Acer - Chromebook Plus Spin 514 -14" WUXGA Touch Laptop MediaTek Kompanio Ultra -12GB Memory 256GB Storage - Wi-Fi 7 Google AI - Platinum Silver

This machine has a convertible form factor and has the very latest fanless MediaTek Kompanio 910 Ultra processor, which provides great performance along with great battery life and powerful AI support (50TOPS). Specs are excellent; 12GB LPDDR5X RAM, 256GB UFS SSD, 14"WUXGA touch display, WiFi7, etc. and it feels great to carry or use. Highly recommended.

I've had the Acer Spin 514 for about a week now. It's running the apps perfectly and browses multiple windows and browser tabs with ease. Track pad feels super nice and is very responsive. Love the built-in key in commands as well.

TLDR: This Chromebook is a Plus series model. That defines computers that use the Chrome OS Operating System with higher specifications as defined by Google. A Chromebook Plus must have at least a 12th-gen Intel i3 or 7000-series Ryzen 3 processor or identical processor power, 8 GB RAM, a minimum of 128 GB of storage, an LED illuminated full HD 1920 X 1080 IPS screen, and a full HD webcam with noise reduction. Some Plus models also have touchscreens, illuminated keyboards, 256GB of SSD storage, and USB-C ports that contain both High Speed and Display Port protocols for video output to large monitors. In addition, many Plus models also are “2 in 1” in that their display screens will rotate completely backward to form a large tablet configuration for convenience. This ACER Spin 514 model Chromebook has all of the above higher specs, with 12 GB of RAM, and the 256GB of internal UFS storage. It has standard Google AI Artificial Intelligence features. This model uses a fast and efficient Media-Tek Kompanio Ultra 910 processor and a 14” 1920 x 1200 (known as WUXGA) High Definition) IPS Gorilla Glass touchscreen LED display. The CPU is an 8 core and runs at 3.62 Ghz speed with 12 Megabytes of Level 3 cache. Onboard RAM is 12GB and is LPDDR5X. It supports 2 external 4K monitors from the USB-C with Display Port output. Being a 14” model, it does not have a dedicated number keypad; the keyboard is illuminated. The weight is 3 pounds; dimensions are 12.3 inches left to right, 9.1 inches front to back and about .6 inch high when closed. Battery life is touted at 17 hours.. It is supplied with 2 USB-C ports, 2 USB-A ports, volume controls, a headphone/microphone jack and a 65 watt AC power adapter/charger. There is a gray, padded, protective sleeve/carry case supplied in the box with a separate compartment for the AC charger and a mouse. The WiFi is 7 protocol for fast speeds. Bluetooth is 6.0 I used a USB-C multi-port docking station and the USB-C ports wonderfully put out video allowing me to use 2 large 23” monitors and also charge the Chromebook when I plugged the included Acer AC adapter into the PD Power Delivery port of the docking station. Google provides 15 Gigaytes of free online storage room for all apps combined per Gmail account. (Create more Gmail accounts to get more storage for free). Sign into a Chromebook with your gmail account and you are ready to utilize everything Chromebooks offer. All Chromebooks power up fast, are virus protected because everything goes through Google servers where viruses and hacks are screened out, and run cool and last long on a battery charge. All also have free access to Google Docs word processing, Google Sheets for spreadsheets, Google Photos to store and edit images, a free Google Voice telephone number for making calls from Android devices, Windows devices, and Chromebooks, YouTube, and other applications available free of charge. All documents created save automatically into your Google Drive offline “cloud” storage and are accessible from any computer once signed into a user's Gmail account. Google AI is built in and it is called Gemini. There is a Gemini icon on the Chromebook shelf to activate Gemini and use it verbally or by typing commands to enable services such as summarizing articles, searching anything, collect data from internet searches, generate images based on descriptions, and other functions that are yet to be created. With Gemini, a “Magic Editor” is available in Google Photos to change, edit, or manipulate photos. This is started by circling a photo section and performing changes, movements, deletions or copying to that section. Gemini is also a writing machine in that the user may type in a writing task and Gemini searches, summarizes and writes what is requested. Gemini is also a chat engine in that it will reply to questions and rebuttals to what it produces. It is able to summarize web pages quickly. Gemini Live Translate, enables Google AI translated captions for audio and video. Chromebooks also have the ability to use Microsoft apps such as Word, Excel and others with Chrome OS versions. I use the Google Docs, Sheets, Voice, Drive and YouTube on all my computers be they Chrome OS or Windows. Sign in with a Gmail account and all the files are there. Start creating on one computer, pick up on another to add or edit, sign in to another to print or continue working on documents. I also open Microsoft files into Google Docs or Sheets and then revise and update them. Anyone who has a Microsoft OneDrive for file storage can easily use the Chromebook Settings menu, download the OneDrive app, go to the Files section and integrate Microsoft OneDrive files into a Chromebook by signing into the Microsoft account. Re the Acer Spin 514: I experienced long battery life, fast WiFi response using my WiFi 6 router in my home, decent sound via BlueTooth to some JVC, Sony, and Philips headphones and quite respectable sound using the built-in speakers which fire up on both sides of the keyboard. It is very slim and lightweight; it is fast; it runs silently and cool. Battery life is very long. This Acer CB+ Spin 514 is very fast indeed, it runs cool, and allows using web browsing, word processing and playing music simultaneously with no hiccups. The video camera is 5 MegaPixels with a privacy shutter with good images when I tested it with another user using Google Meet. The single slight negative is that the keyboard keys are a light silvery white color and the white LED illumination is not very contrasty with that key color. But an illuminated keyboard is always a plus. It runs cool but has cooling slots on the bottom panel so be careful and don't place it onto sheets, blankets or a sofa while in use since a fabric surface will block the upward flow of cooling air into the bottom which is exited from the back edge below the display screen. Dust is the nemesis of good performance on any computer. Highly recommended.

