Acer Chromebook Spin 13
The Acer Chromebook Spin 13 immediately comes across as different than other laptops on the market, thanks to its highly unusual screen size and resolution. Pair that with its 360-degree hinge that allows the laptop to become a tablet, it’s clearly built with graphic design work in mind.
Design
The Spin 13’s most visible feature is its screen, a 13.5-inch display that features a resolution of 2,256 by 1,504 pixels. (This is the same size screen, though at a lower resolution, that the Microsoft Surface Book 2 features.) The size is a throwback to the laptops of yesteryear, before widescreen (a 16:9 or 16:10 aspect ratio) became popular. The Spin 13’s aspect ratio of 3:2 means it’s much taller than the typical laptop, and when combined with the bezels around the screen, the machine looks like a square rather than the more traditional rectangle. For content creators, that’s not bad news. Illustrations and graphics are rarely served well by a widescreen format, so while this is annoying if you’re streaming Netflix, it works well if you’re putting pen to screen. To that end, you’ll find a passive stylus well-hidden in a sheath built into the chassis, within easy reach at the front of the keyboard. Also remember the Spin 13 is convertible, with a 360-degree hinge that lets you tuck the keyboard away when you don’t need it. Other than that, the largely aluminum chassis gives it a look that is durable and traditional.
Features
Aside from the oversized screen (one of the brightest in this roundup), the 360-degree hinge and the integrated stylus, unique features are few. The keyboard – fairly average in usability – is backlit, though a lot of light leaks around the edges of the keys, marring its appearance. The touchpad is average in both size and quality. At 3.3 pounds and 19 millimeters thick, the heft of the Spin 13 is average, and both metrics feel appropriate given the size of the screen.
Specs
A 1.6 GHz Core i5-8250U CPU powers this notebook, one of the most powerful processors in this roundup. A standard 8 GB of RAM and 64 GB — not much — of flash storage support. Ports include two USB-Cs (either can charge the device), a single full-size USB 3.1 and a micro SD card slot, standard for the category.
Performance
With a high-end CPU, I expected outstanding performance from the Spin 13, and it beat out by all of the competition but one. The Spin 13 scored 7 percent below average on the industry standard Speedometer 2.0 benchmark (which measures the responsiveness of web applications), and 1 percent below average on the JetStream 1.1 test, which looks at more advanced operations, including graphics and audio processing, as well as encryption. On the similar Kraken 1.1 test, the machine was 11 percent above the average — though this is misleading due to one very slow outlier dragging down the overall score on this test.
Battery
With 9 hours and 15 minutes of battery life, the Spin 13 redeemed itself by managing the best overall mark on my full-screen video playback test. That’s 45 minutes longer than the second-place finisher and more than 3 hours longer than the Chromebook with the worst showing. It’s a machine with great longevity when you’re running unplugged.
Conclusion
The model I tested lists for $900, but other models of the Spin 13 are as low as $680, if you’re fine with poorer specs. Other sellers will also likely have lower prices for all models, but even with a good discount, it’s pricey for the storage and performance offered. But if the unusual screen size appeals to you, the Spin 13 may be worth stronger consideration (particularly given its exceptional battery life), though I recommend trying it out in person before you buy.
