I cut my teeth in PC Labs, spending several years with PCMag.com before writing for other outlets, among them LaptopMag.com and Toms Guide.

Acers Chromebook 15 is the largest Chromebook you can buy right now, but its not too cumbersome. Chrome OS is kind of like just using a Chrome window with a bunch of tabs on a regular PC. For instance, the backgrounds provided on the Chromebook are gorgeous, vibrant, and sharp. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

Backing the 15-inch 1080p display is Intels Pentium N4200 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. As it stands now, the sound is very treble-centric while the bass-heavy explosions can at times result in a distorted mess. Once you shift to storing and running programs locally, however, you need a machine with more processing power and roomier storage than your typical Chromebook. The battery also recharges very quickly, allowing for you to quickly add some extra juice to a dying laptop in a pinch. PS5 lawsuit claims Sony knowingly hid a major defect in the console, Don't buy PS Plus this Prime Day I mean it, Free Samsung Galaxy update turns your handset into an even better camera phone, Apple Pay is attracting yet more negative attention, The latest Tor browser update bypasses internet censorship, 'Like Jaws meets Close Encounters': critics hail Jordan Peele's Nope, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. We experienced a lot Android weirdness that forced us to re-install Google Play and its apps. We've updated our Privacy Policy, which will go in to effect on September 1, 2022. With Android games by the thousands and, now, Steam OS, credible gaming on Chrome laptops and tablets is suddenly a reality. You'll also want to step up to more memory and larger, faster solid-state drive (SSD) storage instead of the smaller eMMC flash memory of economy models. Really, any of the best Android games we recommend for phones will work just as well on Chrome OSbut there's a catch. Theres also Bluetooth 4.2 capability which provided me with a plenty-stable connection for my Bluetooth headphones, and will work nicely if you want to connect a mouse or other peripherals. Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox. Its at best a sideways move from the Celeron 3205U processor in the previous Chromebook 15. The Google Pixelbookand the Samsung Chromebook Proactually break the 2,400 x 1,600 barrier, but those two sacrifice physical screen size (12.3 inches) for the higher resolution. The Google Pixelbook Go is a well-built and stylish ultraportable, albeit one that costs far more than most of its Chromebook brethren.

However, you may not be able to run these services on every Chromebook. Superb OLED display in an under-$500 detachable. Physically, Acers Chromebook is a joy to carry despite its 15.6-inch form factor. The list price for this Acer Chromebook sits at just about $400 (MSRP), but most of the time you can find it on Amazon for between $150-$250. That said, the Chromebook 15 runs so well, though likely only because of the lightweight operating system and limited app capabilities. At the end of the day, at this price point, its perfect for light, basic use. Its performance trails that of conventional Chromebooks, but HP's Chromebook x2 is an attractive 11-inch tablet with keyboard, kickstand, and pen all in the box. PCMag Digital Group. Android apps also took an extremely long time to load, or wouldnt load at all. Intels processor includes Intel HD Graphics 505. The high-end version of the Acer Chromebook 15, a Best Buy exclusive in the US, is $399 (279, about AU$560). Acers product page lists two different maximum durations for the Chromebook 15s battery: 13 hours and 14 hours. It supports Chrome OS features such as scrolling with two fingers, swiping left and right using two fingers, right-click tapping with two fingers, and more. It almost glows with metallic light. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Clicking the trackpad feels mushy and imprecise, and just touching it is unpleasant, moving slightly from the mere weight of a finger resting on it. Acer's 15" Chromebook has a sweet IPS panel, loud speakers, and great ports, but the rest is kind of ho-hum. You can run Android games, giving you all of the best games in the Google Play store. The display on the Acer Chromebook 15 is bigger than you might expect from a laptop that runs Chrome OS, with a 15.6-inch backlit LED screen that offers a ton of room for windows and programs. Reasonably priced accidental damage coverage, Display limited to 1,366 by 768 resolution, Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. Outside the Google Play weirdness, you get zippy performance backed by a thin and light form factor and a great battery. Its not designed for high-resolution gaming, but we can use game-related benchmarks to see how well Intels graphics can perform. Andthe browser-based OS isn't going away any time soon. It lacks the solid feeling of the rest of the computer, feeling loose and clunky. I am a little annoyed with the search key that Chromebooks placed where a caps lock key should be--resulting in a lot of accidental search callups.

