The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 simply jogged my memory what I really like about Chromebooks. As somebody who’s deep into the Google ecosystem in my work and private life, in addition to proudly owning an Android telephone (e.g., Samsung Galaxy S24 Extremely), it is a lot extra handy for me versus the M2 MacBook Air that I take advantage of.
At setup, I used to be requested to log in with my Google credentials, and it did not go away me floundering. (No offense to Microsoft, however since I do not use the likes of OneDrive, Groups, nor different Microsoft properties typically, I can by no means bear in mind my Microsoft credentials, making establishing Home windows laptops a ache.)
With a lovely sub-$500 beginning price ticket, for a cut up second, I questioned whether or not I would be higher off with a Chromebook — however one dealbreaker slapped me proper again into actuality. Nonetheless, I would argue it is one in every of one of the best Chromebooks you should buy.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 worth and specs
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714, as of this writing, begins $499 through Greatest Purchase and comes with the next specs:
If you would like a bump in efficiency, you’ll be able to improve the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 to an Intel Core Extremely 5 115U (this evaluation relies on this configuration) — this may require an extra $200 for a worth of $699.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 design
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714’s design language simply speaks to me. You actually cannot go mistaken with a gray-and-rose-gold shade scheme.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon
The whole aluminum chassis is available in Metal Grey — the one shade choice for the Acer laptop computer. However what offers this laptop computer an edge is the rose gold touches that yow will discover on the hinges and the reflective trim that surrounds the touchpad.
Talking of the hinges, as you’ll be able to inform by the title “Spin,” the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 could be a contortionist if it was personified as a human. It is bendable and versatile, which implies it might remodel into numerous totally different postures: tent mode, pill mode, and extra.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon
Tent mode is ideal for anybody who desires the show to take middle stage, making it straightforward to take pleasure in streaming apps like Netflix and Hulu on the Chromebook Plus Spin 714.
If you wish to draw and take notes, you should use pill mode. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 helps styli, like this one on Amazon, however it does not ship with one, which is unlucky. Nevertheless, the draw back of pill mode — and that is throughout all 2-in-1 laptops — is that you will really feel the keyboard underneath your fingers whereas utilizing it, which at all times gave me the ick.
One of many prime promoting factors of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is that it meets MIL-STD 810H requirements, which implies it has military-grade sturdiness. In different phrases, you’ll be able to relaxation assured that it might stand up to on a regular basis put on and tear. (This makes this an excellent “starter laptop” for younger youngsters who are likely to have butterfingers with tech.)
It is also price noting that the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has fairly a little bit of heft. It is not heavy, however this is not a laptop computer that might make me say, “Whoa! This is so thin-and-light!”
It weighs 3.21 kilos and has a slimness of 0.74 inches.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 show
I wasn’t anticipating the Chromebook Plus Spin 714’s show to blow me away. Keep in mind: it prices lower than $700.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon
It sports activities a 14-inch. 1920 x 1200-pixel decision show with a 16:10 facet ratio. This facet ratio is rising extra well-liked amongst laptops (16:9 was the standard choice), and I am blissful about it. It offers extra vertical display area, so you’ll be able to take pleasure in extra show actual property for scrolling by way of the net, studying paperwork, and extra.
Nevertheless, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714’s show carried out so much higher than I anticipated. I watched a few trailers, together with Snow White (2025), and the display completely captured Rachel Zegler’s heat ivory pores and skin tone. The textures are so vivid, I may virtually really feel the yellow tulle of the costume Zegler twirled in throughout one whimsical scene.
One factor to pay attention to, nonetheless, is that the brightness is sort of low, clocking in at about 340 nits. As such, you may seemingly have a little bit of bother seeing the display in sunny environments.
However in the event you plan on utilizing the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 indoors, it is acquired an above-average show for a Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 ports
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 comes with an honest number of ports.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
On the left facet, you may discover the next:
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USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 (2)
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HDMI 2.0
On the suitable facet:
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USB-A (3.2 Gen 1)
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Headset jack
On the left facet, you may discover the ability button, however the quantity rocker lives on the suitable facet. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 helps Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 audio
The worst facet of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is its audio high quality. You’ll be able to’t win ’em all, proper?
