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

• $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

• 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

• Handles most tasks well
• Surprisingly good for gaming
• Cramped typing layout

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.

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

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...

Don't buy it if...

HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch: Also consider

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

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

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

• $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

• 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

• Handles light work and gaming
• Good for typing
• Terrible for multitasking

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.

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

• 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...

Don't buy it if...

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...

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 Spin 314 (2023): One-minute review

The single best thing about the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is how easy it is to take around with you, no matter where you’re off to or what carrier bag you’ve got this laptop will become your most helpful travel companion. I was pleasantly surprised when I first received our review unit of the laptop and was able to slip it into my little tote bag, with room to spare for both the charger and my current paperback of choice. 

In terms of design, for what the Chromebook is offering in terms of simplicity and portability I think it looks like the perfect productive machine. No fancy aesthetics or unnecessary frilly, this is likely my favorite Chromebook design so far, and as a long-time Macbook girl that claim carries a lot of weight coming from me. The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 could be the best laptop for you if all you want is something to work on, maybe watch a few shows, and put away until the next day. 

I worked with this laptop for several days and honestly, it was the most stress-free testing I’ve done in a while. Because it’s so thin and light, I could slip it into my bag and carry on with my life without my shoulders screaming, and with a good 10 hours of battery life sometimes it wouldn’t leave my bag for a day or two purely because there was no rush to plug it in and charge it. As usual, the simple ChromeOS interface is free of any unnecessary apps or clutter and you can boot it up, sign in, and get to work in like 10 minutes right out of the box. 

If you’re looking for the best student Chromebook, you’ve come to the right review. The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is everything you need and more to get you through the school year without splashing out a frightening amount of cash. The touch display makes reading digital textbooks or annotating notes a breeze, and the glass-like trackpad is a joy to use. 

The Intel Pentium processor inside means you can work and watch at the same time without any impact on performance, making multitasking easier - of course, part of the credit here goes to Google for making ChromeOS such a resource-light operating system. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 and I’m actually quite sad I can’t hold onto it forever. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Price and availability

• How much does it cost?  $380 / £329 / around AU$661 
• When is it available? Available now
• Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK, tricky to find in Australia 

Chromebooks are often heralded for their affordability compared to other laptops, and the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 lives up to that and more. This is probably one of the best cheap laptops you can buy right now in terms of pure value for money.

Keep in mind that the cheaper price tag often indicates somewhat limited capabilities, so if you want to play games beyond mobile app games (via the Google Play Store), you’ll have to look elsewhere. 

This sentiment extends to users looking for a device with some serious computing power, as once again, Chromebooks are for your everyday basic tasks - if you want to run resource-intensive software, you’ll need to find something else. For everything this device offers, the price is very reasonable.

• Price: 5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Specs

There are a few different models of the Acer Chromebook Spin 314, with our review unit effectively taking the entry-level position. There is actually a cheaper Spin 314 that uses a MediaTek Kompanio processor, but that model is older and uses a slightly different chassis.

As for other models, it's a bit confusing; the US Acer website list a far more expensive model ($679.99) but it's missing some specs, most notably any storage details - and I couldn't find it for sale anywhere, either. As such, I've included only the specs for our standard-model review unit below.

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Design

• Solid, functional chassis
• Sleek and Stylish
• Comfortable typing experience 

I absolutely love the design of this laptop. This may be my youth showing, but I think it looks so retro and cute. The silver plastic chassis and overall rounded design remind me of the laptops my dad used to use - and sometimes let me play Minesweeper on - and I think the choice to go 'back to basics' was a smart move on Acer's part. 

Of course, it wouldn’t be called a Spin if it didn’t spin - well, at least offer some kind of mobility. The full HD touchscreen offers impressively sharp colors without feeling too harsh, and the ability to turn your thin laptop into a slightly chunky tablet thanks to the 360-degree hinge is perfect if you want to snuggle up in bed to binge your favorite shows.

In terms of connectivity, you get a good selection of ports that include two USB-C ports, standard USB-A, and HDMI, so you can hook up quite a few peripherals and also connect it to a monitor if you want a dual-display setup. 

Typing on this laptop is a dream once you get used to the Everything Button (ubiquitous on ChromeOS devices) replacing the caps lock, and as someone who notoriously hates most laptop touchpads, the Acer Chromebook Spin's is very tactile. Also, Acer uses ocean glass in the touchpad's construction, meaning the pad is made of recycled materials - a small but welcome addition that I appreciate.

Although its minimalist appearance might not be for everyone, I can’t really fault the design of the Acer Chromebook Spin 314; it’s probably my favorite Chromebook so far. That's saying a lot, because I’m not very sweet on Chromebooks myself as a committed Macbook girl.

• Design: 5 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Performance

• Good performance 
• Great storage speed

Of course, the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 runs on Google’s ChromeOS, the easiest system to navigate and learn if you’re just starting out on your laptop journey. It’s suitable for most everyday tasks like browsing the web, collaborating on documents, streaming a favorite show, or just watching YouTube. The laptop is generally geared towards lightweight web-based activities, though that's not to say it isn't a strong contender for our list of best student laptops or even the best Chromebooks. 

The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 can pull a decent level of speed and computing prowess from its Intel Pentium Silver N6000 processor, and both within the benchmarks and general stress tests - plus frantic multitasking from me trying to do a million things at once - it breezed through everything I threw at it.

This laptop comes with 4 GB of DDR4 memory, which I'd say would be insufficient for a Windows laptop but is less of an issue here. There's also only 128GB of local eMMC storage, which again could be an issue were it not for ChromeOS's reliance on cloud storage via Google Drive. Naturally, these specs are modest overall, but that's not a huge problem for a Chromebook - especially one as competitively priced as this.

I worked on this laptop for a few days and while it was an adjustment to get used to the Everything Button, I’m genuinely sad I have to let go of this laptop. While I was using it I was thinking about my younger self, in school and university, and wondered at how much easier my life could have been if I had my hands on a laptop like this.

I wouldn’t have had to lug around a monstrously heavy machine, and it could've comfortably pulled double duty as an entertainment device in tablet mode. I can’t stress enough how much I recommend this laptop to students. 

If you’re going to be doing an essay-heavy degree, you should be looking at the Acer Chromebook Spin 314. Thanks to Google's cloud ecosystem, you can just pick up where you left off with your coursework on any device. 

Plus, it’s super refreshing to work on a device without all the clutter of regular desktops but still with basically everything you’d need to get through the day. 

• Performance: 4 / 5

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Battery life

• 10-hour battery life
• All-day use out of a single full charge 

The battery life of the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 lives up to the 10-hour estimate provided by Acer, clocking in at 10 hours and 15 minutes during our battery life benchmark. 

In the time I spent reviewing it, I only had to charge it twice - which is pretty impressive, and my biggest pet peeve when reviewing laptops is needing to have them constantly plugged in. You can leave the house, work on it all day, then come home and get at least two hours of Netflix time before you have to plug it in again.  

• Battery life: 4 / 5

Should you buy the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023)?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Acer Chromebook Spin 314 (2023): Also consider

If our Acer Chromebook Spin 314 review has you considering other options, here are two more laptops to consider...  

How I tested the Acer Chromebook Spin 314

• Several hours a day over the course of a week
• Office work, general web use, Android games and apps, media playback
• Techradar benchmark suite, real-world tests, using the laptop for work

I used the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 as my main device for a few days for work and as a personal computer over the weekend, testing it over a week in total. I did all my usual work with it - which mostly comprises word processing, online research, and video calls - and then used it in tablet mode to watch YouTube at home.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2023