Acer Chromebook Spin 513 review: A solid Chromebook 2-in-1

Chromebook convertible 2-in-1s have fully caught up with their Home windows competitors. Lively pen help, taller 16:10 and three:2 shows, and better resolutions screens — they’re lastly as much as snuff.

Acer’s up to date Chromebook Spin 513 is a traditional instance, providing an environment friendly and fast MediaTek ARM processor and a 3:2 show that’s brilliant and sharp. Acer wished us to say our assessment unit’s mannequin quantity, the CP513-2H, noting that it’s the mannequin’s second era.

My assessment unit is priced at $615 and consists of the MediaTek Kompanio 1380 8-core CPU and a 13.5-inch 3:2 2K (2256 x 1504) IPS show. I discovered the 2-in-1 to be a quick contender within the Chromebook house, with sufficient battery life to face out. It’s a strong providing for Chrome OS followers who need the choice of flipping their show into pill mode and writing or sketching on the show.

Design

A mix of sandblasted and anodized aluminum within the chassis’ high and backside covers and plastic within the keyboard deck creates a laptop computer that’s meant to be sturdy on the surface however light-weight. I discovered the lid barely bendable, the keyboard deck to exhibit some flex, and the underside chassis sturdy.

It wasn’t egregious, although, and the general construct high quality was fairly sturdy for a $600 laptop computer. It’s equal to equally priced Chromebooks like the marginally bigger Acer Chromebook Spin 514, whereas it’s much less sturdy than the marginally dearer HP Chromebook x360 14c. The hinge was free, permitting the lid to be opened with one hand however being a bit of wobbly in a few its 4 modes: Clamshell, tent, media, and pill.

Aesthetically, the Chromebook Spin 513 is a bit plain, with a unicolored darkish gray chassis with zero adornments and easy traces. The rear edge is angled, and there’s a aptitude on the entrance sides, however in any other case, it is a typical laptop computer design. The Chromebook Spin 514 is a bit of sharper in its silver shade, however it, too, is minimalistic. It appears that evidently’s the development with Chrome OS laptops (and laptops basically, frankly), because the HP Chromebook x360 14c is one other that’s simplistic in its aesthetic.

The Chromebook Spin 513 doesn’t have minimal bezels, notably on the underside, the place the chin is huge by up to date requirements. Given the marginally bigger 13.5-inch 3:2 show, it’s fairly a bit deeper and a bit of wider than different 13-inch laptops. It’s 0.64 inches thick and weighs 2.83 kilos, which is skinny and lightweight sufficient to be straightforward to hold round.

Ports

Connectivity is strong, with two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports, a USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Wi-fi connectivity is barely behind the curve with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.

Efficiency

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 is constructed across the eight-core MediaTek Kompanio 1380 CPU, paired with an Arm-Mali G57 MC45 five-core GPU. The CPU is meant to be quick sufficient for the light-weight Chrome OS whereas providing lengthy battery life. My assessment unit was additionally configured with 8GB of RAM, a ton of reminiscence in a Chromebook, and 128GB of slower eMMC storage.

We will’t run a lot of our benchmarks in Chrome OS, however I used to be in a position to take a look at the Chromebook Spin 513 within the Android model of Geekbench 5 and the Speedometer 2.0 internet benchmark. In Geekbench 5, the MediaTek CPU achieved 936 in single-core and three,438 in multi-core. That’s fairly aggressive with different ARM-based Chromebooks such because the HP Chromebook x2 11 with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c that scored 599 and 1,718.

In fact, Chrome OS laptops with Intel Core processors had been quicker, together with the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 with a Core i5-1135G7 that scored 1,190 and 4,151. Nonetheless, the Chromebook Spin 513 wasn’t far off, which is a strong exhibiting. In Speedometer 2.0, the Acer hit 76, effectively above the Chromebook x2 11’s 45 and under the Chromebook Clip CX5’s 163.

Subjectively, I discovered the Chromebook Spin 513 to be lots speedy at every thing I threw at it. I may open a number of Chrome tabs and run a couple of Android apps with out issues slowing down, largely because of the great amount of RAM. Even Android gaming was fast, with titles like Asphalt 9 enjoying with out noticeable stutter.

