Being cheap and easy to apply is what Chromebooks are all approximately, however that should not imply it offers much less in performance, reliability or aesthetics, right? However, as we noted when taking the Acer Chromebook 13 out of the field, it is no longer going to win any splendor contests. It’s a dull, old fashioned looking clamshell laptop and we would anticipate a touch extra from the producer that built the suitable Acer Swift 7.
On the alternative hand, despite its splendor, the Swift 7 became now not a great deal cop at the interior and for laptops, it truly is absolutely what topics. Unlike its predecessors, this Chromebook has an 8th Gen Intel Core processor, however, is that sufficient to light up Acer’s unattractive clamshell?
Acer Chromebook 13 (CB713) evaluate: Design
It’s secure to say that Acer can be relying on the Chromebook thirteen’s performance having sufficient wow issue to hold it due to the fact the outdoors is truly missing in that department with an unimaginative coloration scheme. Acer says it is “fashionable but hard” but best the second part of that is proper, as it’s the color of an overcast sky. Its matte aluminum frame with silver and dark grey trimmings could not be any greater dull. Even the Chrome brand at the lid has lost its shade. Admittedly, the keyboard is best and neat however the trackpad is small and additionally depressingly gray.
It’s hard to peer in which the ‘fashion’ component is, as Acer has controlled to make a 13in computer look cumbersome and bulky; It has a strangely rectangular display (which we’ll cowl in extra element later) with thick bezels adding to the general loss of enchantment. This is the identical organization that appears hell-bent on producing the sector’s thinnest pc – as an example, the already stated Acer Swift 7 – however in this example, there appears to be a deliberate push for the sector’s least interesting pc. For this, we are able to congratulate them, as they are triumphing on each front. The form of criticism its appears will probably acquire requires a thick skin but it has no issues right here as it does have a simply stable metal body. It’s 1.7cm in thickness and weighs a mighty 1.4kg. So, although it’s now not stylish, there may be no debating the longevity.
Acer Chromebook 13 (CB713) evaluate: Display
Here is wherein matters choose up; the colors come out of these thirteen.5in QHD screen. It’s nearly like being Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz leaving the black and white international of Kansas. It’s a lovely display, particularly with video streaming wherein the colors are at their most luminous. Much to our wonder, it scored 96.7% in our shade gamut check, that’s excellent in comparison to maximum Chromebooks and especially right in comparison to the disappointing presentations of Acer’s previous Chromebooks. Same too for the brightness, which topped out at 363cd/m2 on our checks. In actual phrases, the display screen is visible in maximum situations with the exception of the brightest of direct sunlight, but that lamentably is not that a great deal of problems within the UK.
There’s extra top to this display than your popular sixteen:9 show, with its three:2 ratio giving each 18% more vertical screen space and a surprisingly square look to the laptop’s lid that reminds us of a far older breed of a notebook. Indeed, there is much less scrolling down because you are seeing greater length in content material, however, it finally ends up being alternatively unusual-searching and if you wanted more display area, you would possibly just purchase a bigger computer or a pill. Also, because the show is so suitable, it is slightly demanding that this has neither a touchscreen or a pill mode – even though you would be paying a lot more for those capabilities.
There is also a 178-diploma viewing angle, which is supposed to be for sharing your content material with the ones around you. That sounds tremendous for collaboration, but now not so much for remote running. Wide angles and big shows are the executed factor with laptops, as humans surely need smaller bezels and more display, however, it is starting up the greater ability for shoulder browsing.
Acer Chromebook 13 (CB713) review: Keyboard & Trackpad
We’ve examined a US version so there may be no pound signal (as a result why we’ve just used the phrase and now not the image) however apart from that moderate annoyance, it’s quite adorable. Beyond the dark grey coloration, the chiclet keys have a pleasant experience to them. They have a fulfilling click and are responsive too (unless the software program stops – greater on that later). Also, due to the clamshell design, starting the computer tilts the keyboard upwards a touch. Acer says this gives more visibility of the keys, however, most of the people type without searching at their keyboard, or at the very least with little glances, so we could not definitely see the benefit of that. But the organization are not the first to assume this way; Asus has used a comparable method at the ZenBook S which has an in addition deep lid that props the top of the keyboard up.
The trackpad is quite difficult to work, firstly as it’s small given space around it. The length is annoying for a number of reasons, but primarily for getting your cursor across the display screen – which, recall, isn’t touchscreen so that you rattling nicely need that trackpad to have extra reach. Secondly, it is also were given a fairly difficult click on a motion that is pretty tiresome after a while – except you need a solid finger exercise.
Acer Chromebook thirteen (CB713) evaluation: Specs & Performance
The general performance of this computer is quite proper. This has a twin-core Intel Core i3-8130U 2.20GHz processor, which is unusual for a Chromebook, and that does display in its images and performance. In our Geekbench exams, it scored 2124 on our single-middle tests and 2002 for the multi-middle, each of that is very good. Compare them to Acer’s Chromebook 14, which scored below most smartphones in our assessments, and despite the fact that the Chromebook thirteen remains lagging a ways behind the rankings of maximum Windows laptops, it appears to have drastically extra horsepower than its predecessor.
We saw this from the instant we turn the component on as it boots up in seconds; from urgent the electricity button to getting on with work, there’s little or no time wasted in between. Switching from app to app, opening up files and emails, even downloading, there’s a handy guide a rough experience throughout the board with the Chromebook thirteen.
While the rate of the gadget is staggering, there may be an occasional freeze, nearly like you have stuck it out along with your need to do things on it. We often noticed this while typing, in which the device takes some seconds to seize up and the cursor regarded to have the occasional spasm – on some of the activities the cursor fidgeted so much it became close to not possible to spotlight text or click on tabs.
Acer Chromebook 13 (CB713) overview: Battery life & capabilities
Acer shows the Chromebook thirteen has 10 hours of battery life and we can’t sincerely blame them for suggesting it; all producers say their device has “all day battery lifestyles” and their inner tests can also differ from ours. Acer claims that the Chromebook 13 will use power efficiently, maintaining you going without the want for a charger. But, having used it for a whole day, we discovered it pretty much made it to the cease of an 8-hour shift – and this is rarely a taxing process for a laptop. Worse nevertheless, in our looped video battery test, the element conked out after 6hrs 16mins, which is simply over a quarter of an afternoon.
Connectivity is right as there are 3 USB ports, two of which are Thunderbolt three (USB 3.1) with the opposite being a USB 3.Zero. It’s always exact whilst a tool gives options for brand spanking new and legacy connections, and many can be pleased to look a general headphone jack and a good old MicroSD slot for additional storage.
Acer Chromebook thirteen (CB713) evaluate: Verdict
Despite a few noticeable plus points, this Acer Chromebook thirteen left us with mixed emotions. What commenced with a less than extraordinary unboxing brightened up with lovely photographs, quick processing, and a modern interface. But it is all added backtrack by using a horrible battery that cannot complete a working day without a charger.
For its price, we clearly hoped for more, perhaps even a touch display, and on this regard, it’s in all likelihood going to be the deal breaker. It’s asking a lot to component with extra than £500 for a dull-searching device that has a screen made for streaming, however now not the functionality to fully admire it. Anyone who ends up with Chromebook 13 will experience the usage of it and its snappy processor, but simply do not expect to be on it for long.
