Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 overview – Cyber Tech

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 cellphone (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 depart 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 keep in mind my Microsoft credentials, making organising Home windows laptops a ache.)

With a beautiful sub-$500 beginning price ticket, for a cut up second, I puzzled whether or not I might be higher off with a Chromebook — however one dealbreaker slapped me proper again into actuality. Nonetheless, I might argue it is probably the greatest Chromebooks you should purchase.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 worth and specs

The Chromebook Plus Spin 714, as of this writing, begins $499 by way of Greatest Purchase and comes with the next specs:

If you’d like a bump in efficiency, you may improve the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 to an Intel Core Extremely 5 115U (this overview relies on this configuration) — this can 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 flawed with a gray-and-rose-gold shade scheme.

Your complete aluminum chassis is available in Metal Grey — the one shade possibility 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 may inform by the identify “Spin,” the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 can be a contortionist if it was personified as a human. It is bendable and versatile, which suggests it will possibly remodel into various completely different postures: tent mode, pill mode, and extra.

Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon

Tent mode is ideal for anybody who needs the show to take middle stage, making it simple 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, nevertheless it would not ship with one, which is unlucky. Nonetheless, the draw back of pill mode — and that is throughout all 2-in-1 laptops — is that you will really feel the keyboard beneath your fingers whereas utilizing it, which at all times gave me the ick.

One of many high promoting factors of the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is that it meets MIL-STD 810H requirements, which suggests it has military-grade sturdiness. In different phrases, you may relaxation assured that it will possibly stand up to on a regular basis put on and tear. (This makes this an excellent “starter laptop computer” for younger kids 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 isn’t heavy, however this is not a laptop computer that will make me say, “Whoa! That 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 normal possibility), and I am completely happy about it. It offers extra vertical display screen house, so you may take pleasure in extra show actual property for scrolling by way of the online, studying paperwork, and extra.

Nonetheless, 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 screen completely captured Rachel Zegler’s heat ivory pores and skin tone. The textures are so vivid, I might 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 kind of low, clocking in at about 340 nits. As such, you will seemingly have a little bit of bother seeing the display screen in sunny environments.

However for those who plan on utilizing the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 indoors, it is bought 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 will discover the next:

• USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 (2)

• HDMI 2.0

On the best facet:

• USB-A (3.2 Gen 1)

• Headset jack

On the left facet, you will discover the ability button, however the quantity rocker lives on the best 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” by way of Apple Music (downloaded from the Google Play Retailer), and whereas it might 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 may 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 assessments how effectively a laptop computer can deal with real-world functions (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 functions (moderately than counting on native processing energy).

Most Chromebook duties (e.g., utilizing Google Docs, streaming movies, internet shopping) 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 conduct.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 battery life

The Chromebook Plus Spin 714, full of a 53 watt-hour battery, is marketed as having as much as 10 hours of battery life.

Based on 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 precise. 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, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly mine. I am cautiously optimistic concerning 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 cellphone, this suite of Google-based AI virtually lives inside this ChromeOS laptop computer, permitting you to proper click on anyplace within the display screen to get summaries on webpages, companionship for writing, and even creating high-res backgrounds in your video calls.

Creating summaries is fast and straightforward, and it labored like a attraction. For instance, on Mashable, I requested Gemini to offer me an easy reply to why, precisely, iPhone 16 Professional batteries are dearer to switch (because the headline advised) — and it “learn” 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 should 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 finally 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 write down dwelling about.

Webcam image with Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Credit score: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It isn’t the crispest, clearest webcam, as one would anticipate from a sub-$700 webcam, nevertheless it does the job. It nonetheless was capable of precisely seize my complexion and my burgundy high.

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 complicated design, and military-tested sturdiness. Nonetheless, the display screen 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 might 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 might advocate the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 for budget-conscious customers who’re searching for a laptop computer that may be stationed on a desk at dwelling. I might additionally counsel this Chromebook for a tween who would not want a high-powered, long-lasting work station — they’re going to be proud of a laptop computer with an excellent show and first rate efficiency.