Chromebooks just keep getting better and better. The advent of the new Chromebook Plus range of laptops brings its share of new features: updated hardware, 1080p webcams and AI-based functionality.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 design
Although Acer has frequently opted for aluminum in the design of its mid-range to premium Chromebooks, the Chromebook Plus 515 sports a plastic cladding imitating aluminum, embellished with diagonal lines etched on part of the lid. This may seem a little disappointing, but the overall aesthetics don’t suffer; this is a clamshell laptop with a meticulous design, demonstrating great solidity of construction.
It has also been awarded MIL-STD 810H certification, a guarantee of resistance to shock, vibration and temperature variations. The lid is slightly flexible, but nothing to worry about, and the keyboard tray is free from the flex often associated with entry-level laptops.
With dimensions of 350.6 x 238.4 mm, it takes up a lot of desk space, but weighs a reasonable 1.68 kg. While it’s more suited to sedentary use than nomadism, it’s nonetheless transportable when needed. gallery link=”none” columns=”2″ size=”large” ids=”115041,115043″] Despite its imposing size, the connectivity equipment is identical to that of the 14-inch Chromebook Plus 514, including a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port on each side, accompanied on the left by a matching USB-A port and an HDMI 1.4 port.
One of these USB-C ports is required for charging, and the absence of faster USB ports and 4K/60 fps video output can be slightly frustrating. However, the basic functionalities are present, not forgetting Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6 for connecting peripherals and wireless networking. The look is a complete change from the sleek, slim PCs found on the Surface Laptop Go 3.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 features
| Model | Acer Chromebook Plus 515 |
| PC type | Chromebook |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 1215U |
| Number of processor cores | 6 cores |
| Number of threads | 8 threads |
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5X |
| RAM frequency | 4800 MHz |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Graphics card | Intel UHD Graphics |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 px |
| Diagonal | 15.6-inch |
| Screen frequency | 60 Hz |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Keyboard type | Chiclet |
| Battery | – |
| Charging power | 65 watts |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes |
| Trackpad | Yes |
| Speaker | x2 Stereo |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Connectivity |
|
| Webcam | 1920 x 1080 px |
| Weight | 1.68 kg |
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 performance
With its Core i5-1235U processor, the Chromebook Plus 515 stands out for its remarkable speed. Its performance, evaluated by Geekbench 6, shows scores of 1763 single-core and 4830 multi-core, placing it slightly behind the Asus Chromebook Vibe CX34 Flip (with scores of 1805 and 6517 respectively), but it holds its own in the WebXprt 4 and JetStream
benchmarks. Its capabilities are also close to those of last year’s Acer Chromebook Vero 514. The presence of the same processor in the Asus model explains these similarities, as both devices are among the fastest Chromebooks we’ve had the opportunity to evaluate
Graphics performance is not that of a Qualcomm chip, which is also a pity here. Indeed, the Intel UHD Graphics chip is sufficient to display content and connect an external display, but you won’t be playing the biggest games available on ChromeOS with this kind of graphics processor.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 screen
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515’s 15.6″ 1080p screen is satisfactory, without being exceptional. Maximum brightness is 283 cd/m², black level is 0.203 cd/m² and contrast ratio is 1,394:1. Images display a little more dynamism than on the Chromebook Plus 514, and the screen proves slightly more comfortable to use in moderate to high light conditions.
However, sRGB coverage remains quite low, at 65.9%, and colors are neither as rich nor as vibrant as on other competitors, even in Chromebook.
As far as image quality is concerned, fine details are sharp enough for productivity tasks and everyday use. When I watched an episode of “The Office”, a series with a particularly dark tone, the screen contrast seemed satisfactory. However, I would have preferred the borders to be a little thinner, especially those at the top and bottom of the screen, in order to maximize display space.
Keyboard and trackpad
Unlike many large-format Chromebooks that try to integrate a full keyboard with numeric keypad, the Chromebook Plus 515 wisely chooses to offer more space for a classic Chromebook layout. As a result, the keys are large, square, flat-topped, with comfortable travel, and include good-sized Shift, Ctrl and Enter keys, as well as a standard-sized space bar.
Key responsiveness is also appreciable, with a little more dynamism and responsiveness than is usually found on softer-touch Acer keyboards. After a few days’ use of this Chromebook, I found the experience very pleasant and comfortable, thanks in particular to the wide wrist rests that offer good support and the absence of sharp edges that could bother the wrists.
The extra space also accommodates a larger touchpad. The 125 x 82 mm size and smooth OceanGlass recycled plastic surface make this touchpad a real asset for navigating Google Workplace documents or for two-finger scrolling. For a moderately-priced laptop, the basic ergonomics are truly satisfying.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 battery life
In terms of battery life, the Chromebook Plus 515 struggles slightly, lasting just 9 hours of HD video playback before running out of power, which is hardly surprising given its large screen size and high-performance processor.
It’s worth noting that only models of 14 inches or less tend to offer battery life of between 10 and 12 hours. The Chromebook Plus 515 is supplied with a 65W AC adapter.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 sound quality
In audio terms, the Chromebook Plus 515 is in a different league to its more compact counterparts. Its sound reproduction is far more powerful and balanced, showing signs of strain only when the volume is pushed to its maximum. The DTS-stamped speaker system also proves quite effective at reproducing surround effects, making it an interesting option for streaming games and movies, especially for those who prefer to avoid the constant use of headphones.
This is one of the Chromebooks offering the best sound quality I’ve been able to test, with the exception of models designed specifically for gaming.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 connectivity
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515’s connectivity options are decent, although they may seem a little limited to some.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review
Most of the Chromebooks that caught our eye are in the 600-700 euro range, but the catch is that at that price, you can also afford a perfectly decent Windows laptop.