There’s also a fingerprint scanner for heightened security and speedier OS access and a dual microphone setup with Google assistant support.

Acer Chromebook 14 review: A 14-inch Chromebook that looks Acer Chromebook 14 review: A 14-inch Chromebook that looks

An elegant system for any user, it's made to cater to professionals, from its bright and colorful touch screen to the high-res webcam. After all, Chrome OS is nice and light when it comes to resources, so you don’t need much grunt for smooth results. The partly recycled Vero looks and feels different, with a bland Cobblestone Gray finish with white specks and a slightly grainy, sandy texture. inches thick, the Acer Chromebook 14 is a bit thinner and about as heavy as the HP Chromebook 14 (3.While most Chromebooks are plastic and feel disposable, the aluminum Acer notebook feels solid and reliable, and its brushed metal lid looks like it belongs on a more expensive notebook. You can, of course, use the touchscreen instead, but I find it weird prodding the touchscreen of a non-convertible Chromebook, and while Chrome OS is becoming more touch-friendly, it’s still not something that feels like a must-have. It also has no external display ports so there's no opportunity to hook this up to a monitor or screen for presentations, unless you use an adapter - again, sacrificing a USB port. Whether you want to watch a looped video for that long is another question entirely, but regardless of how you run the battery down, the USB-C charging is incredibly efficient and will see you back to a full tank (from absolute zero) in about two hours. Unlike many inexpensive Chromebooks, this model has a solid and elegant construction that can compete with premium laptops.

Acer 314 14in Celeron 4GB 64GB FHD Chromebook - Silver

If you're looking for something to use as an everyday next-to-the-sofa laptop or something to do all your online work on with no trouble, then this is the best Chromebook for you. Helpful features, like a full HD webcam, a Wi-Fi 6 radio, a USB-C port, and an HDMI connection round out the experience. The package also includes a padded carrying sleeve, making it convenient for commuting or traveling. These low specs don’t really matter, because Chromebooks are meant to be cheap and low-spec, and Chrome OS thrives with modest resources at its disposal. This gets particularly awkward when you need to slap in a bulky USB key and a mouse at the same time (just as one random example).Our review unit lacks the optional touch facility, so it’s a conventional 1080p item without any snazzy features like HDR or high refresh. On top of that, the online games available for play with the Chromebook are actually quality, including popular AAA and indie games (via subscription game streaming services like GeForce Now), without all the chunky hardware or short battery life typical of gaming machines. The Acer Chromebook 314's speakers are literally just fine for a Chromebook, but they lack depth and richness.

Acer Chromebook 14 - CB3-431-C69V Tech Specs | Chromebook

Factor in the good keyboard and excellent trackpad, and you have a must-have Chromebook, whether you’re interested in games or not. While the materials are plastic with a metallic finish rather than brushed aluminium, the unit as a whole appears to be solidly built.

In fact, the squarer 2,256 x 1,504 resolution display seems oddly larger than most 14-inch screens, and it’s brighter with more vibrant colours, too.