Thursday, October 22, 2020

Acer launches new Chromebooks, Chromeboxes and smart speaker

Acer launches the new Chromebook Spin 513, Chromebook Enterprise Spin 513, Chromebox CXI4, Chromebox Enterprise CXI4, and the Halo Smart Speaker.

Acer Chromebook 513

The Acer Chromebook Spin 513 sports a 13.3-inch full HD IPS touchscreen equipped with a Corning Gorilla glass display and touchpad. It has thin bezels with a 78% screen-to-body ratio. Powering the Chromebook is a Snapdragon 7c compute platform paired with an 8 nm octa-core Qualcomm Kryo 468 CPU, Qualcomm Adreno 618 GPU, up to 8 GB LPDDR4X SDRAM, up to 128 GB of storage, and up to 14 hours of battery life.

The device flaunts a pair of 360-degree hinges with various modes: clamshell mode for traditional keyboard input, tablet, display, and tent modes. The Chromebook Spin 513 weighs less than 1.2kg and 15.55mm thin. Additionally, it has an optional backlit keyboard, two built-in microphones, two full-function USB Type-C ports that support USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps), DisplayPort over USB-C, and USB charging. It also supports 802.11ac WiFi with 2×2 MIMO technology and an optional 4G LTE to ensure connectivity even without a Wi-Fi connection.

On the other hand, like the Spin 513, the Chromebook Enterprise Spin 513 is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c compute platform. However, it is equipped with security, enterprise capabilities, and cost savings to help businesses manage devices. It has an efficient performance, 4G LTE option, and Chrome OS’s business capabilities to create a secure and productive environment for employees to operate. The Chromebook Enterprise is ideal for IT departments, wherein IT administrators can easily control updates, configure apps, utilize extensions and policies, and more with web-based management.

Acer Chromebox CXI4 (Mounted and flat)

Along with Chromebooks, Acer also unveiled the new Chromebox CXI4. It is designed for school labs and classrooms, families as well as small businesses. The new Chromebox can also be purchased with the Chromebox Enterprise upgrade that provides users with the business capabilities they need to work productively.

The Chromebox has a streamlined design to save space, and it is equipped with up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and an Intel Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). It also comes with five USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, USB 3.2 Type-C, two HDMI ports, and an RJ45 port. The device is easy to mount by attaching it to the back of a monitor through the optional VESA mounting kit or place it with a Kensington lock.

Furthermore, the new Acer Chromebook Spin 513, Chromebook Enterprise Spin 513, Chromebox CXI4, and Chromebox Enterprise CXI4 support apps via Google Play.

Acer Halo Smart Speaker

Last on the list is the new Halo Smart Speaker that boasts a compact size that can fit anywhere. It has a customizable RGB base-lighting with an option to sync with the music, choose a color scheme, and an optional LED display that lets users check the time or the weather. However, the app is currently under development that will allow users to personalize the device with a message or simple image. Moreover, it works with a Google Assistant geared with DTS sound and two far-field omnidirectional mics for voice commands.

See the prices and availability of the new Acer products below.

• Acer Chromebook Spin 513 (CP513-1H) – price starts at USD 399.99 (February 2021) | EUR 429 (January 2021)
• Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 513 – price starts at USD 699.99 (March 2021) | EUR 699 (February 2021)
• Acer Chromebox CXI4 – price starts at USD 259.99 (Q1 2021) | EUR 569 (Q1 2021)
• Acer Chromebox Enterprise CXI4 – price starts at USD 409.99 (Q1 2021) | EUR 639 (Q1 2021)
• Acer Halo Smart Speaker – price starts at USD 109 (Q1 2021) | EUR 119 (December 2020)