A 13.3-inch OLED touch screen makes Lenovo's second, bigger version of its Chromebook Duet a surprisingly nice 2-in-1 detachable for the money. Still, the Acer Chromebook 15 is a gorgeous, silent Chromebook with a beautiful 1080p display, fanless design and aluminum body. First off, theres an 802.11ac-capable Wi-Fi card built-in, which means youll get less interference than the N-protocol Wi-Fi, and youll have access to the 5GHz bands common in most modern routers. Chromebooks with poky processors and cramped flash storage dominate the market, but Lenovo's fair-priced IdeaPad Flex 5 shows how a Chromebook can benefit from an Intel Core CPU and a "true" onboard SSD. It has a healthy number and variety of ports and a beautiful display, making it a premium offering. Size: 14.88 x 10.08 x 0.75 inches (37.8 x 25.6 x 1.95 cm; W x D x H). RAM: 4GB LPDDR4
The result can be metallic, muffled, and distant to a degree because the audio isnt directed towards your ears. It never feels heavy in spite of this. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. Weight: 4.3 pounds (1.95 kg)
The trackpad also leaves a bit to be desired, requiring a firm, chunky press, and doesnt support as many gestures as Windows or OSX. One added benefit to opting for a Chromebook instead of a full PC is that the software is really light. But, the screen offers plenty of brightness, and if you turn the blue temperature down a bit (do this in the night light part of the Settings section, but turn it on all the time, not just during bedtime), the screen looks really decent. This Chromebook is a great example of how far you can push Chrome OS on a budget device, with a big bright screen for watching movies, too.
But whats missing here is a bass component for adding audible depth as Loki explodes through New York City in The Avengers. Intels processor includes Intel HD Graphics 505. It performs far better than what we saw with the Rockchip RK3399 processer in the Asus Chromebook Flip C101P in both the Sling Shot and Ice Storm benchmarks, but without a dedicated, discrete graphics chip or a beefier Intel processor, the Chromebook 15s display will be best enjoyed when watching video. Backing the visual clarity is a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a seemingly new standard in Chromebooks. While they have all-day battery life, they can't even come close to the staggering longevity of the Acer. With a price that comes in well under $200, and the processor isnt going to provide any record-breaking speeds. Yes. For that money, there are some definite trade-offs in performance. He is also a current and past contributing writer to Greatist and Thrillist. Those scores appear to be better than average when compared to scores of other laptops using the same chip, including the Acer Switch 3. If Ive used it, I have opinions about it, whether somebodys paying me to write them up or not.
Once you shift to storing and running programs locally, however, you need a machine with more processing power and roomier storage than your typical Chromebook. Typically, we see laptops with screen borders in a dark color to provide the illusion of an edge-to-edge screen. In fact, Stadia comes preinstalled on many new Chromebooks, though you'll pay $9.99 per month to use it after the free trial period. Its keys are responsive, and the 15-inch design allows for excellent spacing between the keys. While many of these games can be accessed just by navigating to the right website, you can enable some games for play in the Chrome browser via installing a browser extension. The Chromebooks 0.9MP camera (720p) is a back eye residing in the silver bezel just above the center of the screen. But if you want an affordable machine thats great for light productivity tasks, and is an excellent movie machine, then you should consider this. But that doesn't mean your pastimes on a Chromebook have to be limited to social media scrolling, YouTube immersion, and Netflix binging. Also nothing about it really impressed me aside from the display, making it a pretty average Chromebook. You can install a handful of Linux games directly onto your Chromebook if you're willing to do some work. Meanwhile, the touchpad felt super responsive, and it allowed us to move the curser at the lightest touch. The Samsung Chromebook Pro and the Google Pixelbook are definitely more powerful, and the Acer Chromebook 15 isnt a 2-in-1 laptop. You can also run browser extensions to add functionality to Chrome OS, as well as Android apps, opening up thousands of smartphone and tablet apps to use on current Chromebooks. But in the Ice Storm benchmark, the tested resolution automatically drops down to 1,280 x 720, producing higher performance with 59.9 frames per second in the first test, and 58.5 frames per second in the second test. However, the limited onboard storage, bulky size and weight, and the lack of full app choices might limit you a bit too much. If youre looking to jump on the Chromebook bandwagon, Acers latest 15.6-inch model is a great place to start. The Chrome OS interface is just as pretty, with deep blacks and sharp, highly-colorful icons. But you can do a lot more on Chrome OS if you want to. However, youll be missing a lot of more specialized programs, like the full Adobe Creative Suite, or PC-based media programs. Its at best a sideways move from the Celeron 3205U processor in the previous Chromebook 15. The excellent battery life means you wont be tethered to a desk, and the light, fast Chrome OS means it will take a lot to slow the Acer Chromebook 15 down. 
