Acer has announced the launch of its new Chromebook Plus 514, expanding its range of Chromebook Plus laptops and adding more options for Chromebook users who want something more powerful, but not necessarily more expensive.
The new Chromebook offers improved performance, compact build and durability, along with AI-enhanced capabilities of ChromeOS. Starting at $399 (around £320/AU$560), this new Chromebook Plus model promises to deliver a fantastic mix of performance and affordability that you don’t always find in a Chromebook.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 features a 14-inch Full HD display and is powered by an eight-core Intel Core i3-N305 processor with 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM. It also features a 1080p webcam with temporal noise reduction for better image quality and AI-driven adjustments for exposure and background blur, so this Chromebook will be fantastic as a professional device or educational user. It also features a physical shutter for privacy, dual microphones and speakers with DTS Audio enhancement. All in all, some very solid specs.
In terms of design, the Chromebook Plus 514 weighs 1.43kg and is 20.5mm thick. It meets the US military standard (MIL-STD 810H) for durability and includes a variety of sustainable design elements, such as an OceanGlass touchpad made from ocean plastic waste. The device also supports a range of connectivity options including Bluetooth 5.2, WiFi 6E and dual USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports.
For educational use, the Chromebook Plus 514 can be equipped with Chrome Education Upgrade, which simplifies device management in school environments. This feature allows administrators to efficiently manage devices, implement security configurations, and ensure a secure environment for educational communities.
In addition, the Chromebook Plus line offers a business version, the Chromebook Plus Enterprise 514, including Chrome Enterprise Upgrade. This variant is designed to help IT departments efficiently manage device policies and data security.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-4H/T) will be available in North America from May. Pricing, configurations and availability vary by region.
Chromebooks need better performance without raising prices
Chromebooks have never been a performance-oriented product. Their primary appeal is to provide general computing performance at a bargain price, and for this purpose they are second to none. Their extreme affordability, combined with a remarkably high level of functionality, makes them consistently among the best laptop options for most people.
That said, Chromebooks really shouldn’t be left behind with hardware that’s five to seven years old, as the recent generation of laptop components continues to push the market further, as is the case with many of the cheapest Chromebooks with budget processors first released by Intel in 2017 and 2018.
Many of the best Chromebooks on the market have unfortunately gone in the opposite direction, bringing mainstream laptop hardware to a platform that doesn’t need the performance of an Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 5 processor with 16GB of RAM and 16GB of RAM and can never fully utilize. 3K screens.
Now the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 doesn’t have a 14th generation Intel processor or anything, but the 12th generation Core i3 with eight cores is more than enough performance for modern users who actually want to run local productivity apps and more. ChromeOS’ small footprint also means that 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM is more than enough to meet the needs of modern users.
Finally, starting at just under $400, it stays true to its heritage as an affordability-first device while pushing the envelope on performance.
More of this, please!