After months of waiting, reports are finally rolling out that the most powerful model of Acer’s Chromebook 514 is available to purchase through Newegg. Starting at just $499.99, the listing means that users can now get their hands on the version of the Chrome OS device that got everybody excited when it was revealed at IFA Berlin 2018.
In terms of specifications, those haven’t changed since the Acer Chromebook 514 — model number CB514-1HT-P2D1 — first appeared with its own landing page on Acer’s website in early December.
On the inside, Acer’s latest Chromebook 514 is driven by a quad-core Intel Pentium N4200 processor backed up by Intel’s HD Graphics 505. The base clock frequency for that is only set at 1.1GHz but is backed up by a comparatively massive 8GB RAM in the top model and a respectable 64GB of flash storage.
Consistency across the board
The 8GB of LPDDR4 RAM will certainly make Chrome OS run much more smoothly and allow for more multitasking as well as more intensive apps and web services. There are still a lot of common traits between the latest device and its less powerful but still worthy counterparts.
To begin with, this device ships in a 14-inch clamshell format that measures only 0.7-inches thin and weighs in at 3.3lbs. Despite the lack of a hinge to enable tablet mode, Acer includes a 1920 x 1080 resolution IPS LCD touch screen in its build, accented by a Gorilla Glass touchpad. The keyboard is backlit standard and on the underside of the all-aluminum build, consumers will find two stereo speakers.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n standards are in place for wireless connectivity, as is the standard on each other entry in the Chromebook 514 family.
The battery in each of Acer’s latest devices, including the Chromebook 514 CB514-1HT-P2D1, the company has included a 3-cell 3,920mAh power supply. That is claimed to deliver up to 12-hours of use on a single charge. That will likely be a bit lower in the more powerful version of the laptop because of the more powerful components. It shouldn’t be too far off of the mark either since there’s so much consistency in other specs but will vary by user.
Finally, all of the variants of Acers Chromebook 514 ship with two USB-C ports, and two standard USB ports, a Noble lock slot for added security, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a memory reader for storage expansion. The USB Type-C plugs can be used for faster data transfers in addition to charging but are also capable of being used for display output purposes.
A top pick beyond the specs
Acer’s Chromebook 514 isn’t only a great value because of its specifications. It stands out among other Chromebooks as a top-level gadget because it includes so many standard features and a premium build that other companies tend to ignore.
That’s particularly true with regard to other Chrome OS devices in the price range of the two lower-end models that start out at just $349. Both of those laptops include standard backlighting, an HD ISP panel, and a plethora of ports, as mentioned above. They also keep the tiny display bezel measuring just 6mm, an HDR-capable webcam, and a solid design language.
There are other devices that are far more capable at a higher price point but Acer has managed to continue one of its most popular series of clamshell-style laptops with a worthy successor at a reasonable price.
Acer Chromebook 514 - Newegg - $499
