Yeah-no....the backlit keyboard on my ASUS Chromebook has a default starting level that is too low to be useful, but still bright enough to make the keycaps invisible in normal room light with the laptop on my lap with the keys viewed at an angle. So, everytime I start it I have to manually either turn the backlighting off or up to max in order to see the keys. Major PITA in an otherwise stunning Chromebook. The new, cheap ASUS 515 has high contrast white-on-black keys that are visible in any light (or darkness) when the screen illuminates. I don't miss backlighting on this keyboard at all. YMMV.
Cool. I just ordered one of these - although I think it might be a slighly superior version with backlist screen. Your clear and to the point review was really reassuring. I'll let you know how I get on when it arrives. Great channel btw.
To be honest I love mine. Iv had it a lil while now and is amazing. No Touch screen was a lil bit of a bummer but I am so happy with it. Great for my personal and business endeavors. Love your channel
Hey, maybe you can help me? How many hours does the battery last with the i3 model when you use the chromebook for document editing, and making notes the whole day (studying)?Thanks in advance.
As the video suggests at under $250, this is an interesting proposition. Much over that and my eyes start to wander. I can't go 100% Chromebook with my workflow. But they've become a valuable part of my arsenal. And I'm looking to add another clamshell to the mix. So, I've definitely added this one to my list.
Just bought a reconditioned one with just one cycle. I was able to take advantage of the Gemini AI so ditched GPT Pro and it gives me 2TB storage which I'm alrwsdy paying for. I bought the the i5 model for £240 just deducting the free storage for a year brings it down to £133 then I get the advanced AI features on top I was paying over £18 for GPT so it's the best buy for me this year. Purchesd based on one of your videos and very happy. 👍
I bought the Acer Chromebook Vero per your recommendation and I absolutely love it. To my surprise, there's also a fingerprint sensor (I've got the i3 model).
Interesting review. If I'd seen this first I may have held off, but I bought the i5 model with backlit keyboard (but no touchscreen) a week or so ago. I did want the touchscreen but the option just wasn't available in the UK it seems. I think the higher spec model for £499 was a good price, and I'd definitely recommend that people take a look at the different spec models available.
@@josefk2132 check the specs of the model you are actually trying to buy. i live in the UK, and my i5 version has the keyboard backlight. i have the CB515-2H-519H
Just bought one for $299 at Best Buy ($100 off). With the free 1 Year of Google AI Premium perk, my out-of-pocket cost will be $60. Sweet. And it's perfect for exploring the new Google AI features.
Same here, I love it. This is my first experience with ChromeOS and I liked it so much that I have now installed ChromeOS on another MiniPC I had. Looking for ways to add more RAM to this Acer Plus 515 though. It seems ChromeOS is very RAM hungry.
picked up this chromebook's cousin the Chromebook plus 514 from costco for $300 which has touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and 256GB of storage. Seems that was a much better deal if you have a costco membership
Do these Chromebooks run Adobe Photoshop well? I want to switch from Macs to Chromebooks but Adobe Photoshop is the main app I'm worried about running slow.
I'm considering getting this. Unfortunately my trusty Sony VAIO is getting on a bit, I use a Chromebook in work and prefer the OS to windows. Thanks for the video! 👍🏻
The Chromebook Plus has better specs than a regular Chromebook: CPU: Intel Core i3 12th Gen or above, or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series or above RAM: 8GB+ Storage: 128GB+ Webcamera: 1080p+ with Temporal Noise Reduction Display: Full HD IPS or better display
Are there any chromebook convertibles with the new Intel Core Ultra chipsets coming in 2024? Especially the ARC graphics unit makes them an interesting choice for me to combine the daily chromebook usage with some midrange gaming and maybe some battery improvements compared to the old generation.
I have 2 chromebooks, one acer 714 with a 4417u cpu, and a lemovo flexpad 5 chromebook+ with i3-1215u, but my favorute is the 714. The case is full aluminium, backlit clicky keyboard that feels mechanical, and a big touchpad with gorilla glass, and a touchscreen, The keys on the lenovo feels like a old rubberkeyboard, and the touchpad has some friction to it. Performance wise, I feel that the lenovo is faster, but the acer does not feel slow at all. both units have 8GB ram, and big ssds also (128/256GB) . I use the lenovo with my 34" monitor instead of a pc and the acer as my laptop :) just wanted to say specs is not all everytime,
The minimum Specs of Chromebook Plus should be revised since they don't guarantee a good experience when using it at night with no requirement for back-lit keyboard or a good experience using it during the day outdoors with no requirement given for screen brightness. Touch screen is also worthy of the plus branding.
