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I tested Dell’s compact Chromebook, and it’s a great tool for school – but you’ll want to pair it with a mouse

7:38 am | November 4, 2025

Dell Chromebook 3120: Two-minute review

The Dell Chromebook 3120 is a small but tough laptop designed to withstand the rigors of student life.

Its compact and rounded design is certainly different. The softer material around its edges help protect it from impacts, making the Chromebook 3120 tougher than many others in this field.

Not only is it more rugged than the best Chromebook constructions, it’s also easier to repair, thanks to its top-mounted keyboard and captive screws that keep the various materials together.

The price paid for this toughness, however, is the huge bezel around the screen, which reduces the display size by a disappointing amount. At least it features screws in each corner, which again should help with servicing.

There are only four ports on the Chromebook 3120: two USB-C, one USB-A, and a headset jack. The type-C ports are located on either side, which improves versatility, and both support charging and external display connections.

The performance of the Chromebook 3120 is respectable, handling the sorts of tasks students demand of their laptops quite well. It can also handle HD video streaming and even light gaming, though nowhere near as well as many of the best laptops, so temper expectations.

Back three-quarter view of Dell Chromebook 3120 open on desk with pink wall in background — (Image credit: Future)

The display is sharp and vibrant enough to enjoy such content, although its lack of brightness can cause some visibility issues, especially when viewing darker scenes. It’s also a little too reflective at times.

I was pleased to see that even the non-convertible model of the Chromebook 3120 features a touchscreen, which can be useful for navigation, although it’s not smooth enough for dedicated illustrators and handwriters.

The keyboard layout is good, with plenty of space between keys to make typing comfortable. However, presses frequently failed to register when I used it, which was frustrating. Worse, though, was the touchpad, which is too small and imprecise for accurate and smooth navigation.

Battery life, on the other hand, is up to expected standards. It lasted close to 11 hours when I played a movie on a continuous loop, which eclipses many of its rivals, although there are others that can endure for longer.

Considering its budget pricing, the Dell Chromebook 3120 is a worthwhile proposition. Thanks to its durability, portability, and performance, it really shines as a study companion—but I would recommend pairing it with an external mouse to eschew the wayward touchpad.

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Price & availability

Close-up of webcam on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $179.99 / £369.68 (about AU$350)
Available now
Reasonable price

The Dell Chromebook 3120 starts from $179.99 / £369.68 (about AU$350) and is available now. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 2-in-1 version is also available, with a display made with Gorilla Glass.

This is a fantastic price for a Chromebook of this spec, making it one of the best student laptops around thanks to its performance and touchscreen functionality.

If you’re looking for something even cheaper, the Asus Chromebook CX1505 is a great alternative. It doesn’t have a tough exterior or a compact form like the Chromebook 3120, but it has respectable performance and a great display.

Meanwhile, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is one of the best student Chromebooks in our view, thanks to its truly convertible nature and lively performance.

Value: 5 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Specs

These are the specs for the Dell Chromebook 3120:

Dell Chromebook 3120 specs
	Base configuration (Non-touch)	Review configuration	Max configuration
Price	$179 (about £135 / AU$275)	Clamshell: $299.99 / £369.68 (about AU$460) 2-in-1: $369.99 (about £280, AU$565)	Clamshell: $329.99 (about £250, AU$400) 2-in-1: $399.99 (about £305, AU$610)
CPU	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)	Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)	Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated)
RAM	4GB LPDDR5-4800	4GB LPDDR5-4800	8GB LPDDR5-4800
Screen	11.6-inch Non-touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare	11.6-inch Touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare	11.6-inch Touch HD LCD, (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare
Storage	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC
Ports	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio	2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Camera	720p	720p	720p
Battery	42WHr	42WHr	42WHr
Weight	2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg	Clamshell: 2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg 2-in-1: 3.17 lbs \| 1.44 kg	Clamshell: 2.82 lbs \| 1.28 kg 2-in-1: 3.17 lbs \| 1.44 kg
Dimensions	11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm	Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm 2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm	Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm 2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins \| 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Design

Close-up of keyboard on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Rugged construction
Compact form
Large screen bezel

The Dell Chromebook 3120 has an unusual outer shell for a laptop nowadays. It has rounded edges covered in a soft-touch material, almost as if it has been fitted with a bumper case. This makes it look more like one of the best rugged laptops than a budget Chromebook, and Dell claims it’s as durable as those more durable devices. According to Dell, the Chromebook 3120 can withstand 30-inch drops onto steel and 48-inch drops onto plywood, something that'll probably matter if this is going to be used by a child.

In keeping with the durable chassis, the lid is also reassuringly solid, with no wobble to it at all. What’s more, it’s also very flexible – even the non-hybrid variant can still recline all the way back to 180 degrees, making it very amenable to various setups.

Despite all this ruggedness, the Chromebook 3120 is very compact, making it very easy to carry around. It’s heavier than you might expect, but not to an onerous extent.

Another advantage of the design of the Chromebook 3120 is the fact that it’s easy to maintain. It features a top-mounted keyboard and a captive screw in the chassis that keep its various materials together, both of which make the Chromebook 3120 readily repairable.

One of the worst aspects of its design, however, is the huge bezel around the display. No doubt this helps with durability as well as repairability (there are easily accessible screws in each corner), but it severely compromises the already small real estate.

There aren’t many ports on the Chromebook 3120, but they’re wisely chosen. There are two USB-C ports, which should help the device to stay relevant for longer, and both accept charging and external monitor connections.

What’s more, they’re located on either side to improve versatility. The only other ports on the Chromebook 3120 are a USB-A and a headset jack, both located on the left, but these are the next two interfaces I would’ve chosen to include on a Chromebook.

The keys have a slight but noticeable texture to them that feels smooth yet tactile. There are some useful shortcuts on the top row, but there aren’t as many as you’ll find on other Chromebooks – even those the same size as the Chromebook 3120.

Design score: 4 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Performance

Close-up of left-side ports on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

Good all-round performance
Reflective display
Poor touchpad

Benchmarks

These are the benchmark scores for the Dell Chromebook 3120:

TechRadar Battery Life Video Test: 10 hours and 44 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 181.945
Kraken Benchmark (lower is better): 743.3ms
Speedometer 3.0: 11.2 (±0.71)

The general performance of the Dell Chromebook 3120 is pretty good. It’s fast and snappy enough for basic tasking, from notetaking and essay writing to spreadsheet creation and browsing.

It can handle video streaming very well, too, even at 1440p. However, higher resolutions are beyond it, since you’ll have to contend with frequent and lengthy buffering times.

It’s even capable enough for some light gaming. I managed to play Asphalt Legends on medium settings smoothly, with no disruptive stutters or lag. Be warned, however, that not all Android games are compatible with the Chromebook 3120, including Alien: Isolation and Hitman: Blood Money—Reprisal.

The 1366 x 768p resolution is sharp enough for a display this small, and colors are pleasingly vibrant. Brightness is sufficient for the most part, although I wish it had more when viewing content featuring dark tones, as these can be hard to see at times.

The display also has a tendency to plunge into total blackness if the angle isn’t set just right for your particular environment. What’s more, it can be quite reflective, which further sullies the viewing experience.

Close-up of right-side ports on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

The keys felt good to use, and their generous spacing makes them easy to navigate, even with the limited real estate. However, they lack feedback, and frequently my presses would fail to register while typing, requiring a firmer touch than with many other keyboards.

The touchpad, however, is more frustrating. It’s very small, which can make navigation and certain productivity tasks awkward, such as dragging items from one side of the screen to the other.

It also lacks refinement, with its jerky tracking spoiling my attempts at smooth, precise movements: the cursor either moved slower than expected or jumped too far ahead of where I wanted it to go. I also found that taps were very inconsistent, failing to register at least half of the time.

The touchscreen proved more responsive, but it can be quite grabby, resulting in unsmooth swipes and gestures. This isn’t the device for you if you plan on making copious amounts of drawings or handwritten notes, but the functionality is still useful for navigation purposes. It’s a shame that finger marks are quite visible, though.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Battery life

Close-up of touchpad on Dell Chromebook 3120 — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook 3120 is very good. In our movie playback test, it lasted close to 11 hours, which is an impressive performance considering the smaller 43Whr battery, and puts it ahead of much of the competition.

It beats the Asus Chromebook CX1505, for example, which managed about 7 hours in the same test, but just fails to match the Acer Chromebook Spin 312, which managed over 11 hours.

It’s also reasonably quick to charge, taking about two hours to completely replenish.

Battery life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Dell Chromebook 3120?

	Notes	Rating
Value	The can outlast it is well-priced given the spec and functionality.	5 / 5
Design	The tough chassis is welcome, as is the small size. Shame about the large bezel, though.	4 / 5
Performance	The Chromebook 3120 can be used for all sorts of tasks, and it deals with them all pretty well. The touchpad is poor, though.	4.5 / 5
Battery life	Battery life is above average, although there are others that slightly edge past it.	4.5 / 5
Total Score	The Chromebook 3120 does a sterling job as a student device, providing all the functionality and performance you could need for the classroom. But you’re best off using it with an external mouse.	4.5 / 5

Buy the Dell Chromebook 3120 if...

You want a durable machine
Thanks to its drop resistance and repairability credentials, the 3120 should last from term to term.

You want something easy to carry around
It might be surprisingly heavy, but it’s still very portable, largely thanks to its compact form factor.

Don't buy it if...

You want a great touchpad
The touchpad is too small and inaccurate for heavy use – get yourself one of the best mouse picks to go with it.

You want a large display
The lid housing the display is small enough, but the large bezel compromises it even further. It can also succumb to darkness and reflections under certain conditions.

Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Dell Chromebook 3120 that are also fantastic for students:

Asus Chromebook CX15
It’s not as portable as the 3120, but it’s still quite thin. And its large width means you get a widescreen display, which is one of the highlights of the CX1505. It also performs rather well—and it’s cheaper than the Chromebook 3120.

Read our full Asus Chromebook CX15 review.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If you’re looking for one of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks, the Spin 312 is a great choice. Its capable performance and sleek, portable design make it yet another student favorite. Plus, its display, though small, is a treat for the eyes, thanks to its sharp resolution. It’s a little reflective like the 3120, though.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

How I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120

Tested for two days
Used for a variety of tasks
Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120 for two days, during which time I used it for a multitude of tasks.

I used it for productivity, general browsing, streaming video content, and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmarks for Chromebooks and tested its battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I’ve been using Chromebooks and other laptops for years, and have reviewed plenty of them as well, ranging in their price points, form factors, and purposes.

First reviewed November 2025
Read more about how we test

I just tested the best cheap Chromebook I’ve seen so far – and I’m amazed by one aspect in particular

7:16 am |

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin, CPU, RAM | Comments: Off

Asus Chromebook CX15: Two-minute review

The Asus Chromebook CX1505 certainly has a budget price tag, but its features and spec hope to counter the charge that it’s a compromised device unfit for modern purposes.

While it might appear sleek, on closer inspection it’s not as thin or as light as its looks might lead you to believe. That ultra wide display and the long underside support bar sully its portability credentials somewhat.

Build quality isn’t the greatest, either, and isn’t up there with the best Chromebook constructions. It’s still within reasonable bounds, but there’s some flexing to the plastic chassis.

The thin bezel for the display is a welcome touch, though, helping to maximize its already generous width. The keyboard also feels built to a higher standard, which is fortunate since you’ll be making plenty of contact with it.

All the ports on the CX1505 are located on its left-hand side, which may be a little inconvenient for those wishing to connect multiple peripherals. More of a problem, however, is their paucity: there are only four, and only two of them are USB (one type-A and one type-C port).

What’s more, the Type-C must be used for charging, so it won’t be available to you all of the time. An HDMI 1.4 port and a 3.5mm combo audio jack round out the rest of the physical connectivity options, and they’re at least sensibly ordered.

The CX1505 acquits itself well in terms of performance. It can handle the productivity and entertainment tasks well enough, although 4K content streaming is just beyond its reach. It can handle some light gaming, though, albeit with relatively undemanding titles at low graphical settings.

More impressive is that large display. The width is useful for both entertainment and productivity purposes, while the Full HD resolution is still sharp enough for its size. It’s also bright and reasonably vibrant, making for pleasant viewing in all scenarios.

While the CX1505 is great for typing on, the trackpad is a let down. It’s jerky and imprecise when making small, slow movements, and its clicks feel unsatisfying.

The battery life of the CX1505 is reasonable, lasting seven hours in our movie playback test. However, many of its rivals can beat this figure – some by a considerable margin.

There was a time when a Chromebook costing this little wouldn’t have been worth your time, lacking the power and features to suit even basic usage. But the commendable – if not outstanding – performance of the CX1505, coupled with its generous and high-quality display, are certainly impressive aspects at this price, making it a contender for one of the best budget Chromebooks around right now.

Asus Chromebook CX1505 review: Price and availability

Hand typing on Asus Chromebook CX1505 on desk — (Image credit: Future)

Starts from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499
Available now in multiple colorways
Budget end of the market

The CX1505 starts from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499 and is available now in various colorways, including green and pink. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB of storage. An Intel Core version is also available.

This is a great price, even in the Chromebook market. It’s considerably cheaper than the Asus Chromebook CM14, which we think is one of the best budget Chromebooks. However, the CX1505 performs better, and that wider display makes it better for productivity and entertainment – if not portability.

If you want a high-performing Chromebook, then the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a better choice. This dispatches all kinds of tasks with ease, including harsher workloads such as gaming and multitasking; no wonder we think it’s the best student Chromebook. Its keyboard isn’t as good as that on the CX1505, though.

