At a look
Knowledgeable’s Ranking
Professionals
- Glorious efficiency
- Pretty, giant show
- Nice gaming expertise
Cons
- Common audio
- Common battery life
- Requires subscription to sport streaming service for AAA video games
Our Verdict
Gaming on a Chromebook appeared like an impossibility till now. Pairing the Acer Chromebook 516 GE with a streaming service like Nvidia’s GeForce Now yields some very spectacular outcomes. It’s a robust system with loads of efficiency on faucet, marking the beginning of a brand new period for Chromebooks.
Worth When Reviewed
$649.99
Greatest Costs At the moment: Acer Chromebook 516 GE
There’s been a current pattern of recent Chromebooks geared toward avid gamers. The timing of this may really feel a bit suspect, with Google closing down its Stadia sport streaming platform in January 2023, however there are nonetheless loads of different nice gaming streaming providers out there, plus a spread of Android apps that may run on Chromebooks.
Acer’s entry is called the Chromebook 516 GE, with ‘GE’ standing for ‘Gaming Version’. However can it go toe-to-toe with rivals on this rising sector? Right here’s the complete Tech Advisor overview of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE.
Design & construct
- Light-weight for measurement
- Clear and good livery
- Chunky, however comparatively mild
The 516 GE is constructed for gaming, so it is sensible that this isn’t one among your small and compact Chromebooks. The aluminium chassis measures 357mm x 250mm x 21mm and weighs in at a respectively mild 1.7kg.
All of this area provides room for the 16-inch IPS show, quad audio system, a full-size keyboard (replete with programmable lighting) and huge trackpad. There’s additionally a good number of ports, into which you’ll plug a monitor, sport controller, ethernet cable or many different peripherals.
Martyn Casserly
The Iron colour-scheme is cool and avoids the usually gaudy designs we’ve seen on devoted gaming laptops. Two giant exhaust ports sit beneath the show, to assist dissipate warmth and preserve issues tolerable when within the midst of busy gaming periods.
Martyn Casserly
The fairly light-weight chassis and engaging livery, means while you’re not battling the advancing hordes, the Acer can lead the double lifetime of a regular Chromebook that wouldn’t look misplaced in a gathering. The 516 GE feels sturdy {and professional} with out killing your shoulders when carried in a backpack. Not a foul mixture.
The 516 GE feels sturdy {and professional} with out killing your shoulders when carried in a backpack
Display screen & audio system
- 16-inch IPD panel
- Quad audio system
- No touchscreen
Clearly, in case you’re critical about gaming you then’re going to wish a good show with quick refresh charges, and on these counts the Chromebook 516 GE delivers. Acer equips the system with a 16-inch LCD IPS WQXGA panel (wow, that’s lots of letters) that runs at 2560×1600 and incorporates a 120Hz refresh price.
Martyn Casserly
The pin-sharp show has sufficient area to render the various shifting features of a AAA sport but additionally the month-to-month figures from an Excel spreadsheet when it’s time to do some work. You gained’t discover many Chromebook shows which may pivot between gaming and work so seamlessly.
Colors are properly represented – the show boasts 100% sRGB protection, so that you get extremely detailed tones. Additionally, the 16:10 side ratio makes it slighter taller than the 16:9 panels you’d historically discover on a Chromebook. Scrolling photos are clean too, with the excessive refresh price making certain you don’t miss very important components when gaming.
Do you have to want to take your adventures into the backyard or brightly-lit rooms, the 370 nits most brightness must be nearly sufficient, however the 516 GE is unquestionably happier when inside.
You gained’t discover many Chromebook shows which may pivot between gaming and work so seamlessly
One draw back is that there’s no touchscreen on this Chromebook. When you wish to play Android video games, this is perhaps a little bit of an issue. However the thinner panel helps preserve the burden down, and the principle focus right here is on sport streaming providers, for which you’d join a controller anyway.
Sound comes from 4 audio system, with grilles positioned both facet of the keyboard and on the underside of the system. You will get some first rate quantity out of them, however the audio isn’t immersive. In comparison with the 3D impact on many devoted speaker programs, they sound fairly flat.
There’s a 3.5mm headphone jack although, so you may join exterior audio system to enhance the audio, or pop on some gaming headphones for that immersive expertise.