@@mudflat for people who can touch type, they shouldn't just stop at, not including back lighting. They should take it a step further and not print anything on the keys.
I don't understand this review/specs. I bought this week the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 CB515 from Amazon (French Azerty version) and it has both a 15" touchscreen and backlit keyboard...
Because...what for it...they have different models in the 515 series at different price points and different feature sets..all built on the same frame. So, as you have discovered, you bought a different version than the one under review.
Yup defo confusing. Just saw an i3 12th gen with 256GB SSD and no touch screen and backlit keyboard. But I be damned if I can find the full specs on Acer's website!
looks nice but not fan of hte keyboard, everything looks bit too tight. I have a 2022 lenovo chromebook i love though i want upgrade it since its memory is small.
Hello Chrome Unboxed, I just wanted to ask which laptop do you recommend out of this one or the (Lenovo Chrome Slim 3 14in i3 8GB 256GB Chromebook) or anyone in the comment section if you have an idea? Thanks
Looking for ways to upgrade the RAM on this Chromebook. Does anyone know if it is possible? This is my first experience with ChromeOS and I liked it so much that I have now installed ChromeOS on another MiniPC I had. But I want to add more RAM to this Acer Plus 515 though. It seems ChromeOS is very RAM hungry.
ok now review the same model "Acer Chromebook Plus 515" but with the full specs (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM; 512GB SSD NVME, Touchscreen & Backlit keyboard) to be fair
Ill stick withy Acer Spin 513. The Mediatek 1380 paired eith 8GB ram is plenty fast. (It even has a back lighted keyboard!). Fanless design is my preference. Had a HP Chromebook with an i3 before and the fan noise was annoying.
@@RobbyPayne revisit it. Even in 2024 it's fantastic. There isn't really anything worth upgrading to for me at the moment. Waiting to see if the CX54 is interesting enough.
i thought that, then i realised i could put the shelf (taskbar) to the left of my screen, and you have control over scaling.. ultimately it is a big screen for a laptop.
I have an old Acer Full HD screen on a 13 inch. And I ramp up the display size as if I was using the native resolution it would be too small. So think Full HD could work on a 15 inch. It's got to be better than on my 24 inch monitor, where the resolution is very noticeable. But damn you Acer put a 'retina' OLED touchscreen on these, and make Android apps actually usable on a big screen.
on a Chromebook you can't even store stuff inside a folder or put a folder inside another one for example. At least I believe that too be true but I dk bc I have a MacBook pro m1
@@RobbyPayne you are correct. You have file storage, its just not on the desk screen. OP was simply guessing, not the best thing to do for people who are looking for information.
I am rocking an Acer Chromebook that has to be about a decade old with a 32GB emmc, used daily, and it's still working, even if it's not security supported. It's luck of the draw with some technology.
Backlit keyboard should be criteria for Chromebook Plus.
Yes, actually all laptop ever made should have this requirement
Indeed
THIS!
I need to see the keyboard
Yeah-no....the backlit keyboard on my ASUS Chromebook has a default starting level that is too low to be useful, but still bright enough to make the keycaps invisible in normal room light with the laptop on my lap with the keys viewed at an angle. So, everytime I start it I have to manually either turn the backlighting off or up to max in order to see the keys. Major PITA in an otherwise stunning Chromebook. The new, cheap ASUS 515 has high contrast white-on-black keys that are visible in any light (or darkness) when the screen illuminates. I don't miss backlighting on this keyboard at all. YMMV.
just stop working in the dark. problem solved
Cool. I just ordered one of these - although I think it might be a slighly superior version with backlist screen. Your clear and to the point review was really reassuring. I'll let you know how I get on when it arrives. Great channel btw.
To be honest I love mine. Iv had it a lil while now and is amazing. No Touch screen was a lil bit of a bummer but I am so happy with it. Great for my personal and business endeavors. Love your channel
Do you find it hard to do work stuff without a numpad?
I have this model and am very happy with it!!
Hey, maybe you can help me? How many hours does the battery last with the i3 model when you use the chromebook for document editing, and making notes the whole day (studying)?Thanks in advance.
