Many Chromebooks released over the last few years have a boring design. They are not bad designs. They do work well. Otherwise, companies wouldn’t continue using them. When a Chromebook, or any other device for that matter, breaks with the norm and offers something unique, I tend get very excited.
The Chromebook Vero 514 is a great device that sparks excitement
The moment I opened the box, it was already packed. Chromebook Vero 514The unique design and choice of color impressed me immediately. The dark gray metal lid was gone in favor of a lighter gray that is speckled with many different colors. Acer chose to use PCR materials to build the Vero 514, which basically means that no two Vero 514s will be the same. The differences between these two models might be more evident if they were placed side by side, but the speckled patterns are likely to be distinct. This is not a big deal from a design standpoint, but I thought it was cool to think about.
The little touches around the chassis will help to make this Chromebook stand out from the rest. The keys that are labelled “E+R” on the keyboard have the same yellowish-colored feet as the bottom of the casing. The trackpad is equipped with a little “recycled”, logo in its bottom right corner. This logo goes along with the embossed logo “Post Consumer Recycled”, in the lower right corner. Another embossed logo is found on the front lip with the name “Chromebook vero”. These little touches are what we love to see on new Chromebooks.
Acer even integrated a fingerprint scanner onto the keyboard deck. It is located just below the arrow keys on right. This is likely to use the same OceanGlass material that the trackpad. However, it has been a wonderful addition during our time with it. This is a great addition that Acer seems to have included in the final retail versions. It doesn’t matter which configuration you get.
If you see too many plastic items in a Chromebook’s “features”, you may be disappointed. Look as premium as others. This is the reason why it feels so premium. Acer’s consistent use of PCR materials across its range also provides something surprising: the MIL STD-810H military-grade endurance rating. This instantly places the Vero 514 in contention for the coveted title of “Best Laptop”. Best Chromebook for StudentsEven at a starting price of $500, it is affordable.
Strange ‘nits flex’ but acceptable
Acer made sure to highlight the 300 nits brightness of the Chromebook Vero 514 during its official announcement. Although it might not have been something you noticed or cared about, we found ourselves scratching our heads. While 300 nits of brightness are more than enough to make a room bright enough for use, it is not something you should be raving about.
I actually tried the Chromebook Vero 504 under shade and still couldn’t see the text. I placed the Vero 514 next to my patio to give it a comparison. Chromebook Spin 714the Elite Dragonfly Chromebook. It’s obvious that Acer didn’t make the right flex by putting the sun directly on the screen.
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The matte finish of the touchscreen display makes it easy to reflect reflections from well-lit areas. The matte finish makes the touchscreen display virtually unusable if the sun shines directly over your shoulder. It’s solid for almost all other scenarios and uses, but it didn’t feel like something that should be mentioned during the presentation.
Eco-friendly now offers Chromebooks
In the last few years, more companies have decided to get rid of the charging brick with their new tablets and smartphones. These companies claim that the move is meant to make the package more eco-friendly, but it has a double edged sword. The claims are technically correct, as the boxes are slimmer than ever before. Most of the time you already have enough chargers for your phone’s requirements. However, things can change a little when smartphone manufacturers improve the charging capabilities of the phones they sell. This can cause frustrations and lead to a lot of problems.
These companies are not actually trying to be greener. The reason they do away with the included charger is to save money. This reduces the overall package size and weight. This allows for more devices and lowers the cost than if you had all the accessories that you needed in one box.
It doesn’t appear that Chromebook manufacturers have lost the memo. Even with the Chromebook Vero 514 you will still receive the Chromebook, paperwork and the charger (ZOMG). Acer instead has changed the way you view a Chromebook’s design. This includes the shipping materials. This is evident from the moment you take a look at the box. The 100% recycled material makes it possible to use the box as storage or even as a recycling container.
The box and packaging are gone, so you can clearly see this is not your typical Acer Chromebook. Acer claims that the unique chassis is made of 30% post-consumer recycled materials.
The keycaps have a matte finish and the bottom speakers are made from 50% of PCR materials. In contrast, the glass touchpad has now been replaced with an OceanGlass touchpad. This trackpad is designed to provide the same experience as traditional trackpads, but it uses “abandoned” plastic waste instead of regular glass. Acer already uses the OceanGlass touchpad with the Chromebook Spin 314, among others. This makes it an obvious addition for the Vero 504.
Expect plenty of power
I’d love for you to hear more about the Chromebook Vero 504’s performance but that’s something you will have to wait to see until we can send you a final production model. The model you see in the photos is a preproduction model. It also includes pre-production software. The Vero 514 Chromebook is capable of competing with the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook at high-end, while still being one of our top Chromebooks for everyone else.
| Category | Acer Chromebook Vero 514 |
|---|---|
| Display | 14-inch, 16/9, 100% sRGB |
| Resolution | 1920×1280. 300 nits |
| Processors | Intel Pentium Gold Processor 8205 / Intel Core 1215U / Intel Core 11235U / Intel Core 71255U |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM | 8GB / 16GB |
| Storage | 128GB / 2256GB NVMe |
| Slot for microSD cards | ❌ |
| Camera | FHD with privacy switch |
| Ports | HDMI 2.0, Dual USB-C ports, 1 x USB-A port, Kensington Lock |
| Additional features | Fingerprint reader with backlit keyboard, dual upward firing speakers, MIL STD-810H rated |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Battery | 56Wh Lithium-ion can last up to 10 Hours |
| Charging | USB-C, 65W Power Delivery Type-C Charger Included |
| Dimensions | 313x224x20.5mm |
| Weight | 3.09 pounds |
The Chromebook Vero 514 will come in a variety of configurations when it launches. It is expected to be available at Best Buy and other retailers by mid-October. Base model costs $499 and is powered by the 12th Generation Intel Core i3-1250U, which has 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD NVMe. You can also add the 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1255U with 16GB RAM to this model.
At the moment, the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook continues to be my favorite Chromebook. There’s a chance that the HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook will be overtaken once the Vero 514 is released. I will have to wait until I get my hands on the final version before I make my final judgement.
Chromebook with the best overall performance
Although the Chromebook Vero514 is a great Chromebook, it’s still not available. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714, which is currently our pick for the best Chromebook, is an excellent alternative.