Two things are important to note. It's thin, too, easily sliding into a laptop bag. At your disposal today are four main ways to game on Chromebooks, each with unique considerations for what kind of hardware you have: You can rely on browser-based games that need nothing more than visiting a website. If youre looking to jump on the Chromebook bandwagon, Acers latest 15.6-inch model is a great place to start. The Acer Chromebook 15 is bigger and brighter than a lot of other similar options, but does leave a bit to be desired in the storage and build categories. Chrome OS is a very light operating system, which means that it runs quick and light, at least initially. For most people, the OS is more than capable of handling most of your browsing needs. Our How to Play Games on Your Chromebook guide has more detail, but we'll briefly discuss your options here. That can be attributed to Intels power-sipping Pentium processor, the lightweight operating system, and an optimized Chromebook design. You have most of the functions youll need from Google Docs to web browsing to file storage. Even more, Acers Chromebook can go higher than its default with a weird 2,160 x 1,215 resolution thats not a recommended setting. This also means that you can load up more than a few Chrome tabssomething that hogs a lot of power use on Windows laptops. Overall, the Chromebook measures 14.9 inches wide, 10.1 inches from front to back, and 0.75 inches high. They range from basic versions of chess and checkers to old-school classics like Pac-Man and Doom, along with a huge number of indie games that are free to play online. (, Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Intel Core i3), Read Great Stories Offline on Your Favorite, PC Magazine Digital Edition (Opens in a new window), How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, Read Our Acer Chromebook Spin 713 (2022) Review, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook Review, Read Our Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook (2021) Review, Read Our Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Review, Read Our Acer Chromebook 514 (2022, Intel Core i3) Review, Read Our Dell Chromebook 11 (3100) Review, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 10 (2022) Review, What to Do When Your Computer Screen Won't Show a Picture, 2022 Grad's Guide: The Best Laptop for Each Type of Graduate. By Though it has more cores, the architecture inside the Pentium N4200 is not as modern as that in the Celeron 3205U, which is a barebones fifth-generation Intel Core in disguise.

This is not the first Chromebook to feature a 15.6-inch, FHD display, but it looks absolutely lovely nonetheless. Typically, we see laptops with screen borders in a dark color to provide the illusion of an edge-to-edge screen. Acers Chromebook is capable of 1080p gaming, but youll get better framerates at a lower resolution. If you shrink down to Googles Pixelbook and Samsungs Chromebook Pro, the port arsenal is reduced to just two USB-C ports and a microphone/headphone combo jack. On that front, we experienced enough weirdness that we decided to completely uninstall Google Play, all the associated apps, and then re-install the Android-based platform.

It was always one of the largest Chromebooks available and 2017, it returned with refreshed hardware for improved performance. But if you want an affordable machine thats great for light productivity tasks, and is an excellent movie machine, then you should consider this. Overall the Acer Chromebook 15 kept up with my tests and day-to-day usage just fine. The most notable difference is the buildyoull get a thinner, sleeker laptop with the Lenovo, including a much more premium-looking and -feeling keyboard, plus 64GB of storage and a lighter weight. Yes. I would have liked to see at least one USB Type-C port, as the mobile industry is heading decidedly in that direction, but it isnt the end of the world. Google Drive offers online storage, and Google Workplace delivers Docs, Sheets, and Presentations to match the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps you might be used to. Compared to other Chromebooks weve recently reviewed, the Pentium N4200 falls behind Intels M3-6Y30 chip used in the Samsung Chromebook Pro, and the Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA. If Ive used it, I have opinions about it, whether somebodys paying me to write them up or not. The Acer Chromebook 15 is powered by Intels Pentium N4200 processor. For instance, Lenovos ThinkPad 13 Chromebook provides two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and a microphone/headphone combo jack. (Almost all Chromebooks from the last few years will support them; be sure to check if you have an older model.) Backing the Pentium processor is an embedded SSD with 32GB of storage capacity. But, because the DDR3 RAM is a bit dated and caps out at 4GB, youll find that it gets a little sluggish when you push it. It never feels heavy in spite of this. 2022 ThinkPad X1 Carbon or MacBook Pro: Which Work Laptop Should You Push Your Boss to Buy You? Acers Chromebook 15 serves as a larger, cheaper alternative to Googles Pixelbook, and should please diehard fans of the Chrome OS platform. These are our top recommended tested Chromebooks for play. Acer isnt hiding anything here with the Chomebook 15: all four bezels match the Pure Silver theme seen throughout the design. Our only concern is Google Play its a new ingredient added to Chrome OS, and its backed by developers who typically target Android-based smartphones and tablets. However, even though the pictures and videos recorded are noticeable grainy, the color response was pretty good. Youll have to play the wait-and-see-game regarding how these developers will embrace Chromebook compatibility. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. 1996-2022 Ziff Davis. This hinge turns a full 180 degrees, enabling the Chromebook to lie completely flat and face up, so you can share the screen with anyone. Fanless vs. Active-Cooled M2: How Does Apple's CPU Fare in the New MacBooks? If thats true for you, the only real alternative is the 2-in-1 variant Acer made, the Chromebook Spin 15,which starts at $450. Fantastic battery life, solid construction and a gorgeous exterior make up for a low performance ceiling in Acers 15-inch Chromebook for the masses. That holds true, perhaps trending toward a little less. Add that in with the larger 15.6-inch display, giving you lots of room for multiple windows and apps, and this Chromebook is great for those who want to multitask. While the term "gaming" may call to mind high-powered gaming laptops or Microsoft's and Sony's dedicated consoles, the reality is that the gaming world is much larger than the so-called AAA or big-budget titles that major studios release. Theres an interesting case to be made for this Acer Chromebook in terms of productivity.

