Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 will get an NPU: Palms on and first impressions

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Acer is upgrading one in all its premium convertible Chromebooks with extra AI prowess. Introduced as we speak at IFA 2025 in Berlin, the newest Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (CP514-5HN) packs a brand new MediaTek Kompanio Extremely chip that has a neural processing unit (NPU) with as much as 50 TOPS (or trillions of operations per second), enabling a pair of unique software program options.

The Spin 514 is the one Chromebook Plus with an NPU apart from the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which has the identical processor. Like its counterpart, the Spin 514 comes with a free trial of Google AI Professional that unlocks 12 months of entry to superior AI instruments like Veo 3 Quick and NotebookLM. It is an AI smorgasbord.

“With highly effective efficiency, AI instruments, and strong and premium construct, the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 will empower creators, staff, and academics to create, work, and be productive from wherever,” James Lin, Normal Supervisor of Notebooks at Acer, stated in a press launch Tuesday.

One configuration of the Spin 514 launches on Acer’s web site this week at $749.99; one other will hit Finest Purchase’s cabinets later this month for $50 much less, and I used to be one of many first folks to strive it earlier than its formal launch. I’ve solely spent a day with it to this point, so I have never given it a proper score simply but (as per our laptop computer testing methodology), however my preliminary impressions of it are constructive. Splashy AI options apart, it is only a very nice price range 2-in-1 laptop computer.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 specs and availability

Acer despatched me a Spin 514 (mannequin quantity CP514-1HN-K6DY) with the next specs:

• MediaTek Kompanio Extremely 910 processor

• Arm Immortalis-G925 MC11 built-in graphics

• 12GB RAM

• 256GB UFS storage

• 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS touchscreen show with a 120Hz refresh fee, 16:10 facet ratio, and stylus assist (offered individually)

• 1080p webcam (see under)

• WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4

• Non-backlit keyboard

• Two USB-C ports and a headphone jack on the left aspect; two USB-A ports and a Kensington lock slot on the precise

Whereas my assessment unit got here outfitted with a 1080p webcam, the ultimate model you possibly can quickly buy at Finest Purchase could have a greater 5MP webcam. It is priced at $699.99 and set to launch someday later this month.

Acer began promoting one other configuration on its web site for $799.99 on Sept. 4 (mannequin quantity CP514-5HN-K4ZE). It comes with 16GB of RAM, a fingerprint reader, and a backlit keyboard, and its show has a better 2.8K decision however a decrease 60Hz refresh fee.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 design

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The 2025 Spin 514 measures 12.32 x 9.13 x 0.61 inches and weighs three kilos, making it solely barely bulkier than an M4 MacBook Air. (Apple’s 13-inch mannequin weighs 2.7 kilos and measures 0.44 inches skinny.) It is definitely svelte and moveable, even when it is not probably the most thin-and-light laptop computer obtainable.

The Spin 514 is on the pricier aspect for a Chromebook, however its design feels aptly premium, and I am impressed by its construct high quality. There’s zero give to its lid once I press down within the heart of it. Its hinge wiggles somewhat bit once I regulate or faucet its display screen, nevertheless it holds very sturdy and does not creak once I flip the show round into tent mode. The Spin 514’s lid can rotate a full 360 levels to put flat in pill mode, too.

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Spin 514 is military-grade MIL-STD810H compliant, which principally means it has been examined for excessive sturdiness. Acer says it may well survive four-foot drops and 25,000 open/shut cycles, to which I say: Let’s get YouTube’s tech-it on the case.

Aesthetically, the Spin 514 is a sexy laptop computer that is simply flashy sufficient for my style. It has an aluminum exterior with reflective metallic accents on its hinges and the outer edges of its prime cowl, which match the iridescent “Acer” brand in the midst of the lid. Its Platinum Silver end picks up fingerprints fairly simply, although.

The Spin 514’s keyboard cowl is comprised of matte plastic, nevertheless it does not really feel low-cost and matches the remainder of the chassis for a cohesive look. I needed to maintain it proper as much as my eyeballs to even discover that it is a completely different materials.

Show

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Spin 514’s higher and decrease bezels are somewhat chunky, however the touchscreen itself is fairly and responsive. My assessment unit did not include a stylus, so I did all of my scrolling and tapping with a fingertip. Massive ups to the truth that it has a 120Hz refresh fee, which made a Fortnite match and some fast-moving scenes in YouTube movies look silky clean. (The Spin 514 is not technically a gaming Chromebook, nevertheless it’s workable for gentle cloud gaming.) It is all the time good to see this spec on cheaper laptops.

Textual content and tinier particulars did not appear blurry on my Spin 514, so with out having tried its different configuration, I would not spend an additional $100 for a higher-res show with a worse refresh fee. Perhaps take into account upgrading in case you desperately want the additional 4 gigs of RAM, however 12GB is already lots for a Chromebook (and so is $700).

