers.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 isn’t a lavish laptop computer, and doesn’t look distinctive: if not for a chrome Acer emblem on the lid, most individuals would by no means know who made it. Yet it’s purposeful, sturdy, and modestly luxurious. Much of the chassis is constructed from metallic, the show bezels are skinny, and the inside presents a sublime distinction of silver and black surfaces.

As its title implies, the Chromebook Spin 514 features a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen. The show folds again to be used as a pill, or to make use of the keyboard as a kickstand for the show. This versatility is appreciated and genuinely helpful. I usually use 2-in-1s as a pill when reclining in a chair and breezing via the day’s headlines. 

However, the Spin 514 is simply too giant to switch a pill in lots of conditions. It weighs over three kilos and measures .64 inches thick, making it roughly twice the scale and heft of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and over 3 times heavier than an iPad Air. It’s awkward to carry with one hand and clumsy to make use of as an e-reader when mendacity in mattress.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

Fortunately, the Chromebook Spin 514 is a a lot better laptop computer than it’s a pill. In reality, the Spin 514 is a superb laptop computer for primary, day-to-day use.

Credit the keyboard. The Spin 514’s chassis offers ample house for a large keyboard structure with giant, simply situated keys. The left-side Shift, Control, and Alt keys are huge, and the operate keys (which embody assist for the same old Chrome OS operate row shortcuts) are bigger than these discovered on Windows or Mac options. 

Key really feel is superb, too, with deep journey and a agency, tactile backside motion that ends with a lightweight however satisfying click on. Touch typists will fly throughout the keyboard in no-time, whereas those that take the hunt-and-peck strategy will rapidly discover the right key. A backlit keyboard is customary, making keys readable in a darkish room.

The touchpad is superb, too. It’s spacious, measuring about 4.75 inches vast and three.25 inches thick, and has a easy low-friction floor. Multi-touch gestures are simple to make use of (although Chrome OS helps fewer than Windows or MacOS). And although the touchpad is nice, the touchscreen provides an alternate choice that may be helpful when navigating Android apps or net apps constructed for cell units.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer ships the Chromebook Spin 514 with an IPS touchscreen that boasts 1920×1080 decision. This isn’t one of the best show yow will discover on a Chromebook from Acer: the Spin 513 has a extra pixel-dense 13.5-inch 2256×1504 display screen, which is as crisp and attractive as a contemporary potato chip. Still, the Spin 514’s show appears to be like lots sharp.

Resolution apart, Spin 514’s picture high quality is sweet however not nice. The greatest downside? Brightness. I measured a most brightness of solely 312 nits, which is lots for day-to-day use indoors however insufficient when used outside or close to a sunlit window. The show’s shiny coating doesn’t assist issues and reveals clear, vivid reflections that distract from what’s on-screen. Put merely: the Spin 514 is a laptop computer greatest left indoors (and away from home windows).

The show’s distinction and shade efficiency are enough for a contemporary laptop computer. 1080p video content material appears to be like real looking and vivid. However, the IPS show is pressured by new laptops with OLED screens, a few of that are priced only one to 2 hundred {dollars} larger than the Spin 514. OLED laptops supply an enchancment in distinction and shade efficiency that most individuals will simply discover and like. The Spin 514’s low brightness stays a priority: LCD laptop computer screens are sometimes brighter than OLED, however that’s not true right here.

A pair of upward-firing audio system present the Spin 514’s audio. They’re not glorious, however loud sufficient at most quantity to fill an workplace with sound. The audio system work greatest with podcasts and video content material, as loud music could cause disagreeable distortion. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

A 1080p webcam with a bodily privateness shutter is squeezed into the laptop computer’s prime bezel. It’s a pleasant improve over a 720p digital camera and delivers a transparent enchancment in sharpness. Color replica can also be good in a well-lit room. Exposure was usually a bit off, although, inflicting large swings in my pores and skin tone. 

The built-in is nothing particular, but it surely does the job. Backup noise will usually be picked up, however recordings of my voice provided good quantity and appeared simple to grasp when performed again. It’s wonderful for many video calls.

The laptop computer doesn’t supply biometric login.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer leans into future-proof connectivity with a pair of USB-C ports, one on all sides. The laptop computer ships with a USB-C charger and each ports assist USB Power Delivery, so both can be utilized to energy and cost the Chromebook. The ports even have DisplayPort Alternate Mode and can be utilized as video output to a USB-C monitor (or different screens, with applicable adapter). 

