Acer Chromebook Spin 314 review
The Acer Acer Chromebook Spin 314 ranks as the #834 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 57. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #430-ranked connectivity among 777 laptops. Consider the HP Pro c640 Chromebook or HP Chromebook 14, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is a fully convertible 14-inch Chromebook with a full HD IPS touchscreen, launched in 2022. As someone who enjoys the older non-convertible model and smaller Spin 311, I was excited to try this combination of features. At £170 (about $220), it's an entry-level option, but the build quality is solid, despite being all-plastic. It runs Chrome OS with updates until June 2031 and has a Pentium Silver N6000 processor, 128GB storage, and 4GB RAM. Performance has been good, and battery life extends into the second day of light usage. While it's not without its flaws, this Chromebook is worth considering, especially at such an affordable price point.
Build
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 boasts a sturdy all-plastic build that feels solid despite its modest weight of 1.52 kg. The construction is reassuringly robust and should withstand regular use. While it may not be as premium as some other devices, the Spin 314's design effectively balances functionality with affordability. The compact dimensions make it easy to carry around, and the convertible form factor offers flexibility in how you use the device. Overall, the build quality of the Acer Chromebook Spin 314 is a notable strength that contributes to its overall appeal. For a superior build, Acer Aspire Lite 14 could be the right choice.
Display
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314's display is a highlight. It's a full HD touchscreen with stylus compatibility, although the stylus is sold separately. The screen gets nice and bright, with no official brightness rating from Acer, but I'd estimate it to be around 300 nits. The display worked well with my external monitor setup, allowing me to run dual 1080p screens and use the Chromebook as a third monitor. The top-mounted webcam has a resolution of 720p, but lacks a privacy slider control. A better alternative might be Acer Aspire Lite 14, featuring a next-level display.
Performance
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314's performance is a notable highlight. Powered by the Pentium Silver N6000 processor, it handles demanding tasks with ease. I've run multiple tabs and Android apps simultaneously without noticeable lag, making it suitable for everyday use. Gaming-wise, titles like Fortnite run smoothly, albeit at lower settings due to the processor's limitations. General performance has been good, with minimal slowdowns even when pushing the Chromebook with resource-intensive apps. The device does get warm during intense usage, but this is expected given its plastic build and fan design. Overall, the Spin 314's performance is commendable, making it a reliable choice for users seeking a capable Chrome OS experience. You may find Acer Chromebook 514 a better fit, thanks to its superior performance.
Battery and Charging
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314's battery life has been impressive, lasting up to two days with light usage. However, charging can take some time due to the device's efficient power management system. The Chromebook's lack of grills or vents means that it doesn't get hot during charging, and the speakers are positioned on the keyboard deck for better sound quality. Overall, the battery performance is a strong point for this Chromebook, making it suitable for daily use without needing to be plugged in frequently.
Connectivity
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 boasts decent connectivity options. It features USBC for power, data, and display output on the left side, along with USB-A, an HDMI port, and a Micro SD card slot. The right side has a physical volume rocker, a second full-size USB-A port, and a Kensington lock port. Unfortunately, it lacks a second USBC port, but makes up for it with a built-in LED indicator and a decent display screen. Acer Swift 3x might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded connectivity.
Features
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 features a 14-inch full HD touchscreen display, Pentium Silver N6000 processor, 128GB storage, and 4GB RAM. It's fully convertible with a stylus-compatible screen, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and USB-C ports. The keyboard feels nice to type on and the trackpad is large and responsive. For an improved features, Acer Aspire Lite 14 is worth considering.
Support and Maintenance
The Acer Chromebook Spin 314 offers reliable support and maintenance with updates to Chrome OS until June 2031, thanks to Google's recent extensions. Its Pentium Silver N6000 processor and 128GB storage provide a solid foundation for daily use. Battery life is also good, lasting into the second day of light usage.
Pros
1. The display is a strong point for me, it's a full HD touchscreen stylus compatible
2. It gets nice and bright, I couldn't find an official number from Acer on it but I'd imagine they may claim it's somewhere up to 300 nits
3. The keyboard feels nice to type on with medium key travel, most models like mine won't be backlit but checking the US spec page it looks like there is a less common option for that
4. The trackpad is pretty standout, it's large and responds well, although I don't think it's glass, ASA brand it as ocean glass which seems to mean it's made from what Asus is 100% ocean bound plastic
5. The Chromebook has been decent in performance, you can see games like Fortnite running just fine with the Pentium silver n6000 and General performance has been really good as well
6. It has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 certified Port wise connectivity is decent
7. You'll get updates to Chrome OS all the way through to June 2031, thanks to the recently extended AE dates from Google
Cons
1. The build quality is all plastic which may not be ideal for some users but it feels pretty solid in a positive way and weighs in at a fair 1.52 kg
2. There's no second USBC Port, but I guess they've given you that HDMI port in its place
3. Sadly the webcam doesn't have a privacy slider control and there's not much to shout about here
4. You may partly expect the Chromebook feeling a little hot sometimes through the bottom plastic due to the fan design and plastic build
5. Battery life has been good but you may need to charge it on the second day of light usage
6. The speakers are decent but it's not clear if the DTs branding has anything to do with that
7. There are model variations without the full HD screen, they'll just say HD ready and have a resolution of 1366 by 768 display out
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