Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: One step forward, one step back

Price When Reviewed

$699.99

Best Prices Today: Acer Chromebook Spin 714

Want a premium Chromebook? You even have a variety of selection—actually, Google just launched a new “Chromebook Plus” push that particularly places premium Chromebooks (and AI options) on a pedestal. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a comparatively costly 2-in-1 that barely predates the Chromebook Plus announcement, and whereas it’s an pleasing system, it has bother justifying its value.

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

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Specs

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 I obtained is near the highest of what customers can count on from trendy Chromebook {hardware}. It has an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of PCIe NVMe strong state storage. The SSD is very notable. Only top-end ChromeOS units exceed 128GB.

• CPU: Intel Core i5-1335U
• Memory: 8GB LPDDR4X
• Graphics/GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• Display: 1,920 x 1,200 60Hz LCD Touchscreen
• Storage: 256GB PCIe NVMe
• Webcam: 1440p
• Connectivity:  2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x HDMI, 1x 3.5mm combo audio
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 42 watt-hours
• Dimensions: 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.71 inches
• Weight: 3.02
• MSRP: $699.99 MSRP

This {hardware} comes at a considerably steep MSRP of $699.99 (discounted to $570 on the time of this writing). That’s not costly, nevertheless it places the Chromebook Spin 714 in league with Windows alternate options which have comparable {hardware}.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Matthew Smith

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 goes for a chic, skilled look with a darkish silver metallic chassis that seems to make use of a mix of metallic and plastic panels. It’s just like the look of Acer’s mainstream Windows laptops, although Acer provides a touch of aptitude with chrome show hinges and a slighter bigger chrome Acer emblem.

Build high quality is nice for the value. A thick metallic show lid retains show flex to a minimal and offers a way of heft and sturdiness not present in equally priced Windows laptops. The show hinges are properly tuned, too, offering sufficient resistance to maintain the show in place, however not a lot that the show can’t be opened with one hand.

The Spin 714 in all fairness straightforward to pack, nevertheless it’s not the smallest 2-in-1 or laptop computer you’ll discover. It measures a bit over a foot vast, virtually 9 inches deep, and 0.71 inches thick. It’s comparable in dimension to Apple’s MacBook Pro 14 and Microsoft’s Surface Laptop 5 13.5-inch, however thicker—a little bit of a shock, actually, given the Spin 714’s modest {hardware}. Its weight is extra mid-pack at 3.02 kilos: not the lightest 14-inch system, but in addition removed from the heaviest. The Acer Swift X 14, a laptop computer with RTX 4050 discrete graphics, weighs only a few tenths of a pound extra.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

Acer’s keyboard makes good use of the house afforded by the Chromebook Spin 714’s chassis. The typing expertise is superb, particularly for a 2-in-1 with a sub-$1,000 value level. I loved the keyboard’s vital key journey and taut, crisp bottoming motion. The keyboard permits a bit extra flex alongside its middle than I would love, nevertheless it’s not sufficient to dampen my enthusiasm. 

The structure is spacious, with massive keys on either side of the keyboard. Like all Chromebooks, the Spin 714 replaces the same old perform row with a set of perform keys particular to ChromeOS. They can be utilized to regulate display brightness and audio quantity, snap a screenshot, or reload an internet web page, amongst different features.

Keyboard backlighting is customary and turned on by default. The brightness is well-tuned out of the field and might be modified to one among 5 brightness settings by urgent the Alt key together with the display brightness perform keys. 

While the keyboard is strong, the touchpad is underwhelming. It measures roughly 4 inches vast and a couple of.25 inches deep, which makes it the smallest touchpad I’ve encountered on a 14-inch laptop computer in 2023. It’s responsive and clean, however its dimension is cramped for multi-touch gestures. Even scrolling was a bit annoying—my fingers couldn’t transfer far earlier than encountering the bounds of the touchpad.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

Opening the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 reveals a 14-inch touchscreen with a 16:10 facet ratio and 1,920 x 1,200 decision. It’s not essentially the most enticing show, nevertheless it’s well-suited to the 2-in-1’s objective.

The show’s decision works out to a pixel density of 161 pixels per inch. That’s not excessive for a 2-in-1 or laptop computer in 2023, nevertheless it’s just like the decision of a 27-inch 4K monitor. Text, pictures, and video look crisp and sharp with no apparent pixelation round small fonts. 

Image high quality is in any other case advantageous. Acer sticks with a standard IPS LCD that delivers mediocre distinction and a modest coloration gamut. The show appears acceptable by itself however a bit boring if in comparison with a laptop computer with a extra trendy show know-how, like OLED. Most such laptops are costlier, to be truthful, however some—just like the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED—aren’t way more. 

The show is a touchscreen, in fact, and can be utilized to navigate ChromeOS and a few Android apps. ChromeOS, like Windows, has struggled to bridge the hole between a desktop, mouse-centric interface and cell, touch-centric expertise. Absolutely nothing concerning the inventory ChromeOS expertise encourages customers to the touch the show—quite the opposite, most icons are small and troublesome to precisely faucet. 

