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It’s arduous to recommend the Acer Chromebook 714 as a result of it comes with a comparatively extreme value for a Chromebook, offering restricted efficiency and older {{hardware}} than its rivals. Nonetheless then as soon as extra, for these wanting a device with respectable assemble top quality, all kinds of ports and a Full HD present, that’s nonetheless an trustworthy value vary laptop computer laptop alternative.
Execs
- Clear effectivity for day-to-day duties
- Good battery life
- Full HD show determination
- Gunmetal-grey metal improvement seems to be like elegant
Cons
- Flooring Laptop computer laptop Go provides increased value
- ChromeOS has limitations
- Meagre show brightness
- Fairly heavy
Availability
- UKRRP: £600
- USARRP: $799
- EuropeRRP: €700
- CanadaRRP: CA$1009.99
Key Choices
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Full HD present:With a 1080p determination, this laptop computer laptop provides a sharp image for Netflix and YouTube content material materials.
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Intel Core processor: Fast enough effectivity for school children and office employees.
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Superb battery life:Lasted 13 hours and 28 minutes in our battery check out.
The Acer Chromebook 714 finds itself at a hard value degree, being dearer than the overwhelming majority of Chromebooks, and approaching the value of a Residence home windows 10 transportable.
It’s arguably purchased the specs to justify such a value, with an Intel Core processor and 8GB RAM beneath the hood. Nonetheless with the Flooring Laptop computer laptop Go offering further up-to-date innards along with the freedom of Residence home windows, the enchantment of this Chromebook is diminished significantly.
Nonetheless with a 14-inch Full HD present and a very good battery life, there’s nonetheless a great deal of causes to buy this Chromebook whenever you’re joyful to ditch Residence home windows for ChromeOS.
Worth and availability
There are a variety of flavours of the 714 designed to swimsuit various fully completely different value components that embrace each an i3 or i5 processor and quite a few storage decisions.
The mannequin being reviewed proper right here is the top-of-the-line model with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB’s value of eMMC storage. That every one clocks in on the price of £600, which is steep for a Chromebook.
However, for a lot of who’re a lot much less inclined to spend that loads, Acer does present a mannequin with 64GB of storage for £50 a lot much less, along with two completely different a lot much less extremely efficient decisions with an Eighth-gen i3 chip.
Design
- Darkish grey shell matches a business-class Chromebook
- Thick bezel hinders its complete seems to be like significantly
- Respectable port alternative, good-sized touchpad and company keyboard
The Acer Chromebook 714’s all-metal and grey outer physique truly seems to be just like the half with colouring that will very effectively be mistaken for a Space Grey MacBook.
No matter that, this explicit Chromebook feels a tad gap when given a light-weight knock, and its comparatively thick bezels on the best and bottom make it look a tad dated. Having talked about that, its all-metal outer shell does indicate it nonetheless seems to be like respectable and carries little bit of weight.
The reality is, at 1.6kg the 714 isn’t most likely essentially the most transportable laptop computer laptop on the planet – nevertheless it isn’t overly heavy, even when carried in a bag with completely different points.
Acer has bundled an trustworthy alternative of ports throughout the 714 – there’s two USB-C ports for change and charging, one USB-A 3.2, a headphone jack, microSD and a Kensington Lock for security. Even when this laptop computer laptop isn’t all too successfully constructed, it’s good to see Acer try to make up for it on the ports entrance.
The audio system, as with most value vary or mid-range decisions, are nothing to jot down residence about; they’re passable for the odd little little bit of casual viewing. In addition to, the grilles are downwards coping with, which can hinder complete effectivity if positioned on easy surfaces.
The keyboard feels comparatively secure, with keys decently tactile and company. It’s backlit as successfully, which makes the 714 a superb alternative for working after darkish. The protection buffs available on the market could be glad to be taught that Acer has opted to put barely fingerprint sensor on the 714, too.
As compared with various the cheaper counterparts in Acer’s assortment of Chromebooks, the 714 makes use of a good-sized trackpad. Comprising Gorilla Glass, monitoring is simple and proper and there’s a great deal of home in your fingers.
