technology news: Hands-on with Acer Chromebook 315, Predator Triton 300, and more

Acer today made a slew of announcements at IFA 2019, including four new Chromebooks: the Acer Chromebook 315, the Chromebook 314, the Chromebook 311, and the Chromebook 311 Spin. These affordable clamshells are a step above entry-level and are meant to entice users from the education and everyday computing segments. The three productivity machines share lots of specs and features.

Acer had other devices on deck, too, including Predator gaming rigs and Swift consumer-grade Windows machines.

Here's the skinny on all things Acer.

Acer Chromebook catalog expands

The largest and most advanced is the Chromebook 315. The device centers on a large Full HD display that can be spec'd for touch or non-touch. Beyond the screen size, what sets the 315 apart most from its stablemates is the numeric keypad built into the full-sized keyboard.

Multiple processor configurations are available, including both Pentium and Celeron CPU options. Acer claims battery life is as good as 12.5 hours, which is more than enough to push through an extended work day. Other specs include Gigabit Wi-Fi, Google Assistant, and speakers. The left edge hosts USB-C and -A ports, as well as a micro-SD card reader and headphone jack. The right edge holds USB-C and -A ports, as well as a Kensington lock.

The 315 can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and up to 128GB of storage with the Pentium Silver N5000, the quad-core Celeron N4100, or the dual-core Celeron N4000.

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The Acer Chromebook 314 steps the display down to 14 inches, but keeps the Full HD resolution and touchscreen option. Only the two Intel Celeron processor configurations are available, but the 314 enjoys the same 12.5-hours battery life, Google Assistant, and Gigabit Wi-Fi of the larger 315. The ports are mirrored on both sides, as well.

It can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

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The Chromebook 311 Spin is an update to an earlier design. It has a 180-degree hinge to allow for different viewing and usage modes. It features an 11-inch display. While all the new Chromebooks ship with HD video cameras, the Spin is the only one that can be upgraded to Full HD.

This device can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. It offers 10 hours of battery life.

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Last, the Acer Chromebook 311 is here for the education market. It is smaller, lighter, and somewhat tougher than the 314 and 315 — crucial features for school users. Acer reinforced the hinge and added pass-through holes in case liquids are spilled into the keyboard. Though only Celeron options are available, the 10-hour battery life is respectable and should get students through a full school day in addition to homework time on a single charge. Ports are carried over from the larger devices.

It can be shipped with up to 4GB of RAM and just 32GB of storage.

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In the few moments we spent with these machines, we can say that they are light, appear to be well built, and have decent keyboards.

Exact pricing and availability for all three are yet to be determined.

Acer Chromebook specs

	Acer Chromebook 315	Acer Chromebook 314
Display	15.6-inch LCD touchscreen 1366 x 768 / 1920 x 1080 resolution	14-inch LCD touchscreen 1366 x 768 / 1920 x 1080 resolution
CPU	Dual core Intel Celeron N4000 / N4100 / Pentrium N5000	Dual core Intel Celeron N4000 / N4100
GPU	Intel UHD 600	Intel UHD 600
RAM	4 / 8 GB	4 / 8 GB
Storage	32 / 64 GB eMMC	64 GB / 128 GB eMMC
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	2x USB-C ports 2x USB-A 3.1 ports DisplayPort over USB-C USB charging 5/9/15/20 V; 3 A DC-in port 20 V; 45 W	2x USB-C ports 2x USB-A 3.1 ports DisplayPort over USB-C USB charging 5/9/15/20 V; 3 A DC-in port 20 V; 45 W

	Acer Chromebook 311	Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Display	11.6-inch LCD 1366 x 768 resolution	11.6-inch LCD touchscreen 1366 x 768 resolution 360 degree rotation
CPU	Dual core Intel Celeron N4000 / N4100	Dual core Intel Celeron N4000 / N4100
GPU	Intel UHD 600	Intel UHD 600
RAM	4 GB	4 / 8GB
Storage	32 GB eMMC	32 GB eMMC
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 5.0	Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 5.0
Ports	2x USB-C ports 2x USB-A 3.1 ports DisplayPort over USB-C USB charging 5/9/15/20 V; 3 A DC-in port 20 V; 45 W	2x USB-C ports 2x USB-A 3.1 ports DisplayPort over USB-C USB charging 5/9/15/20 V; 3 A DC-in port 20 V; 45 W
Dimensions & Weight	29.7 x 21.0 x 2.3 cm 1.06 kg	29.7 x 21.0 x 2.3 cm 1.2 kg

Acer expands Predator and Swift lines

Google's Chrome OS wasn't the only OS earning some IFA love from Acer. The company had two fresh Microsoft Windows machines on head, the Predator Triton 300 and the Swift 5.

The Triton 300 serves as Acer's lower-cost high-end gaming machine. The Predator line is Acer's best of the best, but the Triton 300 takes it down a notch for more mass-market appeal. The design is more sedate than that of other Predator laptops (black with blue accents), and yet it carries over the specialized "mag-lev" gaming keys. It features a metal chassis and weighs 2.3kg.

It wouldn't be a Predator if there weren't extensive cooling on board.

As for specs, you're looking at a 15-inch Full HD display at 144Hz for fast refresh rates. It's powered by a 9th Gen Intel Core i7 processor that is supported by a GeForce GTX 1650 graphics card, and Wi-Fi 6. It carries 16GB of RAM (upgradeable to 32G) and offers your choice of either 1TB or 2TB of storage via PCIe NVMe SSDs. Owners will enjoy immersive audio thanks to the WavesNX processing.

Last, it wouldn't be a Predator if there weren't extensive cooling on board to keep the machine running at its peak. That means the Triton 300 has dual fans with Acer's 4th Gen AeroBlade 3D metal fan technology, CoolBoost tech, and specially placed air intake and exhaust vents.

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The Swift 5 fills a spot in Acer's mid-level everyday computing category. It has a conservative design that only stands out thanks to the blue tint to the plastics. Some will surely be pleased to see a fingerprint reader on a device at this price point.

Specs include a 14-inch Full HD display with narrow bezels on the top and side edges. The Swift 5 is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 chip with an Nvidia GeForce MX 250 graphics card. The Swift 5 offers up to 12 hours of battery life and comes with a respectable set of ports and jacks, including USB-C 3.1 and DisplayPort.

Two things really boost the appeal of this machine. First, it is incredibly light at just 900g. Second, it can recharge rapidly, providing up to 4.5 hours of battery life after just 30 minutes plugged in.

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