Chromebook Spin 14: Acer raises the bar

Acer has launched new Chrome OS-powered devices, with the convertible Chromebook Spin 14 standing out. It also revealed a business edition and the Chromebook Tab 510, an intriguing innovation in Chrome OS tablets.

Google's PC platform has been greatly improved, and Chromebooks are now a viable alternative to Windows and macOS laptops. Acer was one of the first manufacturers to support them, so it's no surprise that they were revived at the Next@Acer 2022 conference, in addition to the Windows machines we saw yesterday:

"Acer continues to lead the market in high-quality, feature-rich Chromebooks that give exactly the Chromebook experience our consumers demand," said James Lin, Acer Inc.'s general manager of laptop and professional products.

The advancements of the Google platform have gone hand in hand with the Chrome OS system and increased application compatibility, but also with significant advances in hardware, as demonstrated by this convertible that employs the latest Intel CPUs, the Core Alder Lake series.

With a 20% performance boost over previous generations, Acer claims that the new Chromebook "will be able to handle demanding tasks such as encoding, video editing, and gaming."

Its 14-inch multi-touch display is adequate for the task, with support for 100% of the sRGB color gamut, two resolution options, WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 pixels), and WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200 pixels), and antimicrobial Gorilla Glass protection.

With the USI stylus, which has 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, the 16:10 aspect ratio provides additional screen real estate for sketching, taking notes, and accessing apps.

The Chromebook Spin 714 features an aluminum chassis with MIL-STD 810H-enhanced durability to prevent it from knocks and drops, and its 360-degree hinges let you put the screen above the keyboard and convert it for a range of functions, settings, and purposes.

Acer's Full HD MIPI webcam with temporal noise reduction technology and twin microphone array has optimized the use of video conferencing, while its two upward-facing speakers with DTS Audio and intelligent amplifier promise to give superb sound.

In terms of connectivity, it supports Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.2, and has a plethora of connectors, including HDMI and two Thunderbolt. It boasts a backlit keyboard, an optional fingerprint reader, and a battery life of 10 hours.

There are no remaining Chrome OS tablets since Google stopped selling its own devices, emphasizing the significance of Acer's introduction. The Chromebook Tab 510 features a 10.1-inch IPS multi-touch display with native WUXGA 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution and is powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 platform, which delivers optional 4G LTE mobile broadband in addition to Wi-Fi.

This Chromebook tablet meets MIL-STD 810H standards, with an impact-resistant chassis, shock-absorbing bumper, and rugged construction that protects it from drops of up to 48 inches. Furthermore, the surface of its touch screen is made of antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass, which helps to limit the growth of germs that produce odors and stains.

It is designed for video conferencing and includes a 5-megapixel front-facing MIPI webcam for video calls and an 8-megapixel rear-facing MIPI camera for image capture.

It includes a USI stylus with 4,096 levels of sensitivity, and Acer sells an extra cover with the keyboard that allows you to use it as a notebook. The Chromebook Tab 510 has a battery life of up to 11 hours on a single charge.

For the business market, Acer offers variants of the previous consumer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 714 and Acer Chromebook Enterprise Tab 510 that incorporate Chrome OS business features, "offering employees a modern experience and fast devices, with integrated security, fast installation, and cost reduction," according to Acer.

Acer Chrome OS devices are designed to relieve IT of numerous administrative responsibilities, facilitate collaboration, and provide cloud workers with safe access to data and applications.