Acer Chromebook Spin 514 in the test: The right twist

First of all, the robust construction catches the eye. The Chromebook Spin 514 is certified to the military standard MIL-STD 81. Means: Among other things, it should easily withstand falls and withstand splashes of water without any problems. So a massive army block? Not correct! Acer wraps the technology in a chic and quite light dress made of aluminum. As a tablet, it is still a bundle of joy. This is ensured by the keyboard, which always hangs in the back of the screen. Thanks to its compact dimensions, it fits easily in a bag or backpack. Small drawback: This makes the touchpad a bit small. Nevertheless, it is easy to use in combination with the keyboard. Typing and clicking works comfortably. If you fold down the Chromebook with the 360-degree hinge, the precisely controllable touchscreen comes into play.

Not the brightest screen

With a diagonal of 14 inches (35.56 centimeters), the display is not too small. The full HD screen (1920×1080 pixels) also cut a good figure in the visual test. However, the laboratory test revealed some weaknesses: The display shows a little bit of low contrast (1467: 1), the standard color space sRGB (60.7 percent) is covered insufficiently, and the extended DCI-P3 range as well. With a maximum brightness of 240 candelas per square meter, the screen is also a bit dark. In combination with the high gloss level, this can cause frustration. On the positive side, the screen is very well protected from scratches thanks to Gorilla Glass.

Chrome OS from Google is used as the operating system. This is more reminiscent of an operating system for smartphones than for computers. Apps can be installed from the Google Play Store, including TikTok and Instagram. So anyone who has ever had an Android smartphone in their hand will get along well with Chrome OS. Practical: You don’t have to do without Microsoft’s Office programs with the Chromebook Spin 514. Word, Excel & Co. work as an app or browser software.

The Chromebook Spin 514’s battery doesn’t quite survive an eight-hour working day. In the test, the lights went out after six hours and ten minutes – a decent achievement. A mandatory break of two hours and 42 minutes is then required until the energy storage device is completely filled again. Good: the notebook draws power from one of the two USB-C ports.

• Fast pace with office applications
• Good service

• Scarce and lame storage
• Pale colors

The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (CP514-1H N20Q2) is definitely suitable for casual users, students and schoolchildren. You can surf and work well with it. Buyers have to cut back on the lame eMMC storage with its meager capacity and the low display brightness. Nevertheless: The Spin is quite fast for 400 euros, offers a decent endurance, a solid display and quite a number of connections.