This is a really good Chromebook with impressive specs, but I had a couple of reservations about it. Performance overall is excellent -- MediaTek has really upped their game and is no longer just a budget chip manufacturer. The MedaTek Kompanio Ultra 910 is very powerful, and along with the 12 GB of RAM, makes for quick opening of my huge Google Docs/Sheets (within a second, compared to 4-5 seconds on other Chromebooks). Gemini AI features are also quick -- it was able to generate a requested image in about a second. Media streaming was smooth and flawless, with 2K60 videos on YouTube looking dazzling on the touchscreen WUXGA (1900x1200) display. Android gaming is also impressive, which is somewhat unusual on Chromebooks in my experience. Asphalt Legends Unite (which is still a good benchmark for performance) works very smoothly, and the accelerometer is flawless for steering. It’s actually smoother than on my Pixel Tablet or Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE+. Build quality is fantastic. The body is all aluminum, with two linear feet (that I hope won’t start to peel off with age, as I’ve experienced with other devices). The hinge that allows for the screen to fold all the way back to become a tablet is very smooth, but a little too tight to allow for one-finger opening. There are 2 USB-C ports on the left and 2 USB-A ports on the right (all USB 3.2), which is an interesting placement choice -- I would’ve preferred one of each on each side. There’s also a standard headphone jack, but no microSD card reader. Stereo speakers are present on either side of the keyboard, which is much better than down-firing speakers; however, despite the DTS sound, sound quality is still what you would expect from laptop speakers. It’s all midrange, and although it can get pretty loud, it also gets fairly muddy at peak volume. The webcam works fine, and there’s a manual privacy shutter switch. The keyboard is a mixed bag, and one of my main reservations. The full-sized backlit layout and spacing is good, and key travel and tactile feel is decent. However, I’ve found that the Shift keys are not that responsive -- the main typing error I’ve noticed is missed capitalizations, which can be very frustrating when typing something formal. The touchpad is huge and works very well, but since it’s so big, I found that my palms occasionally brushed against it and caused the cursor to move. A feature that’s missing from a device of this caliber is a fingerprint sensor. I have a couple of Chromebooks with a sensor, and I’ve really come to appreciate the convenience and security, especially when logging into accounts or apps that can use a passkey. Another concern is that after only one week of testing, I’ve had an episode where the screen is black and the device seemingly unresponsive upon opening the lid (usually while charging). I can tell the Chromebook is on because of the keyboard backlight, but I had to force a shutdown by pressing and holding the Power key for 10 seconds, then reboot. I’m not sure if this is a hardware issue, or possibly a ChromeOS bug (I’ve seen this happen on one of my other Chromebooks as well, which is also a Chromebook Plus). My unit came with a basic but nice fabric carrying case, with a zippered exterior pocket. Overall, this is an impressive Chromebook, but if possible, you may want to test the keyboard yourself at a physical Best Buy store to see if you run into the same problem that I encountered.

