Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Review: Green Machine

Worth When Reviewed

From £499.99

Finest Costs Right this moment: Acer Chromebook Vero 514

For those who considered Chromebooks as solely price range units, you’d be mistaken. A wave of extra premium Chrome OS laptops have emerged in recent times, with the likes of Google, HP and Lenovo all getting in on the act. 

Acer has even determined to make a gaming Chromebook, nevertheless it’s the corporate’s sustainability-focused system that’s on take a look at right here. The Vero 514 makes use of recycled plastic all through its design, making it a greater possibility for anybody that cares in regards to the surroundings. 

However is it adequate to be your primary laptop computer? The quick reply is sure (supplied you’re proud of Chrome OS), however you’ll must pay considerably extra for it than most Chromebooks. 

Design, construct & ports

• Distinctive, speckled design
• Partly produced from recycled plastic
• First rate vary of ports

The Vero 514 has a design that’s refreshingly completely different in additional methods than one, and also you’ll discover this as quickly as you’re taking it out of the field. 

Like the opposite merchandise within the vary, the 514 has a novel speckled end, which extends throughout your entire exterior of the system. It’s a direct results of the selection of supplies, with 30% of the plastic used all through the chassis initially recycled by shoppers. Most laptop computer producers make no particular claims on this space. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

In consequence, the gray end you see is just the pure color of the supplies used to make it. There are small flecks of yellow and darkish gray puncturing an in any other case minimalist design. The Vero 514 appears to be like good in photographs, however even higher in actual life.

Nonetheless, it might’ve been good to see the choice for a darkish blue or black end, each of which you’ll discover on Acer’s Aspire Vero laptop computer. All three keep away from the necessity for any paint on the outside. And paint, in fact, can include dangerous substances. 

Plastic casing may increase issues relating to sturdiness, however that’s not a problem. Actually, the Vero 514 feels extra sturdy than aluminium laptops, with a tricky hinge that ought to final for a few years. 

However there’s no doubting this can be a chunky Chromebook. At 1.4kg and 20.8mm thick, it’s not a very skinny and lightweight system, though there’s no important impact on portability: it’ll match simply in a rucksack or laptop computer bag and received’t weigh you down.

The good thing about a thicker design is loads of room for ports. Both of the 2 USB-C ports (one either side) can be utilized for charging or information switch, and so they’re joined by a USB-A, full-size HDMI and three.5mm audio jack. If you really want it, there’s a Kensington lock slot, too. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

That’s lots for most individuals, and means you most likely received’t want an adapter or hub. But when I’m being actually choosy, it’d be good to see a second USB-A port – there seems to be sufficient area for one. 

Keyboard, trackpad & webcam

• Comfy, spectacular keyboard
• Further Chrome OS-specific keys
• Unreliable trackpad

The dimensions of the Vero 514 means there’s room for a full-size keyboard. Acer might’ve squeezed in a separate quantity pad, however I’m glad it didn’t: the area between keys (and the very fact there are not any annoying half-width keys) makes for a really snug typing expertise. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

In contrast to most new laptops, I used to be in a position to regulate to the location of every key in a short time, resuming my regular typing velocity inside a couple of minutes. Every key’s responsive and affords a good quantity of journey, so that you received’t thoughts utilizing it for a number of hours at a time.  

There’s ample area both facet of the trackpad to comfortably relaxation your palms. The tough floor of the Vero 514 may sound disagreeable, nevertheless it manages so as to add grip with out feeling uncomfortable in your fingers.

Every key’s backlit, with 5 completely different brightness settings (Alt + brightness up or down to regulate them) to select from. At greater ranges, it’ll keep on completely, as a substitute of turning off after a short time whenever you’re not typing.

Unusually, the ‘e’ and ‘r’ keys are highlighted by an eye catching yellow end for no apparent motive.. Nonetheless, 50% of the plastic used within the keycaps is from recycled sources, which provides to the Vero’s environmentally pleasant credenticals.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Being a Chromebook, there are a few different keyboard modifications in comparison with a Home windows laptop computer. A shortcut to the ‘The whole lot Button’ replaces caps lock, whereas an additional row of fast controls contains entry to again, refresh, full-screen, desktops and screenshot features. Each make navigating Chrome OS a lot simpler. 

The trackpad makes use of ocean-bound plastic slightly than the same old glass, nevertheless it’s not the selection of supplies which might be the difficulty right here. As a substitute, I typically discovered it tough to click on a particular location on display or spotlight textual content, each of which require precision and focus. 

Adjusting touchpad velocity and turning off acceleration (each out there inside Settings) might help, however the cursor on-screen nonetheless moved erratically at instances. It’s nonetheless usable, however I didn’t believe in it to get issues finished shortly and would all the time select to make use of a separate mouse with the 514.

