Acer is expanding on its Chromebook lineup today with a new ARM-powered option that’s the first Chromebook to make use of NVIDIA’s Tegra K1 processor. The Acer Chromebook 13 is the second Chromebook from the manufacturer, but is distinctly different from the popular Intel-powered C720 model released last year.
Which I have been writing all my articles on since I bought one, and very pleased with it, I must say. So much so that I will be upgrading to the Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T1UU, if and when it becomes available in the UK.
Although it isn’t equipped with a touchscreen it does offer solid specs at a good price and as the name would suggest this is a 13-inch laptop.
Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T9B0
- 1920×1080 display
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB solid state hard drive
- $299.99
Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T1UU
- 1920×1080 display
- 4GB RAM
- 32GB solid state hard drive
- $399.99
Acer Chromebook 13 CB5-311-T7NN
- 1366×768 display
- 2GB RAM
- 16GB solid state hard drive
- $279.99
Acer is claiming 13 hours of battery life on the 1366 x 768 model and a solid 11 hours of life on the 1920 x 1080p models, which is impressive if it holds up in real-world use. The ARM-powered Samsung Chromebook 2 claimed battery life of 8.5 hours and came up short by roughly 30-40 percent, so we’ll have to spend more time with this one to see how it holds up.
All models of the Acer Chromebook 13 are available for pre-order starting today from Amazon USA and BestBuy and will be shipping in the first week of September.
We are hoping that Europe will see them in store around the same time. No UK price or actual release date yet but as soon as we have we’ll let you know.
Show Press Release
2014-08-11
Acer Launches Industry’s First Chromebook Powered by NVIDIA Tegra K1 and its First 13.3-inch Model
San Jose, Calif.
Acer expands its Chromebook portfolio with a model that delivers enhanced mobile performance for graphic-intense apps, games and more; up to 13 hours of battery life(1) and option for full HD display takes Chromebook from workday productivity to nighttime entertainment.
Acer America today announced the Acer Chromebook 13, the industry’s first Chromebook powered by an NVIDIA Tegra K1 mobile processor and the company’s first with a 13.3-inch display. The Chromebook 13 enhances Acer’s already leading position in this category.
The combination of additional real estate on the vibrant 13.3-inch display, industry-leading battery life of up to 13 hours,(1) and a thin and light fanless design makes the Acer Chromebook 13 the ideal choice for customers who want additional screen real estate along with a portable and productivity-boosting design. The Acer Chromebook 13 is available in two options – one with a full HD display with 1920×1080 resolution and another model with a 1366×768 display.(1)
The Acer Chromebook 13 delivers the ultimate in mobility with the Tegra K1 with a 192-core GPU, enabling customers to get more done throughout their work day and after hours, no matter where they take their Chromebook. Customers will experience a first-rate multi-tasking experience when keeping multiple tabs open, playing a video and doing more all at once.
“The Acer Chromebook 13 is an ideal device for families who need a new or additional computer to share for school projects, research, entertainment and fun online,” said John Miedema, director product marketing, Acer Europe. “The display is large and vibrant, so everything from homework to video is incredibly crisp and detailed. Plus, up to 13 hours of battery life means families can use the device all day for work or school and not have to recharge it for nighttime activities like homework and watching movies.”
The Acer Chromebook 13 uses the NVIDIA Tegra K1 4-Plus-1™ quad-core ARM Cortex A15 CPU plus a third-generation battery-saver core to provide up to 13 hours of battery life(1). Tegra K1 uses an NVIDIA Kepler architecture-based GPU with 192 programmable GPGPU cores to process rich and detailed graphics.
Two Options Provide Choice of Full HD Display, Extra-Long Battery Life
The Acer Chromebook 13’s large 13.3-inch display comes in two models to give customer the options that fit their needs. The version with a full HD 1920×1080 display shows video in lifelike 1080p resolution and provides up to 11 hours of battery life.(1) In addition, models will be available with a bright and crisp 1366×768 resolution display that provides even longer battery life of up to 13 hours.(2) Both displays will have Acer ComfyView™ anti-glare panels that minimize light reflection that can cause eye fatigue. In addition, the Acer Chromebook 13’s display provides rich colors and excellent contrast, while the large size helps accommodate the spacious keyboard that is both comfortable and maximizes productivity.
Designed with mobility in mind, the Acer Chromebook 13 has an incredibly thin and light design that measures only 1.7 cm thin and weighs only 1.5 kg. The Acer Chromebook 13 keeps customers in touch and connected with 802.11ac WiFi, which provides speeds up to three times faster than 802.11n. Plus, the 2×2 MIMO antenna helps ensure reliable throughput.
Starts Quickly; Connects to Popular Devices
The new Acer Chromebook 13 boots up in less than 9 seconds and resumes nearly instantly from sleep mode. This enables customers to more quickly enjoy the more than 30,000 free and paid apps, themes and extensions in the Chrome web store.
Customers will enjoy faster data transfers of photos and video with the Acer Chromebook 13’s two USB 3.0 ports. Plus, streamed video and movies can be shared on a larger display or home TV using the Acer Chromebook 13’s HDMI port. Video chats and Google Talk are all enhanced by the Chromebook’s HD webcam that provides 720p HD audio/video recording as well as the two built-in stereo speakers and microphone.
Fun to Share, Easy to Protect
Chromebooks are simple to use and ideal for sharing by multiple users, such as families, schools or at different shifts at a business. Users can log into their own account to access Gmail, Docs, website bookmarks and other information. Storage on Google Drive(2) protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version of the file or document is always available and safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen. Plus, Acer Chromebook 13 users can view, edit, create and collaborate on-line and off-line with a growing number of programs, such as Office documents and Gmail.
Security is a key benefit of the Chrome operating system, as it’s automatically updated to guard against ever-changing online threats. This is especially useful for families and schools who want to protect children./div>
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Senior Editor
Been involved in technology for many years, more than I care to remember. Live in Dundee, Scotland. I like Android, Windows Phone OS, BlackBerry OS and iOS, and love writing about all things techie. Currently have a Honor 6+, Elephone P6000, Nexus 5, Chrombook C720, HTC One M7, Nokia Lumina 625, Microsoft Lumia 435, Blackberry Q10, HTC Hero and iPad mini
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