Acer is a well-established PC manufacturer that has amassed tons of popularity in the Chrome OS space due to its extensive array of top-tier Chromebooks. It’s undoubtedly one of the best Chromebook manufacturers out in the market today that has given us the likes of the Spin 713 and the Spin 513 to experience and enjoy. Chromebooks have come a long way from where they first started, and different companies are capitalizing on this department to a great extent. Doing so, of course, paves the way for bigger and better innovation to materialize.
We have a Chromebook at our disposal that resonates with the latter statement as it boasts a versatile 2-in-1 design with an included Wacom stylus to enhance the device’s functionality and give you another input method. There’s a lot to talk about the unit at hand, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do in this review article.
In this write-up, we’ll be checking out how the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 measures up as a device and how it fares against its competitors. We’ll also go through the device’s significant strengths and weaknesses so that you can come to a definite purchasing decision. So, without any further chit-chat, let’s dive right in.
Acer Chromebook Spin 13 specifications
- CPU: Intel Core i5 8250U processor quad-core 1.60 GHz
- Display: 13.5″ QHD 2K (2256 x 1504) 3:2 IPS touch-enabled display
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Hard Drive Size: 128 GB eMMC flash storage
- Memory: 8 GB
- Camera: HD 720p webcam
- Ports: x2 USB Type-C, USB 3.0, 3.5 mm headphone jack, microSD card reader slot
- Battery Type: 3-cell Li-ion 4670 mAh, 10 hours battery runtime
- Charging Speed: 50% in 45 minutes
- Weight: 3.50 lbs
- Price: $899
Acer Chromebook Spin in-depth review
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
1. Design
As it seems, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 has become a personal favorite of digital artists and creators, and we can easily see why. It is an excellent device with plenty of features to keep you hooked for days. However, it is, by no means, a proponent of the budget range as even its base model costs somewhere about $799. However, all that isn’t without good reasons, not just a couple of them, but a whole slew. For one, it comprises an anodized aluminum chassis that’s flat-out premium and exceptionally rugged.
Paying this much amount for the Spin 13, one wouldn’t expect anything dissimilar to the Chromebook’s brilliant build quality, and we’re glad that this prospect has seen the light of day. The unit won’t be exceedingly portable, though, weighing about 3.50 lbs (roughly 1.5 kgs) and having a thickness of 18 mm. Dimensionally, the 0.7 by 12.2 by 9.7-inch measurement consolidates that this is a sizable laptop. Therefore, if you’re looking for something more on the fly, the Spin 13 probably isn’t your best bet.
What this Chromebook lacks in portability is shortly compensated by its incredibly versatile design. The cherry on top here is that it ships with a Wacom Electromagnetic Resonance (EMR) stylus that lets you make subtle drawings and articulate sketches without breaking a sweat. It’s highly responsive and fluid and works smoothly on the Spin 13’s gorgeous 13.5-inch 2K (2256 x 1504) screen that’s reinforced with Corning Gorilla Glass.
As you can comprehend, the spectacular display of the Spin 13 is one of the highlight reels regarding this device. The 178-degree viewing angle is just stunning, and the rest of the screen features punchy, vibrant colors with unrivaled clarity seeping in thanks to the QHD resolution. In addition, we love how this Chromebook displays the screen’s contents in a through-and-through rich manner. One noteworthy gripe here is the size of the top and bottom bezels of the screen. They pose significant real estate, but they still don’t make the Spin 13 look quaint or old-fashioned. That said, don’t expect the most nano-edge of displays either.
Apart from that, everything in the Spin 13 design-wise is put together just so well that you won’t go back to your previous Chromebook after giving this one a go. One user, in all actuality, preferred the Spin 13 over the Google Pixelbook Go, which, by all means, is a fantastic Chromebook. The person said that what gives the Spin 13 the edge is its durable, top-of-the-line build quality.