Chrome OS provides an interesting advantage in the performance category. HBO Maxs new show will make Euphoria look like Downton Abbey, and I cannot wait. But when we pulled up our favorite movies on Google Play, colors looked slightly washed out. Retro games are freely available for playing in your browser via several legitimate websites, from Classic Games Arcade(Opens in a new window) to the Internet Archive's coin-op arcade(Opens in a new window). The inclusion of Google Play is great, but its a quirky addition that still has a few issues to iron out. The sound is crisp and holy cow its loud, free to penetrate your ears without obstructions. After Chrome OS and Google Play, you only get to use 24.45GB of that capacity, which isnt bad for a web-based laptop. That means something running on an Intel Core or AMD Ryzen chip rather than the low-powered ARM processors common among budget Chromebooks. our process. But, the screen offers plenty of brightness, and if you turn the blue temperature down a bit (do this in the night light part of the Settings section, but turn it on all the time, not just during bedtime), the screen looks really decent. You can stream games through Google Stadia or similar streaming services. There was a problem. As noted, with Android games designed for phones and tablets, you'll definitely want to get a Chromebook that offers touch capability. But that doesn't mean your pastimes on a Chromebook have to be limited to social media scrolling, YouTube immersion, and Netflix binging. Overall, this thing checks most of the boxes, though with the large chassis it would have been nice to have seen just a few more I/O options. If you buy something through this post, IGN may get a share of the sale. This staged version of a device tour is a great way to let you, the user, tailor it to your preferences. In fact, Stadia comes preinstalled on many new Chromebooks, though you'll pay $9.99 per month to use it after the free trial period. Chromebooks with poky processors and cramped flash storage dominate the market, but Lenovo's fair-priced IdeaPad Flex 5 shows how a Chromebook can benefit from an Intel Core CPU and a "true" onboard SSD. Our Acer Chromebook 15 review unit was the CB515-1HT-P39B, a $400 thin and light notebook based on Googles Chrome OS operating system. As a light OS, it wasnt that surprising to see excellent battery life on the Chromebook 15, but I was pleased with just how long the battery lasted. From here it drops you basically immediately to the Chromebook home screen where you can either dive right in, or follow the popup tour given by Google. Can you play games on a Chromebook? PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Both options are explained in our guide How to Install Linux on Your Chromebook, and either will let you access the Linux game catalogs on Steam and GOG(Opens in a new window). Chromebook buffs need no longer be jealous of 17-inch Windows laptopsthe Acer Chromebook 317 is a budget-priced, big-screen browsing machine. Most screens at this level will give you just enough pixels to advertise themselves as HD, but will skimp on viewing angles and color representation. I cant say its quite as travel-friendly as some of the other budget laptops out there, due to the size and weight. However, the Pentium N4200s two added cores predictably lead to better multi-core results. Meanwhile, the touchpad felt super responsive, and it allowed us to move the curser at the lightest touch. He is also a current and past contributing writer to Greatist and Thrillist. However, the limited onboard storage, bulky size and weight, and the lack of full app choices might limit you a bit too much. Camera: 1,280 x 720 webcam The color scheme feels very modern, looking very similar to Apples space gray. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Its a gorgeous laptop and the metallic spaceman exterior does a great job covering your ugly fingerprints. And no Chromebook would ever qualify as a traditional gaming laptop. Jason has been writing for tech and media companies for nearly 10 years. The whole laptop is made of plastic, and measures right around one 1-inch thick, weighing in at almost 4.5 pounds. In the series, filmmaker Lawrence Kasdan takes viewers on an adventure behind the curtain of Industrial Light & Magic. These filmmakers would then go on to inspire the entire industry of visual effects. Theres lots of decent hardware packed inside to keep the Chromebook 15 feeling modern for years to come. These games are the perfect option for the average Chromebook, because they don't rely on local processing power, large install files, or special input devices.

