This circa-2016 quad-core chip is the top choice in the Chromebook 514, while less-expensive configurations come with a slower (and equally old) quad-core Celeron N3450 or a dual-core Celeron N3350. Acer Chromebook 514: First Impressions If you've been around the website or the YouTube channel of late, you've likely noticed a trend towards favorable reviews on newer Chromebooks. The whole package is surprisingly light, so it retains good portability even with its 14-inch screen size. Update: One month into using Acer 514. Excellent battery life. Big touchpad. It's an excellent result for a Chromebook, especially considering the Chromebook 514 has a large 14-inch display. You can expand the storage with the microSD card slot, for which you can buy up to 1TB cards. Unlike the cheapest variants that start at $349.99, mine has a multi-touch screen — useful for Android apps. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. The cam's muddy picture quality isn't better or worse than I've seen from ones in similarly priced laptops, but that's hardly an excuse for device makers not to step up their selfie game. Sponsored by NordVPN. Windows-based notebook PCs around the price of our review unit usually include newer, faster processors, like the Intel Core i3 U-series, although they must contend with running Windows. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Outside of that, this Acer could use better speakers, but that's hardly a deal-breaker in a Chromebook (or a Windows-based notebook, for that matter). More budget-oriented Chromebooks tend to lack one or more of those conveniences, too. Despite the older processor, the Chromebook 514 is responsive for web browsing and 1080p video streaming. In addition to its slim dimensions, the Chromebook 514 is just 0.7 inch thick and 3.31 pounds. For that extra bit of power and style. (In Acer's defense, Intel has been slow to release low-wattage budget processors for products like Chromebooks; it had produced just one new 6-watt chip, the Pentium 4425Y, since the end of 2017, as of this April 2019 writing.) Chrome OS is comparatively lighter on resources, so your computer doesn't need to be as powerful to be as capable. The Acer Chromebook 514 is no exception, performing admirably in the face of all I could throw at it. Provided Google Chrome OS meets your needs, it's hard to say no to this one. I've had the Acer Chromebook 514 for about two weeks now, and I am totally pleased with it! I rarely remembered that the screen could even be touched, if I’m honest. You can find lighter 14-inch-screened devices out there, but finding one around the price range of even this topped-out Chromebook 514 configuration is no small feat. Both had good range in my testing. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. The utility of a touchscreen is highly questionable on a non-convertible laptop like this. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Slick Ultraportables Face Off: 2020 Apple MacBook Air vs. Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, High-End Mac Showdown: Apple iMac vs. Apple MacBook Pro, Patent Shows How Apple Can Create a Black-Colored MacBook, Qualcomm Is a Little Too Unbothered by Apple's M1 Macs, Tablet, Chromebook Demand Soars as Pandemic Prompts Need for Affordable Computers, Early Benchmarks Show Apple's ARM-Based Macs Reign Supreme. The original Chromebook 14 from Acer came out in 2016 and was a decent device for the price (around $300) — as such, it was popular with critics and consumers alike. The Acer Chromebook 514 is currently available from the Acer link below for £369.99 with a 15% discount. Nearly everything else about the Chromebook 514 is a deal-maker, earning it our top honors for a reasonably priced premium Chromebook. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. On the plus side, the low-power hardware means the Chromebook 514 runs completely silent, as it doesn't need a cooling fan. The trackpad is probably among the best I’ve tried on a device in this price range. Priced higher than a fan-fave and PCMag Editors' Choice winner from Acer, the Acer … The backlit keyboard is a little bit too mushy for my liking, but it’s not too bad by Chromebook standards. When you use a Macbook Pro as your daily driver, most other trackpads feel much too small, but I was able to get used to this one. The buttonless touchpad, centered in the wrist rest, is made of Corning Gorilla Glass. Windows PCs usually include several times as much at this price point, but this is a Chromebook: You're expected to store most of your stuff in the cloud. Priced higher than a fan-fave and PCMag Editors' Choice winner from Acer, the Acer Chromebook 14, it brings to the table improved portability, a sleek aluminum design, and the option for touch-input tech. Pressing the pad until it physically clicks makes a sound too loud for my preferences, though; I don't like advertising my clicks to everyone within earshot. It’s fairer to compare this model to other Chromebooks, and in that respect, it works as you’d expect for the specifications. If … I first got my hands on the Chromebook 514 in Berlin at IFA in the summer of 2018, but it was rather a disappointment. Acer's Chromebook 514 (starts at $349; $499 as tested) is an upscale Chromebook with a 14-inch screen. The 12.7-by-9.1-inch chassis is about as trim as a Chromebook (or a notebook PC, for that matter) sporting a 14-inch display can get. The tutorial that appears at first startup shows you what you need to know to get started in Google Chrome OS. I’m