The Acer Chromebook Spin 714, a mid-range portable, offers a premium experience. Its sleek touchscreen delivers excellent visuals and responsiveness, matched with powerful Chromebook performance. The device excels in durability and adaptability across its various forms. While audio falls short and availability is US-only, other concerns are minor.
Pros:
- Speedy day-to-day performance
- Attractive and responsive touchscreen
- Durable hinge
- Impressive battery life
Cons:
- Quiet speakers with hollow audio
- Limited availability
- Slightly stiff keyboard
Please note that prices may vary over time.
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023) – Quick Review
While not the cheapest option, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 offers value for its price. It stands out by providing fast performance, a high-res screen, and an improved webcam compared to standard ChromeOS devices. Investing a bit more yields a laptop with great worth. Plus, the cost remains reasonable.
Similar-priced Windows laptops come with hardware limitations, likely stuck at 1080p resolution. Even with the same internal components, they won’t match the performance of this Acer in a Windows setup.
In summary, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 delivers one of the finest Chromebooks available. It combines solid performance, versatility akin to top 2-in-1 laptops, a sturdy hinge, an appealing screen, and a quality keyboard/trackpad.
Cost & Availability
Price: $699.99 (approximately £549 / AU$1063)
Availability: Currently available
Regions: US-only for the latest configuration at present
When comparing Chromebooks to other laptops, the budget standard differs significantly. At $699.99 (about £549 / AU$1063), the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 falls within the mid-range category.
However, it far surpasses sub-$200 or sub-$300 Chromebook options, offering better hardware, a superior screen, and an improved overall design, all at a reasonable price point.
Take the Acer Chromebook 515, priced at £449 (around $550 / AU$790), but featuring an older and weaker 11th-Gen Intel Core i3 processor, a smaller 128GB SSD, and a non-touch 1080p screen. Considering it’s just around $150 cheaper, the value proposition of the Chromebook Spin 714 becomes evident.
The main drawback is its US-only availability for this latest generation. UK customers must currently settle for the prior version, equipped with a 12th-Gen Intel Core i5 and 512GB storage, priced at £1,099.99 (approximately $1,402 / AU$2,130). Unfortunately, Australians currently lack access to any iteration of the Chromebook Spin 714.
Price Rating: 4.5 / 5
Specifications
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is available in a single configuration.
Here are the specifications for the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023):
- Model: Only model
- Price: $699.99 (approx. £549 / AU$1063)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1335U
- GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics (supported)
- RAM: 8GB
- Storage: 256 GB SSD
- Screen: 14″ 16:10 WUXGA 1920 x 1200p IPS touch display
- Ports: 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 1x USB-A, HDMI, 3.5mm Combo-Jack
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Bluetooth® 5.2
- Camera: 1440p @ 30Hz webcam
- Weight: 3.2 lbs (1.59kg)
- Dimensions: 0.71 x 8.8 x 12.3 inches (18 x 223.5 x 312.4mm)
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023): Design
Durability: Highly robust
Versatility: Strong 2-in-1 function
Keyboard: Slightly stiff yet decent for typing
While not reaching the aesthetic heights of a MacBook Air or Pro, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 comes close with its dark gray hue and aluminum chassis (lid and keyboard side). Gold hinges complement its refined appearance, offering a sleek notebook look.
Tablet mode works well, thanks to 360-degree hinges. Transitioning between laptop, tablet, display, and tent modes is effortless. These solid hinges securely maintain screen positioning while on the move.
Crucially, it’s tough, ideal for students. Premium materials, aluminum chassis, Gorilla glass display, and smooth touchpad enhance its durability. Acer confirms military-grade strength.
Touchpad and keyboard excel at this price point. Though a tad stiff with short travel, the keyboard remains precise and comfortable. Meanwhile, the touchpad boasts a smooth texture, occasionally being overly sensitive.
Port selection, though seemingly limited, suits the intended users. Dual USB-C ports supporting Thunderbolt 4 and power delivery, conveniently placed on each side, stand out. An additional USB port, HDMI port, and headphone jack complete the array.
Design Rating: 4 / 5
Performance
Speed: Fast performance
Display: High-res screen and webcam
Audio: Speakers are disappointing
LAPTOP BENCHMARKS:
Geekbench 5 (Android): Single Core: 1535
Geekbench 5 (Android): Multi Core: 6024
WebXPRT 4: 245
CrXPRT 2: 172
JetStream 2: 250.180
Battery Life (Web Browsing): 12:41:30
With its 13th-Gen Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is among the strongest ChromeOS laptops. It’s not built for AAA gaming or intense video editing, but that’s not the Chromebook’s focus.
For daily tasks, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is robust. Handling 20+ tabs, including video streams, remained smooth without lag, even when switching tabs.
The 14-inch touch display impresses, boasting 1920 x 1200p resolution with 100% sRGB coverage and a 16:10 aspect ratio, offering more screen space. The responsive touchscreen, covered in Corning Gorilla Glass, enhances interaction in both laptop and tablet modes.
The 1440p webcam delivers crisp visuals, suitable for video conferencing. Although limited to a 30Hz refresh rate, it remains smooth during movement.
However, the laptop’s audio quality disappoints. Volume is low, and the sound lacks depth, particularly in the bass. This common laptop audio issue persists. Headphones or external speakers are recommended.
Performance Rating: 4.5 / 5
Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2023): Battery Life
Battery Life: Impressive endurance
Fast Charging: 65W power delivery via USB-C for quick charge
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 boasts a highly commendable battery life. In our battery life benchmark test, it persevered for a remarkable 12 hours and 41 minutes—nearly comparable to the MacBook Air’s performance, which is truly noteworthy. Although flagship laptops now exceed 15 hours, achieving 12 hours with a mid-range laptop is commendable and ample for a full work or school day. Moreover, it charges swiftly, providing an additional four hours of usage after just 30 minutes of charging, thanks to the 65W power delivery through its USB-C ports.
Battery Rating: 4.5 / 5