The best Acer Chromebooks in 2022

Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE is a powerhouse machine that packs in just about everything you could possibly want in a high-end notebook PC. It has a few extra goodies that make it stand out amidst a sea of other Chrome OS-powered laptops.

One of the first devices purpose-built for cloud gaming, the Chromebook 516 GE (Gaming Edition?) supports all major cloud gaming platforms, including Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna, and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. It comes with Intel’s 12th generation Core i5 CPU, working in tandem with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. You also get a 16-inch WQXGA display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 120Hz refresh rate. And as you’d expect from any gaming laptop worth its salt, an RGB keyboard (complete with four-zone lighting and presets) is also included in the mix.

Talking about wireless connectivity and I/O ports, Acer Chromebook 516 GE sports Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, USB-C, USB-A, and even Gigabit Ethernet. Combine these with essentials such as a flare-reducing webcam and a four-speaker audio system with DTS Audio support, and you’ve got a Chromebook that excels at not only cloud gaming but just about everything thrown at it.

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Improving upon its already-impressive predecessor even further, Acer’s brand-new Chromebook Spin 714 is a top-of-the-line convertible that’s every bit worth its high asking price. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to call it one of the best Chromebooks.

Under the hood, the Spin 714 features Intel’s newest 12th generation Core i5 processor and 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM. Combine that with 256GB of high-speed storage, and you’ve got a machine that can handle everything you throw at it without breaking a sweat. The display has been enlarged, too; it’s now a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen panel that sports a 16:10 aspect ratio and full coverage of the sRGB color gamut, thus making it ideal for productivity-oriented tasks. You also get a 1080p webcam with a dual-microphone array.

For wireless connectivity and I/O, Acer Chromebook Spin 714 comes with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, as well as HDMI, USB-C (with Thunderbolt 4 support), and USB-A ports. Then there’s the integrated USI stylus, which can be used for four hours after being charged for a mere fifteen minutes. The Spin 714 adheres to military-grade durability standards and is rated for up to ten hours of use with the battery fully charged.

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On the hunt for a well-rounded Chrome OS-powered laptop that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg? Take a look at Acer’s Chromebook Spin 314. Not only does it offer solid value for your money, but it also includes a few surprising additions that make the whole package even better.

The display on the Chromebook Spin 314 is a 14-inch touchscreen panel surrounded by narrow bezels on three sides. With a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, it’s not the greatest thing out there, but it works quite well for casual tasks like web browsing and document editing. The convertible is powered by Intel’s Pentium Silver N6000 CPU and comes with 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of flash storage. You also get a comfortable typing experience with the keyboard. Plus, the OceanGlass touchpad, made out of abandoned plastic waste, helps make the device eco-friendly with a glass-like texture for an improved tactile feel.

Speaking of wireless connectivity and I/O ports, Acer Chromebook Spin 314 includes everything from Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 to USB-C (with DisplayPort and charging functionalities) and full-size HDMI. The 2-in-1 weighs around 3.31 pounds and is rated for up to ten hours of use on a full charge.

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If you simply want a stylish and feature-packed everyday laptop that can last through a whole day on just one full charge, look no further than Acer’s Chromebook 514. Lightweight yet durable, it comes with an aluminum top cover that looks great and offers increased impact protection.

Powered by MediaTek’s Kompanio 828 processor, the Chromebook 514 features 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM for hassle-free multitasking. You also get 64GB of eMMC storage, which is decent enough for casual use. The 14-inch Full HD touchscreen has a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the narrow bezels on the sides help in reducing the device’s overall footprint. The display’s anti-glare coating makes for a comfortable viewing experience, and the backlit keyboard lets you work even in dimly lit settings. The audio quality is also fantastic, thanks to the two upward-firing speakers.

Acer Chromebook 514 includes everything from Wi-Fi 6 to USB-C (with DisplayPort and charging support) for I/O and connectivity, but no HDMI port. Despite weighing just 2.87 pounds, it still packs in a 3-cell battery that can be charged up to 50 percent in just half an hour. Other goodies include a 720p webcam and a Corning Gorilla Glass touchpad.

