The Chrome OS is seeing a sort of resurgence lately. This has nothing to do with our very own editorials regarding the hardware that is the Chromebook Spin 713 though. It was not entirely because of the whole pandemic situation either that saw the drastic spike in demands for PCs, Macs, and Chromebooks. It was more because the Chrome OS is a genuine choice in the computing world now.
What is there not to like? They are cheaper than their Windows counterparts. Chromebooks comes in all shapes and sizes that are mostly thin and light. They are also very simple to operate with and works well with your smartphone.
Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 was one of the most premium Chrome OS alternatives that you can find in the market. The convertible also featured a very heavy-duty construction with MIL-STD 810H certification. It is also one of the most powerful Chromebooks you can find in the market currently. So powerful in fact that you can technically play games on it with Steam’s Alpha build. We will be going through that soon.
Of course, when Acer says there is a new one, we are naturally excited. Welcome to the Acer Chromebook Spin 714. To be fair though, there are actually little differences between the new premium Chromebook compared to the older one.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714
The Chromebook Spin 714 followed the recipe that was the Chromebook Spin 713. There are small design differences that makes the new one stands out just a little more with some subtlety as well. It is striking yet understated, we like it. Of course, you still see the Chromebook branding that is expected of any Chromebook.
It now comes with a 14-inch display with 100 sRGB colours. The slightly larger display boasts either a WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600) or WUXGA (1,920 by ,1200) resolutions. Instead of the older 3:2 aspect ratio, it is a more regular 16:10 display. The panel is still protected by Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass. The glossy finish also helps with clarity and vivid colours of the display.
The webcam that comes with the new Chromebook Spin 714 is not a regular 720p webcam that most Windows PCs come with. Instead, you get a premium Full HD webcam experience with the Chromebook that should be a large improvement over most Windows laptops. At the same time, there are two microphones flanking the webcam for better voice capturing for a much better video conferencing experience.
Of course, the 2022 model of Chromebook packs a modern powerhouse in Intel’s 12th generation Core processors (up to Core i7) that now takes advantage of the big-small architecture that is made popular in smartphones. It could also mean a huge boost in terms of performance for the Linux based interface. It is also an Intel Evo certified platform, just to make the deal sweeter.
It also packs all the modern gizmos you can ask for in a modern laptop. You get WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, backlit keyboard, DTS Audio, full-sized HDMI port, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports (USB Type-C) for extra versatility. You can even opt for a fingerprint sensor for fast and secure logins.
Acer Chromebook Tab 510
While the military standard build of the Chromebook Spin 714 may mean that it’ll survive hard knocks and drops, it may not fit in well in rough environments on the field. It might be a little cumbersome too. That is where you have the Acer Chromebook Tab 510 Chrome OS tablet. You can even opt it with LTE connectivity as well, if you are constantly on the field.
It is a much more compact device with a 10.1-inch IPS display. The panel boats WUXGA (1,920 by 1,200) resolution with 16:10 aspect ratio. It is also protected by Corning’s Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass to not just protect from bacteria and germs, but also from scratches and bumps it might face in the field.
Powering the tablet is a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform system on a chip (SoC). Because it is an SoC with built in modem, you get to opt for an LTE enabled version to keep you going in the field without WiFi. At the same time, the efficiency of the SoC means that the tablet can go on up to 11-hours in continuous use from a single charge. You also get a 5-Megapixel front facing camera and 8-Megapixel rear camera for all kinds of work needs.
The entire tablet is built with durability and ruggedness in mind. It is of course certified with MIL-STD 810H standards. The chassis is built to withstand high impacts. It is reinforced and comes with shock-absorbing corner bumpers just to ensure that it can stand the impact of being dropped from 122cm.
Price and Availability
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 will be available starting August 2022 at US$ 749.99 onward. There will be an enterprise edition of the Chromebook Spin 714 too available starting August 2022 at US$ 1,099.99. The Acer Chromebook Tab 510 will be available starting July for US$ 399.99.
All the new Chromebooks comes with USI stylus support. Unfortunately, the styli are not included with the new Chromebooks. There are also no mentions on its official availability and pricing for the local market currently. More information on the new Chromebooks can be found on their website.