The Acer Chromebook 515 is one of the PC maker’s many new Chrome OS machines. Read our first impressions here.
A helping hand with the Acer Chromebook 515: an increase in performance
Acer is targeting tech enthusiasts and home offices with the Chromebook 515, a new line of Chromebooks that offer plenty of power and workspace to get things done. More suitable for hybrid workers, technicians and even IT administrators, thanks to the highly configurable options and user-friendly features available to buyers.
There’s more to this powerful machine than fast performance and plenty of ways to customize it. Find out what the device looks like on our Acer Chromebook 515.
A lot to change
Acer says the Chromebook 515 will be available in a handful of entry-level models, although it has yet to say how many and what features on board. Here are the variables.
The first is the screen. The 515 comes with a 15.6-inch FHD display with a resolution of 1,980 x 1,080. This results in an aspect ratio of 16: 9 with wide viewing angles of up to 170 degrees. The company calls it Acer ComfyView. It is available in a tactile and non-tactile version.
Partly because of the larger screen size, the 515 has a full-size keyboard with a 10-digit numeric keypad. The serrated saw matches an integrated fingerprint reader for biometric security. Keyboard backlighting is universal for all models, which is appreciated. A large touchscreen protected by Gorilla Glass is also standard equipment.
At least four processor variants are available: At the top of the range, you will find an Intel Core i7 of the 11th graphics card: Intel Iris Xe or Intel UHD. As an entry point, there is a variant of the Intel Pentium Gold processor. LPDDR4X SDRAM can be configured up to 16 GB and PCIe NVMe SSD can be up to 512 GB. These options set the stage for a powerful machine. Acer did not specify minimum RAM and storage options.
Acer takes the Chromebook 515’s potential as a multimedia workstation very seriously. The device includes a user-oriented camera with shutter protection and a dual array of microphones for video conferencing. In addition, the supplied stereo speakers are DTS Audio compatible and can be pushed to the limit. Volume thanks to Smart Amplifier.
Other standard features include WiFi 6, a range of USBA and USBC ports, a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and a full-size HDMI port.
Are you competent for the task?
Acer loaned us a mid-range pre-production version of the Chromebook 515 so we could get our first impressions.
It is certainly a huge device. It’s not as big as the 17-inch Acer 317 Chromebook we saw earlier this year, but it’s not far behind. It measures 257.9 x 240.5 x 24.86 mm and weighs 1.7 kg. I would describe it as significantly larger and heavier than most 13 and 14 inch Chromebooks. The top cap is covered with aluminum which adds a bit to the weight, but the rest is hard plastic. Speaking of sturdy, this puppy is MILSTD810H compliant, which means he can get manhandled from time to time. The Acer Chromebook 515 really impressed me with the build quality and the stability of the case.
The screen is very good but just great. First of all, the side and top frames are relatively thin, although there is a thicker chin under the screen. The 16: 9 aspect ratio is fine for this device given the screen size, and yet some Chromebook manufacturers (and buyers) are switching to 16:10 or 3: 2 screens for a more vertical workspace. . FHD resolution works. Websites and Video Content. I tried it looked good.
What bothered me the most was the color profile, which is a bit warm. For example, the screen cannot accurately display pure white. Instead, there is a slight yellow tint on the screens, which should be a crisp white. This could be related to the pre-production of our unit. We have tested the touchless version of the screen, so we are currently unable to provide information on the responsiveness of the screen to touch input.
Acer has done a good job with the keyboard and trackpad. The platform is nice and firm, which means it won’t shake when you type hard. The keys are a good size and the line is perfect. You’re happy with the dedicated numeric keypad, but the keys are a bit smaller than normal alphabetic keys. Fortunately, the arrow keys are full size.