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Arguably one of the best Chrome OS-based laptops available, Acer’s Chromebook 314 is a mid-range device that covers all the basics. Apart from that, it also packs in some nifty extras.

The display on the Chromebook 314 is a 14-inch Full HD touchscreen that has a 16:9 aspect ratio, and it comes with an anti-glare coating for better visibility even in bright conditions. As far as basic hardware specs go, you have Intel’s Pentium Silver N6000 CPU working alongside 8GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC storage. This essentially means that the laptop can easily handle casual workflows and even some multitasking, as long as you keep your expectations within reason. The environmentally-friendly touchpad is made of ocean-bound plastic materials and features a glass-like tactile texture.

Wireless connectivity is handled using Wi-Fi 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.0, and USB-A and USB-C (with charging and DisplayPort support) ports. Acer Chromebook 314 even comes with a microSD card reader for added convenience. The June 2029 Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date means that the device will be supported for years to come.

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As its name would have you believe, Acer’s Chromebook 315 is basically a slight upgrade over the Chromebook 314 discussed earlier in this list. And even though those upgrades aren’t performance-related, they’re still very likely to be key decision-making factors for you and many other prospective buyers.

The Chromebook 315 is powered by Intel’s Pentium Silver N6000 CPU and 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM, making it well-suited to everyday computing tasks. This hardware is also capable of multitasking and media consumption, which is where the laptop’s 15.6-inch Full HD panel really helps. Then there’s the full-size keyboard, which includes a numeric keypad on the right, thus making the Chromebook 315 perfect for anyone whose workflow involves dealing with numerical data.

For I/O, Acer Chromebook 315 comes with two USB-A ports, two USB-C (with DisplayPort and charging functionalities) ports, a 3.5mm audio port, and a microSD card slot. Among other features are stereo speakers and a flare-reducing webcam. Weighing about 3.53 pounds, the laptop can be carried around anywhere with ease and even comes with a protective sleeve that lets you do just that in style.

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Laptops are generally meant to be portable, but that’s definitely not the case with Acer’s Chromebook 317. In fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to call this thing a desktop replacement.

Driven by Intel’s Pentium Silver N6000 processor, the Chromebook 317 comes with 8GB of RAM and 64GB of eMMC flash storage. However, the laptop’s biggest highlight (quite literally) is its huge 17.3-inch touchscreen display. Packing a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, the anti-glare IPS LCD panel makes everything from binge-watching your favorite TV shows to split-screen multitasking a joy. The large touchpad and full-size backlit keyboard work well, but we still suggest checking out some of the best external mice and third-party keyboards if you plan on using the Chromebook 317 as a desktop alternative for your home.

Acer Chromebook 317 offers all standard wireless connectivity and I/O options such as Bluetooth 5.1, two USB-C (complete with charging and DisplayPort capabilities) ports, a 3.5mm audio port, as well as a microSD card slot. It weighs around 4.85 pounds and comes with an Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date of June 2029.

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If there’s one thing Acer’s Chromebook 311 proves, it’s that you can get a well-made and reliable Chrome OS-based machine even on a shoestring budget. For something that costs so little, it sure ticks a lot of boxes.

Weighing a mere 2.20 pounds, the Chromebook 311 is primarily aimed at students and users with very basic computing requirements. It comes with MediaTek’s octa-core MT8183 SoC, as well as 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC flash storage. Granted, this isn’t exactly top-tier hardware, but it’s plenty capable for lightweight tasks such as web browsing and document creation. The laptop’s 11.6-inch display features a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the IPS LCD panel works well for tasks like multimedia streaming.

Acer Chromebook 311 has Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 4.2 for wireless connectivity, while I/O options include USB-C, USB-A, and 3.5mm audio ports. Other additions worth mentioning are a 720p webcam, stereo speakers, and a 4670mAh battery rated for up to 15 hours of use on a complete charge.

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