- Acer has launched two new enterprise or education notebooks in the local market with the Chromebook Plus.
- The two models differ in size and hardware, with the 15″ version sporting more storage space but the 14″ version boasting integrated AMD graphics.
- Both are available as of October from R9 999 for the 14″ and R10 999 for the 15″.
Today, Acer has launched two new notebooks in South Africa with the Chromebook Plus 515 and the Chromebook Plus 514. The two models are in the more affordable space when it comes to Acer notebooks, with reasonable hardware specifications to be employed in a range of use cases either for enterprise, education or personal use.
According to a press release from the company, the Chromebook Plus “offers a new tier of Chromebook performance, emphasizing better hardware designs with upgraded displays and cameras, and paired with new productivity, creativity, and multimedia capabilities.”
The two models differ in size and in specifications, with the 515 featuring a larger display at 15″ and the 514 at 14″. They also come with different hardware, with the 14″ model shipping with smaller storage space.
Acer Chromebook Plus specifications:
| | Acer Chromebook Plus 515 and 514 |
| Display | WUXGA IPS Full HD either at 15″ or 14″ (optional touch screen) |
| RAM | Between 8 GB to 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM |
| GPU | No discrete cards, but 514 features AMD Radeon 610M integrated GPU with AMD RDNA 2 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 7520 C-Series processor for the 514, and 13th Gen or 12th Gen Intel Core processors (up to a Core i7 model) for the 515 |
| Storage | SSD, 256 GB for the 514 and up to 512 GB for the 515 |
| Battery | 10 hours battery life with fast-charging for 515, 12 hours for 514 |
| Operating System | Windows 11 plus other pre-installed software |
It seems the “Plus” in the name of the new notebooks is all about added software, in this case with an artificial intelligence (AI) spin. The Chromebook Plus 515 and 514 have built-in editing tech such as the AI-powered Magic Eraser tool in the Google Photos app, as well as Firefly-powered generative AI features that make using Photoshop and other Adobe Suite programmes easier and more precise.
When Acer Chromebook Plus users are away from an internet connection, they can now take advantage of File Sync, which ensures Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are always accessible via Chromebook Plus File Manager, whether online or offline.
In terms of connectivity, both models have WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1 and several USB Type-C ports, as well as an HDMI port.
For the business people out there, both models feature 1080P webcams with Temporal Noise Reduction (TNR) and Blue Glass lens, plus AI-powered tools that automatically enhance clarity and lighting, cancel noise, and blur backgrounds to make sure you actually want to turn on your camera when on Zoom or Teams. In terms of sound, both models are decked out with speakers from DTS Audio.
Chromebook Plus for education
Both Acer Chromebook Plus notebooks are available with Chrome Education Upgrade for device management in schools.
With this upgrade, educators and students can access teaching and collaboration tools at scale, like Screencast, Adobe Express, and File Sync to enable offline productivity. Equipped with powerful controls, administrators can maximize productivity, streamline device usage, and easily deploy security configurations to ensure the students and school remain safe from threats.
Chromebook Plus pricing and availability in South Africa
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 starts at R10 999, meanwhile, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 will start at R9 999. Both are available from October.
[Image – Provided]
