Acer Chromebook Plus 515 evaluation: An incredible laptop computer for informal customers

Chromebooks are getting higher and higher on daily basis. With the arrival of the brand new Chromebook Plus line of laptops comes up to date {hardware}, 1080p webcams, and AI capabilities. That’s the brand new customary as of late and I’m so right here for it. Chromebooks have undoubtedly come a great distance because the 2011 debut. In the event you’re out there for a handy guide a rough on a regular basis machine, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is certainly price your treasured time and a focus.

From the dependable efficiency to the beautiful typing expertise, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has lots to supply the on a regular basis individual. I used to be capable of simply soar from tab to tab with no noticeable lag. The audio is crisp as effectively because of the upward-firing audio system. Whereas the design is considerably missing and the show’s bezels are thicker than I like, I’d say the professionals outweigh the cons right here, particularly for the $399.99 price ticket. Not dangerous for a sub-$500 machine, huh?

In search of extra choices? Take a look at PCWorld’s roundup of the most effective Chromebooks accessible proper now.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Specs

Our evaluation unit comes with an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, Intel UHD graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of SSD storage. That’s loads of energy for on a regular basis duties like looking social media, checking e mail, and so forth. It’s not a souped-up gaming machine, however that’s not what this Chromebook is designed for. It’s good at what it does, particularly for $399.99. Nevertheless, storage is on the lighter aspect, which can trigger some raised eyebrows. It didn’t affect me a lot although, as I retailer most of my recordsdata within the cloud. You possibly can’t reconfigure this mannequin, both. Nevertheless, you’ll be capable of choose totally different configurations sooner or later.

• CPU: Intel Core i3-1215U
• Graphics: Intel UHD graphics
• Reminiscence: 8GB RAM
• Show: 15.6-inch 1080p, 16:9 side ratio
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Webcam: 1080p at 60fps
• Connectivity: One USB-A, two USB-C, one HDMI, one headset jack
• Battery capability: 13 hours
• Weight: 3.7 lbs
• Value: $399.99

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: AI capabilities and different options

The brand new suite of AI instruments are enjoyable, however not obligatory. The wallpapers that change all through the day are beautiful, providing a pleasant background to take a look at in between work and different duties. It’s also possible to enhance the lighting in webcam photos and movies. There’s additionally a generative AI software that can produce wallpapers and assembly backgrounds. It’s not accessible simply but, however I’m a bit cautious utilizing of such issues. It delves too deep within the moral murkiness of AI artwork theft, which I don’t actually need to tango with.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Design, construct high quality

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

I’ve to confess, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 gained’t be successful any magnificence pageants. It simply blends in amongst a sea of darkish grey rectangles, which pervade the laptop computer market. That stated, the delicate sample on the lid, a lighter grey triangle assembly a darker grey one, is fascinating to take a look at. It’s not probably the most thrilling design, however that will not hassle some people. In any case, a delicate or extra utilitarian design is perhaps extra welcome, particularly in case you plan on utilizing this laptop computer in an workplace setting.

Whereas the design is nothing to put in writing house about, the construct high quality is spectacular, particularly for a sub-$500 laptop computer. You’ll really feel a bit flex in case you twist the corners of the display screen, however the keyboard deck is agency and didn’t cave after I pushed my palms down on it. The laptop computer weighs about 3.7 kilos, which is comparatively light-weight. It’s not the lightest machine we’ve ever examined, however it doesn’t need to be. On the finish of the day, it shouldn’t provide you with a shoulder ache when touring with it.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Show, keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The Acer Chromebook Plus 515’s 15.6-inch 1080p show is nice, however not nice. It solely manages about 250 nits of brightness, so I needed to hold adjusting the brightness, particularly when watching YouTube or Netflix. As for image high quality, positive particulars are sharp sufficient for productiveness duties in addition to day-to-day use. Once I watched an episode of The Home of Usherwhich is a really darkish present (each visually and plot-wise), I discovered the display screen’s distinction to be satisfying. I want the bezels have been a bit smaller, although, particularly those on the prime and backside of the display screen, to permit for extra image.