The USB-C ports are joined by a single USB-A port, HDMI-out, and three.5mm audio out. I’d choose to see a second USB-A port and a MicroSD card reader. Still, the Spin 514’s connectivity ought to be sufficient for most individuals.

Wireless choices embody Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Wi-Fi efficiency was speedy and dependable in my testing, reaching about 250 Mbps two rooms away from my router and as much as 80 Mbps in an exterior workplace 60 ft away from the router.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Performance

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is offered with a number of AMD Ryzen processors together with the six-core, 12-thread AMD Ryzen 5 5625C. It comes paired with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of stable state storage which, once more, is top-notch for a Chromebook.

Unsurprisingly, the highly effective processor delivered glorious leads to benchmarks.

• CrXPRT 2 efficiency rating: 199
• Speedometer 2.0: 210
• Basemark Web 3.0: 1024.38
• Kraken Javascript 1.1: 522.6
• Jetstream: 222.991

These scores defeat the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 with Intel Core i5-1135G7. In CrXPT 2, the Spin 514’s rating of 199 simply exceeds the Spin 713, which hit 164, and demolishes the Snapdragon-powered HP Chromebook x2 11’s rating of simply 52. The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 with Intel Pentium Gold 7505 additionally falls behind with a rating of 124.

The Spin 514 loses in opposition to the Framework Laptop Chromebook with an Intel Core i5-1240P processor, but it surely’s a detailed contest. The Intel Core i5-1240P within the Framework is about 5 p.c faster than the Spin 514 total. That’s not a noticeable distinction and the 2 will appear an identical in typical use.

Real-world efficiency feels as snappy because the Spin 514’s benchmark scores recommend. Juggling many browser tabs will not be an issue. New apps open in a blink. Files switch rapidly. To be sincere, the Spin 514’s is overkill for the duties most Chrome OS customers are prone to ask of it, however the additional efficiency headroom will assist future-proof the laptop computer.

While the Spin 514 performs nicely, the Windows competitors should be talked about. Acer’s Aspire 5 with Ryzen 5 5500U, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage could be discovered for beneath $700. The similar is true of Lenovo IdeaPad and Flex fashions, HP’s entry-level 14-inch and 15-inch laptops, and Dell’s Inspiron line. The elevated RAM and storage in Windows options will permit them to perform duties the Spin 514 can’t deal with. 

What about video games? It’s a mixture bag. Android video games are usually not dependable, possible as a result of Spin 514’s x86-based {hardware}, which differs considerably from that present in most Android units. Call of Duty: Mobile crashed to the desktop after the launch display screen. Pokemon Unite launched, however I couldn’t get the sport previous the login display screen. Asphalt 8 was playable, at the least, and appeared to run at a suitable body fee.

Cloud gaming is a greater choice and works nicely over Wi-Fi 6. I launched Nvidia GeForce Now to get pleasure from an hour of Marvels’ Guardians of the Galaxy at 1080p decision with Ultra settings and ray tracing enabled. It appeared as beautiful because it does domestically on a high-end video card. However, GeForce Now works equally nicely on much less succesful {hardware}, so the Spin 514 can’t take credit score for this outcome.

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Battery life

The AMD Ryzen 5625C is mighty, but it surely has a default thermal design energy of simply 15 watts and is able to sipping energy when wanted. The laptop computer lasted 13 hours and 13 minutes within the CrXPRT 2 battery life check. That’s proper on par with the Framework Laptop Chromebook and simply barely in need of the older Acer Spin 713. 

In real-world use, the laptop computer can final even longer in mild use akin to streaming video or working in Google Docs with the show set at a low degree of brightness. The laptop computer can deal with an eight-hour workday with at the least a pair hours of battery left within the tank. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 514: Conclusion

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is among the many quickest Chromebooks at the moment out there, defeated solely by options with Intel’s Core i5-1240P processor (and it’s a detailed name). The Spin 514 additionally advantages from a terrific keyboard, good touchpad, enticing show, lengthy battery life, and helpful USB-C ports. 

Pricing is the impediment. The Spin 514’s price ticket of virtually $700 feels costly when in comparison with Windows laptops. The Acer Aspire 5, Lenovo IdeaPad 5, and HP 14 supply comparable processors at comparable costs however have extra RAM and stable state storage. The Spin 514 is offered in inexpensive configurations, nevertheless. They’re a better option for most individuals, delivering many of the Spin 514’s perks with a modest (and acceptable) discount in efficiency.