Acer announced four Chromebooks at the global Next@Acer event held on Wednesday. These new models include 14-inch and 15.6-inch Acer Chromebook 515 and 514, and two 14-inch two-in-one models Chromebook Spin 514 and Spin 314.
Chromebook shipments will explode in 2020 due to the new crown pandemic, and will remain strong in the first half of 2021. But continued global chip shortages hinder production, and this growth is showing signs of slowing down. Nevertheless, due to its relatively low cost, ease of deployment and management, Chromebooks are a popular choice for remote work and school use. Acer’s new models are well adapted to these markets with their larger display screens, security and privacy features, and MIL-STD-810H military-level durability.
Chromebook 515 has standard Chrome operating system and Chrome Enterprise version, which is a streamlined version of Chromebook 715. It is slightly thicker than this model, but despite the same 15.6-inch display size, it has a smaller footprint. The Chromebook 515 has a full-size keyboard and fingerprint reader. Chromebook 515 can be configured with up to 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM and up to 512GB PCIe NVMeSSD storage. Although it is not a two-in-one model, the full HD display can be opened and placed flat on the table, and there is a matte touch screen option, so it can avoid display reflections.
Other features include an embedded fingerprint reader, a physical shutter, webcam can be shielded when it is not in use, built-in HDMI output and microSD card slot, Wi-Fi 6 and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port,One on each side. Although the exact pricing and supply situation are not yet clear, the configuration with Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB memory and 128GB storage space is expected to sell for US$650, equivalent to £480 and AU$885.
Acer Chromebook 514 is smaller and lighter, and replaces the Intel CPU with an eight-core MediaTek Kompanio 828 processor, suitable for entertainment, Google Docs and light content creation. It weighs less than 3 pounds (1.3 kg) ), there is an aluminum top cover, backlit keyboard and a 14-inch matte display (optional touch). Acer claims that its battery life can reach 15 hours. The Chromebook 514 is expected to be available in December, with a starting price of US$400.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a 14-inch foldable machine with up to the 11th generation Intel Core i7 processor, which can run quietly under the fanless design. With a 1080p webcam, dual microphones, and stereo speakers on both sides of the keyboard, Acer targets those who spend a lot of time on video chats. The 14-inch display has slender bezels on all four sides, which really reduces the overall footprint of the Chromebook. The body is made of reinforced aluminum and provides dual USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 6, backlit keyboard and Gorilla Glass touchpad.
Chromebook Spin 314 incorporates recycled plastic into its design. In this case, Acer used the OceanGlass touchpad, which is made of plastic waste and has a glass-like texture. This transformable 14-inch Chromebook will also be equipped with Wi-Fi 6, a USB-C port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, HDMI output and a microSD card slot. Pricing starts at $500.
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