Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is becoming a Windows killer
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is closer to classic Windows laptops than we are used to with Chromebooks. Tested by our colleague Andrzej Tokarski The 14-inch convertible was particularly impressive with its powerful ARM processor, solid workmanship and good battery life – but also shows typical Chrome OS limitations. The centerpiece is the MediaTek Companio Ultra 910, a desktop version of the Dimensity chip known from premium smartphones. This makes the device one of the strongest ARM Chromebooks currently available. In benchmarks, it is even ahead of the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Snapdragon chip in the single-core test, but lags behind in the multi-core comparison due to the lower number of cores.
This hardly plays a role in everyday life: the device handles several Chrome tabs, parallel downloads and large Office documents smoothly and almost silently. The Spin 514 is also surprisingly powerful graphically. Demanding Android games like “Genshin Impact” run stably at 60 frames per second. However, Chrome OS remains unsuitable for classic PC gaming. Overall, the GPU performance is on par with current Snapdragon and Intel iGPUs.
The 14-inch IPS display has a sharp resolution of 2880 × 1800 pixels, but only achieves average brightness at around 340 nits. This is sufficient indoors, but it quickly becomes too dark outdoors. In terms of sound, the stereo speakers provide solid sound for video conferences, but a headset is recommended for films or music. With a 69 Wh battery, the device lasted around eleven hours in the video test – enough for a working day.
The aluminum housing looks high-quality, and the 360-degree hinge allows flexible use modes. The equipment includes two USB-C, two USB-A and a jack connection; a microSD slot is missing. The keyboard and glass trackpad leave a good impression, the touchscreen supports USI 2.0 pens. The 5 MP webcam delivers decent 1440p quality and has a physical privacy shutter.
Quick start
Chrome OS starts quickly and comes without bloatware. Programs such as LibreOffice or GIMP can be used via the Linux environment. The biggest limitation remains app compatibility: not all Android apps are optimally adapted, and native Windows programs can only be replaced to a limited extent. Positive: Google promises updates for up to ten years. The price of the test device was around 890 euros; It seems particularly recommended below 750 euros.
If you rely on Windows software, you will find more suitable alternatives in the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 or similar hybrids. The bottom line is that the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is currently one of the most powerful 2-in-1 Chromebooks. It is particularly suitable for students, frequent travelers and office users who value mobility, runtime and quiet operation – but they have to compromise on display brightness and software flexibility.