Fortunately, Acer has made the webcam a precedence. It’s a 1080p sensor, which ends up in a pointy picture, and hues are correct too. Publicity can typically be a problem, so that you’ll want to ensure the ambient lighting is sweet. 

However alongside a microphone that delivers clear, crisp audio, the Vero 514 is a superb possibility for video calls – particularly if you happen to use Google Meet. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

It’s good to see a bodily privateness shutter for the webcam, however there’s no assist for face unlock. With a fingerprint sensor absent too, you’ll should kind in a password or PIN every time. The dearth of any biometrics appears like taking a visit again in time, particularly if you happen to’re used to Home windows laptops, and a disgrace at this value.

Display & audio system

• 14in Full HD matt-finish show
• Underwhelming high quality
• First rate twin audio system

The Vero 514’s show is the primary motive to hesitate earlier than shopping for one, though that may not be obvious from the specs. 

A 14in Full HD (1920×1080) IPS panel sounds completely cheap. For most individuals, the next decision or transfer away from the basic 16:9 facet ratio isn’t obligatory. 

Nonetheless, the Vero 514 has what Acer calls ‘ComfyView’ know-how. Which means it has a matt coating which makes the display much less reflective and simpler to learn in vibrant lighting circumstances. 

This can be preferable for some, nevertheless it appears to have affected picture high quality. Colors look washed out and lack vibrancy, whereas there’s a definite yellow hue even with the Evening Gentle characteristic turned off. In consequence, it isn’t all that satisfying watching movies on the Vero 514.

The software program we sometimes use to measure color accuracy isn’t suitable with Chrome OS, nevertheless it’s no shock that Acer doesn’t make any claims on this space. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Whereas a matt display isn’t as reflective as a shiny one, you continue to want good brightness to make use of it when the solar is coming by your window, otherwise you’re outdoor. However with a most of 279 nits the Vero’s display is dimmer than a variety of laptops. Content material typically appears to be like uninteresting and muted consequently, particularly as Chrome OS doesn’t allow you to disable the auto brightness setting.  

It’s not a touchscreen and is proscribed to a 60Hz refresh fee, so the show actually is the weak spot of this Chromebook.

The audio system are nothing particular, however they sound okay. Readability and element are each wonderful, even at excessive volumes. However a definite lack of bass means songs can sound skinny: you’ll need to use headphones for music.

Nonetheless, regardless of being situated on the underside of the system, the audio system do job of filling the room with audio. 50% of the plastic utilized in them can also be recycled. 

Specs & efficiency

• Twelfth-gen Intel Core CPUs
• Glorious efficiency from the Core i7 mannequin
• Solely 256GB max storage

In contrast to many Chromebooks, the Vero 514 makes use of full Intel Core processors. You possibly can select between i3, i5 and i7 from 2022’s 12^th-gen vary, though these are the from the least highly effective U-series. 

The highest-spec mannequin I examined combines the Core i7-1255U with Intel Iris Xe built-in graphics and 8GB of RAM. In consequence, efficiency is superb, and a serious motive to purchase the Vero 514 over most different Chromebooks.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Even with plenty of browser tabs open, plus messaging apps, e-mail and watching movies, the Vero 514 felt responsive and will cope tremendous.

Some cellular apps downloaded from the Google Play Retailer include warnings that they’re not optimised for Chromebooks, however every little thing I attempted ran easily. 

After all, the shortage of a extra highly effective CPU and no discrete GPU means it’s not likely appropriate for critical video enhancing (assume a number of streams of 4K), nor taking part in the newest console-style video games. However that’s not what the Vero 514 is designed for, and it performs properly on the whole use.

A few of our regular benchmarks aren’t suitable with Chrome OS, however the outcomes beneath show that the Vero 514 is among the most succesful Chromebooks you should purchase.  

For those who’re questioning how a lot of a decline in efficiency do you have to count on if you happen to go for a Core i3-1215U or Core i5-1235U mannequin as a substitute, it’s tough to say as we didn’t have these to check out. However most individuals received’t want an i7 processor, and the others needs to be tremendous for office-style work, on-line buying, enhancing photographs and different issues.

The entry-level mannequin has a 128GB SSD, however costlier fashions bump that as much as 256GB. This will probably be sufficient for most individuals, nevertheless it’s price noting that round 60GB is taken up with system information that may’t be eliminated, so take into account these to be 68GB and 196GB.  

By way of connectivity, the Vero 514 helps Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Nonetheless, you may solely use cellular information if you happen to use your smartphone’s Wi-Fi hotspot.

