Even though it’s a Chromebook rather than a Windows laptop, Acer’s Chromebook Spin 713 sports the same “Engineered for Mobile Performance” label as other notebooks that meet Intel’s cutting-edge “Project Athena” requirement for features like a rapid wake and long battery life. Aside from those critical requirements, this Spin model has two more advantages as a Windows 2-in-one replacement. For starters, it’s a steal at $629 at Best Buy; it’s less expensive than several rival convertible Chromebooks. Second, its 13.5-inch display, like Acer Swift 3, has a squarer 3:2 aspect ratio rather than the more common 16:9, providing you a taller perspective for text and web scrolling. It’s hard to find a touch-screen convertible with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which makes Spin 713 an interesting option.
Price and configuration
There is only one version of Chromebook Spin 713 for 2021. Our evaluation device, which costs $699, is well-equipped in terms of Chromebooks. It comes with a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5-1135G7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, and a 13.5-inch 2256 x 1504-pixel “CineCrystal” IPS LCD with a 3:2 aspect ratio. It has 802.11ax WiFi and Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connectivity.
Design
With a clean gray frame and chromed-out hinges, and display edge, Acer Chromebook Spin 713 has a business casual appeal. The dark gray lid is basic and fingerprint-resistant, with Acer and Chromebook logos. It’s noticeable without being gaudy. Due to the 3:2 aspect ratio of the display, the laptop has a little squarer shape than typical. This not only helps to keep the laptop’s small footprint, but it also keeps the panel from feeling cramped.
Chromebook Spin 713 weighs 3.2 pounds and is 9.3 x 11.8 x 0.7 inches. This is larger than the Lenovo Chromebook Duet and slightly larger than the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 (2.7 pounds, 12 x 8.0 x 0.6 inches) (2 pounds, 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.3 inches).
When you open the lid, you’ll notice a gray Chiclet keyboard with a gray keyboard deck and touchpad. The display’s chin is somewhat prominent, with the Acer logo on it, but the other three bezels are much smaller. Speaker grills and exhaust vents are located on the bottom of the laptop. The bottom border of the display, combined with some rubber feet at the bottom, helps to raise the angle of the keyboard to a comfortable level while in laptop mode.
The display of Chromebook Spin 713 can be spun 360 degrees to switch between laptop, tent, and tablet modes. When rotating the display between different settings, the hinge is incredibly secure in the tent position and feels smooth with just the right amount of resistance. Users may find it uncomfortable to use in tablet mode for long periods due to its heavy weight. This is especially true while playing mobile games that require tilting the screen to move.
Durability
Due to its MIL-STD-810G certification, Chromebook Spin 713 is also quite durable. This implies it can withstand a four-foot drop.
Corning Gorilla Glass is also used on the display and touchpad for extra durability. The notebook’s small size makes it ideal for use in areas where durability and convenience are essential.
Performance
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is Intel Evo-certified, which means it must meet certain performance and UX requirements defined by Intel, such as a quick startup time of less than a second, battery life of at least nine hours, and additional security features.
That’s all well and good – and it is – but the Core i3 or Core i5 processor is the star of the show here (depending on your model).
Chrome OS performs admirably on ARM-based devices, Intel Celeron CPUs, and other low-power hardware, but it flies on a full Core i5-1135G7 processor. However, since Chromebook Spin 713 has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB PCIe SSD, rather than eMMC flash memory storage, it practically forces you to download and run local programs from the Google Play Store, which Chromebook Spin 713 devours without a glitch.
When it came to battery life, we got a bit of a mixed bag, with a handful of outliers skewing the average of eight hours and 24 minutes down a little. In our HD movie test, the battery lasted 10 hours and 6 minutes, which isn’t the best battery life we’ve seen, but it’s still impressive.
Battery life
Spin 713’s battery life was not an issue. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 boasts better-than-average battery life, clocking in at 10 hours and 35 minutes on the battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. The laptop outlasted the average Chromebook of 9:39 minutes and Galaxy Chromebook 2 by a long shot (8:18).
Software and warranty
Google’s suite of productivity tools, such as Docs, Slides, and Sheets, are included with Acer Chromebook Spin 713. Calculator, Text (text editor), and Google Canvas (for sketching) are less well-known apps but are well-made, useful, and round out the experience. There is no bloatware, which is a refreshing change from Windows.
It’s also worth noting that Chrome OS can execute Android applications. This is hit or miss depending on how excellent or valuable the app is, and each app has its own set of caveats. The app’s ability to adapt to a tablet form size, as well as how well it functions with a keyboard and touchpad, are also drawbacks. Despite this, the majority of the Android apps we tried functioned in this format. This included everything from Microsoft Word to games like Real Racing 3 and Genshin Impact.
Another great aspect of Chrome OS is its ability to run Linux programs. This feature must be enabled in the developer settings, and having some Linux and command-line experience is beneficial for installing apps. It gives Chrome OS users access to a whole new universe once it’s enabled.
Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is covered by a one-year standard warranty.
Bottom line
Acer Chromebook Spin 713, which costs $699, is a powerful Chromebook with a lot to offer. Given the hardware it’s running, it’s a powerful user device. You might also argue that it is overpowered for a Chrome OS device because most of what the operating system is supposed to do can be done with considerably less expensive hardware.
Where Chromebook Spin 713 carves out a great niche for itself amongst enthusiasts and professionals. With its strong processor, it can run more demanding Android or Linux software. This hardware is ideal for a student or professional who wants to experiment with Linux or test their Android or web applications.
You can’t go wrong with Chromebook Spin 713 if you’ve already tried Chrome OS and are enamored with it. It has a lot going for it, including a great screen and sturdy construction. It has every port that most users require daily. It also features best-in-class performance, making it ideal for business users, students, and tech aficionados.
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