I tested Acer's new business-friendly Chromebook and it nails all the essentials for pro users

2 weeks ago 6

ZDNET's key takeaways

Acer's new Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 retails for $699, and it's meant primarily for business users.
Its solid battery life will take you through the whole day and has many helpful features to improve your workflow.
Although the laptop's display has a decent resolution, the color output is dull.

Last October, the first set of the Chromebook Plus models hit the scene, giving this style of laptop a much-needed boost. Chromebooks have been saddled with the reputation of being cheap, low-performing machines for years. I've tried out several Chromebook Plus devices and I have been impressed with their great performance.

Also: One of the best laptops you can buy for than $700 is not what you'd expect

The second generation has started rolling out, and leading the pack is Acer's new Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515. As you can probably guess by the name, this laptop appeals more to business and professional users -- or at least, it's trying to. While the device builds on the previous version, it faces stiff competition from other business laptops like a Lenovo ThinkPad.

My consensus after testing a unit? The Acer Chromebook Plus Enterprise is best suited for the everyday user who wants an above-average Chromebook.

Acer's machine is not a powerhouse. It has an Intel Core 3 100U processor and 8GB of RAM. This hardware configuration runs fine for most workloads, but it falls off when you begin to push the machine.

The benchmarking apps I normally use to test a laptop's performance don't work with Chromebooks. Instead, I utilized WebGL Aquarium, which renders a digital aquarium of 30,000 fish. This may seem like an odd benchmarking choice, but the website accurately tests how well a lightweight system like ChromeOS can support high frame rates.

Also: Google's Chromebook Plus upgrade and the people's AI voice assistant

At first, the laptop did well, maintaining the WebGL render at around 60 FPS, but when I began to tweak the settings, that number dropped to about 50 FPS. Outside of the benchmark tests, I noticed similar performance drops. At one point, I had 50 tabs open and multiple apps running simultaneously. Things were fine initially, but after a few minutes, I noticed the Chromebook Plus Enterprise wasn't as snappy as before, and the game I had in the background froze. The laptop also became a little warm to the touch.

Also, the display isn't very vibrant. The Chromebook Plus Enterprise houses a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixel resolution) touchscreen. Although videos and images are high quality, the color output is noticeably dull. As disappointed as I was with the display, I appreciated its large size as it partners well with the 1080p webcam, enabling clear conference calls.

Acer's device comes with multiple supportive AI features that enhance said calls. Acer TNR (Temporal Noise Reduction), for example, improves image quality under low-light conditions, while the Auto Facial Exposure tool ensures optimal lighting.

Like other Chromebook Plus models, the Acer has many helpful Google tools and apps. My favorite is File Sync, which allows you to access your Google Drive account offline. Files are stored locally until you reconnect to the internet, and your work is automatically uploaded to the company servers. It's a great feature that vastly improves Chromebook usability.

Google's Gemini AI is present as well. I've never been the biggest fan of Gemini (I'm more of a ChatGPT guy), but if you ever need an assistant, the tech giant's model is readily available on the laptop, although it does need an internet connection to work.

I'm also a big fan of the full-size keyboard. The keys were evenly spaced; I never once made a mistake while typing, which is a problem I frequently run into on smaller laptops. In addition to the spacing, the keys have a springy feel and are covered with a soft rubber-like material. Together, the spacing and feel enable comfortable typing.

Below the keyboard is a large touchpad sitting slightly askew to the left. I'm pointing out its position because it leaves ample room to rest your hand on the right side. I usually place laptops on my legs while working, and I found this setup quite comfortable.

Also: 7 reasons why a Chromebook is the best laptop for most people

Acer equipped its device with a good selection of ports. There are two Thunderbolt 4 ports on either side, a headphone jack, a USB-A input, and an HDMI port. As a result of these design choices and generous connectivity options, the Chromebook Plus Enterprise is bulky, weighing 3.7 pounds. Last but not least, this model has a solid battery life, lasting about nine hours on a single charge.

ZDNET's buying advice

The Chromebook Plus Enterprise 515 is now on sale on Acer's website. Current prices start at $699 for the model with the Intel Core 3 100U processor, which is fair considering the specs and performance that you're getting. I recommend this laptop to Chromebook fans who want a decently performing machine at an affordable price but not exactly to business users who want a powerful laptop. Its hardware isn't impressive, and the display is dull.

For professionals, I would instead suggest the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7441. It's more expensive at around $900, but the level of performance you get is well worth the price. HP Chromebook Plus x360 is another good pick for people who enjoy Google's ecosystem. At this time, HP's model is seeing a $136 discount.

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