The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 reignited my love for Chromebooks. Being heavily invested in the Google ecosystem for both work and personal use, along with owning an Android phone, the convenience of the Chromebook over my M2 MacBook Air was a breath of fresh air.
Setting up the Chromebook was a breeze with my Google credentials, unlike struggling to remember my Microsoft credentials for Windows laptops. The sub-$500 starting price made me briefly consider switching to a Chromebook, but one dealbreaker brought me back to reality. Still, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is one of the best options out there.
With a starting price of $499, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 offers specs like an Intel Core Ultra 5 115U for an additional $200. The design of the laptop, featuring a Steel Gray aluminum chassis with rose gold accents, is stylish and modern.
The flexibility of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714, with its contortionist-like hinges allowing for tent mode and tablet mode, is perfect for various use cases. The laptop meets MIL-STD 810H standards for durability, making it ideal for everyday use.
The 14-inch display with a 1920 x 1200-pixel resolution and 16:10 aspect ratio provides ample screen space for browsing and reading. While the brightness may be lacking for outdoor use, indoors, the display performs admirably.
Ports on the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 include USB-C/Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.0, USB-A, and a headset jack. The Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1 support ensure connectivity options for various devices.
The audio quality of the upward-firing speakers is a downside, with tinny and flat sound quality. However, the keyboard on the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is satisfyingly clicky and quiet, with a well-contrasted design for visibility. The trackpad is responsive and smooth.
Performance benchmarks show a score of 5,223 on Geekbench 6, suitable for ChromeOS tasks that rely on cloud-based applications. With no noticeable slowdowns during multitasking, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 handles everyday use with ease.
Battery life on the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 lasted about 9 hours in our video rundown test, slightly below the advertised 10-hour mark. The integration of Google AI features like Gemini enhances productivity and convenience on the Chromebook.
Overall, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 offers a stylish design, versatile functionality, and reliable performance, making it a top choice for Chromebook users.