Acer Chromebook Plus 514 review: It doesn’t skimp on storage

IDG / Matthew Smith

IDG / Matthew Smith

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    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 tries its best to deliver a design that feels more premium than its price tag, but only partially succeeds. It looks handsome enough when closed thanks to a two-tone look that pairs faux-aluminum with a strip of matte silver plastic. Open the laptop, however, and it’s immediately clear that plastic is the material of choice. The interior tries to upgrade the look with a metallic luster, but the dull finish gives away the game.

Build quality, on the other hand, punches above the price tag. Don’t get me wrong: it’s not exceptionally rugged, and the display flex noticeably when opened. The lower half feels solid when handled, though, and the chassis didn’t emit unwanted creaks or moans as I used it. That’s not guaranteed in a laptop this inexpensive. 

The Chromebook Plus 514’s design is split on portability. It has relatively large display bezels, which means the laptop is a tad wider than more expensive 14-inch laptops, and the laptop’s profile is a bit thick at .81 inches. It weighs just 3.15 pounds, though, so it won’t feel burdensome once stowed in a backpack or messenger bag. 

I also like that the Chromebook Plus 514 has a hinge that rotates 180 degrees to fold completely flat on a desk. That makes it easier to find a comfortable viewing angle when in a cramped situation. It’s a small perk, but budget laptops sometimes cut corners on details like this.

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Keyboard, trackpad

IDG / Matthew Smith

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Acer Chromebook keyboard" class="wp-image-2356593" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

Keyboard quality was a pleasant surprise. The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 has a spacious keyboard layout with large keys. Many keys, including the function row and the left-side Shift, Control, and Alt keys, are larger than on Windows and Mac laptops. 

I have more praise for the laptop’s typing feel. Each key activated with a long, pleasant tactile that ended with a definitive tactile click and springy return. It’s not going to impress keyboard aficionados, but it’s much better than I would expect at this price, and I had no complaints typing on the keyboard for hours at a time. A keyboard backlight is absent, however, and I found the keyboard difficult to use in dim lighting. 

The touchpad was less impressive than the keyboard. It’s small, measuring just four inches wide and three inches deep, and multi-touch gestures can feel cramped. The touchpad was responsive, at least, and I didn’t notice any unintended activations while using it. 

Acer Chromebook Plus 514: Display, audio

IDG / Matthew Smith

            <div class="lightbox-image-container foundry-lightbox"><div class="extendedBlock-wrapper block-coreImage undefined"><figure class="wp-block-image size-large enlarged-image"><img decoding="async" data-wp-bind--src="selectors.core.image.enlargedImgSrc" data-wp-style--object-fit="selectors.core.image.lightboxObjectFit" src="" alt="Acer Chromebook Plus 514" class="wp-image-2356338" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" /></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

    </div></figure><p class="imageCredit">IDG / Matthew Smith</p></div>

Acer ships the Chromebook Plus 514 with a 14-inch IPS touchscreen with 1920×1080 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. It’s a workmanlike entry that never looks excellent but (usually) gets the job done.

Let’s start with what’s good. Acer’s display packs 157 pixels per inch (ppi), which is barely less than a 27-inch 4K monitor (at 163 ppi). That means it looks tack-sharp in