ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: TWO-MINUTE REVIEW
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a founding member of Google's Chromebook Plus lineup, the company's new Chromebook standard that includes updated hardware and software. It could easily be one of the best Chromebooks for students and even one of the best Chromebooks available.
Although the design is comparable to that of its predecessor, the Acer Chromebook 515, the Plus 515 has a clearer and more streamlined appearance. The keyboard and touchpad both have a gratifying click, with the touchpad's high responsiveness making it a genuine pleasure to use.
The display is a 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and incorporated multitouch. While those using the Chromebook Plus 515 for productivity work may not have a use for a large and high-definition screen, gamers undoubtedly will.
Despite the fact that both native gaming and game streaming operate at roughly the same frame rate on each Chromebook, the Chromebook Plus 515's gaming-optimized display ensures that even AAA titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Starfield look their finest when streamed. And because it supports Wi-Fi 6E connectivity, games will run even more quickly and with less latency if you upgrade. It could easily be one of the best gaming laptops on the market, given how effortlessly it plays some of the best PC games and how beautiful the display is.
The port selection is somewhat limited, which is disappointing because I assumed that the Chromebook Plus' spec upgrade would include more than one Type-A USB port, but it does include two Type-C ports, an HDMI port, and a headset input. A missing Ethernet interface would have neatly finished out the selection.
The resolution of the webcam is mediocre, with nothing objectionable but also hardly noteworthy. There are built-in AI tools that improve video quality with enhanced illumination, noise cancellation, and more, but they do not increase the visual quality of 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second unless you already have excellent lighting in your home or office. A significant advantage, however, is that it has a physical shutter on the camera, which is excellent for privacy.
Thankfully, the sound quality is much improved, most likely because the speakers are located on either side of the keyboard. Whether it's classical music, a conference call, a streamed movie, or a video game, the audio is clear and distinct, avoiding muddiness and tinniness.
The performance difference between the Plus 515 iteration of this Chromebook and the original 515 model is comparable to night and day. The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is incredibly simple to set up, requiring only a single update upon initial startup, with subsequent updates occurring automatically in the background. It takes bare seconds to start from a complete shutoff, and essentially no time at all to start from slumber mode. Comparable benchmark scores to other, more expensive Chromebook models give me high aspirations for the performance of future, superior models.
ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
- How much does it cost? $399.99 / £399.99 (around AU$633)
- When is it available? Available now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK
In comparison to previous variants, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 has a lower MSRP, which is one of its greatest advantages. Its starting price of $399.99 or £399.99 (approximately AU$633) for the Intel Core i3 model is a steal, particularly considering that its specifications have been at least doubled compared to prior models and that it has better components, a better display, and a multitude of other built-in software benefits.
The Acer Chromebook 514 costs $499 (approximately £380, AU$710), whereas the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 costs $599.99, £699.99, and AU$1,289, so the Plus 515 is significantly more affordable and offers more features.
There is, however, a disadvantage. It's only available in the US and UK, with availability for other territories unclear right now, including Australia.
Valve: 4.5 / 5
ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: SPECS
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 sent to me for review was equipped with an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, an Intel UHD Graphics GPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. Similar to other Chromebooks, this model cannot be reconfigured. However, subsequent models will offer a variety of configurations and pricing factors, including up to a 13th-generation Intel Core processor.
ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: DESIGN
- Great keyboard and touchpad
- A little heavier and thicker than other models
- Great sound quality
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 appears identical to other Chromebooks at first inspection, with a gray chassis and the Google logo in the upper right corner. It has a streamlined appearance and a thinner chassis than the Acer Chromebook Vero 514, but it is heavier than other older Chromebook models, most likely due to the large screen size.
It is significantly heavier and denser than the original Acer Chromebook 515, but the screen dimensions, RAM, and storage remain the same. Due to its dimensions and weight, it is somewhat more difficult to transport, although most medium- and large-sized containers should be adequate.
The keyboard and touchpad are satisfying to use, with a pleasing click to each keystroke and touchpad click. I particularly value the breadth of the keys because it reduces mistakes even with larger fingertips. As I discovered while playing Baldur's Gate 3, the touchpad is pleasantly accurate, making it ideal for gaming.
With one Type-A USB port, two Type-C ports, an HDMI port, and an earphone input, the terminal selection is adequate. However, it lacks an Ethernet connector and a sufficient number of USB ports, which is disappointing for a Chromebook designed specifically for the Plus line. I would have anticipated a superior selection of ports.
