Acer looks to AMD for power with the new Chromebook Spin 514
We’ve already seen a new Chromebook from the likes of Samsung, and it was only a matter of time before Acer joined the fray with early CES 2021 announcements. The company has delivered with the introduction of the Chromebook Spin 514, which is equipped with new AMD Ryzen 3000 C-Series chipsets, instead of relying on Intel.
Late in 2020, AMD announced the C-Series of processors designed specifically for Chromebooks, and Acer is already jumping on board with the Chromebook Spin 514. These chipsets aim to be less power-hungry while offering fantastic performance and allowing the manufacturers to lower the cost of new Chromebooks.
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 Specs
- Display: 14-inch IPS FHD (touch screen)
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500 C / Ryzen 7 3700C
- RAM: Up to 16GB
- Storage: Up to 256GB
- Camera: HDR Webcam
- Ports: 2 USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 1 | USB 3.2 Type-A | Headphone Out/Mic-In Combo | HDMI
- Dimensions: 12.7 x 8.88 x 0.68-inches
- Weight: 3.42 lbs
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- Speakers: Stereo Speakers
Breaking it down
In addition to the Ryzen 3000 C-Series processors, the Chromebook Spin 514 features up to 16GB of RAM, along with up to 256GB of storage. There is an important distinction to make when it comes to storage. The lower-end models are equipped with the “traditional” eMMC storage, while the high-end models (with the 3700C) are equipped with an M.2 SSD. You may recognize M.2 due to the rise in popularity for desktop PC’s as these offer better speeds and are a bit more reliable. Meanwhile, you are able to swap these out if you end up running out of storage.
Acer already has a great track record when it comes to the 2-in-1 design, with the ultra-popular Acer Chromebook Spin 311 and Spin 713 being some of the best Chromebooks you can buy. That’s in large part due to the rotatable display, which returns on the Spin 514. You will have a 14-inch IPS touchscreen display, with an FHD resolution, which is sure to look great on this upcoming Chromebook.
As for ports, the Chromebook Spin 514 has just about everything you will need to get your work done, regardless of whether you’re on the go, or want to connect it to a monitor. There are two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, along with a microSD card slot and an audio combo jack. With the USB-C ports, these are capable of performing a number of tasks, as you can use them for charging, data transfer, or to connect to a monitor.
So when is the Chromebook Spin coming? Acer states that its latest Chromebook will launch in February 2021, with pricing to start at $479.99 for the base configuration. There’s also an Enterprise edition of the Spin 514 which will launch in March 2021 and is priced at $749.99, while adding just an HDMI cable.