Acer has produced some exceptional equipment over its time in the market. In recent times we’ve seen that trend continue with the Concept D range of hardware and the Spin 13 Chromebook. The latest release of hardware includes two new Chromebooks that are worth a quick look if you’re looking for a new portable.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
The clear front-runner of the two is the Chromebook Spin 713 with a focus on performance and modern hardware. The 3:2 2K Gorilla Glass 13.5-inch touch display gives users a huge viewable area for productivity that also rotated 360 degrees for tablet-like functionality. The wide functionality is complemented by the long battery life that means you can be productive all day.
Connectivity is well and truly covered with
- One USB 3.0 and Two USB 3.1 Type-C ports
- DisplayPort over USB-C
- USB charging
- An HDMI port
- MicroSD card reader
- Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 AX201
The performance is backed by 10th Gen Intel® Core™ processor, memory to burn with up to 16 GB (model dependent) DDR4 SDRAM and up to 256 GB (model dependent) of PCIe NVMe SSD storage. The storage increase is paramount for many users who are now also using a Linux distribution on their Chromebook.
What’s also a standout for the Spin 713 is the fact it has been engineered to meet the standards of Intel’s project Athena. The project is aimed at ensuring that one device can meet the needs of users every day, all day whether it’s work or play related.
The Australian price and availability haven’t yet been set, but the US$629.00 starting price suggests we’ll see an AU$1000 or more, we’ll be keeping our eyes out for details as they emerge.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
The Spin 311 is a far more affordable option for staying connected an in touch. It has been designed with everyday use in mind, boasting a battery life of up to 15 hours. At only 1kg in weight, it’s not a massive task to carry it with you throughout the day.
The Corning Gorilla Glass HD Touch Screen, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity and wide view webcam makes this a solid choice for classwork and video meetings. But if you’re after a powerhouse, this isn’t it. The CPU is a Mediatek MT8183 processor (essentially a tablet processor) but it will deliver on a continual usage case of apps, web pages and documents.
The Chromebook Spin 311 (like the 713) hasn’t yet got an Aussie release date or pricing. The US$259.00 price would give an indication of around AU$450.00 by the time we pay the Australia Tax.
Both new devices are running the current version of ChromeOS and fully compatible with Android Apps via the Google Play Store. Chromebooks have come a long way since their early days, now able to deliver for a huge percentage of users whether it’s for work or play.
Was planning to buy one for my son, but his High schools ( public) prohibits Chromebooks. They use software like photoshop etc as part of curriculum.
OS Requirement
iPads, tablets, chromebooks and non Windows 10 machines are not permitted.
A good range of chrome books, I always thought of the Australia tax until I realised the US price everything before tax and add tax at the register. So works out not as bad as we think.