Due to the speakers on either side of the keyboard, there is no numeric keypad; however, the audio quality is quite good. Multiple instruments and even vocals are distinct from one another, creating a clear and distinct sound. This results in excellent sound quality when streaming movies, participating in a conference call, or playing video games. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the audio in Baldur's Gate 3.
On the opposite extreme of the quality spectrum is the webcam, which, despite being a 1080p FHD webcam that operates at 60 frames per second, is simply not very good. Similar to many other laptop webcams, it performs poorly in dimly lit environments. There are AI tools that can be downloaded to improve illumination and eliminate unwanted background noise, but they do not improve the image quality of the camera itself. However, if you need something solely for business, this is an excellent option. A physical shutter is present, which is a welcome rarity among laptops.
Design score: 4 / 5ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: PERFORMANCE
- Performs well for productivity work
- Games well too
- Host of new software options
Given that the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is less expensive than many Chromebook models with comparable specifications, its benchmark performance is quite remarkable. The WebGL Aquarium benchmark with 30,000 fish had initial frame rates between 51 and 62, which dropped to 47 after a few minutes of runtime. The Kraken Javascript, Jetstream 2, and Chromium Github Octane benchmark results are also comparable to equivalent models.
Even more remarkable is the performance beyond benchmarks. Startup from slumber mode is virtually instantaneous, while startup from closure takes a few seconds. If the Windows OS followed suit, it would be a marvel. The new feature of installing a single update while additional updates are installed in the background is ingenious. Running multiple tasks concurrently and toggling between them is effortless, with no lag whatsoever; this includes playing games while other tasks are running in the background.
If you have access to a game streaming service such as Nvidia GeForce Now and a stable internet connection, the Chromebook Plus 515 will perform admirably. Even for AAA titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3, the gameplay is incredibly fluid, and the display's full HD resolution and 250 nits of luminosity only enhance the experience. Additionally, Steam Borealis is live and still in beta, allowing certain games, such as Minecraft, to run natively on Chrome OS. It functions quite well, although the full-screen mode is not entirely stable at the moment.
As with any Chromebook, Chrome OS is somewhat restrictive, as you can only download applications from the Google Play Store, the majority of which are designed for mobile devices. The Chromebook Plus lineup has been attempting to combat this with a multitude of new software and AI-powered features. This includes video and photo editing tools, accessibility enhancements, and artificial intelligence features that summarize reports and improve search results.
The partnership between Google and Adobe also includes Firefly, which means that all Chromebook Plus laptops will come with Photoshop and a multitude of other video editing and graphic design applications. And based on what I've tested thus far, everything functions quite well. Even memory-intensive software like Adobe Photoshop did not significantly slow down the Plus 515.
Performance score: 5 / 5ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515: BATTERY LIFE
- Battery life is disappointing
- Charges fast
Unfortunately, I must dispute Google's claim that the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 can operate for up to 10 hours. The TechRadar movie battery test results revealed that it can only withstand about five hours of continuous use before expiring, which is quite disappointing for a Chromebook—that's not even an entire workday. Testing productivity yielded similar results, with marginally longer battery life.
However, it has a quick recharge time, requiring just under an hour to completely recharge the battery. At least you won't be tethered to the receptacle for too long, though you may be if you use it to play video games or stream movies. Unfortunately, I must dispute Google's claim that the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 can operate for up to 10 hours. The TechRadar movie battery test results revealed that it can only withstand about five hours of continuous use before expiring, which is quite disappointing for a Chromebook—that's not even an entire workday. Testing productivity yielded similar results, with marginally longer battery life.
However, it has a quick recharge time, requiring just under an hour to completely recharge the battery. At least you won't be tethered to the receptacle for too long, though you may be if you use it to play video games or stream movies.
HOW I TESTED THE ACER CHROMEBOOK PLUS 515
- I tested this laptop for about two weeks
- I tested productivity work, streaming, and gaming
- I used a variety of benchmark tests and hands-on testing to gauge performance
To test out the Acer Chromebook Plus 515, I used a full suite of Chromebook benchmarks to rank CPU performance for a variety of uses. I also evaluated general performance while transitioning between tasks such as productivity work, conference conversations, and streaming.
This laptop is predominantly utilized for productivity work, which was the primary purpose of my evaluation. However, I also used it for duties such as streaming and gaming to evaluate its performance.
I have extensive experience benchmarking laptops, including Chromebooks, due to my extensive use of laptops, including Chromebooks. I am also well-versed in evaluating general performance, including productivity and benchmarking.