If you want to stay closer to the budget-end of the market and want something more compact but also powerful, the Dell Chromebook 3120 fits the bill very well, with more processing power and faster memory for a little bit more of an investment.

Value: 5 / 5

Asus Chromebook CX1505 review: Specs

My Asus Chromebook CX1505 review unit had an Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage.

	ASUS Chromebook CX1505
Price	Starting from $159.99 / £249.99 / AU$499
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 Processor 1.1 GHz (2 cores)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	4GB LPDDR4X
Screen	15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080, 16:9, Anti-glare display, 300nits
Storage	64GB eMMC
Ports	1x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) (Dual band) 2*2, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera	720p with privacy shutter
Weight	3.51lbs (1.59kg)
Dimensions	14.15 x 9.14 x 0.79in (360 x 232 x 20mm)

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Design

Close-up of camera on ASUS Chromebook CX15, with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Sleek and vibrant looks
Compromised portability
Lacks ports

The CX1505 has a neat, minimalist appearance buoyed by the vibrant colorways; I found the light green finish of my review unit particularly fetching, suiting its overall design well. The rounded corners and smooth, flat planes add to its appeal.

It’s quite a thin unit, although the prominent support bar running underneath rather spoils its sleekness. It’s also heavier than you might expect; coupled with the atypical width, the portability of the CX1505 is somewhat compromised.

What’s more, build quality isn’t particularly impressive, either. The slightly textured plastics may look and feel interesting, but they’re not the sturdiest and can succumb to considerable flexing.

The hinge for the lid feels sturdy in operation, but its looseness becomes evident once set in position. This isn’t disruptive, but it is noticeable, and isn’t exactly an auspicious sign for its longevity.

On a positive note, the bezel around the display is pleasingly thin, which allows the already generous real estate to be realized to its full potential, while the keys have a subtle graining which makes them feel tactile to use. They also actuate smoothly and solidly, with very little play or uncertain feedback.

If you’re looking for a Chromebook with plenty of connectivity options, you’ll be disappointed with the CX15. Despite its large size, there are only four ports (five on the Intel Core model, thanks to its extra USB-C port), all located on the left-hand side.

There’s one USB-C port (which is used for charging as well), one USB-A port, one HDMI 1.4 port, and a combo audio jack. At least they’re sensibly ordered; I’m always happy to see the power port at the end and the audio jack at the very front.

Design score: 3.5 / 5

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Performance

Close-up of touchpad on ASUS Chromebook CX15, open on desk — (Image credit: Future)

Reasonable multitasking capabilities
More demanding tasks
Good wide display

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the ASUS Chromebook CX1505:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 7 hours
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 121.752
Kraken Benchmark: 1254.9ms
Speedometer 3.1: 5.74 (±0.20)

The CX1505 is capable enough for everyday tasking. It can handle word processing and spreadsheet creation with ease, while streaming hi-definition content is also well within its grasp. However, expect some significant buffering if you’re watching anything above 1440p.

Even with the modest 4GB of RAM installed in my review unit, the CX1505 managed to juggle multiple browser tabs admirably. I still encountered some lag in such instances, but not to a frustrating extent. However, more demanding multitasking scenarios, such as running numerous apps simultaneously, lead to more severe slowdowns, as you might expect.

Light gaming is just about within its reach as well. Asphalt Legends ran smoothly enough when I reduced the maximum frame rate to 30fps, but I encountered frequent stuttering when ratcheting it up to 60fps, even on the default medium graphics settings. Those after some casual enjoyment are catered for, then – but those who take their gaming a little more seriously will be disappointed.

The display is pleasingly bright and vibrant. Colors are vividly reproduced rather than washed-out, as they can be on other Chromebook displays in my experience.

Back of ASUS Chromebook CX1505, open on desk with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

And despite its large size, the 1920 x 1080p resolution still looks sharp and clear. That wide ratio also makes various productivity tasks easier, as well as serving entertainment content well.

The keys of the CX1505 are well damped, resulting in softer presses than you might expect, but they’re still as snappy and as light as you would expect from a laptop keyboard. They’re well spaced, too, and thanks to that wide chassis, the numberpad doesn’t cramp the layout, as is the case with some other laptops and Chromebooks.

The trackpad has a solid and noticeable click, but it feels nasty and cheap, owing to the lack of dampening. Gliding isn’t the smoothest, either, with attempts to make small and precise movements resulting in lag and cursor jumps.

Taps are better, but inconsistent: being unresponsive at times, and too eager at others. The surface area of the pad is quite small, too, despite there being plenty of space for a larger module. At least it’s solidly installed, with no wobble to it.

The overall connectivity of the CX1505 is good for the most part. However, the Bluetooth radio stopped working on one occasion, severing connection with all my devices. Thankfully, fixing the issue merely required disabling and then re-enabling Bluetooth from the status area in the bottom-right corner.

Performance score: 4 / 5

ASUS Chromebook CX1505 review: Battery life

Close-up of ports on ASUS Chromebook CX15, open on desk with wooden panels, pink wall, and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

The CX1505 has a respectable, if not impressive, battery life. It should see you throughout the day, but it only managed seven hours in our playback test, where we ran a movie on a continuous loop.

This beats the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, which only managed six and a half hours, but it’s bested by rivals such as the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 and the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, which both achieved times around the 11-hour mark. And the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook can last a hugely impressive 16-plus hours.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the ASUS Chromebook CX1505?

	Notes	Rating
Value	There aren’t many new Chromebooks priced this low, still less those with competing specs.	5 / 5
Design	It may look sleek and minimal, but it’s surprisingly heavy, and it’s not the sturdiest, either.	3.5 / 5
Performance	Considering its middling spec, the CX1505 is impressive in action, if not spectacular.	4 / 5
Battery life	Battery life is good but not outstanding; there are plenty of Chromebooks that can outlast it.	3 / 5
Total Score	It might not be a powerhouse, but the CX1505 is capable and cheap enough to make it excellent value.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a wide display
The 87% screen-to-body ratio certainly looks striking and helps with both productivity and entertainment.

You’ll be doing a lot of typing
The keyboard on the CX1505 is great, offering a satisfying feel and generous spacing, despite the inclusion of a number pad.

Don't buy it if...

You want serious performance
Some light multitasking and entertainment are possible, but demand anything more and the CX1505 will struggle.

You want something very portable
The wide and relatively hefty body of the CX1505 makes it less portable than you might imagine.

ASUS Chromebook CX15: Also consider

If the ASUS Chromebook CX1505 doesn't sound right for you, here are some alternatives:

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
The Chromebook Spin 312 is a more compact and versatile device, thanks to its small 12.2-inch screen and convertibility, allowing you to use it like a tablet. In truth, its touchscreen is best used when the unit is propped on a desk, rather than held in the hand, but it’s still one of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks, and its amenable keyboard and keen display only add to its appeal. Battery life is pretty good, too.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
For a more capable Chromebook, look no further than the HP Chromebook Plus. It’s great for all kinds of tasks, while the display renders all sorts of content well. Its most disappointing aspect is probably its keyboard, as the number pad squeezes the other keys, which may take some getting used to. Its official pricing might look high, but we’ve seen it around for a lot less.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus review 15.6-inch

How I tested the ASUS Chromebook CX15

Tested for several days
Used for various tasks
Plentiful Chromebook experience

I tested the CX1505 for several days, during which time I used it for productivity, entertainment, and general browsing.

I used it for word processing and spreadsheet editing, as well as streaming HD and 4K content. I also played mobile games downloaded from the Play Store, and ran our series of benchmark tests for Chromebooks.

I’ve been using Chromebooks for years and have extensive experience reviewing them. I’ve also reviewed other kinds of mobile devices, including tablets and laptops designed for productivity and gaming.

First reviewed November 2025
Read more about how we test

I reviewed Lenovo’s new Chromebook Plus and was enthralled by its design and performance – but I’m not sure it’s worth its Windows-laptop price tag

1:15 pm | September 17, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Dell Inspiron | Comments: Off

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Two-minute review

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch is a high-end device, featuring a premium build and spec - with a price tag to match.

It looks very elegant, more so than other Chromebooks. It apes Apple’s MacBook line in all the right ways, with its sleek, rounded chassis and delectable materials. It’s also very thin and reasonably light, making it a cinch to carry around.

This really is one of the best Chromebook constructions I’ve seen. Every aspect screams quality, and there are a few atypical touches, such as the central protrusion on the top of lid to help with opening, and the wavy contours of the underside panel.

The lid is as smooth and as stable as I could’ve wished for, too, although it doesn’t open to a full 180 degrees. The bezel around the display is incredibly thin, which is always a positive.

You don’t get many interfaces on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, although I was glad to see two USB-C ports, both of which can be used to charge the device and connect to external monitors, and placed either side for improved convenience. A USB-A port and a headset jack are the only others.

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch performs as well as its state-of-the-art design suggests. It can handle all manner of tasks, from light productivity to gaming, and the 16GB of RAM in my review unit made light work of multitasking.

Complementing this performance is the brilliant OLED display, which provides plenty of clarity, vibrancy, contrast, and brightness, with the latter helping to keep reflections at bay. It also has touch functionality, which works very well, if not quite on par with those on tablets and phones.

The touchpad, however, is the best I’ve used on a Chromebook: it’s unbelievably smooth, while its large dimensions and responsive inputs make navigation as easy as can be. The keyboard is also great to use, although I did have to acclimatize somewhat to the solidity of the keys themselves, but once I did, typing was an equally enjoyable experience.

Battery life is also superb, lasting about 14 hours in our movie playback test. Not many other Chromebooks can beat this, barring the odd few. It’s also very quick to charge.

All of these class-leading elements come at a price, however. The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, straying into Windows-laptop territory – and ChromeOS simply can’t compete with these machines in terms of sheer versatility.

For this reason, it’s hard to recommend the Chromebook Plus 14-inch outright, unless you manage to catch it in a generous sale. But if you have your heart set on a Chromebook Plus and the money to spend, the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch won’t disappoint.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Price and availability

Close-up of keyboard on Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch — (Image credit: Future)

$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
Available now
High end of the market

The Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch costs $749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197 and is available now. Models with differing RAM and storage capacities are also available.

This is one of the most expensive Chromebooks on the market. At this price, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch rubs shoulders with some of the best laptops running Windows, which have far greater compatibility and customizability. The best value laptop as far as we’re concerned is the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which we also compared favorably to a MacBook (specifically the Air model), owing to its thin and light design and commendable speed.

There’s also the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which we rate as the one of the best Chromebooks for students, thanks to its blistering performance by the standards of the sector. While it’s also expensive for a Chromebook, it’s still considerably cheaper than Chromebook Plus 14-inch, despite having a larger display.

Value: 2.5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Specs

My Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review unit had 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Price:	$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197
CPU:	MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)
Graphics:	Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC
RAM:	16GB LPDDR5x
Screen:	14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen
Storage:	256GB UFS 4.0
Ports:	2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack
Wireless:	MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:	5.0MP with privacy shutter
Weight:	2.78lbs (1.26kg)
Dimensions:	12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Design

Close-up of webcam on Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch with hand touching the lid behind it — (Image credit: Future)

Fabulous construction
Takes cues from MacBooks
Not many ports

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is expertly crafted. Its Apple-inspired appearance is more than surface-deep; its build quality rivals that of the best MacBooks, even featuring its own fingerprint scanner. Further similarities lay in the Chromebook Plus 14-inch’s thin and light body, which makes it easy to travel with.

But the Chromebook Plus 14-inch has some unique aspects that set it apart slightly. There’s a bulge in the center of the lid that makes it easier to open, while the underside is crinkled – quite why, I’m not sure; but I appreciated it nonetheless, as it feels oddly satisfying to hold.

The lid hinge is engineered to a high standard as well, offering smooth yet sturdy adjustments. The bezel around the screen is minimal, which I’m always pleased to see as it allows the display to make full use of its allotted space.

Even the power adapter is well designed, forgoing the mid-cable brick that many others are saddled with. It’s still something of a wall wart, though, and the length of brick directly behind the plug might make it unsuitable for certain setups.

Thankfully, it should prove thin enough to avoid infringing upon adjacent sockets. It’s a shame the cable itself isn’t that long, but it should suffice for most setups.

There are only four ports on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch, but two of them are USB-C, and both support charging and external display connections, which helps to make up for the lack of dedicated ports for these. They’re also located on either side, which makes the Chromebook Plus 14-inch conducive to a wider variety of setups. The other two interfaces are a USB-A (on the left) and a headset jack (on the right), which are always useful additions.

Design score: 5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Performance

Back of Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch, open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Fast all-round performance
Sharp and vibrant display
Super smooth touchpad

Benchmarks

Here are the benchmark results for the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 14 hours and 4 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 288.364
Kraken Benchmark: 398.8ms
Speedometer 3.1: 26.6 (±0.45)

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch is an excellent performer. It can handle light productivity with ease, while the 16GB of RAM in my review unit (quite a lot for a Chromebook) meant it could multitask without issue.

It can also stream 4K content seamlessly without endless pauses for buffering, as well as run some reasonably demanding mobile games. I played Asphalt Legends on high settings and Call of Duty: Mobile on max settings, and both ran as smoothly as I could’ve wished for. Alien: Isolation was a slightly less impressive experience, but it was still just as playable.

The OLED display is glorious, and easily among the best in this sector, rendering colors with fantastic vibrancy. It also has great contrast, and although reflections can reveal themselves at points, I found there’s enough brightness to eliminate the worst of them. The 1920 x 1200 resolution is pleasingly sharp, too, especially within its 14-inch frame.

