Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514: This 2-in-1 multitasks like a pro

The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 mixes a premium-feeling build with solid multitasking chops.

- ASHLEY BIANCUZZO

The Chromebook Plus Spin 514 is Acer's newest addition to the Plus lineup, and it's trying to carve out a spot in a sea of similar-looking midrange laptops (fave.co/46ik0oy). First impressions? This is an amazing Chromebook. You get peppy performance, a flexible 2-in-1 design, and a 120Hz touchscreen that feels more premium than the price tag suggests.

Inside it's running MediaTek's Kompanio Ultra 910 chip (fave.co/3lkwAvv), which promises solid performance without totally killing the battery. Sprinkle in the latest batch of Chromebook Plus Al extras (fave.co/4kw5kYg), and on paper, it's got all the basics covered. But the real question is—does it actually excel? Let's find out.

SPECS

There are two configurations I'm aware of. The unit I tried out was running MediaTek’s new Kompanio Ultra 910, with 12GB of RAM (odd number, right?) and 256GB of UFS storage tossed in. The screen's a 14-inch touchscreen, 1920×1200 at 16:10, and it runs at a smooth 120Hz. Mine came with a 1080p webcam, but the version you can actually buy has a 5MP camera, so video calls should look a bit sharper.

The sleek, sophisticated design makes the Spin 514 feel more like a higher-end machine than a budget one.

The higher-end model comes with a 14-inch 2880x1800 display (60Hz) and 16GB of RAM, and became available through the Acer store on September 4 for $799.99. The lower-end model, which I reviewed here, launched at Best Buy on September 19 for $699.99.

Model number: CP514-5HN-K6DY

CPU: MediaTek Kompanio Ultra 910

GPU: Immortalis-G925

RAM: 12GB RAM

Storage: 256GB UFS

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