happy to report that Acer has been true to its word and corrected most of these errors. Keep an eye on your inbox! The AMD chip's performance is unexciting, but it helps bring the 15.6-inch system to retail for $200 less than our Editors' Choice consumer Chromebook, the 14-inch Acer Chromebook 514. You’d rather pay a little less money for your glorified Chrome browser or you’d like something a little more versatile/exciting. The breakneck pace of consumer-laptop technology makes the Intel Pentium N4200 processor in the Chromebook 514 configuration I'm reviewing (CB514-1HT-P2D1) seem like a relic. I would still say I prefer the keyboard on my cheaper Toshiba Chromebook 2 from a few years ago as there’s a little less travel and a bit more response, but there are plenty of worse keyboards out there on Chromebooks. The $499 commanded by our top-tier review configuration is midrange territory, at best, for Windows-based notebook PCs, where you'd be hard-pressed to find a thin-and-light aluminum chassis, all-day battery life, a full HD touch display, and a backlit keyboard as in our Chromebook 514. Runs smoothly and can handle a fair number of tabs before it starts to struggle for memory. Your subscription has been confirmed. The same can be said about the older Acer Chromebook 14. Probably not. We're taking our Editors' Choice garland for consumer Chromebooks from the 14 and hanging it on the 514. The touchscreen display is a little bit wasted since it can’t fold all the way into a tablet mode. Acer's Chromebook 514 (starts at $349; $499 as tested) is an upscale Chromebook with a 14-inch screen. Since Android apps are supported, you could download some pretty intensive games that would no doubt cause problems, but the casual Android games that I like to dabble with (Alto’s Odyssey is my fav) run okay here. Once you add a backlit keyboard and long battery life to the mix, it becomes a tempting alternative to budget notebook PCs in its price range. … Despite its Intel Pentium processor, this Acer feels snappy enough for most undemanding use thanks to Google's lean Chrome OS. Acer, understandably, was not pleased with this assessment but admitted the product needed improvement and vowed to deliver me a review unit at a later date with all of the kinks ironed out. That resolution is an ideal match for a 14-inch-diagonal screen, offering better clarity and finer detail than the 720p (1,366-by-768-pixel) display that comes on some of the less-expensive Chromebook 514 configurations. I'd still have appreciated if Acer ponied up for a newer CPU, though, especially since this is a premium Chromebook. It’s made from glass, the click is satisfying, and it doesn’t feel too cramped. I've been getting battery life of around 9-10 hours, which is pretty solid. The picture is bright and vibrant without being oversaturated, and it is further improved by the wide viewing angles from its in-plane switching (IPS) technology. For local storage, my Chromebook 514 has a 64GB flash-storage drive, the roomiest drive you can get in this model. After reading about this model at the beginning of the year, I kept watching for it to become available. 10 hours is pretty good, even if it’s 2 hours short of what Acer promises. Silky-smooth and sized for royalty, it's a pleasure to use. Don't expect powerful performance if you get a Celeron N3450 model, but it's fine for general web-browsing tasks. Best Chromebook for full-time Chrome users. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1 (7486) Review, Read Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 (LTE) Review, Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1 (7486). The Acer Chromebook 514 delivers premium features at a reasonable price. Acer's Chromebook 514 (starts at $349; $499 as tested) is an upscale Chromebook with a 14-inch screen. I timed the 514 at an acceptable 12 seconds from power-button press to login screen. It is a … If you use Chrome OS the way it’s intended — web browsing, checking emails, consuming … Overall, the Acer Chromebook 514 is perfectly fine. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. At just under £400 the Acer Chromebook 514 is a great choice. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/acer-chromebook-514. If you’ve ever seen a trailer for a movie, got super-excited about that movie, … Will give update after using Acer 514 Chromebook for several months. Some changes to the production line later, I now have a Chromebook 514 that more closely aligns with Acer's previous efforts. MacBook Pro vs. MacBook Air: Which 13-Inch Apple Laptop Is Best for 2020? Priced higher than a fan-fave and PCMag Editors' Choice winner from Acer, the Acer … UK — £399.99 — Acer (with Pentium, on sale). The Chromebook 514 predictably crushed the older Acer Chromebook 14, but its aging Pentium N4200 processor was no match for the Core i5-7Y57 chip in the double-the-price Google PixelBook, let alone the beefier (and newer) Core i3-8130U chip in the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14 2-in-1 (7486). Again, Chrome OS does more with less. Bottom-firing speakers rarely work well, but they’re particularly odious here, especially when you have the machine on your lap and the sound is further muffled. In recent weeks we have had the opportunity to try a Chromebook, in particular theAcer Chromebook 514 (CB514-1H-P9AS), a laptop that comes with decent technical specifications – for the Chrome OS … The glass trackpad is big and has a satisfying click. The drive is large enough to let you download some movies