It’s incredible that Google’s Pixel Chromebook debuted back in 2013. Since then, we’ve all had plenty of time to adjust to the concept of a high-end Chromebook. In actuality, you can now pick from a wide range of affordable to luxurious models. So here comes the new Acer Chromebook 714, a 14-inch model with a somewhat inconsistent price. We are here with our Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review.
It’s not a true premium device because prices range from $500 (£500) to $800 (£800), depending on specifications. However, the price is high enough to raise some concerns. For example, it costs a little less per feature compared to the Google PixelBook Go. But also significantly more expensive than a HP Chromebook 14 model with an Intel Celeron processor.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Design
The Chromebook Spin 714 from Acer is slate blue with an aluminium body, making it a durable device that has been MIL-SPEC 810H tested, as we already mentioned. Although the slate blue colour of this productivity Chromebook has some lovely subtle metallic flecks, it is the chrome accents that give it a touch of muted business casual style.
In all situations, including upright on your desk, in tent mode for watching films, or when using it as a tablet, the 360-degree hinges feel sturdy and taut when you open the cover. Even for my enormous matter-mashing hands, the backlit Chiclet-style keyboard above the chrome-accented touchpad seems spacious. You can find the stylus garage, which also recharges the stylus, underneath the left front corner. The FHD 1080p webcam is mounted above everything on a 14-inch touchscreen display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
The Spin 714, which measures 12.3 x 8.8 x 0.7 inches and weighs 3.2 pounds, is the bulkiest model in our comparison group. At 2.5 pounds, the Asus CX 9 (12.7 x 8.1 x 0.7 inches) and the incredibly portable HP Chromebook x2 11 tied for the title of lightest Chromebook.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The strength of the Acer Chromebook 714’s design is its main selling point. This item seems to be absolutely bombproof. The lone exception to the all-metal chassis’ rigidity is a small bounce in the keyboard. The keystroke on the keyboard is also raster-mushy. It’s not a bad keyboard, but neither the action nor the foundation are as solid as we would like.
The trackpad has another annoying problem. It has large proportions and a Corning Gorilla Glass coating for a polished appearance. But in addition to the clicking action, there is a slight rattle and movement that gives the object a slightly shoddy appearance.
Anyway, a laptop that is primarily made of sturdy metal should have strong long-term durability. The drawback is the weight. At 1.8 cm, it is a rather thin device. But because of its robust construction, it only weights 1.6kg. With a small 45 watt charger, it’s still very portable, but this is no lightweight laptop. In comparison to a typical 13-inch Ultrabook or devices like the MacBook Air, it feels noticeably bigger and bulkier.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Display
The 14-inch, 16:10 aspect ratio, 1080p touch display of the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is colourful, bright, and incredibly clear. I really enjoyed binge-watching, especially while in tent mode. As our 6-foot-7-inch green-hued heroine broke the fourth wall once more and sat down with Kevin to talk things out, I watched the season finale of Disney’s “She-Hulk.” The saturated CGI imagery was reproduced beautifully with excellent crispness and clarity by the Spin 714.
It was enjoyable to curl up in the bed’s corner and watch actress Jennifer Walters (She-Hulk), who changed the conclusion of the finale by debating a robot in the inner sanctum of Marvel, alter the scene. I also watched five episodes of the Netflix original series “Bling Empire,” which has a very wealthy group of friends who are all blinged out and live in pompous LA. As we fell asleep, daydreaming of joining the fabulously wealthy group of quarrelling friends, all the gold and glitter that is “Bling Empire” was beautifully rendered.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Audio
A good number of ports can be found on the Spin 714’s frame, with two Thunderbolt 4 connections taking centre stage. Even if you don’t use the provided charging adapter, both of them are perfectly adequate for keeping your Chromebook charged. Acer also includes a single USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a full-size HDMI port. The volume rocker is on the left, and the power button with its LED indicator is next to the audio jack on the right.
When you first take a close look at the Spin 714, you might assume that the only noteworthy feature is the 360-degree rotating hinge. However, as you can see by looking at the front of the Chromebook, it couldn’t be further from the truth. Acer’s garaged USI stylus, which is something different from what you might anticipate, is located beneath the keyboard deck.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Graphics
Contrary to the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook, the performance improvements offered by Intel’s 12th Gen chipsets won’t require you to sell a kidney. With the Spin 714, Acer even went one step further because there isn’t currently any configuration that uses the Core i3 variant. Instead, the “base” model uses an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, which also includes integrated Iris Xe graphics.
The Spin 714 handled every challenge we put it up against throughout our testing without fail. This involves using Steam Alpha to play some games and managing the 20 or more Chrome tabs that are open at any given moment. Don’t be surprised if you hear the fans start to spin up because this won’t be like the ARM-powered Chromebooks that are currently available. However, compared to some Chromebooks using Intel’s 11th generation processor, it wasn’t as bad.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Performance
The Intel Core i5-1235U, a mobile Core processor from Intel’s 12th Generation family with two Performance cores and eight Efficient cores, serves as the basis for the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. It belongs to the U-series of 15 watt chips, which put efficiency before power. We contrasted its performance with that of the Chromebook Spin 713, which had an 11th Generation Core i5-1135G7 processor, which we reviewed earlier this year. The Core i5-1135G7 component is also present in the Asus Chromebook CX9.
Battery life and heat
For a number of years, the Chromebook Spin 713 from Acer has been at the top of our list of the best Chromebooks. It was one of the most well-liked Chromebooks in recent years and had a lot going for it, including lightning-fast Intel processors, a clear and high-resolution 3:2 screen, a wide range of Thunderbolt 4 ports, all-day battery life, and one of the nicest keyboards available for Chromebooks. I had a lot of expectations for its successor, the Chromebook Spin 714.
Therefore, we regretfully inform you that the Chromebook Spin 714 is worse than the 713. That doesn’t make it a bad computer, and many of these problems are more pardonable for $729.99 than they would be at, say, $1,000. My Core i5 device has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. But regrettably, I consider it to be a step backward.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 review: Price
One of our main issues with the Spin 713 has been resolved by the addition of a garaged stylus, and we like the new 14-inch, 16:10 display because it provides a great balance between work and play. Any 2-in-1 should allow you to travel with a pen in case you wish to doodle or take notes more naturally on paper. The Chromebook Spin 714 is appropriately priced at $729, but the $499 sale price we’ve already seen this year would make it a major bargain.
Conclusion
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 confronts our innate suspicion of any Chromebook that costs more than $500, largely because of its brilliant display, quick, potent performance, and professional-looking design. We our enjoying utilising the Spin to swiftly push documents and binge-watch videos because we our in love with it. For remote professionals, educators, and students on a budget who need a Chromebook with the power to easily manage constantly having more than 40 tabs open while working, the Spin 714 is a great option.