And since they're browser-based, they'll work on any Chromebook, including school-issued systems. You can also run browser extensions to add functionality to Chrome OS, as well as Android apps, opening up thousands of smartphone and tablet apps to use on current Chromebooks. The device first asks you to set your regions, then connect to a Wi-Fi network, then finally to sign into a Google account and set up permissions. That package comes in at a little higher on the price scale, too. And, because its not a 2-in-1 laptop, like the Google Pixelbook or the Samsung Chromebook Pro, having a touch display is more of a luxury than a necessity. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. But at the end of the day, it's worth pointing out that not even the best Chromebook will match the cheapest of our choices for the best cheap gaming laptops. First off, theres an 802.11ac-capable Wi-Fi card built-in, which means youll get less interference than the N-protocol Wi-Fi, and youll have access to the 5GHz bands common in most modern routers. Ive been reviewing PCs and technology products for more than a decade. Premium Chromebooks are making a bit of a resurgence thanks to the lead of Googles Pixelbook. The same milled-metal effect on the edge of the computer follows the edge of the trackpad, which is the only part of the Chromebook 15 that feels off. These work right in the Chrome browser, without requiring a download or particularly powerful hardware. It has a healthy number and variety of ports and a beautiful display, making it a premium offering. Cyberattacks have nearly doubled since last year, report says, Best Microsoft Surface Pro deals for July 2022, M2 MacBook Air struggles with heat, and we now know why, Is the Pixel 6a waterproof?

And an important perk: They also have the benefit of letting you play offline. The Chromebook 15 feels extremely zippy when navigating through Chrome OS, loading applications, surfing the web, and streaming video. A 13.3-inch OLED touch screen makes Lenovo's second, bigger version of its Chromebook Duet a surprisingly nice 2-in-1 detachable for the money. Google has developed a number of helpful cloud-based productivity tools. This is a great Chromebook with a lot of impressive things to offer. Comparing that to the $499 (about 360, AU$630) Samsung and the $999 (999, about AU$1,259) Pixelbook, makes it much easier to focus on what it offers rather than what its lacking. The Samsung Chromebook Pro and the Google Pixelbook are definitely more powerful, and the Acer Chromebook 15 isnt a 2-in-1 laptop. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. With millions of consumers, students, and businesspeople using Chromebooks, they have evolved into great options for anyone who wants a simple way to get online and get work done, but who doesn't demand all the functionality of a powerful Windows machine. This also makes it great for an older-aged tech user who might need a bit of hand-holding as they get to know their laptop. Still, we dont necessarily blame the Chromebook 15 for these issues. The N4200 is not meant to be a powerhouse, but is rather a chip that provides great performance while only eating six watts of power. Steam for Chrome OS, for example, is only available on models that meet certain hardware parameters. This perky attitude is partly due to the operating system itself, which isnt quite as heavy as Microsofts Windows platform.

Backing the visual clarity is a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, a seemingly new standard in Chromebooks. Designed to withstand the rigors of daily life in the classroom, at home, and in between, the Dell Chromebook 11 hits a trifecta: rugged, affordable, and great for kids. This isnt anything new with Chromebooks, but given the larger 15.6-inch form factor you might assume theres enough space for Acer to install dedicated video output. Even if you're stuck using a locked-down system from school, or want to have more fun with a low-powered laptop running Chrome OS, you can leverage some fun options for every price point and level of hardware. Theres nothing about this Chromebook that feels cheap. Connectivity is also good. HP and Acer make 14-inch models, and the rest have 13-inch screens or smaller. But that also meant the keyboard needed to be compacted to a small degree, taking up around 11 inches of space from left to right. We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best We purchased the Acer Chromebook 15 so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Introduction, price and design. It's pricey for a Chromebook, but Acer's Chromebook Spin 713 remains a world-class alternative to Windows convertibles. One added benefit to opting for a Chromebook instead of a full PC is that the software is really light. This gives you good color response as Ive noted, but it does also result in that graininess. Tested: Does Apple's M2 Chip Raise the Floor for Graphics Performance. All in all, this is definitely a pro for this device, making it a reliable travel machine. At $400 its a solid value as a budget laptop and, unlike its smaller peers, it can easily work as either a portable companion or your only home PC. Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, Avatar: The Way of Water begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.Avatar: The Way of Water, directed by James Cameron, opens in theaters on December 16, 2022. But that also means theres no cool Tent or Stand mode like the Google Pixelbookand Samsungs Chromebook Pro. Instead, Chrome OS gaming is all about giving you some fun ways to use what you already have, or need to buy for other, more critical purposes. A reflective metallic trim outlines the base and touchpad while a dull black strip borders the display frame and spills down into a dark hinge. But, where it falls behind in power, the Chromebook 15 makes up its value in its phenomenal battery and gorgeous, giant HD screen. You can play AAA games (often free with your membership) like Saints Row IV, Darksiders III, Control, and Far Cry 6. Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day.