Present
- Commonplace topic 1080p present with a 16:9 aspect ratio
- 14-inch panel provides an trustworthy amount of show precise property for viewing
- Primary image top quality can appear dim
Acer has supplied the 714 with a 14-inch, 1080p IPS panel. It’s touch-enabled, too, nevertheless the large bezels excessive and bottom do indicate that the overall screen-to-body ratio is barely low for my liking.
Considering the Acer Chromebook 714 is doubtless one of many dearer Chromebooks, it’s truthful to say that its show falls fast when it comes to image top quality.
When watching various fully completely different reveals on BBC iPlayer and Amazon Prime Video, colours appeared to level out up barely fuzzy and a tad dim; the latter degree could be attributed to the 714’s meagre 254 nits of brightness.
However, viewing angles are comparatively respectable, as is the reality that the 714 makes use of a matte panel that’s efficient for use in brighter settings. Merely do not forget that the sub-par brightness ranges and dim colours won’t be final for prolonged binging durations.
Effectivity
- An Eighth-gen Intel i5 chip ensures a straightforward effectivity
- 8GB of RAM and 128GB storage current respectable headroom
- ChromeOS is restrictive, nevertheless retains points straightforward
With the 714 packing an Intel Core i5-8250U and 8GB of RAM beneath the bonnet, this Chromebook provides a straightforward effectivity that merely handles elementary apps and day-to-day workloads.
The i5-8250U ensured that the 714 stays snappy and responsive in actions equal to web-browsing and video viewing. However, it’s value noting that the 714 does embrace a now three-generations older processor than equally priced laptops such as a result of the Flooring Laptop computer laptop Go and Honor MagicBook 14.
Acer’s premium alternative makes use of 8GB of RAM too, which suggests there’s a great deal of headroom for having various Chrome house home windows open. I’m glad to report that there was comparatively little slowdown complete. The 128GB of eMMC storage is admittedly on the low aspect for those who want to retailer plenty of photos and films, nevertheless that’s fairly customary at this value degree.
However, the prevalent topic with how the 714 performs isn’t a outcomes of the {{hardware}} it runs; it’s as a result of software program program. ChromeOS is an efficient alternative for a lot of who want one factor hassle-free and easily works, nevertheless for one thing completely different than merely the basics, it might probably actually really feel restrictive.
The 714’s predominant rivals, the Honor MagicBook 14 and Microsoft’s Flooring Laptop computer laptop Go, every run Residence home windows 10, which supplies further freedom for downloads. With Acer’s offering, you’re strictly restricted to what’s obtainable throughout the Google Play Retailer. This may present problematic whenever you ever need to receive some obscure software program program, although it does attribute all the most well liked apps.
Battery
- Lasted 13hrs 28mins throughout the exams
- Capable of lasting various working days
It’s on the battery life entrance the place points begin to choose up for the 714. This high-end Chromebook managed slightly below 13-and-a-half hours in our exams, making it final for these wanting to complete a full day of labor away from the mains.
This respectable decide helped it smash the rivals, with Microsoft crushed off by 5 hours and the MagicBook 14 from Honor ending at slightly below 9 hours.
Conclusion
I can’t help nevertheless actually really feel barely underwhelmed by the Acer Chromebook 714. Whereas its effectivity provides a degree of stability and its battery life is sweet for day-to-day working, it does have few shortcomings.
The 714 is let down by its dim present, hollow-feeling shell and the easy actuality it runs ChromeOS. Considering that the budget-end of the laptop computer laptop scene is increasingly being occupied by respectable Residence home windows machines that will present further freedom and superior performances, Acer’s Chromebook is a tricky promote correct now.
That talked about, whenever you’d actually favor the simplicity of ChromeOS over Residence home windows, and fancy a straightforward effectivity for office/scholar workloads, then the Acer Chromebook 714 continues to be a worthwhile laptop computer laptop alternative to consider. Check out our Biggest Chromebook and Biggest Funds Laptop computer laptop lists to try alternate choices.
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