Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
College nowadays requires everyone to have a computer to finish written assignments at the very least. If all you are going to do in college includes reading and writing, then you can go with a basic laptop.
In this article, we will talk about Chromebooks, an option that has been very popular among college students. You will learn why they are picked for this purpose and also whether they are good for you.
Are Acer Chromebooks good for college?
They absolutely are.
Of course, we are talking about a specific scenario. Chromebooks don’t run Windows, but a very own OS, called Chrome OS.
In case you don’t know, Chrome OS is similar to Android, and it can access the same PlayStore you would on your Android phone.
The Chrome OS is a perfect system for less powerful hardware, running smoothly while allowing for only light applications.
That means an Acer Chromebook is perfect for students that will read and write a lot, but not so good for students that need to develop advanced graphic works (Chrome OS doesn’t support Photoshop, for example).
Also check Is Razer Laptop Good For College.
What to look for when buying?
There are a few things that you should pay attention to when you are buying a Chromebook to study. Let’s take a look at them:
RAM
Many Chromebooks come with 4GB of RAM, which would be too little for laptops with a different OS. However, Chromebooks can do a good job with only 4GB.
4GB might suffice for many tasks, but might be too little for multitasking. If you can spend a bit more, consider getting a Chromebook with 8GB of RAM.
Processor
Since delivering good results on weak hardware is the aim of Chrome OS, some Chromebooks come with knock-off processors.
They have attractive prices, but it is hard to trust that they will last a long time and will be reliable for a student.
The best is to pick a Chromebook with either an Intel or AMD processor.
Resolution
Even though reading and writing don’t require the best display you can get (as would be the case for graphic professionals), you still need to buy a laptop that allows you to read and write with quality.
Perhaps you will pay a bit more to get a display with this resolution, but aim for 1920×1080 (even on a 13-inch model), or else you won’t feel very comfortable looking at the words for a long time.
Size
Most Chromebooks ship with a 13-inch display, making them small and lightweight, thus easy to carry around. This last characteristic is the best for students.
Some models have larger screens, and you can get a few advantages from that, such as being able to view more than one text at the same time.
In such a case, you should weigh the pros and cons. Do you care more about weight or viewing two texts at the same time?
Storage
On most laptops, you can choose between HDD and SSD. Chromebooks have another option, which is eMMC.
SSD is always the optimal choice, as SSD is the fastest storage technology being employed at large nowadays, and it seems like it will soon become the standard for laptops being manufactured.
However, if you will access most files from the cloud or from an external device, the eMMC storage can be enough.
See Lenovo Thinkpad for students.
4 Best Acer Chromebook for students
Thinking about the criteria already shown, and also thinking about your goals, we elected a few Acer Chromebooks that will help you in your studying journey.
The benefit of going with Acer rather than other brands is that Acer makes durable laptops, so you can count on these Chromebooks to last as long as you take care of them.
Acer Chromebook 314
Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
This is one of the largest Chromebooks made by Acer, with a 14-inch screen (Full HD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS).
Yet, this is still a very slim and lightweight laptop, meaning it is a great pick for students that want something that won’t hurt their back to carry around.
The keyboard features the comfort everyone wants, allied with a large touchpad to improve your productivity.
On the sides, you find two USB 3.1 type-A ports, two USB type C, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5 mm jack combination socket for headphone/ microphone
Wireless connectivity is granted with Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.0.
One of the main characteristics of this laptop is its battery life, which Acer promises to last up to 12 hours if you don’t leave brightness at max.
It comes with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor (2 cores and 2 threads) that works well with the Chome OS.
Going along with the processor is 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM which should be enough for reading and writing.
Storage is a bit short, featuring only a 64 GB eMMC hard drive that works with decent speeds. Since this is a tiny capacity, you can expand it with a microSD card or by buying an external hard drive.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Great cost-benefit
- Good connectivity
- Nice amount of ports
- Battery with 12-hour life
Cons
- No HDMI port
Acer Chromebook 514
Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
This is another lightweight Chromebook with a 14-inch screen.
It is very similar to the model listed above, with the difference that you get access to a touch screen, which is a good feature for reading.
If you look at the left side of the laptop you will see a USB type C, a USB A 3.0, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.
On the right side, you find a DisplayPort, a USB Type-C, and a USB A 3.1.
Something that many customers noted is that there is a small protrusion on the housing of the lid to help users lift it. Not all laptops have it, and even though this might seem silly at first, it is a thoughtful addition by Acer.
The display is a LED panel with Full HD resolution (1,920×1,080 pixels). Many Chromebooks with touch screens have low resolutions, so it is impressive that this laptop manages to deliver Full HD plus touch screens at an affordable price.
The Acer Chromebook 514’s keyboard has 5 different levels of backlighting. Also, its keys are very comfortable and help to type with minimal errors for long hours.
Powering this Acer Chromebook is an Intel Celeron N3450 (with integrated HD Graphics 505), 4GB (but you can find the 8GB option at some stores), and 64GB eMMC.
Pros
- Quality materials and strong hinge
- Full HD screen, IPS panel, and fully touch
- Illuminated keyboard and touchpad
- Good enough processor and RAM for Chrome OS
- New generation USB 3.2 ports
- Great battery duration
Cons
- 64 GB storage
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
Going up a bit in price but with a smaller screen, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13 was announced as the most powerful Chromebook back when it was released.
Right now, there are more powerful models, but this laptop is still a perfect option for a vast number of users.
To achieve the promised performance, it comes equipped with an 8th generation Intel Core processor i5-8250U or i3-8130U (depends on your choice), up to 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of eMMC storage.
The company also focused on design quality, with an all-metal construction on the chassis and a wide touchpad. The touchpad has a glass finish that uses Corning Gorilla Glass 3.0, meaning it is pretty tough.
This model is a 2-in-1 laptop, with the compact 13-inch screen going the full rotation and allowing the device to be used as a tablet or a Kindle.
Pros
- Touchscreen
- Gorilla Glass 3.0
- Slim design
- Can be used as a tablet
Cons
- Only eMMC storage
Acer Chromebook 311
Last update on 2024-04-12 / As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more about us.
For those that want to go with a more budget option and can feel comfortable with a small screen, the Acer Chromebook 311 might be a great addition to your backpack. It won’t weigh much since it has an 11-inch display.
As for the inside, this little fella has a humble Intel Celeron N4020 with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of eMMC storage. This is a good laptop if you will access many things from the cloud and external storage devices.
One of the strongest features of this Chromebook is its keyboard. It has the quality you find in most Acer’s laptops (not just Chromebooks), delivering a handy tool to let your mind fly and write for long hours.
Unfortunately, Acer didn’t put a Full HD display on this Chromebook, so you won’t have the greatest experience when you are using it for activities other than studying.
Even so, we can say this is a good pick for any student that doesn’t feel like spending on a fancy laptop right now is a priority. Do you need to keep things simple? Acer Chromebook 311 gets you covered.
Pros
- Excellent typing experience
- Lightweight
- Decent audio for a cheap laptop
- Makes great use of weak hardware
Cons
- The display is only a bit above 720p and is too dark
Which Acer Chromebook is best for students?
The Acer Chromebook 514 is surely a great model for students. It packs a 14-inch laptop with enough power to handle basic applications and a bit of multitasking while not being too heavy to carry around.
Its screen is also not too little, so students will have enough room to read and write. Other 13-inch and 11-inch models might be good for different people, but going with a larger screen is better in case you are unsure about what to get.
Final Thoughts
Right now, many of the Acer Chromebooks have dropped in price because the best was released a few years ago already, so it is the best moment to think about getting one of them in case you need a new laptop to study.