Good content. The information about the update lifespan is appreciated.
As the video suggests at under $250, this is an interesting proposition. Much over that and my eyes start to wander. I can't go 100% Chromebook with my workflow. But they've become a valuable part of my arsenal. And I'm looking to add another clamshell to the mix. So, I've definitely added this one to my list.
Awesome just waiting for it show up at my door from Amazon
Just bought a reconditioned one with just one cycle. I was able to take advantage of the Gemini AI so ditched GPT Pro and it gives me 2TB storage which I'm alrwsdy paying for. I bought the the i5 model for £240 just deducting the free storage for a year brings it down to £133 then I get the advanced AI features on top I was paying over £18 for GPT so it's the best buy for me this year. Purchesd based on one of your videos and very happy. 👍
I bought the Acer Chromebook Vero per your recommendation and I absolutely love it. To my surprise, there's also a fingerprint sensor (I've got the i3 model).
Interesting review. If I'd seen this first I may have held off, but I bought the i5 model with backlit keyboard (but no touchscreen) a week or so ago. I did want the touchscreen but the option just wasn't available in the UK it seems. I think the higher spec model for £499 was a good price, and I'd definitely recommend that people take a look at the different spec models available.
Hey, just to ask... The i5 model (256gb SSD) definitely has a backlit keyboard? Thanks.
@@josefk2132 check the specs of the model you are actually trying to buy. i live in the UK, and my i5 version has the keyboard backlight. i have the CB515-2H-519H
In France we have the Acer Chromebook Plus 515(core i3) , with keyboard backlight, touch screen and 250 Go SSD, for 399 euros
Just bought one for $299 at Best Buy ($100 off). With the free 1 Year of Google AI Premium perk, my out-of-pocket cost will be $60. Sweet. And it's perfect for exploring the new Google AI features.
Same here, I love it. This is my first experience with ChromeOS and I liked it so much that I have now installed ChromeOS on another MiniPC I had. Looking for ways to add more RAM to this Acer Plus 515 though. It seems ChromeOS is very RAM hungry.
picked up this chromebook's cousin the Chromebook plus 514 from costco for $300 which has touchscreen, backlit keyboard, and 256GB of storage. Seems that was a much better deal if you have a costco membership
We'll be discussing that one soon =)
YES!!! A Backlit Keyboard should be standard on all Chromebook Plus, I am holding out till all new Chromebook Plus have this feature.
$183 currently on slickdeals for an Acer certified refurbished for this. That's about the right price point with that dinky screen.
Regret not picking this up at the Best Buy sale price of $280. Hoping it will go back on sale at that price for Black Friday.
Do these Chromebooks run Adobe Photoshop well? I want to switch from Macs to Chromebooks but Adobe Photoshop is the main app I'm worried about running slow.
No
just got one on Saturday.
I'm considering getting this. Unfortunately my trusty Sony VAIO is getting on a bit, I use a Chromebook in work and prefer the OS to windows. Thanks for the video! 👍🏻
Can I download windows 11 or 10 on this?
What is the difference between a Chromebook Plus and a regular Chromebook? Thank you.
The Chromebook Plus has better specs than a regular Chromebook:
CPU: Intel Core i3 12th Gen or above, or AMD Ryzen 3 7000 series or above
RAM: 8GB+
Storage: 128GB+
Webcamera: 1080p+ with Temporal Noise Reduction
Display: Full HD IPS or better display
th-cam.com/video/k5Sgsqqu5ZQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gxt1WXtjO7Y8oxzR
Are there any chromebook convertibles with the new Intel Core Ultra chipsets coming in 2024?
Especially the ARC graphics unit makes them an interesting choice for me to combine the daily chromebook usage with some midrange gaming and maybe some battery improvements compared to the old generation.
We don't know 100%, but I'll go ahead and say yes, for sure!
Hello I'm from Italy, mine has backlights.
Sulla tastiera?
@@marcotiero si si sulla tastiera
I have 2 chromebooks, one acer 714 with a 4417u cpu, and a lemovo flexpad 5 chromebook+ with i3-1215u, but my favorute is the 714. The case is full aluminium, backlit clicky keyboard that feels mechanical, and a big touchpad with gorilla glass, and a touchscreen, The keys on the lenovo feels like a old rubberkeyboard, and the touchpad has some friction to it. Performance wise, I feel that the lenovo is faster, but the acer does not feel slow at all. both units have 8GB ram, and big ssds also (128/256GB) . I use the lenovo with my 34" monitor instead of a pc and the acer as my laptop :) just wanted to say specs is not all everytime,
The minimum Specs of Chromebook Plus should be revised since they don't guarantee a good experience when using it at night with no requirement for back-lit keyboard or a good experience using it during the day outdoors with no requirement given for screen brightness.
