With so much activity around Windows and macOS when it comes to new chipset and AI , it ’s ready to forget that there ’s a third platform in Chrome OS that also has its adherents . Google just recently tot up new premiumChromebook Plus featuresto its operating organization that make the platform a bit more attractive to a smorgasbord of users .
Even without the new features , Chrome OS has its advantages , such as gentle of administration and less hardware requirement . But the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE takes a dissimilar mainsheet . It wants to be a bona fidegaming laptop computer , and in that deference , it ’s definitely a standout machine .
Specs and configurations
There ’s one configuration of the Chromebook Plus 516 GE useable today . It ’s $ 549 with an Intel Core 5 120U , 8 GB of RAM , a 256 GB SSD , and a 16 - inch QHD+ IPS display .
Those might go like they ’re rather low - end specs , but Chrome OS does n’t necessitate as much RAM and depot as Windows or macOS . And $ 549 is a reasonable price for a laptop that will meet typical productivity needs while also offer a different twirl on gaming . As we ’ll see , there are n’t many laptop computer for such a humbled toll that can contend with this one .
Design
Like a lot of gambling laptops , the Chromebook Plus 516 GE does n’t even pretend to be refined . Its plastic display bezel are n’t huge but they ’re not tiny either , contributing to a chassis that ’s pretty big in all dimensions . That ’s reliable in breadth and deepness , and also in thickness and weight unit at 0.84 inch and 3.81 pound . Of naturally , some Windows gaming laptops , like theLenovo Legion Pro 5 , are equally slurred and even heavier ( 5.51 pounds ) , but they also have much more powerful components admit very fast CPUs and distinct GPUs .
Also , when you ’re paying $ 549 for a laptop computer , you do n’t necessarily gestate the most hearty build quality . And you do n’t get it with the Chromebook Plus 516 GE . The hat is too flexible , the flesh gives in to light pressure , and typing on the keyboard feels pretty bouncy . All of that ’s down to a plastic construction that affirm the budget monetary value . But sure , a laptop like theRazer Blade 15is a stunningly work up auto , but it ’s also up of six time as expensive .
esthetically , things are n’t much good . The mostly all - black material body has some chrome touch that seem a bit anachronistic today , when most maker avoid such accents . Unlike many other gambling laptops , there ’s no extraneous LED light to give a gaming vibe , and there also is n’t the usual aggressive discharge — but that ’s principally because , again , the component are n’t very powerful and there ’s far less cause to implement a sinewy cooling organisation . This laptop computer focalise on play , but it ’s not using its intimate factor to get there .
Keyboard and touchpad
One of the biggest nod to gambling is the keyboard , which offers up 4 - zone RGB firing for a more vibrant gaming experience . It looks like a gambling keyboard , but regrettably , I ’m not certain it feels like one . The permutation are n’t terribly bass and they ’re not all that clicky , and so there ’s not a long ton of feedback . For regular typewriting , I found them less precise than I like . The layout is hunky-dory and there ’s raft of spatial arrangement , but I ’m not a huge fan .
The touchpad is okay . It ’s not all that heavy for a 16 - inch machine , and the push button are a bit hard to press . Again , I ’m underwhelmed .
Connectivity and webcam
The Chromebook Plus 516 GE has muckle of connectivity , in keeping with a declamatory laptop computer . There ’s no Thunderbolt 4 , but otherwise most connectivity needs are cover well . The pumped up Ethernet connectivity will be welcome to anyone who wants rock - solid connectivity to major power through the Nvidia GeForce Now cloud gaming that ’s highlighted by Acer .
Wireless connectivity is also reasonably up - to - date . And the 1080p webcam meet the unexampled standard .
Performance and gaming
The Chromebook Plus 516 GE uses component that are more than fast enough for Chrome OS . The Intel Core 5 120U processor , a Raptor Lake chipset , has 10 cores ( two Performance and eight Efficient ) and 12 togs and foot race at up to 5GHz . That ’s plenteousness of world power to be given the comparatively lightweight Chrome OS operating system . There ’s also 8 GB of RAM , which provide open up numerous apps and Chrome yellow journalism .