I wanted to give a Chromebook another try. I had one a few years ago and it was my daily driver for a while, but then I picked up a Macbook, then a Windows 11 laptop, so I sold the Chromebook since these others met my needs. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 grabbed my interest because of the integration with Android. I have an Android tablet that I use everyday, mainly to play games. Could this laptop, with its touchscreen, 360 degree hinge, and Android integration might be able to replace both laptops and my Samsung tab?? Design and Build Quality: The Spin 514 boasts a relatively sleek aluminum chassis, giving it a premium feel that is much nicer than most Chromebooks. The convertible design allows it to be used in various modes: laptop, tablet, tent, and stand, making it versatile for different tasks, from typing documents, browsing the web, watching TV & movies, and playing games. The hinges feel sturdy, and stay in place in whatever position you leave it. The premium feel continues with the backlit keyboard and a great looking screen. I am also usually able to open the lid with one hand without the bottom lifting up from the desk, a feature I love in Apple laptops. It’s not 100% but I don’t find myself using both hands and prying it open. Performance: A Chromebook finally gets a great processor! So many Chromebooks have old, power hungry processors like the older Pentium chips. Even the more recent ones with newer i3 and i7 Intel chips have terrible battery life because of the high draw these chips require. The new MediaTek Kompanio 910 is a game changer. It is fast, snappy, and I don’t think I’ve heard the fans turn on yet. It also comes with 12GB of RAM, which is nice. I would live to have 16GB in it but at the same time I haven’t had any issues. As far as my games go, and the potential of replacing my Tab for the casual games I play, I am undecided at this point. Both of the games I play work fine on here. They are not quite as snappy as they are on the Tab S10+ though. Gaming is not a primary function of this Chromebook but it is possible. It links up with Google Play Games and all my game progress loads. I think if I was traveling I could bring this laptop instead of one of my others plus my tab. Display and Audio: The 14-inch (1920 x 1200) touchscreen display is perfectly fine for most any occasion. The display's brightness is sufficient for most indoor environments, and the touch response is accurate and fluid. It’s certainly not a “retina” display but those displays are not touchscreen either, eh-hem… Apple. For audio, the upward-firing speakers deliver clear sound, although certainly not as punchy or loud as my other laptops, but it’s good. Keyboard and Touchpad: The backlit keyboard is a nice addition. I have some mixed feelings about the keyboard and trackpad though. The keyboard is fine. Just okay. The keys are a little mushy feeling, good travel but not premium. They don’t really bother me as I type this review on the 514, but it doesn’t wow me at all either. The touchpad is not my favorite. You need to press in the center to get the right feel. The top left and right does not click down at all. The entire touchpad is functional for tapping or scrolling but not clicking down. It just feels a bit cheap at times. It’s also not a deal breaker. Battery Life: The battery life on the 514 has been great so far. I am easily getting over 10 hours with mixed usage - gaming, web browsing, and video consumption. The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 has the best battery life of any Chromebook I’ve used. The ultra efficient MediaTek chip has everything to do with that. Connectivity and Ports: The Spin 514 has a good selection of ports, including two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. I use the USB-C ports to connect to my external monitor, which is where I have an issue. I have a 49” OLED ultrawide monitor with a 5120x1440 resolution. The best resolution I could get with this Chromebook was 3440x1440. This is very disappointing to me because it leaves ⅓ of my monitor black and unused. I know this is a Chromebook and not some Windows or Apple powerhouse, but even a lot of Windows laptops that are under $500 can handle the full resolution. Conclusion: Overall I would say that I really like this laptop. Can it replace my Mac or Windows laptop, probably not, but it is a great option to grab and go. I can save space on a trip by bringing this instead of my Tab and other laptop. I’ve also been keeping it on the table where I usually sit in the evenings and it has become my go-to for simple tasks or watching a video, that sort of thing. I love the versatility. It can do things Mac and Windows can’t (or don’t do well) which is play Google Play Store games. This is a great option for casual gaming, web browsing, watching videos, movies, and tv shows. It’s a multimedia center that is a highly compatible laptop. I’d recommend it to anyone who is not a “power user” or needs a specific OS for a specific application. It is a quality laptop.