• 2 min read
Acer’s $400 Chromebook nails the basics
Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 pairs a Core i3-N305 with 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD for $399.99, though its display and design fall short.
Image: PCWorld
At $399.99, Acer’s Chromebook Plus 514 stands out less for its design than for what it packs inside: an Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB of DDR5 RAM, and an unusually generous 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. In a Chromebook market crowded with underpowered models and inconsistent pricing, that hardware makes it a sensible mid-range pick.
PCWorld’s verdict is straightforward: the laptop doesn’t look or feel premium, but it delivers solid performance and storage for the money. The plastic chassis is serviceable rather than impressive, with some flex in the panels, though it keeps fingerprints down better than many dark metal laptops. At 3.15 pounds and 0.81 inches thick, it’s portable enough without feeling especially slim.
Specs and real-world strengths
The keyboard is one of the stronger points. PCWorld says it feels spacious and comfortable, with good key travel and a crisp tactile response, though there’s no backlight. The touchpad is less convincing, described as responsive but small by modern standards.
Acer’s port selection leans heavily on USB:
- 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1
- 2x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
- microSD card reader
- 3.5mm audio jack
Wireless support includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2. There’s also a 1080p webcam, dual-array microphone, and a physical privacy shutter, with ChromeOS offering software features like background blur, studio-style microphone mode, and live captioning.
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Performance is where the system earns its “Plus” branding. PCWorld found the Core i3-N305 significantly faster than many budget Chromebooks built around older Intel chips such as the Celeron N4500, with gains ranging from 50 percent to 200 percent depending on the benchmark. Test results included:
- Speedometer 2.0: 209
- Basemark Web 3: 796
- Kraken: 645.3
- Jetstream: 226
The 512GB SSD is the biggest surprise here, especially when many Chromebooks still ship with 64GB or 128GB of slower UFS storage.
Display and battery trade-offs
The weakest link is the 14-inch 1920x1080 IPS 60Hz touchscreen. PCWorld says it’s fine for Google Docs and web browsing, but lacks brightness, color, and contrast. Video and photos look washed out, and outdoor use is limited. The speakers are better, offering balanced and clear sound, if not much volume.
Battery life is decent rather than exceptional. With a 53 watt-hour battery, PCWorld recorded about 12 hours in a YouTube 1080p video rundown test. That trails many modern Windows and Mac laptops, but should still cover a full workday for typical ChromeOS use.
For buyers who care more about practical performance than premium materials, the Chromebook Plus 514 looks competitive. The design is plain and the display is a letdown, but at $399.99, the combination of a solid keyboard, capable CPU, and 512GB of fast storage is unusual in this class.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via PCWorld
