Day 3 of CES 2021 and we have a little surprise for you thanks to a small package that Acer sent us. Next to the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook2, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is the second Chrome OS device to leave this year’s virtual technology event and we have a pre-production model of the AMD Ryzen convertible. While we are unable to report performance at this time, we wanted to make a quick video to give you a brief overview of what the new Chromebook has to offer and our initial impression of the device. Check and then I’ll detail the details of Acer’s latest premium Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514
As I mentioned in the video, Acer targets not only the business market with this new Chromebook, but also the consumer segment. When it launches next month, the base model with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC storage will cost $ 479, but the options will reach a Ryzen 7 with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of NVMe storage. We don’t have prices for the most robust models at the moment, but you can probably bet that the first-tier model costs no less than $ 1,000.
Ramp up
The Chromebook Spin 514 may look a little familiar because it shares many design tips with the Spin 713. At first glance, the biggest difference is the screen. The Chromebook Spin 514 with Ryzen has a 14 ″ 16: 9 screen as opposed to the 13.5 ″ 3: 2 panel on the 713. In addition, the two devices could pass for close relatives. The new Chromebook 514 has a lid and an aluminum base with a magnesium alloy keyboard. Although the designs are similar, the 514 looks more “assembled” than the Spin 713 and this is probably due to the fact that it has a MIL-Spec rating for drop test, water resistance and direct down force. The hinges are firm and the chassis is solid with very little flexibility or play, no matter how you have it. The best part is that the Spin 514 adds just a millimeter of thickness over the 713, so it doesn’t look like a clumsy sturdy device.
Keyboard and trackpad
The keyboard on this Chromebook is standard for an Acer device and that’s a good thing. No, it’s not a Pixelbook Go, but Acer makes good keyboards and this is no exception. The 514 offers optional keyboard backlighting that looks very good against black keys. The trackpad is definitely an area where Acer may have cut corners, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. It is certainly not glass, but whatever is done, it is not flexible or cheap. I think it’s mylar, but I’ll have to do a little research. Either way, it has a decently sharp click and very little clearance that you occasionally see on trackpads without a glass.
Ports and speakers
On the outside, Acer added a decent range of ports. You will have two USB-C ports, one A port, MicroSD and for Ryzen 5/7 models, one HDMI port. Of course, there is a headset and a Kensington lock. The speakers are not the best I’ve heard on a laptop, but they are far from working. In fact, they are quite loud for down-firing audio and the mids and treble are as clear as a bell. There’s just no bass, but hey, it’s a laptop. For video conferencing and light media consumption, they’re great. That’s all we have now until we can get our hands on a retail unit and make some real-world benchmarks. Here is an analysis of the specifications for the Acer Chromebook Spin 514, which will be available sometime in February or March.
Chromebook 514 specifications
- Chrome OS / Chrome OS with Chrome Enterprise update
- 14 “IPS screen, touch panel, Full HD 1920 x 1080
- AMD Ryzen accelerated processing unit (APU)
- Up to 16 GB of DDR4 system memory
- AMD Radeon Vega Mobile Graphics
- Up to 128 GB eMMC, up to 256 GB NVMe SSD
- 2 – Type C USB ports with support for USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
- Display port over USB-C
- USB 3.2 Type A port
- HDMI® port (Acer Chromebook Spin 514 with Ryzen 5 or 7 APU will have an integrated HDMI port. For other SKUs, such as Ryzen 3, Athlon Silver will not have an integrated HDMI port)
- 3.5mm headphone / speaker jack, compatible with built-in headset
- Dimensions: 322.6 (W) x 225.5 (D) x 17.35 / 17.35 (H) mm (12.7 x 8.88 x 0.68 / 0.68 inches)
- Weight: 1.55 kg (3.42 lbs.)
- Battery life: up to 10 hours
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 5 2 × 2 MIMO Bluetooth 5
- Audio: Two integrated stereo speakers; Two built-in microphones
- Durability: US MIL-STD 810 (sand and dust test based on MIL-STD 810F.)