What’s more, this device has a high-quality backlit keyboard to cater to expert and beginner typists alike. There’s practically no flex on it that could indicate anything low-cost, and the keys feel pretty firm yet reasonably comfortable. The same goes for the trackpad, which, although small in size, is an accurate component of this device. Like the screen, it’s protected with a coating of Corning Gorilla Glass that testifies to the top-notch durability of the Spin 13.
As for the port selection, there aren’t any complaints save for one. Since the Acer Spin 13 is aimed at being a business-oriented Chromebook, an HDMI port slapped on the device would’ve proved helpful for video conferencing and calls in the hour of need. The rest is more than sufficient for your requirements. There are two USB-C ports for fast charging and data transfer speeds, a single 3.0 USB-A port for legacy peripherals, a standard 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a microSD card reader slot to expand the device’s storage if you want to.
2. Performance
The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 has an 8th Generation quad-core 1.60 GHz Intel Core i5-8250U processor with 8 GBs of RAM and 128 GBs of hard drive storage, not to mention the Intel UHD Graphics 620. These fairly robust specifications make it possible for the Spin 13 to deliver beyond expectations and give you reliable performance levels day in day out. Businesses, enterprises, and large-scale organizations need IT departments working at their very best. We firmly believe that Spin 13 can help them achieve a higher sense of status with its unflinching performance.
You can open two dozen Chrome tabs, with many of them being graphics-intensive, and stack a whole bunch of Play Store and Linux applications on the Spin 13, but nothing is going to slow it down. Instead, we’ve found this to be straight-up amazing. Contrary to popular belief, Chromebooks can also be used to run other operating systems like Windows 10 and even a leaked version of Windows 11. However, not every Chrome OS laptop is capable of pulling this off, but if there’s one device that we know for sure can handle this extravagant endeavor, it’s the Spin 13.
There are other configurations of this high-end device if you intend to grab even more horsepower, particularly the one that involves the incorporation of an 8th Generation quad-core 1.70 GHz Intel Core i5-8350U processor with a colossal 16GB RAM setup. The hard drive storage remains the same at 128 GBs, but this specific model of the Spin 13 costs about $1099. So rest assured because you’ll be getting one of the best Chrome OS laptops out in the market if you’re willing to dish such an amount on this Chromebook.
3. Battery life
As far as the battery life is concerned, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is touted to run for 10 hours. In our battery test, we found the device lasting for somewhere along those lines, so it’s safe to presume that this device’s battery life is nicely above the average timings, but nothing too over the top – especially not like the types of the Lenovo Chromebook Duet, or other Chromebooks with the best battery life.
The manufacturer has created a 3-cell Li-ion 4670 mAh for the Spin 13 that charges up to 50% within 45 minutes or so. These are also good charge timings for a Chrome OS laptop, so this Chromebook is a balanced affair in the battery life facet.
4. Final thoughts
The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 is a premium-grade device with a multitude of benefits. It employs a dazzling screen with an included precise Wacom stylus, has a high-quality keyboard and trackpad duo, unreal performance levels, and relatively decent battery runtime. For businesses looking to transform their workload into tireless workhorses, this is the de facto Chromebook of choice for them.
With the device’s base model coming in for about $899, the Spin 13 isn’t the most affordable of devices, but that’s broadly understood given the value proposition of this convertible Chromebook. It arrives with all the bells and whistles except for a few cons that are quickly diminished by the pressing impact of the prevailing pros, so rest assured because the Spin 13 doesn’t pack a lousy punch.
It’s worth noting that you shouldn’t confuse the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 with the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which is a different beast with its style and substance. Also, the latter doesn’t come with a stylus, and you can check out its official product page on the Acer website here to clear up any confusion. For the Spin 13 in question, it can be purchased directly from Amazon today, and trust us when we say that there’s no better time to opt for this device other than now, for it is on sale for more than $300 slashed off of its MSRP. This makes the Spin 13 reduced to an asking price of $567 – a discounted deal that’s no less than a serious bargain.