Touch screen is also worthy of the plus branding.
Seems the back light is a popular feature request. But for those that can touch type, it just isn't an issue.
@@mudflat for people who can touch type, they shouldn't just stop at, not including back lighting. They should take it a step further and not print anything on the keys.
For some reason the HDMI version if omitted.
I don't understand this review/specs. I bought this week the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 CB515 from Amazon (French Azerty version) and it has both a 15" touchscreen and backlit keyboard...
Because...what for it...they have different models in the 515 series at different price points and different feature sets..all built on the same frame. So, as you have discovered, you bought a different version than the one under review.
Yup defo confusing. Just saw an i3 12th gen with 256GB SSD and no touch screen and backlit keyboard. But I be damned if I can find the full specs on Acer's website!
looks nice but not fan of hte keyboard, everything looks bit too tight. I have a 2022 lenovo chromebook i love though i want upgrade it since its memory is small.
Hello Chrome Unboxed,
I just wanted to ask which laptop do you recommend out of this one or the (Lenovo Chrome Slim 3 14in i3 8GB 256GB Chromebook) or anyone in the comment section if you have an idea?
Thanks
Looking for ways to upgrade the RAM on this Chromebook. Does anyone know if it is possible? This is my first experience with ChromeOS and I liked it so much that I have now installed ChromeOS on another MiniPC I had. But I want to add more RAM to this Acer Plus 515 though. It seems ChromeOS is very RAM hungry.
I hope I can afford a chromebook someday
Nice
ok now review the same model "Acer Chromebook Plus 515" but with the full specs (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM; 512GB SSD NVME, Touchscreen & Backlit keyboard) to be fair
The weak point is the lack of brightness of the screen
Well, my Acer Chromebook Plus 515 model has a backlit keyboard, i5-1235U CPU and 512 GB SSD.
Yeah, I've seen that model, but can't find where to purchase it. It doesn't show up on Acer's site at all...
@@RobbyPayne the 515 is also more expensive from what I have seen
@@parttimed.m.1111 - Of course it is if you buy a higher spec'd version.
Ill stick withy Acer Spin 513. The Mediatek 1380 paired eith 8GB ram is plenty fast. (It even has a back lighted keyboard!).
Fanless design is my preference. Had a HP Chromebook with an i3 before and the fan noise was annoying.
I love that Chromebook. Not sure why it didn't hang around very long. It was fantastic!
@@RobbyPayne revisit it. Even in 2024 it's fantastic. There isn't really anything worth upgrading to for me at the moment. Waiting to see if the CX54 is interesting enough.
1080p instead of 1200p 16/10 is a deal breaker to me
i thought that, then i realised i could put the shelf (taskbar) to the left of my screen, and you have control over scaling.. ultimately it is a big screen for a laptop.
I have an old Acer Full HD screen on a 13 inch. And I ramp up the display size as if I was using the native resolution it would be too small. So think Full HD could work on a 15 inch. It's got to be better than on my 24 inch monitor, where the resolution is very noticeable. But damn you Acer put a 'retina' OLED touchscreen on these, and make Android apps actually usable on a big screen.
3.7 lbs in 2024 is pretty hefty
For a 15.6-inch device? Lots of 15.6-inch laptops come in over 4 pounds.
on a Chromebook you can't even store stuff inside a folder or put a folder inside another one for example. At least I believe that too be true but I dk bc I have a MacBook pro m1
This is not true.
@@RobbyPayne you are correct. You have file storage, its just not on the desk screen. OP was simply guessing, not the best thing to do for people who are looking for information.
This is just bunkum.
DO NOT BUY AN ACER - MY CHROMEBOOK BROKE WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE - STEER CLEAR FROM THE COMPANY
poor comment
Was it the caps lock button that broke?
@@vanman266 lol
@@parttimed.m.1111 Poor company
I am rocking an Acer Chromebook that has to be about a decade old with a 32GB emmc, used daily, and it's still working, even if it's not security supported. It's luck of the draw with some technology.