Battery & charging

• All-day battery life
• Spectacular 65W charging

Acer doesn’t present a particular battery capability for the Vero 514, however says you may rise up to 10 hours of use on a single cost. 

Our battery take a look at helps this: the system streamed a 1080p YouTube video for 11 hours and 12 minutes earlier than operating out of juice. This was with the brightness set to 200 nits (there’s no method to flip off auto brightness, nevertheless it didn’t appear to regulate throughout the take a look at) and round 50% quantity – each are pretty typical for consuming content material. 

Nonetheless, that’s merely a measure of video playback time. Common on a regular basis utilization is all the time more likely to deplete the battery extra shortly, and that tallies with my expertise. Battery life isn’t spectacular, however a full eight-hour working day is properly inside attain. You simply may need to ensure you’re close to an influence supply within the late afternoon. 

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Acer’s declare of fifty% cost in half-hour additionally proves to be correct. Utilizing the 65W charger within the field, it had reached 51% by the half-hour mark, with a full cost taking simply over 90 minutes. Not dangerous in any respect. 

Software program

• Runs Chrome OS
• No Acer-specific software program tweaks
• Will get updates till 2030

Like all Chromebooks, the Vero 514 runs Chrome OS. However not like Home windows or macOS, Google doesn’t launch main new variations annually, preferring extra frequent updates each few weeks. 

There’s additionally virtually no delay between the replace being launched and it being out there in your system. Acer has made no tweaks to the Chrome OS expertise on the Vero 514, that means it appears to be like and performs identically to another Chromebook.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

The absence of any bloatware is refreshing: Acer doesn’t foist something undesirable on you. Even the pre-installed Google apps, which will probably be genuinely helpful for most individuals, could be uninstalled. 

However if you happen to’re contemplating a Chromebook, you most likely already know in regards to the limitations of Chrome OS. You should utilize some apps offline, nevertheless it’s nonetheless primarily a stripped-back, web-based working system. 

Which means lots of the desktop apps on Home windows and Mac merely aren’t out there right here. Your solely actual different is to obtain the Android model (if one exists), however these are sometimes lacking key options. Earlier than committing to any Chromebook, it’s necessary to ensure that the apps you need to use can be found.  

Chrome OS offers an Android app expertise that’s far superior to Home windows 11. Reasonably being restricted to the Amazon Appstore, virtually each app on the Google Play Retailer is obtainable right here. Whereas not every little thing runs completely on the desktop, it makes working between your cellphone and laptop computer really feel seamless. 

By way of software program assist, you’re properly lined with the Vero 514. As Google confirms in an official doc, it’ll proceed receiving updates till June 2030. 

Worth & availability

There are three completely different fashions of the Vero 514 to select from, and pricing varies considerably between them. 

The most cost effective possibility makes use of an Intel Core i3 processor and is $499.99/£499.99, whereas stepping as much as Core i5 will set you again $599.99/£699.99. 

However the top-spec Core i7 mannequin I examined isn’t out there within the US, and prices you £799.99 when paying full value. 

Whereas there are common reductions, this ranks the Vero 514 as probably the most premium Chromebooks you should purchase. Google’s Pixelbook Go and the Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 are credible options, whereas you will get a usable Chromebook for considerably lower than that. There are many nice price range Home windows laptops, too. 

Verdict

The Vero 514 is Acer’s first try at a sustainability-focused Chromebook, and it will get quite a bit proper.  

A speckled end makes it stand out from the group, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel low-cost or substandard due to the recycled plastic.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

And there’s no skimping on efficiency, with loads of energy right here for all ‘on a regular basis’ duties. Battery life is sweet, too, and it’s good to have quicker-than-average charging speeds. 

Different highlights embrace a good number of ports and a good-quality webcam.

The weak level is the display: it’s dim, lacks sharpness and doesn’t have these punchy, vibrant colors we’ve all come to count on from trendy units.

The trackpad isn’t nice both and – annoyingly – there’s no fingerprint sensor or face unlock assist.

None of those needs to be deal-breakers if you happen to’re set on a Chromebook, however the Vero 514 received’t persuade many individuals to modify from a Home windows laptop computer. 

Specs

• Intel Core i3-1215U, Core i5-1235U or Core i7-1255U 
• 8GB RAM 
• 128/256GB SSD storage 
• 14in, 1920×1080 IPS matte show, 60Hz 
• 1080p webcam 
• 2x USB-C 3.2 
• 1x USB-A 
• 1x HDMI 
• 1x 3.5mm headphone jack 
• 1x Kensington lock 
• 65W charger 
• Wi-Fi 6E 
• Bluetooth 5.2 
• Chrome OS