By We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. Theres a 3,920mAh lithium-polymer battery that Acer pins at about 12 hours of use. What you do get is a perfectly functional machine for basic productivity, full web-browsing, media consumption, and even some light gaming. This gives you good color response as Ive noted, but it does also result in that graininess. Android apps also took an extremely long time to load, or wouldnt load at all. That said, the Chromebook 15 runs so well, though likely only because of the lightweight operating system and limited app capabilities. The full-sized keyboard is actually pretty passable, which is surprising for such a budget device. Fanless vs. Active-Cooled M2: How Does Apple's CPU Fare in the New MacBooks? After all, the point of Chrome OS is to have a lightweight operating system that relies on web-based apps. At 4.2 pounds (1.95kg), Acer's Chromebook 15 is significantly heavier than either the Samsung or Pixelbook, both of which are just 2.4 pounds. At $400 its a solid value as a budget laptop and, unlike its smaller peers, it can easily work as either a portable companion or your only home PC. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-chromebooks-for-gaming. All in all, this is definitely a pro for this device, making it a reliable travel machine. We think readers shopping for a 15-inch laptop want a large screen. The 15.6-inch display is the largest available on a Chromebook, and its available in touch and non-touch versions. Chrome OS is kind of like just using a Chrome window with a bunch of tabs on a regular PC. Overall, the Chromebook 15 scored 13,936 in 3DMarks Ice Storm benchmark. I cut my teeth in PC Labs, spending several years with PCMag.com before writing for other outlets, among them LaptopMag.com and Toms Guide. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. That matches with our benchmarks, as our video loop test using the original The Avengers trailer killed the battery in 710 minutes, and our looping Chrome web macro test drained the battery in 690 minutes. Instead, the Chromebook relies on a 22 Wireless AC component supporting Wi-Fi connections up to 867Mbps. However, youll sacrifice the Intel processor (the Lenovo sports a more dated chip from MediaTek) and the battery life isnt quite as good. Acers Chromebook 15 is the largest Chromebook you can buy right now, but its not too cumbersome. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. It also includes Bluetooth 4.2, so you can wirelessly connect compatible headphones, peripherals, Android-based devices, and more. With millions of consumers, students, and businesspeople using Chromebooks, they have evolved into great options for anyone who wants a simple way to get online and get work done, but who doesn't demand all the functionality of a powerful Windows machine. The key caps felt plenty wide too, and each key press was firm and quiet. The CB3-532 Chromebook 15 from Acer is by no means a flashy laptop, but thats likely a positive attribute if youre in the market for a solid Chromebook. This also makes it great for an older-aged tech user who might need a bit of hand-holding as they get to know their laptop. I would have liked to see at least one USB Type-C port, as the mobile industry is heading decidedly in that direction, but it isnt the end of the world. Chrome OS is a very light operating system, which means that it runs quick and light, at least initially. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, opens in theaters on December 16, 2022. You bet it is. Youre also getting a massive display that actually impressed us in our tests, especially when compared to other laptops in this range. Still, we dont necessarily blame the Chromebook 15 for these issues. In case you're not familiar with Chromebooks, they're simply laptops that run Google's Chrome OS instead of Microsoft Windows or Apple macOS. Theres also a full-sized SD card slot to help expand the storage of the device, which is important considering how little space is available on the device itself. From retro games to the casual games that make smartphones so entertaining, plenty of gaming opportunities don't require an expensive GPU or a single decorative LED. Lenovos entry into the large, budget Chromebook range brings a few different features into play. In most cases, when speakers are mounted on the bottom of the laptop you can still hear the audio bouncing off the surface underneath the laptop and up through the keyboard. Two things are important to note. Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. Theres an interesting case to be made for this Acer Chromebook in terms of productivity. There was a problem. However, theyre so much more expensive, and they have other trade-offs, especially in battery life, making the Acer Chromebook 15 a solid value laptop. Backing the 15-inch 1080p display is Intels Pentium N4200 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. 2022 ThinkPad X1 Carbon or MacBook Pro: Which Work Laptop Should You Push Your Boss to Buy You? The display on the Acer Chromebook 15 is bigger than you might expect from a laptop that runs Chrome OS, with a 15.6-inch backlit LED screen that offers a ton of room for windows and programs. The first thing youll notice about this laptop is just how large it is. Because the chassis is thicker, Acer has been able to put in a bit more key travel than you might expect, and even though the action of the keyboard feels just a bit mushy, I found the keyboard pretty great to use. 