Run Google Chrome The system is officially on AI cartChromebook manufacturers celebrated the occasion with New batch of laptops. One of the latest devices is the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714, which aims for a premium laptop experience without any of the premium (By laptop standards) price. But at $699, it’s still well over the price Budget position Which Chromebooks traditionally occupy.
The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 is an update to Acer’s previous non-Plus Spin 714 (which is still available) and inherits much from its predecessor. The overall look and feel of the laptop is the same, which is a good thing. The biggest difference with the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (CP714-1H-54UB) model that Acer provided for this review is the upgrade to the newer Intel Core Ultra 5 115U processor, which is just as lively as the Core i5-1335U chip found in the previous generation.
You get 8GB of RAM to handle your tasks, and storage is backed by a 256GB NVMe SSD, which is fast enough that you never have to worry about the laptop slowing down when transferring files. Overall, this results in a range of devices that easily handle the lightweight ChromeOS operating system – although you may find storage space a little claustrophobic if you work with a lot of photos and videos.
Where this device shines is with New AI tools Built into ChromeOS. The Chromebook Plus Spin 714 easily handles Google Photos’ Magic Editor, allowing me to erase, resize, and move objects in photos in a matter of seconds. The same goes for the new generative AI features for the wallpaper and video call backgrounds. Simply enter a prompt with some preset parameters and ChromeOS will create a high-resolution image for you to use either way. I don’t know how useful video wallpapers are beyond the initial novelty, but I can see myself using the wallpaper generator frequently.
None of these features work super quickly on the Spin 714, you just have to wait a few seconds; It’s not painful. We’re still a long way from instant gratification with AI processing, especially in a $699 laptop, but I never felt like the Chromebook Plus Spin 714 was struggling to keep up.
Photo: Daniel Thorpe Lancaster
In terms of design, the Acer looks nicer than its price suggests, with a sleek aluminum exterior and gold accents adding an air of luxury to the overall presentation. It’s well built, and the screen’s hinges are remarkably solid (in a good way). Acer’s attention to detail also shines through the keyboard. The keys are recessed slightly to position them at the same height as the surrounding chassis, preventing them from touching the screen and leaving fingerprints when the lid is closed. It’s a nice touch that eliminates one of the biggest downsides of the glossy touchscreen.
As for the keyboard itself, it’s fun to type on for hours and hours. The keys have a lot of travel and feel quick with every press. It’s also backlit, so you won’t find yourself having trouble touch typing in the dark. The trackpad is a little smaller than I’d like, but it’s responsive.