Close-up of left-hand ports on Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

What’s more, the Chromebook Plus 14-inch also has touchscreen functionality. This works very well, thanks to how responsive and precise it is. It’s slightly more grabby than some of the best tablet screens, but only marginally, so keen illustrators and other stylus users will still find it smooth enough. It’s only a shame that a stylus isn’t included.

The keys on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch feel very tight and solid when pressed, which did take me some time to get used to. However, they’re incomparably stable, and their relatively deep indentations provide plenty of security and tactility.

With all this said, they still have a short and snappy actuation, and offer plenty of feedback thanks to their dampening. They’re also backlit, which is somewhat of a rarity on Chromebooks.

If anything, the touchpad on the Chromebook Plus 14-inch is even better. It has the silkiest surface of any Chromebook touchpad I’ve used, which makes gestures and navigation effortless. The latter is further aided by its relatively large size, too.

Performance score: 5 / 5

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch review: Battery life

Close-up of right-hand ports on Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch on desk — (Image credit: Future)

The Chromebook Plus 14-inch has an exceptional battery life. It managed to last 14 hours when I played a movie on repeat from a full charge. This eclipses many of its rivals, including the HP Chromebook Plus 15, which only managed close to 11 hours.

However, it can’t beat the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook with its score of 16-plus hours, nor can it outlast the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which achieved over 18 hours. It’s quick to charge, though, taking just 100 minutes to top up completely.

Battery life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	It’s one of the most expensive Chromebooks around, and comes dangerously close to mid-range Windows laptops.	2.5 / 5
Design	It’s hard to fault any aspect of its construction, and there are a few unique touches that only make it better.	5 / 5
Performance	There’s little the Chromebook Plus 14-inch can’t handle, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.	5 / 5
Battery life	The Chromebook Plus 14-inch can outlast many of its rivals, with only a few exceptions.	4.5 / 5
Total Score	Chromebooks don’t come much better than this, but you’ll have to pay dear for the privilege – at which point non-ChromeOS devices might make more sense.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want the best Chromebook design
I haven’t come across a Chromebook built as well as this before; it’s just so thin and so premium.

You want the best Chromebook performance
Its powerful ARM CPU and 16GB of RAM make light work of all kinds of tasks, including 4K streaming and light gaming. The keyboard, touchpad, and touchscreen are all excellent to use as well.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Chromebook Plus 14-inch tops the Chromebook Plus market, and even encroaches on the Windows laptop space, which is a daring move.

You want plenty of connections
With only four ports – three of which are USB – those after more dedicated interfaces will be disappointed.

Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch: Also consider

	Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch	HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch	Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
Price:	$749.99 / £699 / AU$1,197	$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749	$949.99 (about £760 / AU$1,470)
CPU:	MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 (8 cores, 2.1GHz)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)	Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100
Graphics:	Integrated Arm Immortalis-G925 MC	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Qualcomm Adreno GPU
RAM:	16GB LPDDR5x	8GB LPDDR5	16GB LPDDR5X
Screen:	14" WUXGA (1920x1200) OLED 400nits Glossy, 100% DCI-P3, 60Hz, Glass, touchscreen	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 16:9 aspect ratio, non-touch screen	14″ QHD (2560 x 1600) @60Hz touchscreen
Storage:	256GB	128GB	256GB
Ports:	2x USB-C (3.2 Gen 1, PD 3.0, DisplayPort 1.4), 1x USB-A (3.2 Gen 1), 1x headset jack	1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio	2x USB-C 4, 1x USB 3.2, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio jack
Wireless:	MediaTek Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	MediaTek Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
Camera:	5.0MP with privacy shutter	1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter	1080p at 30 fps FHD RGB,720p at 30 fps IR
Weight:	2.78lbs (1.26kg)	3.81lbs (1.73kg)	3.17lbs (1.40kg)
Dimensions:	12.37 x 8.63 x 0.62in (314 x 219 x 16mm)	14.28 x 9.5 x 0.78in (363 x 242 x 20mm)	0.58 ~ 0.0.62 x 12.36 x 8.81in (14.69 ~ 15.64 x 314 x 223.75mm)

Here are some equally-capable alternatives to the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch:

HP Chromebook Plus 15
If you’re in the market for a similarly capable Chromebook Plus, but don’t want to spend quite as much, the HP Chromebook Plus fits the bill. It matches the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for performance, and while its design and display aren’t quite as spectacular, the HP Chromebook Plus is still at the top of its class.

Read our full HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review

Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441
The premium price tag of the Chromebook Plus 14-inch means it competes with some Windows machines, including the Inspiron 14 Plus 7441, which is one of the best value laptops around. It has a similar spec to the Chromebook Plus 14-inch – it likewise utilizes an ARM chip and 16GB of RAM – which means it can handle the same tasks. However, its display is even sharper, and crucially it runs Windows, which is far more versatile than ChromeOS will likely ever be.

Read our full Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441 review

How I tested the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14-inch

Tested for two days
Used for various tasks
Experience with Chromebooks and other laptops

I tested the Chromebook Plus 14-inch for a couple of days, during which time I used it for all manner of tasks, from productivity and browsing to streaming and gaming.

I also ran our series of benchmark tests for Chromebooks, and put its battery life through its paces by running a movie on a continuous loop.

I have plenty of Chromebook experience, having owned and reviewed a number of them. I’ve also owned and reviewed other laptops and even tablets, so I know how they compare to Android, Windows, and macOS devices.

First reviewed September 2025
Read more about how we test

I used the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 for all kinds of tasks, and it handles most of them well – just not at the same time

12:10 pm | June 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin, RAM, SD | Comments: Off

Acer Chromebook Spin 312: Two-minute review

The Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is the smallest device in the brand’s line of 2-in-1 Chromebooks, measuring just 12.2 inches. Despite this, it’s not the sleekest Chromebook around, with its sharp angles and juts spoiling the otherwise elegant design, which is aided by the quality of the materials used in its construction.

It’s quite thick and heavy for its size, so it’s perhaps not ideal for using as a tablet, despite its convertible nature. But thanks to that solid hinge for the lid, it can be propped upside down and used exclusively in touchscreen mode with ease.

It’s not just the hinge mechanism that’s well made – all aspects of the Spin 312 feel as solid and sturdy as any of the best Chromebooks, including the keys and trackpad, which feel premium to the touch as well.

Port selection is reasonable, too, although I would’ve liked to have seen more than just one USB-C port, and the lack of an SD card slot might be detrimental for some. Thankfully, there are two USB-A ports to improve connectivity options, and the HDMI port and audio jack are further additions I welcome.

The review unit I had came equipped with an Intel N100 processor and 4GB of RAM. Despite these underwhelming specs, the Chromebook Spin 312 performed admirably, handling many typical Chromebook workloads quite well. However, slowdowns can occur when pushed a little too far.

Close-up of keyboard and touchpad on Acer Chromebook Spin 312, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Such cases include gaming, where the Chromebook Spin 312 struggled to run even fairly modest mobile games on high settings during my testing. However, lowering these did improve matters to the point where games such as Asphalt Legends Unite were playable to an enjoyable extent.

More pleasing on the performance front is the display. The resolution looks especially sharp on the 12-inch screen, although colors aren’t rendered as vibrantly as they are on some rival Chromebooks. The bezels also encroach quite considerably on the allotted real estate for the screen, and the display can be quite reflective under certain conditions. In most cases, though, it makes for a pleasant viewing experience.

The touch inputs are also quite responsive, tracking well with swipes to make drawing and handwriting a realistic option, although it can be a little grabby at times. You’ll also need to provide your own stylus if you want to make the most of your creative time with the Chromebook Spin 312.

I found the touchpad disappointingly inaccurate by comparison, as it failed to track with what I was expecting from my movements, leading to a lagging and stuttering, which in turn made it imprecise.

Thankfully, I had a better time typing on the Chromebook Spin 312, thanks to the generous spacing of the keys and their satisfying dampening. Their lack of indentations and grip, however, can lead to slipping and mispresses on occasion.

Its battery life is impressive, lasting just over 11 hours in our test. This places it near the higher end of the Chromebook spectrum – the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook performs significantly better on this front, although admittedly this is somewhat of an outlier.

The Chromebook Spin 312 sits somewhere in the middle of the convertible Chromebook market. Some rivals are better performers, while others have a sleeker design. But, overall, if you won’t be demanding too much from it in terms of performance, the Chromebook Spin 312 is a good 2-in-1 Chromebook for those who prize portability and a sharp image.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Price and availability

Starts from £329.99 (about $450 / AU$690)
Various CPU, RAM, and storage options
Middle of the market

The Chromebook Spin 312 starts from £329.99 (about $450 / AU$690). It can be configured with 64GB or 128GB of storage, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and an Intel Core i3 or Intel N100 CPU.

This places the Chromebook Spin 312 somewhere in the middle of the market considering its spec. It’s considerably cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, which it bests in terms of performance, although its display isn’t quite as sharp or as vibrant, and lacks its premium design (although it isn’t too far behind in this regard).

However, the Chromebook Spin 312 is more expensive than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which is one of the best budget Chromebooks in our view. This lacks the compactness of the Chromebook Spin 312 and the performance isn’t exactly impressive either, but it makes up for these deficiencies with its great build quality and enduring battery life.

Value: 3.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Specs

These are the specs of the particular Acer Chromebook Spin 312 I reviewed:

Price	Starting from £329.99 (about $450 / AU$690)
CPU	Intel N100 (4 threads, 3.4GHz)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	4GB LPDDR5
Screen	12.2-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS LCD, 16:10, 60Hz touchscreen
Storage	64GB eMMC
Ports	2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
Camera	1280 x 720
Weight	2.84lbs (1.29kg)
Dimensions	11.4 x 8.1 x 0.8in (29 x 20.5 x 2cm)

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Design

Close-up of left ports on Acer Chromebook Spin 312, on desk — (Image credit: Future)

Bulky for the size
Solid lid hinge
Only one USB-C port and no SD card slot

The Chromebook Spin 312 takes a somewhat utilitarian approach to design, with its sharp angles, large vents and lid hinges appearing quite conspicuous. However, it's still a compact device, and has enough flat sides to help impart some sleekness.

This is further aided by the steely grey colorway and look of the chassis materials, which have a subtle shine to them. What’s more, the quality of these materials seems high, feeling solid and fairly premium to the touch. This extends to the lightly textured keycaps and silky smooth touchpad.

The hinge mechanism is also reassuringly solid. There’s no wobble at any angle, yet it’s smooth and easy to open and adjust. This stability also helps when tenting the Chromebook Spin 312 to use it in touchscreen mode.

However, it can’t compete with the best tablets for usability. Despite its small 12-inch size, the Chromebook Spin 312 is a relatively thick and heavy slab, which can make it awkward to hold in the hand when folded back all the way.

The screen has a large bezel around it, which somewhat compromises the already limited real estate for the display. On a more positive note, it's made from Corning Gorilla Glass, so it should prove resistant to wear and tear when taking the Chromebook Spin 312 on your travels.

Port selection is reasonable for a Chromebook this small, although it’s a minor shame there’s only one USB-C port and SD card slot, as you’ll find two on many modern Chromebooks. Still, you do at least get two USB-A ports, and I also welcome the inclusion of a dedicated HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack.

Design score: 4 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Performance

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 open upside down on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Capable of light work
Sharp but reflective display
Struggles with intensive tasks

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Acer Chromebook Spin 312:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 11 hours and 12 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 179.327
Kraken Benchmark: 1309.3ms
Speedometer 3.0: 9.52 (±0.52)

The Chromebook Spin 312 offers capable enough performance for everyday tasks, meeting the demands typically placed upon Chromebooks. Apps load fast and light productivity and general browsing are handled well. Despite its somewhat limited 4GB of RAM, it’s even capable of some degree of multitasking, coping well with multiple browser tabs open, for instance.

However, it can come a little unstuck when those tabs are running more complex activities, or when multiple apps are in play. The Chromebook Spin 312 can also generate a fair amount of heat underneath, which is bothersome when on your lap.

Gaming performance isn’t particularly impressive, either. It can handle some mobile titles, but you’ll likely have to play with modest graphics settings. When I played Asphalt Legends Unite, for instance, high settings caused stutters and considerable slow downs, rendering the game almost unplayable. However, it ran much better on lower settings, if not quite as smooth or as fast as some rivals can manage – and certainly the Chromebook Spin 312 isn’t a match for the best gaming laptops in this regard.

When it comes to video playback, the Chromebook Spin 312 can handle streaming content in 4K, although it’s not always the smoothest experience. The WUXGA display at least provides a sharp image: the 1920 x 1200 resolution might sound a little low compared to other laptops and some Chromebooks on the market today, but due to its small screen size, it looks sharper than you might imagine.

Close-up of right-hand side ports on Acer Chromebook Spin 312, on desk — (Image credit: Future)

It’s also quite bright when displaying lighter shades. However, while colors are rendered well enough, they don’t appear quite as vibrant as those on the displays equipped in the best laptops or best MacBooks, looking slightly washed-out by comparison.

The screen is also quite reflective, which, combined with its somewhat lackluster backlighting, makes darker scenes hard to view at times. However, the effect isn’t too troublesome, and compared to many other Chromebooks, the Chromebook Spin 312 is still great for viewing content.

The touchscreen capability is impressive, too. It responds well to all sorts of swipes and gestures, making for smooth doodles and handwriting, even if it's a little grabby at times. It’s also a shame no stylus is included to unleash the full potential of its functionality.

