Find out if you can play AAA games on a Chromebook with our review of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE. We answer that question and more.
Acer has recently launched the Chromebook 516 GE, or the “Gaming Edition,” to take advantage of the growing trend of gaming on lightweight devices such as Chromebooks, tablets, and smart TVs. Services like Nvidia’s GeForce Now and Microsoft‘s Xbox Game Pass are making this possible by moving games to the cloud, allowing the platform’s servers to handle the majority of the processing power.
This means that the Chromebook 516 GE comes with a fast processor and a large, colorful screen, making it not just suitable for gaming, but also for general use. But how does it perform in practice?
Acer Chromebook 516 GE Review:
A Look at its Design
The 16-inch Acer Chromebook 516 GE boasts a sleek and stylish design, with an aluminium chassis and titanium grey finish. It may not be the lightest laptop at 1.7kg, but it’s still portable. The device is equipped with rubberized feet running along its entire width, which provide extra airflow when placed on your lap.
The keyboard is well-spaced and responsive, with a nice sponginess to the keys. The trackpad, made of Ocean Glass, is large and the ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘S’, and ‘D’ keys are highlighted. However, the backlight on the keyboard is not very bright, making it difficult to see in daylight. Additionally, the lack of customizable gaming keys is a missed opportunity for a dedicated gaming Chromebook.
Are the Speakers and Display up to the mark?
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE boasts a large 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600, also known as 1440p or 2K. The display provides sharp colors and good brightness levels, and the matte finish helps to minimize glare when used outdoors. The high refresh rate of 120Hz is perfect for gaming, however, it would be beneficial if the refresh rate could be adjusted to conserve battery when not in gaming mode.
The 2K screen is also a great feature for streaming movies and TV shows in high resolution. Even for regular use such as opening Google Docs, the larger display size allows for better productivity by placing multiple windows next to each other. It’s worth noting that the display is not a touchscreen.
The audio from the two top-firing speakers is decent, providing a solid audio experience for gaming, entertainment, and video calls even at maximum volume.
I/O
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE comes with a variety of ports for connectivity. On the left side, it features a USB-C port and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a wired connection. Additionally, there’s a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting a headset or speakers.
The inclusion of a 2.5G Ethernet port is particularly useful for cloud gaming, as it provides a more stable gaming experience compared to Wi-Fi. On the right side, the device offers a single USB 3.2 port, an HDMI port, a second USB-C port that supports 10Gbps transfer speeds, and a Kensington lock notch for physical security.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE also supports external displays and TVs, thanks to the HDMI port and support for DisplayPort over USB-C, allowing for an even larger screen gaming experience.
Living up to its potential?
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is equipped with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 8GB of RAM, promising high performance. In practice, it lives up to its expectations.
Even when browsing with multiple tabs and running a 4K YouTube video in the background, the 516 GE does not struggle. It’s incredibly responsive, taking the user by surprise. The device runs fast without the bloat of an operating system like Windows or macOS.
However, it’s important to note that the device runs on ChromeOS, which means that some software like Microsoft Office, Photoshop, and 3DS Max is not available.
In conclusion, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is the fastest Chromebook available on the market. Whether you’re writing articles, editing videos, using Google Drive, consuming entertainment, or browsing the web, you will experience minimal lag.
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is optimized for gaming with both Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud-based gaming service and Xbox Cloud Gaming. This means that it can run full-blooded AAA titles at 1600p / 120fps on the former and 1600p / 60fps on the latter.
The user opted to try out Nvidia’s GeForce Now, which currently costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 for six months but comes with a three-month trial upon purchase. This service gives access to over 1,400 games from Steam, EGS, EA Origin, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG.com.
In testing, Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassins Creed were both playable on the 516 GE, with smooth framerates and minimal lag or stuttering, even when switching from wired Ethernet to a Wi-Fi connection. Multiplayer games like Fortnite and Apex Legends had some latency issues compared to more expensive gaming PCs, which may be frustrating for competitive players. But for casual gamers, it’s not a significant issue.
The battery life of the Chromebook 516 GE is also impressive, with a generous 65Wh battery that can last through a full day of work (around seven hours) on a single charge with 70% screen brightness. During gaming, the battery lasts between four and five hours which is still considered good.
Pricing and Availability
The availability of Acer Chromebook 516 GE varies by location. In Europe, it starts at £849/€899 (Rs.75,000), while in the US, it starts at $650. The reason for the price difference is not entirely clear. Additionally, the device is expected to arrive in the UK during the first quarter of 2023.
The Verdict is in – A Gaming Beast in Disguise!
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a budget-friendly option for gamers. By utilizing Nvidia’s GeForce Now, it can run AAA titles and save money compared to higher-spec machines. However, it may experience some latency in multiplayer games. Despite this, it is a solid choice for casual gamers and media consumption, thanks to its 16-inch display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz and WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600.
Additionally, it offers strong connectivity options compared to other laptops. However, it does have some drawbacks, such as a dim keyboard backlight and a lack of a touch screen. Furthermore, it may be too powerful for those who only need a laptop for basic tasks. Overall, it is a suitable option for gamers and media enthusiasts, but may be overkill for others.
Check out these Alternatives as well!
The Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook are good alternatives to the 516 GE. Both of them have 16-inch screens and support Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now platforms. The Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip offers the advantage of being a 2-in-1 laptop and can store up to 512GB. It also has a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. However, it has a lower resolution Full HD screen and an older 11th Gen Intel processor. The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 CPU processor and a 71 Whr battery that can last up to 11 hours. However, it also has a resolution of just Full HD.