But not every little thing might be blamed on Google. This is a three-pound 2-in-1 that measures 0.71 inches thick, which suggests it’s awkward to make use of as a pill for any size of time. Speaking personally, I solely discovered the touchscreen helpful for watching YouTube or Netflix in “tent mode,” which folds the keyboard again to make use of as a show stand. 

Audio high quality is mediocre, too, although typical for a cheap laptop computer. The audio system sound weak at most quantity and lack the low-end oomph to do justice to music or films. They’re advantageous for podcasts or video calls however in any other case fail to impress. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

Acer equips the Chromebook Spin 714 with a 1440p webcam that has a bodily privateness shutter. Video high quality is sweet with strong sharpness and good coloration replica. The default field-of-view is vast, although, which suggests a big portion of the room you’re in will probably be seen. That might be inconvenient in case you make money working from home. 

The webcam is paired with a dual-microphone array. It picks up clear, crisp dialogue however appears to wrestle with noise rejection. I seen the hum of an area heater, and even the rustle of my garments, got here via in recorded audio. Some video conferencing apps could cut back this with their very own noise-canceling options, however the microphone’s lack of filtering may very well be distracting if left to its personal units.

Biometric log-in isn’t supported.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Connectivity

IDG / Matthew Smith

Two Thunderbolt 4 / USB-C ports flank the Chromebook Spin 714, one on all sides. Both help 65 watts of USB Power Delivery and can be utilized to cost the 2-in-1 with any USB-C charger that gives sufficient energy. They additionally help DisplayPort Alternate Mode, to allow them to be used to attach with a USB-C monitor (or different show, with an applicable adapter).

These ports are aided by a USB-A 3.0 port, HDMI, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack, which spherical out the 2-in-1’s legacy connectivity. I’d’ve favored an extra USB-A port, however a single USB-A is typical for a contemporary Chromebook, and the Spin 714’s connectivity is superb total.

The ports are well-placed, too. All of them are on the rear of the 2-in-1, which helps with cable administration when the laptop computer is linked to peripherals or an exterior monitor.

Wireless connectivity is robust, with help for the newest Wi-Fi 6E customary and Bluetooth 5.2. Wi-Fi 6E is frequent amongst equally priced Windows laptops and Chromebooks, however cheap Chromebooks usually lack Wi-Fi 6E. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Performance

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is among the many strongest Chromebooks presently out there. It has an Intel Core i5-1335U processor, 8GB of reminiscence, and a 256GB PCIe NVMe strong state drive. These are robust specs for a Chromebook and supply strong benchmark outcomes, however total efficiency is mediocre in comparison with some current alternate options. 

• CrXPRT 2: 151
• Speedometer: 107
• Basemark Web 3.0: 1194.67
• Kraken: 469.9ms
• Jetstream 2: 225.876

These figures simply defeat older and cheaper Chromebooks just like the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook. But newer fashions just like the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 (which has an AMD Ryzen 3 7230C processor) can present comparable efficiency at a lower cost level.

Frankly, although, I’m undecided it issues. Chromebooks aren’t particularly demanding by design—they’re primarily meant for accessing cloud-based providers, in any case. The Chromebook Spin 714 flew between purposes and simply dealt with a dozen open browser tabs.

Graphics efficiency was combined. The laptop computer depends on Intel Iris Xe graphics, which is comparatively succesful for a Chromebook. Most out there video games are Android titles from the Google Play Store, nonetheless, so each efficiency and stability might be spotty. Fallout Shelter was advantageous, however Call of Duty crashed to the desktop. Pokemon Unite performed easily, nevertheless it didn’t acknowledge keyboard enter, so I had to make use of the touchscreen to manage my character—awkward, to say the least.

Storage is a perk. The quick PCie NVMe drive offers a formidable 256GB. That’s gobs for a Chromebook, since there’s no storage-heavy apps to put in. 

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Battery life

Acer packs a 42 watt-hour battery within the Chromebook Spin 714. That’s not an enormous battery for a 14-inch laptop computer, nevertheless it’s a good dimension for a Chromebook and powered the 2-in-1 for 11 hours and 46 minutes in CrXPRT’s battery life take a look at. 

That’s a mediocre outcome for a Chromebook. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 achieved over 12 hours of battery life, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 hit 16 hours, and Acer’s older Chromebook Spin 514 hit 13 hours.

With that mentioned, over 11 hours of battery life is usable, so I doubt most homeowners can have a difficulty. I’m additionally blissful to report that real-world battery life was corresponding to the benchmark.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: Should you purchase it?

The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is an honest ChromeOS 2-in-1 that fails to face out from the gang. It’s enticing, affords a superb keyboard, and consists of loads of connectivity. Battery life and efficiency are mid-pack, nonetheless, and the laptop computer’s $699.99 MSRP feels a bit steep for the {hardware} on faucet. In truth, I really want Acer’s older Chromebook Spin 514, which has a bigger touchpad and longer battery life, over this mannequin. There’s nothing significantly incorrect with the Spin 714, however nothing significantly proper, both.