Unfortunately, the touchpad is less responsive, and I experienced issues with its tracking: many times it felt as if it was either dragging or jumping ahead, lacking the smoothness I was expecting. As a result, I struggled to use it accurately, which can really hamper productivity.

By contrast, typing with the Chromebook Spin 312 is a largely pleasant experience. The keys are satisfyingly damped and are spread surprisingly wide for a Chromebook this small. The keycaps also feel nice under the finger tips thanks to their texture, although they lack grip, which is made worse by the lack of indentation as well. This made the keyboard feel less secure in use, but overall I still found it amenable for typing quickly on.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Battery life

Back of Acer Chromebook Spin 312 open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook Spin 312 is quite impressive. During our tests, where we ran a movie on a continuous loop, it managed to last over 11 hours. This makes it much better than the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, which could only manage six and a half hours. It also beats the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023), one of the best Chromebooks around in our view, which managed over 10 hours.

However, it can’t outlive the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which, when we tested it, endured for a remarkable 16 hours and 20 minutes. However, this is rather exceptional in the Chromebook world, and the Chromebook Spin 312 can still lay claim to having one of the best battery lives in the market.

Battery life: 4.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Chromebook Spin 312?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	The Chromebook Spin 312 sits somewhere in the middle of the market given its design and spec, being cheaper than some rivals but more expensive than others.	3.5 / 5
Design	It’s solidly made and small enough to make it portable, although it’s a little bulky for tablet-style use.	4 / 5
Performance	The Chromebook Spin 312 can handle basic tasking, while the display is pleasingly sharp, if not the most vibrant and a tad too reflective.	3.5 / 5
Battery life	It may not have the very best battery life of a Chromebook, but its 11-hour performance still places it in the upper echelons.	4.5 / 5
Total Score	If you’re looking for a Chromebook you can use with touch inputs and doesn’t take up much space, you shouldn’t be disappointed with the Chromebook Spin 312 – so long as you don’t demand too much from it.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want something compact
The 12-inch size makes the Chromebook Spin 312 easy to travel with, and yet it doesn't feel compromised when typing or getting work done.

You want a 2-in-1 device
The 360-degree rotating touchscreen makes the Chromebook Spin 312 versatile, although it’s perhaps not best suited for full-on tablet-style use.

Don't buy it if...

You want the fastest Chromebook
Although it's surprisingly capable, those with more demanding workloads should seek more powerful models.

You want the sveltest device
Despite its small size, the Chromebook Spin 312 is fairly bulky and weighty, which impairs its tablet-style credentials.

Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review: Also consider

	Acer Chromebook Spin 312	Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
Price	Starting from £329.99 (about $450 / AU$690)	$429.99 / £419 / AU$707	$339 / £299 / AU$499
CPU	Intel N100 (4 threads, 3.4GHz)	Intel Celeron N4500 1.10GHz (2 threads, 2.80GHz)	1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 2.8GHz Burst)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM	4GB LPDDR5	4GB LPDDR4x	4GB DDR4
Screen	12.2-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS LCD, 16:10, 60Hz touchscreen	12.4-inch WQXGA LED Display (2560 x 1600), touchscreen	11-inch IPS touchscreen, 1,366 x 768 pixels
Storage	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC	64GB eMMC
Ports	2x USB-A, 1x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio	1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio	2x USB-C with charging, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen1, microSD
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2	Wi-Fi 6, LTE (Option), Bluetooth v5.1	802.11AC (2 x 2) WiFi, Bluetooth® 4.2
Camera	1280 x 720	720p / 8MP	720p
Weight	2.84lbs (1.29kg)	2.82lbs (1.28kg)	2.64lbs (1.2kg)
Dimensions	11.4 x 8.1 x 0.8in (29 x 20.5 x 2cm)	11.3 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches (28.8 x 20.7 x 1.7cm)	0.7 x 11.41 x 8.18 inches (17.8 x 290 x 207.8mm)

Here are some alternatives if the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 doesn't sound right for your needs:

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is about the same size as the Chromebook Spin 312, but it has a thinner and lighter construction, as well as a more upmarket design, which is one of the best in class. The display is even sharper and more vibrant, too. It’s a shame that its performance fails to live up to its looks, but if you only have very light workloads, it’ll make a pleasant companion. Read our full Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
The IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook boasts great build quality and excellent battery life. However, it’s let down by unremarkable performance and uninspiring looks. Still, it’s powerful enough for light productivity and schoolwork, hence its inclusion on our best Chromebook guide. Read our full Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook review.

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Spin 312

Tested for two days
Used for work and for entertainment
Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Chromebook Spin 312 for a couple of days, during which time I used it working, gaming, and general browsing.

I used word processing and spreadsheet applications, streamed 4K content on YouTube, and played games such as Asphalt Legends Unite. I also connected various peripherals via Bluetooth.

I have been using Chromebooks for a while, and have reviewed a number of them as well, ranging in price, form factor, and spec. I have also reviewed plenty of Windows laptops.

First reviewed: June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 and liked its large display and fast performance – but it doesn’t have the best battery life

12:10 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: UK | Comments: Off

Acer Chromebook Plus 516: Two-minute review

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a large device with a reasonably strong spec, making it ideal for various productivity and entertainment needs. It might not look terribly auspicious, and the color is a little dour, but it's surprisingly thin for a Chromebook this size, which helps to make it more sleek.

It’s also a well-made machine, with materials that feel durable yet light. What’s more, the lid hinges allow for easy opening and offer stability at any angle all the way up to 170 degrees.

It also has one of the best Chromebook keyboards in terms of layout, with plenty of keys included, such as a number pad, without compromising spacing. This makes typing easy, and the snappy nature of the individual keys makes them satisfying, too.

The touchpad is equally capable, providing responsive inputs and plenty of accuracy, which, combined with its large size, makes for easy navigation. It also manages to keep out of the way while typing.

Close-up of keyboard and touchpad on Acer Chromebook Plus 516, open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Port selection on the Chromebook Plus 516 is quite good, and I was pleased to see the inclusion of two USB-C ports. However, it’s a minor shame both are on the same side, which may limit your options when plugging into an outlet. Still, the two USB-A ports, HDMI port and audio jack are all welcome additions.

In terms of performance, the Chromebook Plus 516 handles most tasks well. It loads apps quickly and multitasks very well. Even mobile gaming on high settings is viable. It also takes Ultra HD content in its stride, streaming it without a hitch for the most part. Viewing such content is made all the more enjoyable thanks to that large, crisp, and vibrant display, which also does an admirable job of keeping reflections at bay.

Unfortunately, the battery life of the Chromebook Plus 516 isn’t particularly impressive relative to its rivals. During our movie playback test, it failed to break past eight hours, a threshold many modern Chromebooks can exceed.

With a starting price of £399.99 (about $540 / AU$830), the Chromebook Plus 516 sits somewhere in the middle of the market. However, it's good value when you consider its performance, display, and productivity credentials.

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Price and availability

Starts from £399.99 (about $540 / AU$830)
Available from August in the UK
Mid-market pricing

The Chromebook Plus 516 starts from £399.99 (about $540 / AU$830) and is available in the UK from August in one colorway. Multiple storage, CPU, RAM and graphics options are configurable. A backlit keyboard can also be specified, as can a touch screen.

It’s about the same price as the equally capable but slightly smaller Acer Chromebook Plus 514. Like that model, the 516 sits somewhere in the middle of the market, but perhaps represents slightly better value owing to the larger screen size and extra keys.

However, if you still want great performance but at a lower price, the older Acer Chromebook Plus 515 remains a great pick, and its 15.6-inch measurement is still big enough to please those who prefer large displays; there’s a reason we think it’s one of the best student Chromebooks, after all.

If you’re after something cheaper still, we think the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is the best student laptop for those on a budget. Its performance is no match for the mightier Chromebook Plus 516, and it’s also much smaller, but it has the advantage of being a 2-in-1 device, thanks to its 360-degree rotation and touchscreen.

Value: 3.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Specs

These specs pertain to my review unit of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516:

Price	£399.99 (about $540 / AU$830)
CPU	Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	8GB LPDDR5
Screen	16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10
Storage	128GB UFS
Ports	2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
Camera	HD 1080p
Weight	3.75lbs (1.7kg)
Dimensions	14.1 x 10 x 0.8 inches (359 x 253 x 19mm)

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Design

Close-up of left-side ports on Acer Chromebook Plus 516, open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Smart and well made
Plenty of keys
Both USB-C ports on same side

The Chromebook Plus 516 adopts the fairly typical Acer aesthetic, with a sleek but understated appearance. There’s nothing particularly spectacular about its looks, but it’s at least free from too many fussy details.

Despite its large size, it’s pleasingly thin and not quite as heavy as you’d expect it to be. It’s no match for smaller Chromebooks in terms of portability, but all sides are quite flat and smooth, which helps when sliding it into your bag.

The build quality is on par with the best Chromebooks. Certain materials look more premium than others, but all feel solid and durable. The keycaps are perhaps the least impressive visually, but they’re tightly fitted.

The hinge mechanism is similarly well-engineered. The lid is easy to open and move into any position, and its maximum recline angle of 170 degrees makes it versatile for various setups. What’s more, it remains stable in any position; there’s next to no wobble, which is all the more impressive given its thinness and lightness.

The keyboard features numerous shortcut keys on the F row, all of which are quite useful. Highlights include one for taking screenshots, one for dictation, and one for opening a menu containing various accessibility functions.

Being a Chromebook Plus, you also get a Quick Insert key, used for accessing files, opening recent documents or creating new ones, inserting links, using AI tools, and other productivity-based functions.

The keyboard even includes a navigation cluster and number pad, both of which I welcome. More impressively, these don’t compromise the layout spacing, thanks to the width of the device itself. The touchpad also manages to not get in the way while typing, despite its relatively large size.

I was pleased to see the Chromebook Plus 516 features two USB-C ports, although unfortunately they’re both the same side, which somewhat limits versatility when plugging into an outlet. Still, it’s nice to have more than one, and the further ports – two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a 3.5mm headset jack – are all welcome additions. There’s no SD card slot, though, which might be a problem for some users.

Design score: 4 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Performance

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 open wide on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Fast and capable multitasker
Can handle light gaming
Sharp display

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Acer Chromebook Plus 516:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 7 hours and 35 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 295.772
Kraken Benchmark: 398.5ms
Speedometer 3.0: 18.8 (±1.0)

The Chromebook Plus 516 is quite a capable performer. Creating and editing documents and spreadsheets is no problem for it, while switching between apps and multiple tabs is taken in its stride.

Gaming performance is also admirable. I managed to play Asphalt Legends Unite on high graphics settings without issue, running smoothly with little stutter. This was especially impressive given that the game recommended I play on lower settings based on the specs, but you’ll still want one of the best gaming laptops if you plan on playing more intensive games.

It can stream ultra HD content with relative ease as well. During my testing, I encountered little in the way of buffering or stuttering, making for seamless viewing in the main.

Back of Acer Chromebook Plus 516 open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The experience is made even better thanks to the surprisingly vibrant display, which also avoids the washed-out appearance that afflicts some Chromebooks. Reflections do reveal themselves somewhat in darker scenes and unfavorable lighting conditions, but generally they’re kept at bay quite well.

Moreover, the 1920 x 1200 resolution is suitably sharp for its large size, which makes the UI very clear, while the thin bezels ensure that the most is made of the allotted real estate.

Typing on the Chromebook Plus 516 is also a pleasure. Despite the inauspicious looking keys, they perform well, with their light actuation and just enough dampening to make them tactile. Despite the inclusion of a number pad and other extra keys, I didn’t find the layout cramped, which made for an accurate and comfortable typing experience.

The trackpad is brilliantly smooth and very precise, tracking perfectly with my finger movements and gestures. As with the keys, it only requires a light touch, which makes it easy to use.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Battery life

Close-up of camera on Acer Chromebook Plus 516 with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The Chromebook Plus 516 doesn't have a terribly impressive battery life, posting a below-average score during our test. We ran a movie on a continuous loop, and it gave up the ghost after seven hours and 35 minutes.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 we tested fared better, managing to last almost an hour longer. The much smaller Chromebook Spin 312 also eclipsed it, running all the way past 11 hours before total depletion.

However, the Chromebook Plus 516 still did better than the older Chromebook Plus 515, which only managed five hours. However, if you’re after a device that can really go all day, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is perhaps your best choice, as this lasted over 16 hours in our movie playback test.

Battery life: 2.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	The Chromebook Plus 516 has a price you might expect for a Chromebook Plus, although its size and keyboard impart extra value.	3.5 / 5
Design	The Chromebook Plus 516 is pleasingly thin for such a large device, and the build quality is respectable. The keyboard is great for productivity, too.	4 / 5
Performance	The Chromebook Plus 516 can handle all sorts of tasks, including light gaming, while the sharp and vibrant display is great for viewing Ultra HD content.	4.5 / 5
Battery life	The Chromebook Plus 516 is far from the best in class when it comes to battery life, with many others capable of outliving it.	2.5 / 5
Total Score	The Chromebook Plus 516 is a great performer with a vibrant display and a useful keyboard. If you’re after a large Chromebook for work and play, it fits the bill quite well – so long as you don’t plan on using it unplugged all day long.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a large display
At 16 inches, the Chromebook Plus 516 is one of the larger Chromebooks on the market, and the resolution is sharp enough to match.

You want fast performance
The Chromebook Plus 516 can handle most productivity tasks and even light gaming, thanks to its relatively strong spec.