The display screen on my Spin 514 is rated at solely 300 nits of brightness, so I often used it cranked all the way in which as much as max. The pricier mannequin’s show affords as much as 340 nits, which is a negligible distinction.

Keyboard and touchpad

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Spin 514’s keyboard is nice, for probably the most half — snappy, snug, and well-spaced — nevertheless it will get docked a couple of factors for having a hollow-sounding area bar and missing backlighting in addition to a fingerprint reader. Once more, each can be found within the pricier configuration.

Of particular word, there are devoted keys for the Launcher (a searchable begin menu) and for a “Fast Insert” device. The latter shares a spot with the caps lock.

The keyboard is comprised of Acer’s “OceanGlass” materials. It is technically ocean-bound plastic, nevertheless it actually does really feel rather a lot like glass: It is tender and clean like velvet. Acer says it is moisture-resistant, so unintended espresso spills most likely will not be a trigger for panic.

Audio system

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Spin 514 has upward-firing audio system working down each side of its keyboard. They’re somewhat tinny, however they don’t seem to be the worst-sounding laptop computer audio system I’ve ever tried (and there are some absolute stinkers on the market). I have been listening to Fleetwood Mac’s 1997 dwell efficiency of “Silver Springs” nearly daily for the previous couple of weeks whereas studying it on the piano; on the Spin 514, the audio is lacking some bass and depth however in any other case clear. The positioning of the audio system prevents them from sounding muffled.

Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 efficiency

The Spin 514 has a fan, in contrast to Lenovo’s Chromebook Plus 14, however I could not get it to activate throughout a fast stress take a look at with 20 Chrome tabs open and two apps working (YouTube and Recorder). It ran quiet and nearly utterly cool; the fan vent on the underside aspect of the machine barely acquired heat.

Within the Android model of Primate Labs’ Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, our different efficiency take a look at for Chromebooks, the Spin 514 acquired a multi-core rating of seven,187. That makes it the second-fastest mannequin we have tried after the heftier Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, which notched a rating of seven,660. It beats eight different fashions we have tried over the course of the previous two years, together with an $819 HP Chromebook x360 14c (4,318) and a $699 Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (5,223).

Google AI options

Chromebook Plus fashions assist a collection of AI options that you just will not discover on common Chromebooks. The Spin 514’s NPU provides two further exclusives to the combo: a tab-sorting mission administration device referred to as “sensible grouping” and an on-device picture editor throughout the Gallery app. I briefly tried each.

To check sensible grouping, I pulled up 5 tabs about the identical matter (horseback using close to me) and three unrelated tabs in a single Chrome window. Once I pressed the F4 key, a bubble appeared within the decrease left-hand nook, prompting me to prepare a subject referred to as “Chicago Horse Driving Info” in a brand new “desk.” Clicking that button pulled all the horseback riding-related tabs right into a separate workspace whereas holding the opposite tabs in my authentic desk. I are typically a tab minimalist, however I can see how this may be immensely helpful for multitaskers who maintain a mishmash of internet sites and home windows open without delay.

Left:
Earlier than and after smart-grouping my tabs.
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Proper:
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Gallery app’s AI picture editor consists of instruments that may develop and take away photos’ backgrounds, erase components of a scene, and make stickers. I performed round with them utilizing a photograph of a scorching canine I took at a Cubs sport final month, and many of the outcomes have been fairly clunky and fake-looking.

My authentic image of the attractive Chicago dawg.
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The image with its background “expanded” utilizing AI.
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The image with its background eliminated. (The “make a sticker” device produced an similar consequence.)
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

I attempted to erase the pickle on this one.
Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Good grouping and the Gallery app’s picture editor are each nonetheless “experimental” (in beta) and will enhance with time.

Battery life

I have never run a proper battery life take a look at on the Spin 514 but, however Acer has it rated at as much as 17 hours of internet shopping per cost. If it lives as much as that quantity, that may put it effectively over the nine-hour minimal we count on to squeeze from Chromebooks.

Who ought to get the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514?

Credit score: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Based mostly on my few hours with the Spin 514 to this point, I believe it is an awesome decide for early AI adopters, but additionally simply anybody who needs a strong price range 2-in-1 laptop computer with a premium design and good quantity of energy for the worth. Its most important rival is clearly the Lenovo Chromebook Plus 14, which affords a brighter (non-touch) OLED show, quad audio system with Dolby Atmos, and a backlit keyboard for $649.99, or $50 cheaper. Nevertheless, it begins with half the storage and might’t double as a pill.

The Spin 514’s battery life can be an enormous figuring out think about my remaining evaluation, so keep tuned.

UPDATE: Sep. 4, 2025, 1:05 p.m. EDT Listings for the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 (CP514-5HN) are actually dwell. Acer initially priced the upgraded mannequin at $749.99, nevertheless it’s truly retailing for $799.99 on its web site. We have up to date this story accordingly.