The keyboard is sweet and spacious. In actual fact, the typing expertise is remarkably much like the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. The keys really feel springy beneath my fingertips and I grew accustomed to utilizing them over a brief time frame. The person keys additionally seem like wider than different ones I’ve seen, which is good for these with bigger palms. As for the trackpad, it’s positioned in the midst of the keyboard, which I like. I’ve stated this in earlier opinions, however nothing irritates me greater than an off-center trackpad, as my palms steadily contact it and trigger misfires. In use, the Plus 515’s rapidly registered my faucets and glides and emitted a pleasant snapping sound each time I pressed down on it.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Connectivity, webcam, audio

IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo

The connectivity choices on the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 are positive, however possibly a bit meager for some. It has two USB-C, one USB-A, one HDMI, and a headset jack. I’d’ve most well-liked a couple of USB-A, however that’s nothing a hub can’t repair. Moreover, as somebody who works remotely and has entry to each a laptop computer and a desktop PC, I don’t want as many connectivity choices as an workplace employee would possibly.

I like the inclusion of a 1080p webcam, which is now the usual throughout all Chromebook Plus gadgets. On video, I didn’t look washed out or grainy, which is ideal for somebody like me (who works from house and participates in video calls). I’m unsure I’d say it’s probably the most color-accurate webcam I’ve ever seen, although. The clementine-colored sweater I used to be carrying seemed extra muted than it really seems in actual life. There’s additionally a bodily privateness shutter on this webcam, which is a plus in my guide.

The audio is surprisingly good because of the upward-firing audio system, which flank the keyboard. Once I listened to the Hounds of Love album, Kate Bush’s witch-like vocals (that’s a praise, I swear) have been each clear and otherworldly. I didn’t discover any bizarre tinniness, however bass sounds are laborious to come back by. That’s simply the character of laptop computer audio, although. You simply can’t get the identical audio high quality as with a soundbar or exterior audio system.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Efficiency

At first look, the specs on this machine might not appear all that spectacular. In any case, the Intel Core i3 processor is often designed for browser-based duties and never a lot else. Nevertheless, for a casual-use machine, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 performs like an actual professional. Bootup and shutdown occurs lighting quick, and I didn’t discover any lag when leaping from tab to tab. The Plus 515 had an amazing Basemark Net 3.0 rating of 1313.43, beating out the comparable Asus Chromebook Plus CX34. This benchmark measures how effectively your machine handles net based mostly functions. That stated, it had a decrease CrXPRT 2 rating of 169. Though it falls behind the Plus CX34’s 181 rating, I didn’t discover any distinction between the 2 machines. The 2 carry out equally, particularly in real-world use.

Right here’s how the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 fared within the 5 browser-based benchmarks.

• CrXPRT 2: 169
• Speedometer: 116
• Basemark Net 3.0: 1313.43
• Cracking: 504.7ms
• Jetstream 2: 248.98

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Battery life

Battery life is first rate, however we’ve undoubtedly seen higher outcomes for Chromebooks. The Asus Chromebook CM34 Flip, for instance, lasted a whopping 19 hours on a single cost. The Chromebook Plus 515, nevertheless, petered out on the 13 hour mark. That’s nonetheless a great end result, so don’t get it twisted. It also needs to be famous that I ran the battery benchmark with the brightness set to 50 %, so you might even see a shorter end result in case you’re utilizing the laptop computer with the brightness cranked up.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515: Must you purchase it?

Yeah! It’s best to. The one actual draw back is the aesthetics, that are an actual snooze-fest. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34, with its ivory-colored chassis and backlit keyboard, is extra lovely by comparability (at the least to my eyes). That stated, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a dependable performer, which is what actually issues on the finish of the day. Magnificence’s solely pores and skin deep, people. The 13-hour battery life is about common for a Chromebook, however that’s loads of juice in case you’re ever away from an outlet for some time. In the event you’ve been on the hunt for a stable on a regular basis laptop computer that provides robust efficiency, good audio, and a 1080p webcam, then the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a positive alternative.