Don't buy it if...

You want a convertible device
The Chromebook Plus 516 isn’t a 2-in-1 device, so it can’t be used like the best tablets.

You want the best battery life
Seven and a half hours is all you’ll get with continuous movie playback, which ranks in the lower half of the Chromebook league.

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Also consider

	Acer Chromebook Plus 516	Acer Chromebook Plus 514	Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
Price	Starts from £399.99 (about $540 / AU$830)	$399 / £399 (about AU$560)	$399.99 / £399.99 (around AU$633)
CPU	Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)	Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)	1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4020 (dual-core, 4MB cache, up to 2.8GHz Burst)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM	8GB LPDDR5	8GB LPDDR5	4GB DDR4
Screen	16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10	14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10	11-inch IPS touchscreen, 1,366 x 768
Storage	128GB UFS	128GB UFS	64GB eMMC
Ports	2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio	2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio	2x USB-C with charging, 2x USB-A, microSD
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
Camera	HD 1080p	HD 1080p	720p
Weight	3.75lbs (1.7kg)	3.15lbs (1.43kg)	2.64lbs (1.2kg)
Dimensions	14.1 x 10 x 0.8 inches (359 x 253 x 19mm)	12.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches (32.7 x 22.5 x 2cm)	0.7 x 11.41 x 8.18 inches (17.8 x 290 x 207.8mm)

Here are some alternatives to the Chromebook Plus 516:

Acer Chromebook Plus 514
An almost-equally large Chromebook Plus, the 514 boasts a similar performance and spec, although I would say the 516 has a slightly better display quality. The 514 also lacks the extra keys of the 516, which might deter those interested in extracting the maximum productivity from their machine. Read our Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
If you want something smaller, cheaper, and more versatile, look no further than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook. It’s convertible, so you can use it like a tablet, and it has an excellent battery life to boot. However, it’s not the quickest performer, but it's still sufficient, which is why it makes the best student laptop for those on a budget in our view. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook review.

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516

Tested for two days
Used for a variety of tasks
Abundant Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Chromebook Plus 516 for a few days, during which time I used it for a variety of tasks, including productivity, gaming, and browsing.

I edited spreadsheets and documents, used multiple tabs when browsing in Chrome, and streamed 4K content. I also played Asphalt Legends Unite, and connected various peripherals via Bluetooth.

I have used various Chromebooks and other laptop devices for decades, and have reviewed a number of them too (including other Acer models), varying in their price points, form factors, and performance.

First reviewed: June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 and was impressed by its display and performance, but it can get loud under load

6:37 pm | June 3, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Comments: Off

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Two-minute review

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has some strong specs that make it suitable for all kinds of workloads. For a 14-inch device, it has a rather slender and light frame. The lid material also looks premium and is outlined with a gloss rim that adds a touch of elegance.

The keyboard looks cheaper by comparison but, still, it feels built to a sufficiently high standard. The touchpad is better on this front, with its smooth finish and solid construction.

The Chromebook Plus 514 has two USB-A and two USB-C ports, which helps to make it a practical machine to live with. It also has an HDMI port and a 3.5mm audio jack, both of which are also welcome additions – but it’s a slight shame there’s no SD card slot of any kind.

In action, the Chromebook Plus 514 is quite impressive, even compared to some of the best Chromebooks. It handled most tasks I threw at it with admirable composure. Multitasking is also possible, as it can switch between apps with speed and takes multiple browser tabs in its stride. However, fan noise is certainly noticeable when workloads become demanding, but thankfully I didn’t find it disruptive; the same goes for the mild heat it produces.

It also has some impressive gaming performance, allowing me to play mobile games with high settings and frame rates. It also streams 4K content without stuttering or buffering.

Close-up of keyboard on Acer Chromebook Plus 514, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Such content is even more of a joy to experience thanks to the excellent WUXGA display in my unit, which is very clear and sharp with plenty of contrast. Colors are also rendered vibrantly, although perhaps not quite to the degree of some of the best Chromebook displays.

Typing on the Chromebook Plus 514 is pleasant enough, with the well-spaced keys and relatively long travel helping with feedback, although the lack of dampening can make it feel a little unrefined at times. The touchpad, although large, didn’t get in the way when hammering away at the keys, and it’s also easy to use thanks to its large size and smooth texture.

The battery life of the Chromebook Plus 514 is reasonable, lasting about eight and a half hours according to our tests. This is better than some of its competitors, but there are others that can beat it on this front.

With a starting price of $399 / £399 (about AU$560), the Chromebook Plus 514 sits in the middle of the Chromebook Plus market, but when you consider its performance for a Chromebook and sharp display, it’s certainly a device worth considering for work and play.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Price and availability

$399 / £399 (about AU$560)
Available now with multiple configurations
Middle of the Chromebook Plus market

The Chromebook Plus 514 starts from $399 / £399 (about AU$560) and is available in two colorways: Iron and Silver. Various configurations are possible, including a choice between Intel or AMD hardware and Full HD or WUXGA displays.

This is a mid-range price for a Chromebook Plus. It’s cheaper than the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, for instance, which boasts a similar performance but does of course have a larger display, although it doesn’t have quite as high a resolution.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly – but still very capable – Chromebook Plus, then the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a great choice, and is our pick as the best student Chromebook. However, this doesn’t have an especially impressive battery life.

Value: 3.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Specs

My review unit of the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 was specified with an Intel Core 3 CPU, WUXGA display, and 128GB of storage:

Price	$399 / £399 (about AU$560)
CPU	Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	8GB LPDDR5
Screen	14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10
Storage	128GB UFS
Ports	2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth
Camera	HD 1080p
Weight	3.15lbs (1.43kg)
Dimensions	12.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches (32.7 x 22.5 x 2cm)

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Design

Close-up of left-side ports on Acer Chromebook Plus 514, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Premium from the outside
Strong yet smooth hinge
Good port selection

The Chromebook Plus 514 has a slender, dynamic figure considering its 14-inch size. It’s also surprisingly light and thin, although the lid is a little thicker than I’ve seen on other Chromebooks. All its sides are pleasingly neat, although there are a few juts and ridges that spoil its clean lines.

The finish of the lid looks and feels premium, with its metallic edges doing a subtle but noticeable job of enhancing its quality. It’s easy to open thanks to the smooth hinge mechanism, which also provides plenty of stability at any angle – even when it's opened to its full 180 degrees, which is impressive for a Chromebook this size. However, this isn’t a convertible device, so it won’t be able to rival the usability of the best tablets.

The keyboard looks and feels less impressive, with the faux-metallic keycaps appearing quite cheap, and the lack of backlighting on my model was also something I lamented (although this can be optioned on certain models). However, the keys feel well made and their selection is reasonable, with their various shortcut functions clearly labeled. The touchpad is large and smooth, and seems to be engineered to an even higher standard than the keys.

The Chromebook Plus 514 also features the Quick Insert key, which can be used to summon a search box, with useful suggestions provided based on your recent files and web pages, among other items.

Underneath you’ll find vents and two large rubber bars in place of four individual feet. The back one is thicker than the front, which means the whole unit sits with a slight forward tilt, but this is barely noticeable in use.

I was pleased with the port selection for the most part. There’s no SD card slot, which is a little disappointing, but it has an HDMI port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and two USB-A and two USB-C ports, which lends the Chromebook Plus 514 versatile connectivity.

Design score: 4 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Performance

Back of Acer Chromebook Plus 514, on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Handles productivity, video, and light gaming
Sharp and bright display
Noisy at times

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Acer Chromebook Plus 514:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 8 hours and 30 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 275.980
Kraken Benchmark: 438.7ms
Speedometer 3.0: 16.5 (±1.3)

I found the performance of the Chromebook Plus 514 quite impressive. Apps are quick to launch and switch between, and it handles multiple browser tabs without issue. This is thanks to its 8GB of RAM, which allows for seamless multitasking for the most part. Light productivity tasks, such as spreadsheet editing, are also dispatched without issue.

The Chromebook Plus 514 streams ultra-high-definition content with aplomb, too, and it even has capable gaming performance. I managed to play Asphalt Legends Unite on high graphics settings with next to no slowdown, which was impressive.

However, the downside of all this power is that the Chromebook Plus 514 can get quite loud as the fans kick in. It’s not as loud as other devices I’ve tried though, and the pitch at which they whir isn't grating. The chassis can also get quite warm at the rear, but again not to a bothersome degree.

On the other hand, the display is hard to fault in any regard. The WUGXA resolution is very clean and sharp, capable of surprisingly high brightness levels for a Chromebook. Contrast is also strong and colors are vivid, although perhaps not quite to the extent of some displays.

Close-up of webcam on Acer Chromebook Plus 514 with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

However, plenty of viewing angles are possible and it does a respectable job of eliminating glare in unfavorable lighting conditions. In essence, it rivals the displays of not only the best Chromebooks, but also some of the best laptops.

Typing on the Chromebook Plus 514 is a mostly pleasant experience, thanks to the generous spacing of the keys. Their travel is quite deep, which helps with tactility; however, they lack dampening, which can make them feel a little harsh when you're thumping away rapidly.

Thankfully, despite its large size, the trackpad didn’t get in my way while typing. It’s also precise and responsive, as well as offering smooth gliding. Its large surface area helps to make navigation that little bit easier, too.

Unfortunately, the speakers on the Chromebook Plus 514 aren’t particularly impressive, producing a tinny sound owing to the lack of bass response. Small amounts of distortion can also be heard at times, but the overall audio quality is clear enough to be usable, if not enjoyable.

Performance score: 4.5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Battery life

Three-quarter view of Acer Chromebook Plus 514 open wide on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook Plus 514 is reasonable. During our test, which involved running a movie on a continuous loop, it managed to last about eight and a half hours, which is about average compared to other Chromebooks we’ve tried.

It’s a markedly better performance than the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which we rate as the best student Chromebook, as that device only managed a paltry five hours. However, it's worse than the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023), which managed to exceed over ten hours.

Battery life: 3.5 / 5

Should I buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 514?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	The Chromebook Plus 514 has a reasonable starting price, placing it somewhere in the middle of the Chromebook Plus market.	3.5 / 5
Design	The Chromebook Plus 514 looks good from the outside, although the keyboard is a little drab. Overall build quality is good, though, and the port selection is useful.	4 / 5
Performance	For a Chromebook, it’s fast no matter the task, and it can handle multiple workloads quite well, although it can get a little noisy in such cases.	4.5 / 5
Battery life	Battery life is fairly average relative to other Chromebooks, outlasting the weakest among them but falling short of the strongest.	3.5 / 5
Total Score	The Chromebook Plus 514 is fast at all kinds of tasks and has a fantastic WUXGA display. Starting prices are reasonable as well, all of which makes it worth your consideration.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You have diverse uses in mind
The Chromebook Plus 514 handles productivity, video playback, and mobile games very well, thanks to its spec and display quality.

You need good ports
The Chromebook Plus 514 has plenty of USB ports and includes HDMI and audio jacks, all of which are useful.

Don't buy it if...

You want a convertible Chromebook
Reclining the screeen to 180 degrees is useful, but the display can’t be folded back and used like a tablet.

You want silence
If you want the silent operation of, say, the best MacBooks, then the Chromebook Plus 514 isn’t going to be for you.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: Also consider

	Acer Chromebook Plus 514	HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch	Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Price	$399 / £399 (about AU$560)	$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749	$399.99 / £399.99 (around AU$633)
CPU	Intel Core 3 100U (8 threads, 4.7GHz)	Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)	Intel Core i3-1215U
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	8GB LPDDR5	8GB LPDDR5	8GB
Screen	14-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) IPS, 16:10	15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 144Hz, 16:9, non-touch screen	15.6-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS, 16:9
Storage	128GB UFS	128GB UFS	128GB
Ports	2x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm audio	1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio	1x Type-A USB port, 2x Type-C ports, 1x HDMI port, and 1x headset jack
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth	MediaTek Wi-Fi 6 MT7921 (2x2), Bluetooth 5.3	Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.1
Camera	HD 1080p	1080p FHD camera with privacy shutter	1080p HD video at 60 fps
Weight	3.15lbs (1.43kg)	3.81lbs (1.73kg)	3.7lbs (1.68 kg)
Dimensions	12.9 x 8.9 x 0.8 inches (32.7 x 22.5 x 2cm)	14.28 x 9.5 x 0.78 inches (36.26 x 24.15 x 1.98cm)	14.2 x 9.39 x 0.79 inches (360.6 x 238.5 x 19.99 mm; W x D x H)

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch offers a performance close to the Chromebook Plus 514, courtesy of its similar specs. However, it doesn’t quite have the same premium veneer of the Chromebook Plus 514, and while its display is also excellent, its Full HD resolution lacks the sharpness of WUXGA. Read our full HP Chromebook Plus review.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515
If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly Chromebook Plus, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a fine choice, thanks to its strong performance and great display. It’s not as quick as the Chromebook Plus 514, and the battery life pales in comparison, but for the price, it represents great value all the same. Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review.

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 514

Tested for two days
Used for work and entertainment
Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Chromebook Plus 514 for two days, during which time I used it for working and for entertainment.

I streamed 4K content on YouTube and played games such as Asphalt Legends Unite. I also connected it to various peripherals via Bluetooth and its ports.

I have plentiful experience with Chromebooks and other mobile devices, and have reviewed a number of them as well.

