This $300 laptop is a new contender for the best Chromebook on the market

With Android app support on the horizon and the world of cheap Windows laptops remaining its usual dire self, it’s time to starttaking Chromebooks more seriously. A handful of these web-centric machines have proven to be superb values in the past; now, you can add Acer’s new Chromebook 14 to the list. I’ve been using it for the past couple of weeks.
There’s a particular thought process you have to go through to find the Chromebook 14 appealing, but it’s not an unreasonable one. First, and most obviously, you have to be okay with Chrome OS. While those Android apps (which the Chromebook 14 will support) should make it more suitable for gaming and working offline, the meat of Google’s desktop platform is likely to remain in the web. 

There’s still plenty you can get done in a web browser — my job, for instance — but if you’redependent on Excel, Photoshop, and the like, it’s probably worth investing in a more capable MacBook or Windows machine. For many, though, Chrome alone is enough to do the basics. I’m guessing you wouldn’t have made it this far down the page if you didn’t agree. 

Two, you have to put a little extra stock in build quality. The Chromebook 14’s biggest strength is that it’s exceptionally well-made for the money — its aluminum frame feels sturdy and substantial, and its brushed metal finish looks like something you’d see on a much pricier notebook. 

More specifically, the whole thing looks very much like a MacBook Air, but, while it’s not thatnice, there are certainly worse laptops to take after. I had numerous coworkers comment on how handsome it is, only to be surprised when I told them how little it costs. And though no 14-inch notebook made of metal will ever be all that portable, the Chromebook 14 doesn’t feel particularly oversized or overweight. 

Three, you have to understand that no $300 laptop is without compromises. There isn’t one significant area where the Chromebook 14 outright fails, but there are a handful that have to be qualified with the phrase “for a $300 laptop.” The display, for one, is set at a sharp 1080p, but is neither as bright nor as colorful as that of a Toshiba Chromebook 2. It’s also not the easiest to read in sunlight. It’s still good value, just not capital G Good.

Likewise, the keyboard isn’t bad, but it’s a bit too shallow and cramped together to be considered a success. Beyond that, there’s no SD card slot — just a couple of USB 3.0 ports, a lock slot, and an HDMI port — and I’ll never understand how any laptop that puts its speakers below the keyboard is supposed to sound great.

All that said, the rest of the foundation here is totally solid. The battery is superb, lasting anywhere from 9 to 12 hours depending on how hard you push it. An Intel Celeron N3160 processor and 4GB of RAM are enough to provide steady, cool performance and capable multitasking, even if it’s not quite as powerful as Dell Chromebook 13 or the aforementioned Toshiba. If you treat it like a Chromebook, it’ll be fine. The trackpad gave me no qualms, either. 

Again, nothing this inexpensive gets everything right. But if you believe in Chrome OS, and you want a larger-screen laptop you can feel good about showing off, the Chromebook 14 does enough well to belong on your shortlist.

Acer Chromebook 14, $299, available at Amazon.