Keyboard & trackpad
- Comfy keyboard
- RGB backlighting
- Giant trackpad
The complete-sized keyboard on the Chromebook 516 GE may be very comfy to make use of, though it’s fairly gentle and does lack a specific amount of tactile response that some avid gamers could favor. I didn’t discover this an issue, although, and it really works properly for each and gaming.
Martyn Casserly
One clear gaming-focused laptop computer is the colorful RGB backlighting, which lets you choose which color is displayed beneath the keys.
Acer has additionally added highlights to the surrounds of the W, A, S and D keys which can be typically used for motion in video games. You may’t arrange particular colors for sure keys, however having a non-white keyboard backdrop when gaming at the hours of darkness is fairly cool on a Chromebook.
Martyn Casserly
The trackpad is a wholesome measurement and responds rapidly to gestures. You’ll in all probability need to spend money on a gaming mouse in case you intend to play FPS or real-time technique video games, however for day-to-day actions the trackpad is stable.
Having a non-white keyboard backdrop when gaming at the hours of darkness is fairly cool on a Chromebook
Ports, connectivity & webcam
- Loads of ports
- Consists of ethernet and HDMI
- Respectable 1080p webcam
Acer has outfitted the Chromebook 516 GE with a wealth of ports that can be utilized to reinforce the gaming expertise.
On the flanks, you’ll discover 2x USB-C 3.2 ports, a 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet port (for wired web connections whereas streaming video games), a HDMI port (to show on a TV or monitor) and and a USB-A 3.2 port (for common peripherals). The intensive port choice is among the key strengths of the 516 GE.
Martyn Casserly
The laptop computer additionally contains Wi-Fi 6E capabilities and Bluetooth 5.2, so it’s about as updated as it may be. This could imply the system is properly future-proofed.
The intensive port choice is among the key strengths of the 516 GE
The built-in webcam goes as much as 1080p and does a good job of preserving the picture clear. It’s not the very best I’ve seen, however removed from the worst. So, in case you simply need one thing for a little bit of video-conferencing, then it’s as much as the job.
Martyn Casserly
Specs & efficiency
- Intel Core i5 processor
- 8GB/256GB configuration
- Glorious gaming efficiency
Chromebooks can typically include fairly primary specs, as ChromeOS doesn’t run that many native apps and tends to be focussed on web-based duties.
Acer doesn’t maintain again with the 516 GE, although, because it’s powered by a Twelfth-gen (Alder Lake) Intel Core i5-1240p processor with 12-cores. That is accompanied by an Intel Iris Xe built-in GPU, 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a 256GB SSD. The shortage of a discrete GPU may seem to be a difficulty, however the glorious gaming efficiency suggests in any other case.
Making an attempt out the outdated Android favorite Asphalt 9: Legends returned a fluent and visually pleasing expertise. There was no choppiness and my PS4 controller related to the Chromebook by way of Bluetooth to supplied quick and correct responses.
The shortage of a discrete GPU may seem to be a difficulty, however the glorious gaming efficiency suggests in any other case
Signing as much as Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming platform gave me entry to extra advanced titles, the place once more the 516 GE proved a gradual and judder-free expertise. Google and Acer have teamed as much as supply anybody who buys the Chromebook 516 GE a 3 month free trial of the Final tier, so that you’ll be good to go immediately.
It’s actually spectacular how far this know-how has are available a short-time, with AAA PC video games rendering completely on a Chromebook, because of the heavy lifting being executed on the server facet by Nvidia GeForce Now. Other than the free-to-play demos, there was additionally new and basic video games you should buy, plus the choice to attach your Steam, Ubisoft, GOG and Epic accounts and entry your already bought video games (supplied they’re additionally out there on GeForce Now).
Martyn Casserly
Clearly, you’ll want a robust web connection to maintain efficiency ranges excessive, however the ethernet port does imply you don’t must depend on Wi-Fi. Saying that, I discovered the wi-fi speeds to be quick sufficient to hold some graphically demanding video games with ease.
There was the occasional hiccup by way of buttons on the controller not fairly matching up with the instructions on a regular basis, however total the expertise was a really constructive one. It proves that Chromebook gaming has lastly come of age.
To get an concept of how the Chromebook 516 GE compares to different fashions we’ve examined, I put it by means of a few of our common benchmarks.