The upward-firing audio system flank the keyboard, however I am not a fan of the sound high quality. I fired up Sabrina Carpenter’s hit music “Espresso” through Apple Music (downloaded from the Google Play Retailer), and whereas it may get sufficiently loud at max quantity, the tune sounded a bit tinny, metallic, and flat.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 keyboard and trackpad
I am a keyboard snob, and I am unable to get sufficient of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714’s satisfying keyboard. The minute the keys actuate, they springboard you to the following letter, making a seamless, rhythmic typing expertise.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
The keys are clicky and snappy, however they’re additionally not loud sufficient to earn side-eyes from aggravated co-workers and classmates.
Bonus factors for the keyboard’s excessive visibility between with the well-contrasted white-and-dark grey keys. Plus, you’ll be able to regulate the white backlight on the keyboard by urgent the ALT and brightness key (subsequent to the mute button) within the perform row.
The trackpad is not half dangerous both. It was responsive whereas I pushed it to the sting with my erratic actions.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 benchmarks and efficiency
On Geekbench 6, which checks how properly a laptop computer can deal with real-world purposes (e.g., PDF rendering, ray tracing, picture modifying, and file compression) Chromebook Plus Spin 714 delivered a rating of 5,223.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
This rating is OK. However I am not too involved with this efficiency determine as a result of ChromeOS is designed to light-weight duties that run by way of cloud-passed purposes (relatively than counting on native processing energy).
Most Chromebook duties (e.g., utilizing Google Docs, streaming movies, internet looking) occur on-line, which means these laptops depend on cloud servers for heavy processing, minimizing the necessity for highly effective {hardware}.
Even whereas pushing Google Chrome to its restrict with about 40 tabs, I did not discover any slowdowns nor laggy habits.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 battery life
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714, filled with a 53 watt-hour battery, is marketed as having as much as 10 hours of battery life.
In line with our video rundown take a look at, which entails a nonstop video loop of a 1080p video, the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 lasted about 9 hours on a single cost — 8 hours and 57 minutes to be actual. It is a little bit of a dealbreaker for me. Ten-hour battery life, at minimal, is a should.
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 Google AI
AI is not everybody’s cup of tea, however it’s undoubtedly mine. I am cautiously optimistic in regards to the sudden resurgence synthetic intelligence.
Google Gemini on Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
When you can expertise Google Gemini on any laptop computer or telephone, this suite of Google-based AI virtually lives inside this ChromeOS laptop computer, permitting you to proper click on wherever within the display to get summaries on webpages, companionship for writing, and even creating high-res backgrounds to your video calls.
Creating summaries is fast and straightforward, and it labored like a allure. For instance, on Mashable, I requested Gemini to offer me an easy reply to why, precisely, iPhone 16 Professional batteries are costlier to interchange (because the headline recommended) — and it “read” the article and spat again the reply to me in a fast and concise response.
I requested Gemini to assist me summarize a narrative on Mashable
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
And I did not even need to learn a single phrase.
The one difficulty I’ve with Gemini is that, at instances, it may be painfully sluggish. For instance, I attempted to create a background picture for my Google Meet name, and it took so lengthy to generate (over 9 minutes), I ultimately gave up and closed the laptop computer.
It took virtually a lifetime to generate an AI background.
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 comes with 12 months of the Google One AI Premium Plan (this plan consists of entry to Gemini Superior and 2TB of storage, and Gemini in Docs, Sheets, Gmail, and extra).
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 webcam
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a 1440p webcam, and as a lot as I dislike utilizing this trite phrase, there actually is not a lot to put in writing residence about.
Webcam image with Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
It is not the crispest, clearest webcam, as one would anticipate from a sub-$700 webcam, however it does the job. It nonetheless was in a position to precisely seize my complexion and my burgundy prime.
Is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 price it?
The Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 has a better-than-expected show, an glorious keyboard, a classy design, and military-tested sturdiness. Nevertheless, the display brightness is not that nice, the sound high quality is mid, and the battery life may very well be higher.
If it weren’t for the battery life, I would take into account giving the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 a spot in our greatest low cost laptops record.
On the plus facet, there is a laptop computer for everybody. I would suggest the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for budget-conscious customers who’re searching for a laptop computer that may be stationed on a desk at residence. I would additionally recommend this Chromebook for a tween who does not want a high-powered, long-lasting work station — they will be proud of a laptop computer with an amazing show and respectable efficiency.
