If you're after an affordable laptop for work or college, a Chromebook is often your best bet. Google's lightweight Chrome OS, a modified version of the Chrome web browser, is ideal for mid-range laptops.
Acer is no stranger to these devices, having produced some of the best Chromebooks on the market. At a live-streamed press conference, they announced two additions to their lineup, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 and the Acer Chromebook Spin 311.
What Is the Acer Chromebook Spin 713?
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a durable Chromebook, capable of withstanding most drops, dents, and other damage. The laptop was designed to the MIL-STD 810G standard and can survive falls from 48 inches and withstand 60kg of downward force.
Fortunately, that isn't the Spin 713's only notable feature. The Chromebook is equipped with a 10th generation Intel Core processor and offers up to 10 hours of battery life. There's also 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 13.5-inch screen has a 3:2 aspect ratio for increased vertical screen space.
The portable device has two USB 3.1 ports and USB charging. Importantly, you can connect the Spin 713 to external monitors using the HDMI connection or DisplayPort over USB-C. Alongside a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 connection, there's also Bluetooth 5 for wireless connectivity.
A business-focused edition of the laptop, the Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 713, adds enterprise management tools and software to the Chromebook, making it easy for businesses to control their inventory.
The Chromebook Spin 713 will be available in North America from July at a retail price of $629.99. The Enterprise Spin 713 will debut in August with a price tag of $1,099.
What Is the Acer Chromebook Spin 311?
While the Spin 713 caters to enterprise and professional use, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is explicitly geared towards education. The 11.6-inch laptop is powered by a MediaTek MT8183 CPU and can last up to 15 hours on a single charge.
Importantly, it is portable, weighing in at just 2.2lbs. The Spin 311 is convertible, so it can easily switch between laptop and tablet modes. This is helpful, especially if you want to use touch-friendly Android apps.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 will launch in Europe in June before making its way to North America in July. The Chromebook will retail for $259.99.
The Best Affordable Laptop
Acer's latest Chromebooks sit nicely alongside the company's other market-leading laptops. More generally, Chromebooks have been able to dominate in workplaces and schools thanks to their affordability, low maintenance requirements, and ease of use.
This makes them ideal for younger children getting into digital devices. If you're on the lookout for a suitable laptop, try one of these Chromebooks for kids.