Acer has announced a few new laptops geared towards the education market, including a few new Chromebooks and Windows laptops. Among the new additions to the lineup is the first Acer Chromebook Vero for education. The Vero line is where Acer launches its most sustainability-focused products, and it’s expanded rapidly over the past couple of years.
As you’d expect, these laptops aren’t exactly high-end machines, but they provide the basic performance most young students will need for school work, and they feature the latest hardware from Intel.
Acer Chromebook laptops
Acer Chromebook Vero 712
Starting with Acer Chromebooks for education, the main announced is definitely the Acer Chromebook Vero 712. Not only is this the first Chromebook Vero in Acer’s education lineup, but it’s also arguably the most powerful of the bunch. It comes with an Intel Core i3-1215U processor with 6 cores and 8 threads that delivers a powerful performance. It has a 12-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and optional touch support, and a resolution of 1366 x 912, which certainly isn’t very sharp, but it should be good enough for that size. It also comes with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage, and promises up to 10 hours of battery life.
Next up is the Acer Chromebook Spin 512, a lower-end machine available with up to an Intel N200 processor with four cores and four threads. It also has a 12-inch 3:2 display with a similar 1366×912 resolution, but since it’s a convertible, it supports touch by default, and it also supports USI pens, with optional configurations including a garage stylus with 4096 levels of pressure. One of the highlights of this model is that in addition to the 720p webcam, there is an option for an 8MP camera on the back with 1080p video. Just like the Chromebook Vero 712, it can have up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of eMMC storage.
Acer Chromebook Spin 512
There’s also the Acer Chromebook Spin 511, which is similar to the Spin 512, but with an 11.6-inch screen and a more typical 16:9 aspect ratio. Otherwise, it has the same processors, resolution, and camera options.
Finally, the cheapest option is the Acer Chromebook 511, which is basically the same as the Spin 511, but in a traditional clamshell form factor. It does not include touch support by default (although it is an optional configuration) nor does it support USI pens. This is also the only member of the group that comes with just 64GB of storage. However, all three non-Vero models have a longer battery life of up to 12 hours.
All four Chromebooks meet MIL-STD-810H standards for durability and feature a water-resistant keyboard and touchpad, as well as mechanically positioned keys.
All four laptops will be available in April. The Acer Chromebook Vero 712 will start at $429.99, while the Acer Chromebook Spin 512 will start at $499.99, the Spin 511 will start at $449.99, and the standard Acer Chromebook 511 will start at $379.99.
Acer TravelMate Windows
If you’re not a fan of ChromeOS, Acer also has a few new Windows laptops in the TravelMate series, all designed for education. The first is the Acer TravelMate B5 14. This model is available with up to an Intel Core i3-N305 with eight cores and eight threads. It features a 14-inch screen with up to Full HD resolution, and on top of that, there’s an HDR camera and noise-canceling microphones to provide a solid video calling experience.
There’s also the Acer TravelMate B3 11 and TravelMate Spin B3 11, which are a pair of 11.6-inch laptops powered by an Intel N200 processor. The laptops are mostly the same, but the convertible variant comes with antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass for an extra layer of protection. The TravelMate Spin B3 11 also comes with Wacom AES pen support, and has an optional 5MP rear camera in addition to the HD webcam on the front.
Acer Travel Mate Spin B3 11
The three laptops also continue Acer’s efforts to be more sustainable by using OceanGlass touchpads made of plastic around the perimeter. Just like Chromebooks, all three models meet MIL-STD-810H standards for durability, and shock-absorbing bumpers allow them to withstand drops from up to four feet. The ports are also reinforced to ensure they stay in place no matter what, and the keyboard is spill-resistant and features mechanically positioned keys.
These laptops also come with Acer User Sensing software, which can prompt students to take occasional breaks, remind them not to sit too close to the screen, and even lock the computer when the user steps away from it. Some of these features are more common on premium laptops, so it’s nice to see them.
All three laptops will be available in the US in April. Prices start at $429.99 for the TravelMate B5, $399.99 for the TravelMate Spin B3, and $329.99 for the standard TravelMate B3.
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