Acer Chromebook Spin 13 Review

Introduction

This is a review of the Acer Chromebook Spin 13. If you are looking for an all-around portable laptop with a premium feel then you have yourself a deal.

This laptop satisfactorily meets the daily usage requirement of an average consumer in its sleek and compact package.

features

Acer designed this laptop to compete in the same market segment as other notebook offerings from brands like HP, Dell, and Asus. Relatively this poses a threat considering the features it packs.

A view of the design and aesthetics, the body is made of high-grade aluminium which makes it light but also sturdy. The hinges are of good quality and are strong enough to hold the laptop when tilted at any angle. 

You can rotate the screen a full 360 degrees to make the laptop function like a tablet. A stylus pen is an added accessory in the package that makes writing or sketching easy and fun.

The Chromebook sports a 13.5-inch display with QHD resolution that is bright and vibrant in color with Multi-touch sensitivity. The speakers are crisp and clear making them perfect for online meetings and media consumption. 

Gorilla glass protection is used on the screen as a safety add-on, it is simply value for money spent. The IPS panel has also been tweaked to support wide viewing angles.

The keyboard is backlit with spaced keys and it has a soft feel when pressed. The trackpad is made of glass and is plenty responsive to the touch with everyday use. Productivity is smooth and seamless when using this device.

Embedded inside is an Intel 8th generation processor that is either a Core i3 or Core i5 CPU, the CPU has a clock speed of 1.7GHz and a Max turbo speed of 3.4GHz. This means that unless you are a pro in a niche profession, all your standard processing needs are covered. 

Coupled with Chrome OS which is exciting and fast, and has been tested to record a boot time of 8 seconds, the processor has a lot to offer to its users, but the Chrome OS has one drawback. Chrome OS might have an intuitive interface and other pecks but it is not a traditional Windows or MAC OS that is meant for desktops. Familiar Applications may not be available on Chromebook, but on a positive note, it supports Android applications.

The Chromebook has a RAM configuration ranging from 4, 8, or 16 Gigabytes of LPDDR3 SDRAM. Irrespective of what you opt for, you will get one that is adequate for holding up your workload. The 8 GB configuration is the sweet spot for practicality and price if you use it generally for productivity.

Storage options are offered in two variants, 64 GB or 128 GB. Most might consider this to be inadequate for holding up bulk data even if it’s an SSD. SSDs are much faster in data processing and storage compared to HDDs. SSDs play a considerable role in the overall speed of the device. The lack of ample storage on the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 should not be a bother – because there is an additional 100GB of cloud storage to complement the onboard SSD.

When it comes to graphic performance, the Acer Chromebook runs with an Intel UHD Graphics 520 chip. It is adequate for graphic renderings and video processing. Most people won’t need more performance so it earns a rating of 7 out of 10.

Battery life is great on the Acer Chromebook, it will get you about 8 - 10 hours of usage on a full charge. A full day’s work is achievable on battery power alone and that is commendable. 

It is not as efficient as other brands and this is because of the CPU fan that aids cooling – the integrated processor is powerful and requires temperature regulation.

The port options are decent and practical. Two USB-type C ports on both sides can be used for charging the Chromebook and for data transfer when connected to other devices.

 It has a USB Type-A port and a MicroSD card slot - for data transfer and storage expansion respectively. 

Lastly, there is a headphone jack for audio output.

Conclusion

The Chromebook comes pre-wrap;">Acer Chromebook Spin 13. If you are looking for an all-around portable laptop with a premium feel then you have yourself a deal.

This laptop satisfactorily meets the daily usage requirement of an average consumer in its sleek and compact package.