First reviewed June 2025
Read more about how we test

I tested the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 and loved its design and display, but its weak specs hold it back from true greatness

10:00 pm | May 29, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin | Comments: Off

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360: Two-minute review

The Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is a 2-in-1 Chromebook with a small form factor for easy portability. It’s this miniature size that first strikes the eye, followed by the sleek and minimal design. It also has a sturdy construction, although it’s thicker and heavier than you might expect. Regardless, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is still easy to carry around.

Opening up the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 further reveals its high level of engineering. The hinge mechanism, for instance, is silky smooth to operate yet provides plenty of stability.

Of course, as you may have guessed from its name, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is convertible, so you can flip the screen all the way back and use it as a tablet. However, this isn’t ideal, as the aforementioned heft prevents this from being practical for extended periods. It does much better, though, when tented upside down on a desk, as you can still operate it via the touchscreen, but without being burdened by the weight.

When it comes to performance, there are some disappointments. The specs of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 are rather middling compared to the best Chromebooks, which means that multitasking and even moderate gaming can be a stretch for it. Thankfully, it does much better at light productivity and playing back video content.

The 12.4 inch display I had in my review unit was glorious, rendering images and scenes vividly and with plenty of brightness. The 2560 x 1600 resolution also provides stunning clarity, as does the high gloss finish.

However, the latter aspect can cause prominent reflections, and the contrast can be too high. However, these drawbacks aren’t persistent or egregious, and they didn’t ruin the overall experience for me.

The touchscreen is very responsive and easy to use, as is the trackpad and keyboard. I could type accurately thanks to the generous spacing of the keys, which is impressive when you consider the small form factor of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360. They’re also very tactile for Chromebook keys.

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 sits at the mid-to-high end of the market in terms of pricing, which may seem unjustified given its performance is lacking in certain departments, especially when compared to Windows or Mac laptops. However, that small and sublime build, combined with the exquisite display, might just be enough to win you over.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Price and availability

Back of Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

$429.99 / £419 / AU$707
Available now
Higher end of the market

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 costs $429.99 / £419 / AU$707 and is available now. However, we have seen it on sale for considerably less. It can be configured with either 32GB or 64GB of storage, and various screen sizes are available, although only one colorway is offered.

This is a good price for a convertible and expertly crafted Chromebook. However, the CPU and RAM it’s equipped with are on the weaker side, but the performance is still capable enough.

It’s still quite a lot more expensive than the Acer Spin 314 Chromebook, though, which is one of our favorite models. This has more storage and a much better battery life than the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, although its resolution isn’t as high, and we found it can get quite hot when processing strenuous workloads – but these were about the only drawbacks we could find with it.

Value: 4 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Specs

My Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review unit was configured with a 12.4-inch display and 64GB of storage.

Price	$429.99 / £419 / AU$707
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 1.10GHz (2 threads, 2.80GHz)
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	4GB LPDDR4x
Screen	12.4-inch WQXGA LED Display (2560 x 1600), Touch
Storage	64GB e.MMC
Ports	1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, LTE (Option), Bluetooth v5.1
Camera	HD 720p / 8MP
Weight	2.82lbs (1.28kg)
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches (28.8 x 20.7 x 1.7cm)

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Design

Close-up of right side ports on Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, open on desk with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Looks premium
Heavier than expected
Great hinge mechanism

The design of the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is a notable step up from the usual budget fare of many Chromebooks. It looks very sleek, especially in the light grey colorway, and its metal-looking imparts a premium appearance that rivals even some of the best laptops around.

Every dimension is almost completely flat, save from the most minimal of protrusions of the power and volume buttons on either side. Even the underside is free from unsightly vents or etchings, and the four rubber feet are very small and thin, which also makes it easier to slide the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 into your bag.

Despite appearances, however, the unit is made from plastic, not metal, and as a result the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 doesn’t feel quite as premium as it looks. It’s still well-made, and Samsung even markets the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 as a tough device, with its spill-resistant keyboard and ability to withstand light drops.

The downside is that it’s thicker and heavier than its small form factor might lead you to believe. This is a minor disappointment from a portability perspective, although it’s still easy to carry around.

Flipping open the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 and positioning the screen at different angles is easy, thanks to the silky smooth hinge mechanism. There’s a small amount of wobble after making adjustments, but this isn’t concerning and it remains perfectly stable in use.

The screen can also rotate all the back to 360 degrees, letting you use the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 as a tablet. This works well to an extent, although the aforementioned thickness and weight means this mode isn’t practical for long periods, and isn’t a match for the best tablets in this regard. However, it works much better when you rotate the screen by about 315 degrees instead, flip it upside down, and tent it on a desk.

The keyboard is also well made, although it feels less premium than the rest of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, since the keys have a scratchy texture that doesn’t feel the most pleasant to touch. However, they operate very well, and despite the small layout, they’re generously spaced apart. There’s also a good selection of keys available, including various ChromeOS shortcuts on the top row, arrow keys and a long enter key.

The trackpad falls more in line with the overall standard of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360. It’s quite small but reasonably wide and feels very smooth to the touch, making it easy to operate.

Design score: 4.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Performance

Close-up of keyboard on Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, open with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

Unimpressive specs
Some stuttering
Excellent display

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 6 hours and 30 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 108.216
Kraken Benchmark: 1298.6ms
Speedometer 3.0: 4.79 (±0.23)

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 features an Intel Celeron N4500 1.10GHz CPU and 4GB RAM, neither of which are particularly promising in terms of performance, even by Chromebook standards.

It can handle light tasks, from entertainment to general productivity, but it can come somewhat unstuck even when reasonable demands are made of it. For instance, switching between various windows isn’t always the smoothest experience, and I did experience some stuttering when loading pages and navigating between multiple tabs in Chrome, despite not having an excessive amount open.

Light productivity work is also subject to small amounts of lag on occasion, although for word processing and spreadsheet editing, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is still capable enough to be usable without frustration.

When it comes to gaming, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is even less impressive. Playing Asphalt Legends Units was a slow and stutter-ridden experience, even on moderate graphical settings.

However, it was much more competent when streaming video content, with 4K videos loading quickly and playing without buffering midway. The viewing experience is further enhanced by the excellent display of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360.

The WQXGA resolution is very welcome on a Chromebook device, and even more so on a display this small, since the crispness and sharpness is more apparent. This benefits not just video content, but also general navigation and productivity, since the whole UI is rendered with brilliant clarity.

Colors are vivid and there’s plenty of brightness on offer too, both of which mean the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is immune to the washed-out look that some Chromebook displays suffer from.

Close-up of webcam on Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 with pink background — (Image credit: Future)

However, the contrast can be a little too strong, which creates a more garish image at times. What’s more, the screen is very glossy, which, while radiant, is prone to heavy reflections. This is more noticeable at lower brightness settings, but thankfully it didn’t ruin my viewing experiences completely – although there were certainly occasions when it was less than ideal.

This high shine also means that finger marks are highlighted more than I would’ve liked, so you’ll likely want to have a cloth to hand if you’re using the touchscreen frequently.

Thankfully, the touchscreen performs excellently: it’s responsive and smooth, which makes navigation and gesturing easy. It’s also great for doodling and creating signatures, although it’s a shame no stylus is included to unleash its full potential in this regard.

The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is a joy to type on, with the aforementioned spacing of the keys helping me to achieve greater accuracy. They also have a surprising amount of depth to their travel, which makes them feel more tactile.

The trackpad is pleasant to use as well, despite its relatively small size. Cursor movements are incredibly smooth, and, as with the touchscreen, it’s responsive to the various gestures you can perform.

As for audio, the integrated speakers on the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 are sufficient for clear, distortion-free listening; however, as you might expect, they lack low-end depth. I wouldn’t recommend them for listening to music, but for the odd podcast or YouTube video, they fit the bill.

Performance score: 3.5 / 5

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Battery life

Close-up of trackpad on Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 on desk — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 isn’t terribly impressive. During our TechRadar test, where we play a video on a continuous loop, it managed to last six and a half hours. This is considerably down on the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023), our current pick as the best Chromebook overall, which managed over ten hours.

Still, it did better than the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, which we rate as the best student Chromebook, as this managed just over five hours. What’s more, charging the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is reassuringly quick, as it took just just over two hours to fully replenish from empty.

Battery life: 3 / 5

Should I buy the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360?

Attributes	Notes	Rating
Price	The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 verges towards the higher end of the Chromebook market, but its design and screen are class-leading.	4 / 5
Design	Small, good-looking, and well-made, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 puts many other Chromebooks to shame.	4.5 / 5
Performance	The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is capable enough, but serious multitasking and gaming are beyond its means. The display is excellent, though.	3.5 / 5
Battery life	The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is on the lower end of the longevity spectrum, and didn’t perform terribly well in our battery test.	3 / 5
Total Score	The excellent design and display of the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 are great, but don’t expect blistering multitasking or gaming performance. If you want a small device to do some light work and watch content, it could be the ideal choice.	4 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a high resolution
For a Chromebook, the display is very impressive, looking sharper than most.

You want a great design
The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 is small and elegant, as well as being surprisingly sturdy and easy to move around.

Don't buy it if...

You want to use it as a tablet
Despite its convertible capabilities, it’s a little too thick and heavy to be used in tablet mode for long periods.

You want a serious multitasker
With only 4GB of RAM, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 can struggle even with basic multitasking at times. Gaming performance is also lackluster.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 review: Also consider

	Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360	Acer Chromebook Spin 314	Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Price	$429.99 / £419 / AU$707	$380 / £329 (around AU$661)	$399.99 / £399.99 (around AU$633)
CPU	Intel Celeron N4500 1.10GHz (2 threads, 2.80GHz)	Intel Pentium N6000 Processor	Intel Core i3-1215U
Graphics	Integrated, Intel UHD Graphics	Intel shared graphics	Intel UHD Graphics
RAM	4GB LPDDR4x	4GB DDR4	8GB
Screen	12.4-inch WQXGA LED Display (2560 x 1600), Touch	14-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080p	15.6-inch full HD (1920x1080) display with IPS, 16:9 aspect ratio
Storage	64GB e.MMC	128GB eMMC	128GB
Ports	1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, 1x microSD, 1x 3.5mm audio	USB Type-C x 2, USB 3.1 x 1 , HDMI x 1	1x Type-A USB port, 2x Type-C ports, 1x HDMI port, and 1x headset jack
Wireless	Wi-Fi 6, LTE (Option), Bluetooth v5.1	Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0	Intel Wireless Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth 5.1
Camera	HD 720p / 8MP	720p webcam	1080p HD video at 60 fps
Weight	2.82lbs (1.28kg)	3.42lbs (1.55kg)	3.7lbs (1.68 kg)
Dimensions	11.3 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches (28.8 x 20.7 x 1.7cm)	26.5 x 326 x 227mm	14.2 x 9.39 x 0.79 inches (360.6 x 238.5 x 19.99 mm; W x D x H)

If the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 doesn't seem right for you, here are some alternatives:

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023)
As the best Chromebook around in our view, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 does most things well. It’s a capable performer and has a great battery life, making it a great choice for all kinds of users. It’s also convertible like the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, but cheaper by a not inconsiderable amount. Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023) review.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515
If you want a device for productivity, look no further than the Acer Chromebook Plus 515. We found it great for multitasking and even for gaming, while the display and speakers also impressed us. Like the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, though, it doesn’t have a great battery life. Read our full Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review.

How I tested the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360

Tested for full day
Ran benchmark tests
Experienced Chromebook reviewer

I tested the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 for a full day, during which time I used it for general browsing, working, and gaming.

I also put it through TechRadar’s battery test for laptops and Chromebooks, which involves playing back a 1080p movie on a continuous loop. I also ran various benchmark tests to further assess its performance.

I have reviewed numerous laptops and Chromebooks in the past, including other Samsung models. These have ranged in price, form factors, and specs, so I am well versed in the wider portable computer market and know how the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 stacks up to the competition.

First reviewed May 2025
Read more about how we test

I spent several days with the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, and it surprised me with just how well it performs

3:48 pm | February 13, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin | Comments: Off

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: Two-minute review

The HP Chromebook Plus has a high-spec for this class of device, hoping to offer seamless performance whether you’re working, browsing, streaming, or gaming. Its two-tone dark grey and black color scheme does little to elevate its appearance, but it’s inoffensive enough to suit any situation. Its overall form is sleek, though, and the relative lightness and thinness are bonuses too.

What’s more, the build quality is high, thanks to its solid construction and premium feel to every surface, including the keys and trackpad. I also appreciated the thin side bezels around the display, letting it make full use of the space. It’s a small shame, though, that the lid doesn’t open particularly wide.

The port selection is not bad for a Chromebook, if a little sparse. However, it has most of the important interfaces that most users would need, including two USB-C ports either side that can both be used for charging, which is very convenient. However, it’s a little strange that they aren’t at the very rear of each side (the audio jack precedes the one on the left, while the USB-A port precedes the one on the right), but I’m nitpicking here. There’s also a microSD slot to round-out the line-up.

In use, the HP Chromebook Plus acquits itself very well. Navigating ChromeOS and using its various interface features, such as window switching, is a largely seamless experience. Productivity apps are handled with ease, although the cramped layout of the keyboard – caused by the inclusion of a number pad – did make typing trickier than with some of the best Chromebook devices, but I adapted somewhat after a while.

Streaming 4K video is within its grasp too, as is light multitasking. I was particularly surprised with its gaming performance, though, as it managed to run Asphalt Legends Unite with high graphics settings pretty much perfectly, which is impressive.

The display of the HP Chromebook Plus is another highlight. Although it might not offer the highest levels of brightness, it’s still perfectly clear, rendering color accurately and vibrantly no matter the viewing angle or lighting conditions.