Show and audio

One of many laptop computer’s extra spectacular options was its 13.5-inch 3:2 2K (2256 x 1504) IPS show. The taller facet ratio is nice for productiveness, and the panel was sharp sufficient that I needed to search for pixels. My colorimeter isn’t supported in Chrome OS, so the next are my subjective impressions.

First, I discovered the show greater than brilliant sufficient for all my working environments, with solely outdoors in direct daylight being unusable. Acer quotes 360 nits for the show, and I imagine it’s hitting that quantity, if not greater. Subsequent, colours had been plentiful and appeared pure, with no oversaturation. Lastly, the distinction appeared excessive sufficient that blacks appeared black and never gray, and textual content on a white background popped.

The show was comfy in pill mode because of the three:2 facet ratio that’s nearer to a sheet of paper. The show is touch-enabled and labored effectively, and there’s optionally available USI pen help.

Sound is delivered through two downward-firing audio system on the entrance backside of the chassis. It was common in quantity with clear mids and highs and 0 bass. You’ll need headphones or exterior audio system to your Netflix bingeing and music listening pleasure.

Keyboard, touchpad, and webcam

The Chromebook Spin 513’s keyboard is properly sized, with keycaps which might be simply large enough and loads of key spacing. The switches have a strong click on and require extra strain to have interaction than most. There’s a snug bottoming motion and loads of journey. Total, it’s a serviceable keyboard that will not be among the many finest you’ll discover on premium laptops, however it’s the equal of most laptops I’ve tried which might be much less $1,000.

The touchpad is satisfactorily sized for a 13-inch laptop computer, though there’s room for a bigger model. It’s coated with Corning Gorilla Glass, which is a pleasant contact at this worth level, and it’s easy and comfy with exact help for the complete complement of Chrome OS multitouch gestures. The buttons have a responsive snap that’s simply the tiniest bit too loud.

Whereas the laptop computer business is heading towards Full HD webcams, you don’t essentially count on that from a funds laptop computer. Accordingly, the Chromebook Spin 513’s webcam is a 720p mannequin, though it nonetheless supplies clear and brilliant photographs.

Battery life

Chrome OS is an environment friendly working system, and the MediaTek CPU additionally guarantees better effectivity. That ought to end in robust battery life even given the comparatively small 36-watt-hour capability.

In our internet benchmark that runs by means of a sequence of well-liked and complicated web sites, the Chromebook Spin 513 made it to only over 11 hours, a powerful exhibiting that’s behind the HP Chromebook x2 11 with its slower Qualcomm CPU. It’s for much longer than the Intel-based Chromebooks in our comparability group may handle. Subsequent, in our video take a look at that loops a neighborhood Full HD Avengers trailer, the Chromebook Spin 513 lasted for about 12.75 hours, one other robust rating that led the pack.

Battery life was an actual energy of the Chromebook Spin 513.

Our take

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 supplies a compelling stability of efficiency and battery life. It’s neither the quickest Chromebook you should purchase nor the longest-lasting, however it’s a Chrome OS 2-in-1 that doesn’t pressure you to compromise.

The laptop computer had few outright weaknesses, with a construct high quality that was adequate given the $616 worth, a very nice show, and a sexy if considerably plain aesthetic. It’s an ideal choice for anybody out there for a Chrome OS 2-in-1.

Are there any alternate options?

I’m unaware of any Chromebook 2-in-1s in the identical worth vary and with the identical 3:2 high-res show. Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 is one choice, though it’s a bit older, dearer, and is caught with Intel’s 1oth-gen CPU.

The HP Chromebook x360 14c is an alternative choice, coming in at about the identical worth with respectable efficiency however much less battery life, and it’s nonetheless operating with a 16:9 Full HD show.

Lastly, if you wish to go the removable pill route, contemplate the HP Chromebook x2 11. It’s cheaper, has a smaller and sharper 11-inch 3:2 2K show, and likewise has good battery life. Nonetheless, its efficiency can’t fairly sustain.

How lengthy will it final?

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 was sturdy sufficient to final for years of typical use, and its parts ought to sustain with Chrome OS. Its one-year guarantee is typical and nice for a laptop computer on this worth vary.

Do you have to purchase it?

Sure. The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 supplies a sexy mixture of pace, longevity, and worth.

Editors’ Selection