Battery & charging
- Stable battery life
- No actual quick charging
Having nice efficiency is all properly and good, but when the battery provides out after a short while then there’s not a lot gaming going to be taking place. Fortunately, this isn’t an issue for the Chromebook 516 GE – battery life isn’t spectacular, however nonetheless in step with many Home windows gaming laptops.
After an hour of stable gaming with FPS fashion video games on Nvidia’s GeForce Now service, the battery life had dropped by 20%. Meaning try to be good for round 5 or 6 hours of use. Clearly, the truth that the gaming servers are doing a lot of the work signifies that the Chromebook itself can save on vitality, which makes it really quite aggressive in opposition to extra highly effective Home windows gaming PCs.
Battery life isn’t spectacular, however nonetheless in step with many Home windows gaming laptops
In our commonplace video-loop take a look at the place we stream at 1080p with the show set to 200 nits till the machine dies, the Chromebook 516 GE managed an appropriate, if not overly spectacular, 5 hours and ten minutes.
Charging occasions had been additionally first rate, with the system getting again to 21% in quarter-hour and 41% in half an hour. A full recharge was round 90 minutes although, so remember to plug it in a very good whereas earlier than you head out.
Software program
- Runs ChromeOS
- Streaming providers like GeForce Now work brilliantly
As this can be a Chromebook, the 516 GE runs on ChromeOS, the stripped-down working system that appears and feels fairly a bit just like the Chrome browser.
With this in thoughts, you may’t run Home windows or macOS purposes, until they’ve an Android equal. Whereas the addition of Android apps does open issues up fairly a bit, they’re nonetheless hit or miss by way of with the ability to resize to desktop dimensions.
Martyn Casserly
However, so many providers now have internet variations which makes it straightforward to get work executed, sync up your progress and customarily use a Chromebook like another laptop computer. Google’s personal software program covers a lot of the bottom you’d get from Microsoft Workplace, with a number of of the apps working offline and loading up adjustments while you return to an internet connection.
As you may see from the Nvidia GeForce Now service talked about above, it’s actually attainable today to make use of highly effective apps on a Chromebook with out even having to put in them domestically.
Worth & availability
You may order the Chromebook 516 GE instantly from Acer as we speak, with US prospects getting solely Intel Core i5 mannequin with a 8GB/256GB configuration for $649.99. UK consumers are taking a look at £849.99 for a similar mannequin.
However the latter even have a higher-spec model out there to them, with Acer providing an Intel Core i7, 16GB/256GB mannequin for £999.99. There’s no indication in the meanwhile whether or not this variation will make it to North America.
As gaming Chromebooks are nonetheless comparatively new, there isn’t a lot competitors for the 516 GE in the meanwhile. Asus has its new Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip which prices round $869/£849, plus there’s additionally the Lenovo IdeaPad 5i that often retails for round $699/£599.
Verdict
Given the excessive costs of many devoted graphics, the Chromebook strategy of streaming video games quite than taking part in domestically means you may entry loads of AAA titles with out spending a fortune.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE encapsulates this admirably. The show is giant, sharp and vibrant, the keyboard is comfy for lengthy intervals and has the RGB backlighting, plus efficiency throughout all conditions is pretty much as good as you’ll get on any Chromebook at this worth.
However pairing it with a sport streaming service like Nvidia GeForce Now takes the gaming expertise to the subsequent degree. It’s extra light-weight than your common 16in gaming laptop computer, whereas battery life is sweet sufficient to help an prolonged gaming session.
In order for you a Chromebook for common use, there are many extra inexpensive choices. However if you’d like a gaming Chromebook, that is the one to purchase proper now.
Specs
- Intel Core i5-1240P processor Dodeca-core 1.70 GHz
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics shared reminiscence
- 16-inch LCD IPS WQXGA show with 2560 x 1600 decision, 16:10, 120 Hz
- 8GB LPDDR4X Reminiscence
- 256GB SSD
- RGB, anti-ghosting keyboard
- Quad audio system
- HDMI 2.1
- 2x USB-C 3.2 ports
- 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet port
- USB-A 3.2 port
- 3.5mm headphone jack
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth 5.2
- ChromeOS
- 357mm x 250mm x 21mm
- 1.7kg