Battery life is good, with the HP Chromebook Plus lasting close to 11 hours in our test. There are other Chromebooks that last longer, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, but considering its size and spec, it’s a valiant effort. It also charges relatively quickly.

The original list price of the HP Chromebook Plus is quite steep, but fortunately, we’ve seen it on offer for significantly less, which means it competes with some of the best Chromebooks on the market, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook. It might lack the portability and tablet functionality of these two, but it makes up for this omission with a large screen and great performance, which makes it worthy of your consideration.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Price and availability

Close-up of keyboard on HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch — (Image credit: Future)

$549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749
Available now
Can be found for much less

The HP Chromebook Plus costs $549.99 / £449.99 / AU$749 and comes in one colorway. The unit I had was equipped with an Intel Core i3 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage, but it can also be configured with an Intel Celeron N4500 Processor and 4GB of RAM.

Despite its nominal price, we’ve seen it for considerably less when we’ve shopped around, sometimes by as much as half price, which brings it in-line with the more budget-friendly competition. This includes the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, which is the best Chromebook overall in our view, thanks to its great display and typing amenability.

There’s also the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which is our pick as the best Chromebook for those on a budget. Like the Spin 314, this Chromebook is also convertible, letting you fold it in half to use it like a tablet. However, neither can match the performance of the HP Chromebook Plus, nor are their screens as big, although some may prefer having a smaller device for greater portability.

Value: 4 / 5

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Specs

My review unit of the HP Chromebook Plus was configured with 8GB of RAM and an Intel Core i3-N305 (8 threads, 3.80GHz)

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Design

Close-up of right-side ports on HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch — (Image credit: Future)

Well built
Light and thin for its size
Slightly odd placement of USB-C ports

The HP Chromebook Plus adopts a fairly typical design, with a grey and black color scheme that looks more formal than some other Chromebooks. While it’s not the most exciting Chromebook to gawp at, it’s nice to know it’s made from sustainable materials, including recycled aluminum and plastic that otherwise might’ve ended up in the ocean.

What’s more, the high build quality reveals itself on close inspection. The whole body feels solid, yet it’s also quite light and thin for a device this size. It’s not as thin as some other Chromebooks or laptops, but given its 15.6-inch size, it’s relatively easy to carry around and travel with.

Every panel is excellently fitted too. It even comes close to rivalling some of the best MacBook Pro devices in terms of its finely machined construction. The keys follow the same trend, feeling premium to the touch, and tightly slotted with minimal play. The trackpad is smooth and covers a large surface area, which enhances its usability.

The hinge for the lid is easy to operate yet secures the screen in place once open with hardly any wobble. However, it doesn’t open as wide as I would’ve liked, which inhibits its versatility somewhat. But the bezel for the screen is pleasingly thin, especially around the sides, which means the display can make the most of its allotted real estate.

Port selection on the HP Chromebook Plus is good, if a little limited for a device this size. It has two USB-C ports either side, both of which can be used for charging. There’s also a USB-A on the right side, and a microSD slot and 3.5mm audio output jack on the left.

The order of these ports is a little odd, though, since neither USB-C port is at the rear of their respective sides: the audio jack on the left and USB-A port on the right sit behind them. This can cause cables to get crossed when charging, given that many will be positioned with outlets in front of them. However, this is a small grievance in the grand scheme of things.

Design score: 4 / 5

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Performance

Side view of HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch opened wide on table with pink wall and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

Handles most tasks well
Surprisingly good for gaming
Cramped typing layout

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the HP Chromebook Plus:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 10 hours and 41 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 205.246
Kraken Benchmark: 720.3ms
Speedometer 3.0: 10.5 (±0.37)

The HP Chromebook Plus performs very well on most counts. ChromeOS is very responsive for the most part, with window switching and other system actions working without much hesitation, making it easy to live with.

It also handles the kinds of tasks Chromebook users typically demand from their devices very well. Light to medium productivity is competently dispatched with, and the 8GB of RAM in my unit meant it barely faltered when multitasking across various apps.

The HP Chromebook Plus is equally capable of entertaining you as well. Watching HD and 4K content is entirely possible, streaming such content without a hitch during my time with it, keeping buffering times to a minimum.

Gaming was also a pleasant surprise. I managed to play Asphalt Legends Unite on high graphics settings at 60fps with hardly a hiccup, which is impressive. It’s certainly not going to trouble the best cheap gaming laptops, but considering the HP Chromebook Plus has integrated graphics rather than a dedicated GPU, it puts in an admirable effort.

I should note that I did try to play Call of Duty: Mobile, but this repeatedly failed to run, crashing almost immediately upon opening. Whether this is a fault of the HP Chromebook Plus or of the game itself – or of the Games app launcher – is hard to determine.

Under heavy and sustained workloads, it can get quite warm towards the rear, but the area is small and it's not a concern. Thankfully, though, it stays relatively silent.

Close-up of touchpad on HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch — (Image credit: Future)

For typing, the HP Chromebook Plus is somewhat mixed. The keys feel great, offering plenty of feedback while being easy to actuate. However, since it features a number pad, the layout of the character keys is somewhat squeezed, so it took me a while to get used to the smaller spacing between them, although I was never entirely comfortable with using them.

The trackpad, on the other hand, performs without issue; it’s very responsive and super smooth to swipe with. Despite its large size, I only rarely experienced the occasional mis-click or mis-scroll when resting my palm on it while typing (a position inevitably forced upon me, due to the aforementioned key layout).

One of the main highlights of the HP Chromebook Plus is the display. The 1080p resolution is appropriate for the 15.6-inch size, with only a minimal amount of fuzz on the ChromeOS GUI. It’s also quite vibrant, displaying colors with great accuracy and avoiding the washed-out look that some Chromebooks suffer from.

Most impressively, the display remains clearly visible across a wide range of view angles and lighting conditions – again, not something that can be said about every Chromebook. I even tried using it next to a window with bright sunlight streaking unfavorably across the screen, and it did remarkably well to retain visibility. My one minor gripe, though, is that the maximum brightness isn’t as high as some other laptops and Chromebooks, but for the most part I had no problem with its levels.

The speakers on the HP Chromebook Plus provide clear sound that’s balanced across the frequency range. They generate minimal distortion, and largely eschew the tinny quality that other Chromebook and laptop speakers can suffer from. However, since they’re located underneath, audio can be somewhat muffled, but the effect isn’t so egregious as to ruin the experience.

Performance score: 4 / 5

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch review: Battery life

Back of opened lid of HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch on table with pink wall and plant in background — (Image credit: Future)

The HP Chromebook Plus has a good battery life. During our battery test, where I ran a 1080p video on a continuous loop, it managed to last just shy of 11 hours (10 hours and 41 minutes), which falls short of HP’s claim of 13 hours, but is nevertheless an admirable performance.

This places it near the top of the rankings for Chromebooks we’ve tested. It beat what we think is the best Chromebook overall, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, which only managed a little over 10 hours. However, it couldn’t beat the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which achieved over 16 hours.

Charging the HP Chromebook Plus from 30% to full took about 90 minutes, which again is an impressive performance.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should I buy the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch?

Buy it if...

You want a great performer
The HP Chromebook Plus performs well across all areas, especially gaming. It also stays relatively cool and quiet.

You want a well-made machine
Not only is it built to a high standard, but the HP Chromebook Plus is also pleasantly thin and light given its size.

Don't buy it if...

You want a 2-in-1
Unfortunately, the HP Chromebook Plus isn't convertible, and neither does it have a touch screen, so you can't use it like a tablet.

You want the best typing experience
Since the HP Chromebook Plus includes a number pad, the rest of the keys are rather squeezed together, which I never fully got used to while typing.

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: Also consider

Here are other Chromebooks to consider besides the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch:

Acer Chromebook Spin 314

The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is a convertible Chromebook that’s easy to live with thanks to its typing prowess, portability, and great display. It can be found for less than the HP Chromebook Plus, but bear in mind that the performance isn’t as good, and it can get hot when under load. Also, at 14 inches, the display isn’t as big either, but all things considered, it’s still the best Chromebook overall in our view. Read our Acer Chromebook Spin 314 review.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
Another 2-in-1 model, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is the best Chromebook for those on a budget. At 11.6-inches, it’s much smaller than the HP Chromebook Plus, although this will be a positive or a negative depending on your requirements. Regardless, you’re getting a versatile and very well-made Chromebook at this price, with a great battery life in addition. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook review.

How I tested the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch

Tested for several days
Used for working, browsing, gaming, and streaming
Plentiful laptop experience

I tested the HP Chromebook Plus for several days, during which I used it for working and entertainment.

I typed with it a lot, and made sure to use various productivity apps, such as Google Docs and Google Sheets. I also played games, such as Asphalt Legends Unite, which I tried at various graphics settings. I also streamed video content at various resolutions, including HD and 4K. And I connected headphones and a gamepad via Bluetooth.

I have plentiful experience with all kinds of laptops and Chromebooks, including those designed for productivity and those for gaming. I have experience reviewing laptops and Chromebooks too.

First reviewed February 2025
Read more about how we test

I used the Asus Chromebook CM14 for everything from productivity to gaming and found its performance as light as its weight

10:00 pm | February 8, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: Acer Chromebook Spin | Comments: Off

Asus Chromebook CM14: Two-minute review

The Asus Chromebook CM14 occupies the lower end of the market with its low price and spec, but it aspires to nail the basics.

It boasts a thin and light design that’s impressive for a 14-inch Chromebook. The steely black colorway is fairly austere but it looks smart. Build quality is also good, although the lid is a little flimsy – still, it does recline all the way back to 180 degrees, so it’s certainly flexible.

The partially recycled materials feel solid, and the keyboard is laid nicely, with plenty of space between keys whilst remaining compact, which is a combination I prefer. There’s also a good selection of ports on the Asus Chromebook CM14, with two USB-C ports, a SuperSpeed (SS) USB-A port, a microSD slot and a 3.5mm headphone port.

What isn’t so good, however, is the display. It lacks the clarity and sharpness of some of the best Chromebook devices around, and it’s too reflective when it strays even marginally beyond the optimal viewing angle, either washing out or blacking out entirely.

Things are worse when it comes to performance. Although it can handle light productivity, general browsing, 2K video playback and some light gaming, it can struggle with these on occasion. What’s worse, though, is that it's severely hamstrung by multitasking, with stutters, slow downs, and crashes a frequent occurrence, at least when equipped with 4GB of RAM, which is low by today’s standards.

The typing experience of the Asus Chromebook CM14 is pleasant enough, thanks to the tactile feel of the keys and their low profile. However, the touchpad is another drawback, as there’s too much friction; the surface is nowhere near as smooth as that on, say, the best MacBook models. And no matter what you do with the sensitivity settings, it either travels too much – continuing to move even once your finger stops – or too slowly, making it feel sluggish and imprecise.

One of the saving graces of the Asus Chromebook CM14, though, is the battery life. It lasted over nine hours during our battery test, which isn’t that far off its claimed 15 hour figure. It’s also quite quick to charge, taking about four hours to replenish completely from empty, again close to Asus’ claim.

The Asus Chromebook CM14 is also very cheap, and undercuts many other Chromebooks, even those that are considered good value. But performance is sacrificed, especially when multitasking. If you’re on the lookout for Chromebooks that won’t break the bank, then the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is the best in this regard, while the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is great for students.

Asus Chromebook CM14: Price and availability

Asus Chromebook CM14 closed on desk — (Image credit: Future)

$299 / £299 (about AU$473)
Available now in black
Cheaper than the competition

The Asus Chromebook CM14 costs $299 / £299 (about AU$473) and is available now in one color: black. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, but only one storage size: 64GB.

It’s cheaper than the best laptops in the budget-friendly realm, and even cheaper than the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook, which is the best Chromebook for those on a budget in our view. However, the IdeaPad Flex 3 is a 2-in-1 device, so can be used like a tablet when the mood strikes. It also has an even better battery life than the Asus Chromebook CM14, and is built like a tank to boot.

For about the same price or cheaper than the Asus Chromebook CM14 in some territories, you could have the Acer Chromebook 314, which is one of the best student Chromebook picks for those on a budget. Like the Asus Chromebook CM14, it has a great battery life, but with the added benefits of a 2-in-1 design and an impressive display – aspects the Asus Chromebook CM14 lacks.

Value: 3.5 / 5

Asus Chromebook CM14: Specs

The review unit of the Asus Chromebook CM14 I had was configured with 4GB of RAM.

Asus Chromebook CM14: Design

Close-up of webcam on Asus Chromebook CM14 — (Image credit: Future)

Thin and light for its size
180-degree opening
Not the sharpest display

The Asus Chromebook CM14 sports a smart, understated design. The dull black colorway does little to inject much interest, but it certainly fits in a professional environment. It’s also pleasantly light and thin given its 14-inch size, weighing just 1.45kg (3.20 lbs). Both these aspects make it easy to travel with.

The build quality seems quite good too, with the partially recycled materials appearing relatively robust for a Chromebook of this class. However, the hinge for the lid isn’t the tightest, causing the screen to feel a little flimsy, but I wouldn’t highlight this as a major concern.

The hinges also prop up the back of the chassis when the lid is open past 90 degrees, but thankfully the bottom remains stable enough to type on. The lid also reclines all the way to 180 degrees, which provides flexible usage options.

The two USB-C ports are a welcome addition considering their versatility, as they allow for power and data – including internet – to run through, as well as facilitating connections to a myriad of peripherals, including external displays. There’s also one USB-A port with SuperSpeed (SS) capability, a Micro SD slot, and a 3.5mm audio jack, useful for those using wired headphones or speakers.

