Acer Chromebook Vero 514: never looked Sustainability so good

The first of its kind.

- ASHLEY BIANCUZZO

When Acer announced the new Chromebook Vero 514, I was thrilled to bits. I’m something of a Chromebook stan, as I dig its bare-bones nature. This is the first Chromebook in the manufacturer’s eco-friendly Vero line, which is exciting news for eco-conscious buyers. Not only are you reducing your e-waste with this machine, as it’s made of recycled materials, but you’re also getting pretty good hardware for the price.

From strong CPU performance to a bright 1080p display, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 has a lot to offer. Battery life is good and the unpainted exterior is totally unique. Even the packaging it comes in consists of mostly recycled paper and cardboard. However, audio quality is underwhelming and you’re stuck using ChromeOS. If you can live with those nitpicks, then this machine is well worth considering. It’s affordable, sustainable, and a reliable performer.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES

Our review unit is the top-tier configuration, which costs $599.99. It’s packing an Intel Core i5-1235U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. The 14-inch display has a resolution of 1920×1080 and a refresh rate of 60Hz. An alternate configuration has an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, Intel Iris Xe graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. That one costs $499.99. For more details regarding our review unit, check out the bulleted list below:

CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U

Graphics: Intel Iris Xe

RAM: 8GB Storage: 256GB SSD

Display: 14-inch, 1920×1080

Ports: HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-A, USB 3.2 Type-C