Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review: A great laptop for casual users

Price When Reviewed

$399.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Chromebook Plus 515

$399.00

$399.99

Chromebooks are getting higher and higher day by day. With the arrival of the brand new Chromebook Plus line of laptops comes up to date {hardware}, 1080p webcams, and AI capabilities. That’s the brand new normal nowadays and I’m so right here for it. Chromebooks have positively come a good distance because the 2011 debut. If you’re available in the market for a handy guide a rough on a regular basis machine, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is unquestionably price your valuable time and a focus.

From the dependable efficiency to the beautiful typing expertise, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has quite a bit to supply the on a regular basis individual. I used to be in a position to simply bounce from tab to tab with no noticeable lag. The audio is crisp as nicely because of the upward-firing audio system. While the design is considerably missing and the show’s bezels are thicker than I like, I’d say the professionals outweigh the cons right here, particularly for the $399.99 price ticket. Not unhealthy for a sub-$500 machine, huh?

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best Chromebooks out there proper now.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Specifications

Our overview unit comes with an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. That’s loads of energy for on a regular basis duties like shopping social media, checking e mail, and so forth. It’s not a souped-up gaming machine, however that’s not what this Chromebook is designed for. It’s good at what it does, particularly for $399.99. However, storage is on the lighter aspect, which can trigger some raised eyebrows. It didn’t impression me a lot although, as I retailer most of my information within the cloud. You can’t reconfigure this mannequin, both. However, you’ll be capable of decide completely different configurations sooner or later.

• CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U
• Graphics: Intel UHD graphics
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• Display: 15.6-inch 1080p, 16:9 side ratio
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Webcam: 1080p at 60fps
• Connectivity: One USB-A, two USB-C, one HDMI, one headset jack
• Battery capability: 13 hours
• Weight: 3.7 lbs
• Price: $399.99

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: AI capabilities and different options

The new suite of AI instruments are enjoyable, however not needed. The wallpapers that change all through the day are beautiful, providing a pleasant background to have a look at in between work and different duties. You may enhance the lighting in webcam footage and movies. There’s additionally a generative AI instrument that may produce wallpapers and assembly backgrounds. It’s not out there simply but, however I’m slightly cautious utilizing of such issues. It delves too deep within the moral murkiness of AI artwork theft, which I don’t actually wish to tango with.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Design, construct high quality

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

I’ve to confess, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 received’t be successful any magnificence pageants. It simply blends in amongst a sea of darkish grey rectangles, which pervade the laptop computer market. That stated, the refined sample on the lid, a lighter grey triangle assembly a darker grey one, is fascinating to have a look at. It’s not essentially the most thrilling design, however that will not hassle some of us. After all, a refined or extra utilitarian design is perhaps extra welcome, particularly for those who plan on utilizing this laptop computer in an workplace setting.

While the design is nothing to write down dwelling about, the construct high quality is spectacular, particularly for a sub-$500 laptop computer. You’ll really feel slightly flex for those who twist the corners of the display, however the keyboard deck is agency and didn’t cave after I pushed my arms down on it. The laptop computer weighs about 3.7 kilos, which is comparatively light-weight. It’s not the lightest machine we’ve ever examined, but it surely doesn’t must be. At the tip of the day, it shouldn’t offer you a shoulder ache when touring with it.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Display, keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515’s 15.6-inch 1080p show is nice, however not nice. It solely manages about 250 nits of brightness, so I needed to hold adjusting the brightness, particularly when watching YouTube or Netflix. As for image high quality, nice particulars are sharp sufficient for productiveness duties in addition to day-to-day use. When I watched an episode of The House of Usher, which is a really darkish present (each visually and plot-wise), I discovered the display’s distinction to be satisfying. I want the bezels had been slightly smaller, although, particularly those on the high and backside of the display, to permit for extra image.

The keyboard is good and spacious. In reality, the typing expertise is remarkably much like the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. The keys really feel springy beneath my fingertips and I grew accustomed to utilizing them over a brief time period. The particular person keys additionally seem like wider than different ones I’ve seen, which is right for these with bigger arms. As for the trackpad, it’s positioned in the course of the keyboard, which I really like. I’ve stated this in earlier opinions, however nothing irritates me greater than an off-center trackpad, as my palms regularly contact it and trigger misfires. In use, the Plus 515’s shortly registered my faucets and glides and emitted a pleasant snapping sound each time I pressed down on it.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Connectivity, webcam, audio

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The connectivity choices on the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 are nice, however possibly slightly meager for some. It has two USB-C, one USB-A, one HDMI, and a headset jack. I’d’ve most popular a couple of USB-A, however that’s nothing a hub can’t repair. Besides, as somebody who works remotely and has entry to each a laptop computer and a desktop PC, I don’t want as many connectivity choices as an workplace employee would possibly.

I really like the inclusion of a 1080p webcam, which is now the usual throughout all Chromebook Plus gadgets. On video, I didn’t look washed out or grainy, which is ideal for somebody like me (who works from dwelling and participates in video calls). I’m unsure I’d say it’s essentially the most color-accurate webcam I’ve ever seen, although. The clementine-colored sweater I used to be carrying seemed extra muted than it truly seems in actual life. There’s additionally a bodily privateness shutter on this webcam, which is a plus in my e book.

The audio is surprisingly good because of the upward-firing audio system, which flank the keyboard. When I listened to the Hounds of Love album, Kate Bush’s witch-like vocals (that’s a praise, I swear) had been each clear and otherworldly. I didn’t discover any bizarre tinniness, however bass sounds are onerous to return by. That’s simply the character of laptop computer audio, although. You simply can’t get the identical audio high quality as with a soundbar or exterior audio system.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Performance

At first look, the specs on this machine might not appear all that spectacular. After all, the Intel Core i3 processor is usually designed for browser-based duties and never a lot else. However, for a casual-use machine, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 performs like an actual professional. Bootup and shutdown occurs lighting quick, and I didn’t discover any lag when leaping from tab to tab. The Plus 515 had an important Basemark Web 3.0 rating of 1313.43, beating out the comparable Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. This benchmark measures how nicely your machine handles net primarily based functions. That stated, it had a decrease CrXPRT 2 rating of 169. Although it falls behind the Plus CX34’s 181 rating, I didn’t discover any distinction between the 2 machines. The two carry out equally, particularly in real-world use.

Here’s how the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 fared within the 5 browser-based benchmarks. 

• CrXPRT 2: 169
• Speedometer: 116
• Basemark Web 3.0: 1313.43
• Kraken: 504.7ms
• Jetstream 2: 248.98

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Battery life

Battery life is first rate, however we’ve positively seen higher outcomes for Chromebooks. The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip, for instance, lasted a whopping 19 hours on a single cost. The Chromebook Plus 515, nonetheless, petered out on the 13 hour mark. That’s nonetheless a great consequence, so don’t get it twisted. It also needs to be famous that I ran the battery benchmark with the brightness set to 50 %, so you might even see a shorter consequence for those who’re utilizing the laptop computer with the brightness cranked up.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Should you purchase it?

Yeah! You ought to. The solely actual draw back is the aesthetics, that are an actual snooze-fest. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, with its ivory-colored chassis and backlit keyboard, is extra lovely by comparability (not less than to my eyes). That stated, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a dependable performer, which is what actually issues on the finish of the day. Beauty’s solely pores and skin deep, of us. The 13-hour battery life is about common for a Chromebook, however that’s loads of juice for those who’re ever away from an outlet for some time. If you’ve been on the hunt for a strong on a regular basis laptop computer that gives robust efficiency, good audio, and a 1080p webcam, then the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a nice selection.