Available in early May, the new Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-4H/T) includes a 13th generation Intel Core processor, a 1080p anti-glare display, Wi-Fi 6E connectivity and an excellent selection of ports. It has everything I look for in an affordable laptop.

For a $399 laptop, the new Chromebook Plus 514 boasts some impressive specs. It’s powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i3-N305 processor—an all-new CPU that, while modest in terms of power, extends battery life during video meetings and other everyday tasks. Acer has also loaded the notebook with 8GB of modern LPDDR5 RAM and offers configurations with up to 512GB of fast PCIe Gen 3 storage. It should feel extremely fast when multitasking.

I’m not much of a mouse user, so a good trackpad is essential. Acer’s new Chromebook has a large OceanGlass touchpad, and its 14-inch 1080p display can be configured with touch functionality. Additionally, the 1080p webcam has a privacy shutter and features Acer’s AI image correction technology. (To be clear, Google requires these display and webcam specifications for all Chromebook Plus laptops.)

As for the port selection, you get a pair of USB-C ports, a pair of USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack and a microSD reader. The only thing missing is an HDMI port, but you won’t hear me complain, as the laptop’s USB-C ports offer video output (via DP Alt Mode) and accept transient charging from a monitor or USB hub. Other features include Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, upward-firing speakers, and 11 hours of battery life. As with some other Acer laptops, the Chromebook Plus 514 contains recycled materials and comes in sustainable packaging.

Funnily enough, my only complaint is Acer’s naming scheme. There are half a dozen different “Chromebook Plus 514” configurations. Some versions of this Chromebook are equipped with AMD Ryzen processors, while others are business models and cost $1,000. If you’re interested in the latest configuration — the one with a Core I3-N305 CPU — you need to keep an eye out for the “CB514-4H/T” SKU.

Acer will start selling the Chromebook Plus 514 (CB514-4H/T) in May 2024, though it could arrive at Costco a few weeks earlier. Prices start at $399 for the non-touchscreen version. Unfortunately, Acer did not announce the base storage configuration. We just know you can pay extra for 512GB.

Source: Acer