Support our independent tech coverage. Chrome Unboxed is written by real people, for real people—not search algorithms. Join Chrome Unboxed Plus for just $2 a month to get an ad-free experience, access to our private Discord, and more. Learn more about membership here.
START FREE TRIAL (MONTHLY)START FREE TRIAL (ANNUAL)
One of the surprising, new Chromebooks to show up late in 2024 was the Acer Chromebook Spin 312. With some pretty great specs, a good-looking, minimalist chassis, and an aggressive sale price right out of the gate, I was pretty impressed by this little powerhouse when it first showed up.
Acer is sending us one to actually try out, but based on the specs and Acer’s track record alone, I feel pretty confident in saying this Chromebook will likely be a great purchase when you can find it available. But here’s the thing: not long after it showed up out of nowhere, it went back up to full price – and at $449, I’m just not quite sure about it until I actually give it a test run.
There are lingering questions about this Chromebook for sure. For starters, we don’t know the brightness of the screen. When it isn’t mentioned, it usually means it is on the dim side. For now, we just don’t know. And why isn’t this one being marketed as Chromebook Plus? It meets every single spec, so I’m not sure what’s going on there, either. Speaking of those specs, here they are:
- Intel® i3-N305
- 12.2″ WUXGA (1920 x 1200) 16:10 Antimicrobial Gorilla Glass touchscreen
- 128GB storage
- 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
- Up to 13 hours battery life
- Backlit keyboard
- 2.65 lbs
- 11.02″ x 8.11″ x 0.70″
- Antimicrobial solution
- Wi-Fi 6E AX211
- Bluetooth 5.2
- 1080p webcam
- 1x USB Type-C ports
- 2x USB Type-A ports
- Full-size HDMI 1.4 port
- Webcam shutter
It’s a solid-looking device, and being back down to $299, it’s a Chromebook with a 16:10 screen that could be a great fit for those looking for a bit more portability to add to their productivity. Think of it like the performance of the Lenovo Slim 3i with the form factor of the Lenovo Flex 3i. Again, assuming Acer’s track record for build quality holds up, that’s a potent combo for sure.
And at just $299, it’s a solid offering. But beware: this deal disappeared pretty quickly last time around, and we have no way of knowing when it will return once it does again. So if a smaller, more portable, more productive Chromebook sounds like a good fit for you, the new Acer Chromebook Spin 312 could be the one to pick up.
SUBSCRIBE TO UPSTREAM
Get Chrome Unboxed delivered straight to your inbox
Upstream is our flagship, curated newsletter with the top stories, most click-worthy deals, giveaways, and trending articles from Chrome Unboxed sent directly to your inbox a few times a week. Join 31,000+ subscribers.
