The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) is a budget Chrome OS laptop. It's configurable with an Intel 12th or 13th Gen Core CPU, up to a Core i7-1355U. Memory and storage configurations max out at 16GB and 512GB, respectively. It has an FHD IPS display (with or without touch input), a 1080p webcam, Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity, and a 53Wh battery. Ports include one USB-A, two USB-Cs, an HDMI (1.4), and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The USB-Cs support charging and video output.
See our unit's specifications and the available configuration options in the Differences Between Variants section.
Our Verdict
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is decent for school use. It has a fairly sturdy build, even though it's made entirely out of plastic, and its compact design makes it easy to carry around. Its Intel CPU can handle general productivity tasks like web browsing and text processing. However, you can only use web apps and Android apps from the Google Play Store on Chrome OS, so it isn't ideal for students needing specialized Windows or macOS applications. You can get through a full school day on a full charge, but depending on your usage, you may need to plug it in briefly. Unfortunately, the display is dim, so glare may be an issue in well-lit rooms, and the keyboard feels a bit mushy.
- Thin and light design.
- Large, responsive touchpad.
- Battery lasts eight to nine hours of light use.
- Dim display.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- Slightly mushy keyboard.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is bad for gaming. You can't install DirectX games on Chrome OS, and while you can play Android-based games from the Google Play Store, some might not run properly, as they're designed for Android smartphones and tablets. Also, its low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding games, and it has a 60Hz display with a slow response time.
- Doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- 60Hz display with slow response time.
- No VRR to reduce screen tearing.
- Limited game selection.
- Soldered RAM.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is mediocre for media consumption. Its 1080p display looks decently sharp; however, its narrow color gamut makes colors look a bit washed out. Glare may be an issue in well-lit settings as it doesn't get very bright, and blacks look gray in dim settings due to the display's low contrast. The speakers get reasonably loud with minimal distortion at high volume levels, but they sound slightly unnatural, with almost no bass. Lastly, while the laptop is portable, its battery lasts only around five hours of video playback.
- Thin and light design.
- Loud speakers.
- Dim display.
- Battery lasts only around five hours of video playback.
- Display has narrow color gamut and low contrast.
- Speakers lack bass.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is mediocre for use as a workstation. Its low-power CPU and integrated graphics aren't powerful enough to handle demanding tasks, and you can only get up to 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage. Also, most professional applications don't run on Chrome OS. While you can edit photos or videos using apps from the Google Play Store or web-based apps, the display isn't suitable for color-critical work due to its narrow color gamut. There's no Thunderbolt 4 support, and the HDMI port is limited to the 1.4 standard.
- Doesn't get hot or loud under load.
- Low-power CPU and integrated graphics can't handle demanding workloads.
- Soldered RAM.
- Most professional software don't run on Chrome OS.
- No Thunderbolt 4 support.
- Display has narrow color gamut and low contrast.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is decent for business use. It feels relatively well-built for an all-plastic laptop, and it's easy to carry around, thanks to its compact design. It has a spacious—albeit slightly mushy— keyboard, a large and responsive touchpad, and a great 1080p webcam. Its Intel CPU can easily handle general productivity tasks like text processing, spreadsheets, and presentations; however, know that you can only use web apps or Android apps from the Google Play Store on Chrome OS, so it isn't ideal if your work requires specific Windows or macOS apps. The battery lasts a little over eight hours of light use, so depending on your usage, you may need to plug it in for a quick charge to get through the day. Unfortunately, glare may be a problem in well-lit settings because the display doesn't get very bright.
- Thin and light design.
- Large, responsive touchpad.
- Battery lasts eight to nine hours of light use.
- Great 1080p webcam.
- Dim display.
- Most professional software don't run on Chrome OS.
- No Thunderbolt 4 support.
- Slightly mushy keyboard.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 18, 2024: Added mention of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) as an alternative with a higher-refresh rate display Refresh Rate section.
- Updated Aug 20, 2024: Added mention of the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 (2024) as an alternative with longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Jul 10, 2024: Added mention of the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 (2023) as an alternative with longer battery life in the Battery section.
- Updated Jan 23, 2024: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (model CB515-2H-31NY) with an FHD (non-touch) display, an Intel Core i3-1215U CPU, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The display, CPU, RAM, and storage are configurable; the available options are in the table below. Our review applies to the CB515-2H and CB515-2HT models.
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See our unit's label here.
Popular Laptop Comparisons
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a decent budget Chromebook. Its Intel Core processor is noticeably faster than the Celeron or Pentium CPUs typically used in similarly-priced models, providing a snappy and responsive desktop experience. It also provides a relatively good user experience overall with a large, responsive touchpad and a great 1080p webcam. However, its display is quite dim, which can be problematic in well-lit settings, and its battery life is short compared to most Chromebooks.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best Chromebooks, the best student Chromebooks, and the best budget and cheap laptops.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) and the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 (2023) are very similar overall. The ASUS is more portable since it's a smaller 14-inch device, and it has one more USB-A port. However, the Acer has a slightly better keyboard, and its battery lasts a bit longer.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) is better than the HP Chromebook 14 (2021) for most uses. The Acer has a sturdier build and a much better webcam, and it's available with significantly faster Intel Core CPUs to provide a smoother and snappier desktop experience. On the other hand, the HP is more portable since it's a smaller 14-inch device, and its battery lasts over 16 hours of light use, which is almost twice as long as the Acer's.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 (2022) is much better than the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) for most uses. The Spin 714 has a sharper, brighter, and more colorful display, a better webcam, and a wider port selection with Thunderbolt 4 support. It's more versatile because it's a 2-in-1 convertible with stylus support, and its battery lasts almost five hours longer than the Plus 515.
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i Chromebook 14 (2023) and the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (2023) are both budget Chromebooks. Choosing between these two laptops depends on what you care most about. The Lenovo has a sharper, brighter, and more colorful display, a better webcam, and a much longer battery life. It's also more portable since it's a smaller device. However, the Acer has a better keyboard and touchpad, and it's available with much faster CPUs, so it feels more responsive and can handle more demanding workloads.
Test Results
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