I ca n’t try out the laptop computer using our usual suite of benchmarks . It score 2,001 in the Geekbench 6 unmarried - meat test and 7,412 in the multi - core test . That ’s well behind the chipsets you ’ll encounter in most Windows 11 and macOS laptop , but again , it ’s tight enough for Chrome OS . I also ran Speedometer 2.0 and it scored 156 — a very good resultant . Subjectively , I notice no slowdowns no matter how hard I agitate the machine .
The bigger dubiousness , though , is how well does it work as a gaming laptop computer ? And here , the component are less important because Acer is fully leaning intoNvidia ’s GeForce Nowcloud gaming platform . The service allows you to colligate to several gaming accounts , such as Steam and Ubisoft , as well as entree a number of games via Geforce Now itself . Some game are detached and others require a subscription .
you’re able to also increase performance and lineament by upgrading to a paid membership . Nvidia touts RTX 4080 performance , up to 1440p ( from 1200p ) , and increase figure rate up to 120 frames per 2d ( fps ) . I ’m not signed up , but I ranAssassin ’s Creed Valhallavia Ubisoft and saw 60 fps at 1200p . Since the Chromebook Plus 516 GE ’s QHD+ ( 2560 x 1600 ) IPS show lead at up to 120Hz , you ’re able to take full advantage of the premium performance .
The bottom line is that as long as you have a riotous and stable internet connection and are uncoerced to pay for a subscription , you’re able to revel excellent gaming on the Chromebook Plus 516 GE . You ’ll be confine in the games you may play , but popular title likeDiablo IV , Baldur ’s Gate 3 , Rust , Cyberpunk 2077 , and a draw more are available , and they ’ll all be given at 60 fps or more .
That ’s a nice proposition give that the Chromebook Plus 516 GE be just $ 549 . It ’s debatable whether you could accomplish the same thing with a Windows laptop computer that cost less than $ 600 .
Battery life
If you ’re looking for all - mean solar day barrage fire life , you wo n’t get it from the Chromebook Plus 516 GE . It has just a 65 watt - hr battery to king a 16 - inch QHD+ display . Chrome OS is efficient , but most 16 - inch laptops have much larger battery .
I saw around 7.25 minute of vane browsing and about 10.5 hours of picture looping . That ’s a little less than Acer suggests in its reviewer ’s guide , but it ’s close enough .
The bottom line is that you wo n’t want to rely on the Chromebook Plus 516 GE for eight hours of solid oeuvre aside from a sparking plug . But those are n’t big results .
Display and audio
Maybe the most important feature of the Chromebook Plus 516 GE , and the one that pushes it from just an OK budget Chrome OS laptop into something a little more , is the 16.0 - inch 16:10 QHD+ ( 2560 x 1600 ) IPS display . And it ’s not just any IPS display — it also runs at up to 120Hz , as bring up above , intend you’re able to take advantage of the public presentation provided by the GeForce Now program .
I ca n’t employ my tintometer to test displays in Chrome OS , but subjectively , this seems like a jolly unspoiled panel . It experience plenty lustrous , and colours seem dynamic enough . Contrast is n’t the good I ’ve understand in an IPS display and certainly does n’t approach OLED ’s inky-black blacks . But I would n’t complain if this were the only display I could use .
No matter what , the display does what it ’s supposed to do — hold up pretty unspoilt gaming — while punching way above its weight division .
Audio quality is another skillful surprise . There are four speaker unit , two upward - inflammation and two downward - sack , with effect - cancel woofers . There was a long ton of volume with just a little overrefinement at 100 % . Turning it down a yoke of notches got disembarrass of it , and it was still enough loud . Bass was even enough . It ’s a better speech sound organization than I expected at its price .
A very good option for gaming on a budget
Chromebooks are usually aimed to be cheap and easy - to - manage laptop computer for citizenry who do n’t have the budget or the longanimity for Windows or macOS laptops . There are premium Chromebooks that cost well over $ 1,000 , but mainly you ’re looking for a good enough laptop computer for not a good deal of money .
The Chromebook Plus 516 GE exceeds those exception while still come in at a very attractive $ 549 . I keep accentuate that dot , because if you ’re a gamer who ’s will to pay up Nvidia a agio subscription fee , then this is one Chrome OS laptop computer that can let you get your game on without melting your notecase .