You will receive a verification email shortly. Those scores appear to be better than average when compared to scores of other laptops using the same chip, including the Acer Switch 3. The Chromebook 15 is the largest Chrome OS device you can buy right now and it remains one of the best Chromebooks in general. The first thing youll notice about this laptop is just how large it is. But if you're one of the millions of Chromebook owners who can freely use Android apps, you can enjoy a wealth of gaming options through the Google Play store, from viral hits like Among Us and Wordle to a wealth of games in every genre. You bet it is. I spent a few days of regular use with this Chromebook and broke down what it does well and what corners it has to cut to meet this price point. productslearn more about Because gaming requires ample CPU and GPU power, Steam on Chrome requires an 11th Generation Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics and at least 8GB of RAMand those are relatively high-grade components for a Chromebook. The HP Chromebook x360 14a is a value-priced convertible kept from greatness by a dim display, poor speakers, and inconsistent trackpad. The key caps felt plenty wide too, and each key press was firm and quiet. Theres a soft brushed-aluminum-style texture on the top, and a dark, roughened plastic base and inner bezels.

With Chromebooks now embracing hybrid designs, it's unfortunate that the Acer Chromebook 15 is a little too straightforward. For many users, that's enough for everyday computing, providing all the tools they need to engage in hours of Facebook, YouTube, and Gmail. Finally, because Chrome OS is built on the foundations of the Linux kernel, you can try running Linux games on your Chromebook. Weight: 4.3 pounds (1.95 kg) The result can be metallic, muffled, and distant to a degree because the audio isnt directed towards your ears. I never felt it was underpowered or sluggish, which is the case with a lot of Chromebooks. But the viewing quality depends on the content. Next are Android games, played using the support for Android apps built into newer Chromebooks. These competitors have their own merits, but we hesitate to call them alternatives. Due to the low-powered processor and limited shared Graphics capability, you wouldnt be able to use this laptop for video editing anyway, even if it did run Windows. Storage: 32GB eMMC To be fair, Chromebook users likely keep more files in cloud storage drives, and Google includes 100GB of drive storage for free with the purchase for 2 years. Next, in 3DMark, the Chromebook scored 2,829 points in the Sling Shot benchmark running at 1,920 x 1,080, managing 17.2 frames per second in the first test, and 11.7 frames per second in the second test. For the money, I can confidently say this laptop is worth the price, as long as you have the right applications in mind for it. Screen: 15.6-inch FHD (1,920 x 1,080) multi-touch IPS display Cool with Chrome OS in tablet form? But in this case, the two speakers are pointed directly at your face. It consists of four cores with a base speed of 1.10GHz, and a boost speed of 2.50GHz. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. The trackpad also leaves a bit to be desired, requiring a firm, chunky press, and doesnt support as many gestures as Windows or OSX. This is likely because Google is calling this an HDR-capable webcam, meaning the software is increasing the ISO to give you clear performance. However, because it isnt a full OS, you wont be able to run a whole lot of programs out of the box, and youre limited to whats available in the Play Store. Instead, the Chromebook relies on a 22 Wireless AC component supporting Wi-Fi connections up to 867Mbps. Youll see that storage space quickly fill up when installing large games on top of housing your documents, downloaded video, and so on. Learn about the pioneers of modern filmmaking as we go on a journey to bring George Lucas' vision to life. While computers are my main focus, Ive also written at length about topics ranging from fitness gear and appliances to TV and home theater equipment. Acers Chromebook is capable of 1080p gaming, but you will see better framerates when the display is set to a lower resolution than the default. So, even though its limiting, its on purpose. The simplest options for Chromebook gaming are browser-based games. The resolution measures in at 1366x768 meaning it checks all the boxes for being classified as an HD display. Of course, other game streaming services exist, ranging from Steam to personal online services like Shadow(Opens in a new window) and Parsec(Opens in a new window). For more. Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505 Youre also getting a massive display that actually impressed us in our tests, especially when compared to other laptops in this range. We've covered several options for enjoying games on a Chromebook, from a round of Pac-Man in your browser to popular Android phone games, and from streaming through Google Stadia to installing the Linux operating system just for games.