Some people don’t have insane needs when it comes to their laptops. They’re either meant for school, work, or some other kind of productivity and very little else. In such cases, I’m definitely a big proponent of Chromebooks. Running on ChromeOS, you can do less than you can on a Windows system, but that’s not a bad thing.
Chromebooks have been around for a long time, but in case you wanted even more variety from that market, Acer has just introduced several new options—both for regular and enterprise needs. Let’s talk about them.
Acer Launches New Chromebook Plus Models Powered by Intel
If you need a laptop that’s portable and lightweight, with fantastic battery life and a price that doesn’t make your eyes water, a Chromebook is a fantastic option. There are so many Chromebook choices out there, but Acer wants to make the decision-making process even harder for you with its new Chromebook Plus 514 and Chromebook Plus 516.
All of these laptops have some things in common. They all have WUXGA (1900 x 1200) anti-glare displays with 300-nit brightness and a 16:10 aspect ratio. You get a fingerprint sensor, two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a HDMI port. Plus, they can be specced up to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of NVMe SSD storage. You also get the option for a touchscreen and/or a backlit keyboard.
Plus, since they’re Chromebook Plus models, you also get the magic of Google AI built-in, enhancing your productivity with features like Live Translate, Help Me Write, Help Me Read, and more.
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has two major variants. The base model has an Intel Core 3 processor and an FHD webcam. For those who want more power, they can opt for the model with an Intel Core 7, a QHD webcam, a backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 7, and the option to add 4G LTE connectivity. Plus, both laptops will offer up to 17 hours of battery life.
The base model starts at €479, and the Intel Core 7 model starts at €579.
Acer Chromebook Plus 516
If you need a bigger display, the Chromebook Plus 516 from Acer pushes the screen up to a 16-inch unit (though you still get WUXGA resolution). This comes with an Intel Core 7 processor and an FHD webcam. It starts at €499.
These New Models Also Come in Enterprise Options
For business owners who want to equip employees with computers for the job, you’ll be happy to know that the Chromebook Plus 514 and 516 both come in Enterprise models. The specs remain the same, though in this case, the Chromebook Plus 516 comes with a QHD webcam. These models come with TCO 10.0 and EPEAT Gold certification.
The Enterprise models will be priced slightly differently. The Enterprise 514 with the Intel Core 3 and a backlit keyboard will cost €679, while the model with the Intel Core 7 and a fingerprint reader will cost €729. The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise 516 will be available starting at €699.
Acer Also Introduces the Brand-New Chromebook Tab 311
The Acer Chromebook Tab 311 is certainly different. It’s a detachable laptop, so it operates on a completely different playing field from the others. It comes with a MediaTek Kompanio 520, with up to 128GB of expandable storage and 8GB of RAM. It’s clearly not meant to be a monster with those specs. It comes with a 10.95-inch IPS touchscreen with WUXGA resolution (1900 x 1200).
This detachable Chromebook weighs just 1kg and is only 9.05mm thick. It is also certified for military-grade durability, and the 8,000mAh battery means it will last all day. Of course, I can’t forget that it comes with a dockable stylus, a 5MP rear camera, and a 2MP selfie cam. It’s basically a tablet that runs on ChromeOS, and it’ll be the cheapest model (unsurprisingly) at €329.
What You Need to Know About Availability
These new Acer Chromebook Plus models are not available just yet and will start rolling out into the market in May.
- May: Chromebook Plus 516, Chromebook Plus Enterprise 516
- June: All Chromebook Plus 514 models, including Enterprise
- July: Acer Chromebook Tab 311