The display, on the other hand, is a let down. The 1366 x 768 resolution looks outdated, with an ever-present blurriness plaguing the interface, no matter how you resize it in the system settings. It also looks a little washed out, lacking the vibrancy of other Chromebook displays. It’s quite reflective too, with certain angles causing the screen to turn almost completely white or black, depending on the ambient lighting.

Design score: 3.5 / 5

Asus Chromebook CM14: Performance

Close-up of Asus Chromebook CM14 ports on left side — (Image credit: Future)

Handles light work and gaming
Good for typing
Terrible for multitasking

Benchmarks

These are the results of our benchmarking tests for the Asus Chromebook CM14:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 9 hours and 26 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 86.506
Kraken Benchmark: 1769.0ms
Speedometer 3.0: 3.49 (±0.12)

The Asus Chromebook CM14 handles the kind of light productivity Chromebook users typically perform reasonably well. Word processing and spreadsheet creation are viable, as is video playback, even at 2K resolutions – but expect the occasional buffer and slowdown at this quality.

As for gaming, the Asus Chromebook CM14 can handle titles with low graphical demands smoothly. I was able to play Clash of Clans with no issue, and Asphalt Legends Unite was just about feasible on high settings; although it was prone to stutter and slowdowns, it wasn't enough to render it unplayable. At lower settings and 30fps, it ran much more smoothly. I was also able to connect a controller via Bluetooth with no issue. More demanding games would be out of the question, though, as the spec is certainly no match for the best gaming laptops out there.

Unfortunately, the Asus Chromebook CM14 falls flat when it comes to multitasking, with the 4GB of RAM installed in my test unit failing to handle even weak workloads. Lightweight applications, including Google’s own software, can create serious issues, with frequent slow-downs, freezes, and outright crashes.

If you hope to run even a couple of apps in tandem, then you’ll likely be disappointed with the performance. Even Chrome can struggle to run with a less-than-moderate amount of tabs open, and basic ChromeOS functions, such as entering task view, can result in freezes too.

Asus Chromebook CM14 on desk open 180 degrees — (Image credit: Future)

One of the more positive aspects of the performance, though, is the lack of heat and noise produced by the Asus Chromebook CM14. During my time with it, I never heard the fans whirring up under heavy loads, and it never got too hot to touch.

Typing on the Asus Chromebook CM14 is mostly a pleasant experience as well, as the keys are well-spaced and provide enough tactility. Their profile is low too, which makes gliding around them easy. And despite the corner of my right palm making contact with the touchpad while typing, gestures, swipes and clicks never unintentionally registered.

However, that’s about the only positive aspect of the touchpad, as it’s one of the more frustrating aspects of the Asus Chromebook CM14. No matter what sensitivity settings I used, cursor movements were either too sluggish or too fast, with the cursor continuing to move after my finger had stopped, making accurate navigation difficult. What’s more, the surface isn’t smooth enough and generates too much friction, causing a nasty rubbing sensation on the fingers.

As for the webcam, the 720p resolution provides just enough clarity, but there is certainly an element of graininess to images. My camera footage did freeze when making a call in Google Meet, but this could’ve been more of a software glitch rather than a hardware one.

The speakers on the Asus Chromebook CM14 provide reasonable playback quality, with little in the way of distortion and tinniness, as other Chromebook and laptop speakers can suffer from. However, as they’re located on its underside, audio is somewhat muffled, so those after the utmost clarity won’t be best pleased. However, I found them sufficient for calls and other content where sound quality isn’t a top priority.

Performance score: 2 / 5

Asus Chromebook CM14: Battery life

Close-up of underside corner of Asus Chromebook CM14 — (Image credit: Future)

Great battery life
Better than rivals
Quick charging too

The Asus Chromebook CM14 redeems itself somewhat with its battery life. Asus claims it will last up to 15 hours, and during our benchmark, it lasted close to nine and a half hours, which is an admirable performance. Charging it from flat to full took about four hours, which is in line with what Asus claims.

It beats the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, our current pick as the best student laptop, which only managed five hours according to our test and was one of the biggest drawbacks of that particular Chromebook. However, it is bested by the best Chromebook overall in our view, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, which managed over ten hours.

Battery life: 4 / 5

Should I buy the Asus Chromebook CM14?

Buy it if...

You want a long battery life
One of the most impressive aspects of the Asus Chromebook CM14 is its long battery life, and charging times are also conveniently quick.

You’ll want something easy to carry around
Thanks to its light and thin design, the Asus Chromebook CM14 is easy to travel with. That 180-degree lid opening gives it greater flexibility, too.

Don't buy it if...

You want to do any kind of multitasking
Word processing, streaming content, and light gaming it can handle – but as soon as you start doing multiple things at once, it grinds to a halt.

You want the best display
The 14-inch display isn’t the clearest, and even when you scale the resolution, things don’t improve. It’s also too reflective if the angle isn’t just so.

Asus Chromebook CM14 review: Also consider

If you're in the market for a new Chromebook, here are some alternatives to the Asus Chromebook CM14...

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023)
As our current pick as the best Chromebook overall, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023) gets most aspects right for this kind of device: it has a great display, is good for typing with and is easy to carry around. Battery life is also very good. Read our Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023) review.

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook
If you’re looking for another budget-friendly offering, then you should consider the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3, as we think it’s the best Chromebook around in terms of value for money. It’s more expensive than the Asus Chromebook CM14, but we were impressed with its great build quality and battery life. The performance isn’t the best, but we still found it capable of running ChromeOS and Google apps reasonably well. Read our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook review.

How I tested the Asus Chromebook CM14

Tested for about a week
Used in a variety of scenarios
Extensive laptop and Chromebook experience

I tested the Asus Chromebook CM14 for about a week, during which time I used it for working, browsing, watching video content and playing games. I also connected various peripherals to it via Bluetooth and USB, including a mouse and a gamepad.

I played games such as Clash of Clans and Asphalt Legends Unite. I used Google Docs and Google Sheets, and made use of third-party apps, including Steam and VLC. I also used other popular apps, including YouTube for watching video content in full-HD and ultra-HD. I also streamed video content via Twitch and made a video call to try out its webcam and inbuilt mic.

I have experience testing laptops and have owned a number of such devices, including other Chromebooks, Windows and Mac laptops.

First reviewed December 2024
Read more about how we test

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) review: a great, if not mind-blowing, refresh

12:08 am | June 29, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Chromebooks Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops | Tags: GE, US | Comments: Off

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE: Five-minute review

In early 2023 I reviewed Google's first dedicated gaming Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE, and it changed my mind about Chromebooks and gaming. So I was excited to get my hands on the long-awaited refresh, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024).

The Chromebook has been upgraded in every meaningful way, from the display to the specs, and even has new AI features included for those looking to double it as a productivity machine. Unfortunately, there are a few aspects that have been left in the dust in the meantime, which could impact whether this is a truly robust refresh worth reinvesting in if you already have the original model.

The screen is a 16-inch IPS display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 350 nits of brightness. The refresh rate is a lovely 120Hz, making it perfect for most video games, while the sRGB 100% color gamut pairs well with the Chromebook's AI tools for creative and editing projects.

It's good to see that so much was invested in upgrading the display since it's the most important aspect of the gaming experience for the Chromebook Plus 516 GE.

black chromebook on wooden desk — (Image credit: Future)

The outer design is rather brand, identical to the original Chromebook 516 GE, though that tends to be a trait among budget gaming laptops in the first place. Despite that, it has a sturdy yet decently light chassis, especially for the screen size, which makes transportation that much easier.

Its keyboard and trackpad have been mostly left the same as well, which is a good thing as they were already quite solid on their own and needed little tampering. The webcam is very good, with 1080p at 60fps video, which is more than what many of even the best laptops offer. And while I do appreciate the physical switch on the side that turns the webcam off and on, the camera itself should have a physical shutter for added security.

The port selection is varied and includes two USB Type-C ports, a USB Type-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, an ethernet port, and a combo jack. For its size, however, more USB ports as well as an SD card reader could have been added.

There's still a massive downside to its design, and that's the still abysmal sound quality. Google boasts that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE features "cinematic sounds with DTS audio" and I can confirm that it's not the case. There's a tinny, almost muddiness to the sound, which shows through even with YouTube videos, and sounds even worse when playing games. You'll want to invest in the best PC gaming headsets if you get this Chromebook.

Like its competition, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) has plenty of AI features built into the Chrome OS. But one of the more unique traits is that they use a combination of local and cloud storage.

The webcam, for instance, has a feature that automatically adjusts both picture quality and lighting when using the webcam. It's pretty handy for minor enhancements but don't expect any major improvements either.

There are plenty of other AI tools, which are mostly powered by Google Gemini. Help Me Write generates text based on prompts and lets you edit text based on tone and more, while Help Me Read summarizes PDFs and websites by simply right-clicking the text.

Focus is a tool that turns on a Do Not Disturb mode once you select a window of time, a Google Task you want to finish, and a YouTube Music playlist. There's Magic Editor which uses AI to enhance and correct images on Google Photos, or you can use generative AI to create unique wallpapers and video call backgrounds.

My favorite tool is Project Gameface, an AI-powered hands-free control with face and gesture tracking. This is a major accessibility feature, as you can custom-map out ways to control the entire OS through non-hand controls. While it's still in beta, what I was able to experience is quite impressive and I truly look forward to the finished product once it launches.

Game dashboard is the new tool that pairs the best with the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024). You have access to features like window resizing, screen capture, game capture, and control mapping, a great option for those who can't or don't want to invest in a game recording setup.

The game recording is fine, though naturally not as high as a premium capture card, but it does a surprisingly great job thanks to the screen quality. It's also easy, allowing you to avoid setting up a whole mess of wires. Control mapping is a standard feature but always appreciated, especially for games that don't come with it like mobile titles that rely on touchscreen controls.

Benchmarks

Here's how the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

TechRadar Battery Life Test: 6 hours and 57 minutes
Chromium Github Octane Benchmark: 93,523
Browserbench Jetstream Benchmark: 302
Kraken Benchmark: 415ms
WebGL Aquarium (30,000 fish): 85 fps

The upgraded specs of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) shine through in its benchmark scores, as these are some of the highest test results I've seen in any Chromebook and are solid improvements over the already excellent scores from the original Chromebook 516 GE model.

I was particularly impressed by the WebGL Aquarium, as it was able to maintain a high 85fps with the maximum amount of fish enabled.

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The Intel Core CPU is certainly working overtime, which is great to hear from those interested in playing the best PC games through Steam or any Android titles. While you'll mainly want to game through a streaming service like Nvidia's GeForce Now or Amazon Luna, having the option to play locally is always a boon.

Just know that the Steam Borealis is still in beta, meaning you'll have to enable it through developer mode at your own risk. But in my experience, it runs quite well with little in the way of slowdown or bugs.

The best way to use this Chromebook, however, is through GeForce Now. If you're using the most premium subscription option and you have a solid internet connection, the experience is incredibly smooth and stutter-free. I played AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3 with no issues at all. And thanks to the great display, the games look even better than in the original model and beat out most other Chromebooks.

battery closeup — (Image credit: Future)

The battery life isn't too shabby, lasting about seven hours when under heavy video use and a bit more under normal work conditions. While it's not the best for a Chromebook, it still outstrips most Windows laptops using an Intel Core CPU. The good thing is that you can play for quite a bit before running low on battery, making it way more portable-minded than other gaming laptops.

It lasts a little longer when it comes to productivity work, ensuring that you'll have a full work or school day worth of charge. And it charges pretty fact too, so you won't be stuck at an outlet for too long in case you need to juice up.

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE: Price & availability

How much does it cost? starting price is $649.99 (around £515 / AU$980)
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US

The price for the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) is $649.99 (around £515 / AU$980), which is the same price that the original Acer Chromebook 516 GE sold for at launch. While it's a steep price point for a Chromebook, for a gaming laptop it's a steal, especially for more casual gamers who don't require much firepower for the games they play, or those who only want to stream games instead of playing locally.

Currently, it's only available in the US through Best Buy, with no units available to purchase in the UK and Australia at the time of this writing.

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE: Specs

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE I reviewed came with an Intel Core 5 120U CPU with Intel Arc Graphics, up to 16GB of LPDDR4X SDRAM, and 256 GB PCIe storage. There aren't any options to upgrade your specs, and Chromebooks are notorious for poor self-repairability and no self-upgrade options.

Should you buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE?

Buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE if...

You want solid game streaming performance
This is a laptop made for game streaming and it does it well. The vibrant display also helps, as titles look clean and clear through near stutter-free gameplay.

You’re on a budget
This laptop is quite affordable compared to other gaming laptops with similar or worse performance and specs. If you're on a budget, this is an excellent choice.

Don't buy it if...

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE: Also consider

If my Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE

I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE for several weeks
I tested its gaming capabilities
I stress-tested the battery using the TechRadar movie test

First, I tested the general weight and portability of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE by carrying it around in a laptop bag. After I set it up, I ran several benchmarks to thoroughly test out its upgraded specs and compare them to the original model. Finally, I used a variety of programs and applications to test out both battery life and general performance during work-like conditions.

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a gaming laptop that can also do productivity work, meaning I needed to test out both of those capabilities. I also tested out battery life to see how long it could last off AC power.

I've tested plenty of Chromebooks, making me more than qualified to understand benchmark test results and how to properly stress test machines to see how well they perform as a work machine.