for offline viewing. I’m not going to go into Chrome OS and its limitations — we all know by now what we can expect from it and what we can’t. It is good to have USB-C ports on either side that can be used for charging, though, and the microSD card reader could also come in handy. The construction feels much sturdier, the flex is mostly gone, and it no longer feels like it’s going to fall apart. The chassis didn't warm up much during my usage. Asus Chromebook Flip C436. Sharp-looking aluminum design for a budget machine. That’s far below what you need if you’re looking to do photo editing of any kind. Just enter your email below. So we were naturally excited when we heard Acer was going to bring out a successor. Priced higher than a fan-fave and PCMag Editors' Choice winner from Acer, the Acer Chromebook … Lesser Chromebook 514 configurations have 4GB, which is still plenty for general usage. It’s plenty fast enough and it can handle plenty of tabs before you start to notice any adverse effects. Touch display (as tested) looks great. Storage: 64GB eMMC But if you need an … A graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology, he enjoys all aspects of consumer and business tech, especially PCs, tablets, and photography. Try it out and get 75% off a three-year plan for a limited time! While the ho-hum Intel processor in the Chromebook 514 left us wishing for something newer, it was still plenty responsive. Follow us on ! Josh Goldman/CNET. Plan to use the latter (or the internal Bluetooth 4.2 wireless) for audio, else you'll be stuck with the dismal sound quality of the twin built-in speakers. I am very pleased with this chromebook. Acer Chromebook 315 battery – Poor performance Acer claims the Chromebook 315 sees a battery life of up to 12.5 hours, which surpasses the 10-hour mark that most laptops and … ! While in sleep mode, the Acer woke up before I fully opened its lid. One important issue arises when you watch videos or listen to music — the speakers are absolutely terrible. However, the side frames of the Acer Chromebook 514 are reduced, they have a size of 6 millimeters, according to the brand. Acer Chromebook 314 CB314-H Review. This would be impressive were it not for the fact that the bezel portion around the screen is made from plastic. The left edge has a USB Type-C port for power and data, a USB Type-A 3.1 port, a microSD card slot, and an audio combo jack. There is a more expensive Pentium variant with 8GB of RAM, but it’s probably not necessary. The Acer's anti-glare screen coating is somewhat unorthodox on a touch device, which usually sports a glossy surface, but it feels quite smooth and doesn't hamper usability in the slightest. It's also available from Amazon, currently priced at £414.95 . The Chromebook 514 is reasonably thin at 0.67 inches (the same as the Chromebook 13) and of moderate weight at 3.09 pounds (curiously, much lighter than the Acer Chromebook 13’s 3.5 … I wasn't sure if the slight play in its surface was intentional or not, but it has utility; if you tap to click, the pad moves slightly and gives you some audible feedback. It’s not extortionate, but there are cheaper Chromebooks that perform just as well so it’s hard to justify this as a purchase. Sharp-looking aluminum design for a budget machine. I prefer anti-glare screens because they minimize reflections and do a better job of resisting finger smudges. It performs well enough for the things you’re likely to do on a Chromebook, it’s fairly well constructed (after some earlier concerns), and it’s not a bad looking machine. The Acer Chromebook 514 is no exception, performing admirably in the face of all I could throw at it. The Chromebook 514's keyboard is on the money for touch typing. On a Windows PC, I find it hard to recommend less than 8GB of memory for any usage. On the right edge, you have another USB Type-A 3.1 port, another USB Type-C port (this one supports DisplayPort over USB Type-C), and a Kensington-style cable-lockdown notch... No video-out adapters are included for the USB Type-C port over here, but even if one were, I'd still prefer a good old dedicated HDMI or DisplayPort video-out connector. They’re on the bottom and they sound plain awful, especially when you’ve got the thing resting on your lap. Read our Acer Chromebook 715 review. The lid and chassis are impressively rigid and strong. If you use Chrome OS the way it’s intended — web browsing, checking emails, consuming video content — you’ll have no problem with this laptop. Unlike most cheap Chromebooks it boasts a (mostly) aluminum casing and glass trackpad. Inside, the Chromebook 514 packs an 802.11ac wireless card and the mentioned Bluetooth connectivity. It is fast and battery life is 11.5 hrs up to 12 hrs. It's the only available color. $499 at Walmart. This screen would pass muster on a considerably more expensive computer. Two-minute review. It’s good to see that Acer took these concerns seriously and addressed them accordingly. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. On the other hand, the 8GB of memory (RAM) in my Chromebook 514 tester is a luxurious amount for a Chromebook. Chromebooks with metal chassis are still relatively hard to come by, so that helps it stand out. The screen is made from glass, the Chromebook 514 has a large 14-inch display a of! White backlighting be touched, if unremarkable, i5 or i7 previous efforts price point, and... Pleasure to use expensive Pentium variant with 8GB of memory ( RAM ) in my 514. 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