Acer Spin 13 Chromebook
Acer has been manufacturing Chromebooks for many years and it's fair to say they are pretty good at it. They've provided us with some great Chromebooks over the years and the Acer 13 is no exception. It's now been replaced by the Asus Spin 713, so if you're after the latest version I'd check out what the Acer 713 has to offer. The Acer 13 is a popular and unusual Chrome OS device because it offers something a little different compared to what you'd normally find when looking to buy a laptop running Chrome OS.
THE SPECS
There are two different configuration models available for the Acer 13 Spin Chromebook. The level entry model comes with an Intel Pentium processor, 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. This model will be perfectly capable of doing most things on a Chromebook. Whether that is internet surfing, social media, streaming HD movies or using Android Apps. You'll also find word-processing and spreadsheets also work perfectly fine with this model.
If you're after a Chromebook, which has excellent performance then you may want to opt for the higher-spec model. This comes with an Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The processor, an Intel i5 will offer excellent performance and the 8GB of RAM will complement the processor. Having a powerful processor is important, but without enough RAM it would struggle. The 8GB of RAM is more than enough for this processor, so you can expect excellent performance.
The higher-spec model will be able to do everything you can do with the entry-level model. The difference is that everything will work much quicker. Powerful Android apps will run much quicker and you'll be able to get more from Linux Apps. Linux Apps are still in beta mode but are a great addition to Chrome OS. The extra performance of the higher-spec model will be noticeable when using Linux Apps.
Model
Processor
RAM
Storage
Basic Model
Intel Pentium 4417U - dual core - 2.30 GHz
4GB
128GB (eMMC)
Higher Spec Model
Intel i5 8250U - quad core - 1.60 GHz
8GB
128GB (eMMC)
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THE DISPLAY
It's the display you get with the Acer Spin 13 that makes it stand out in a crowd. Unlike most Chromebooks that use a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. The Acer Spin 13 uses a 3:2 aspect ratio. This makes it a better choice for someone buying a laptop to work with. When you think about a laptop that uses an aspect ratio of 16:9. You'll notice when you visit most websites you'll have empty white space on either side of the content. This space is wasted when surfing the internet and using social media. It's the same when word-processing. The 3:2 aspect ratio does not have as much space on either side of the content. Instead, the display is taller, so you can fit more text on the display.
Most Chromebooks in the medium-range sector comes with a Full HD display. This means it has a display resolution of 1,920 by 1,080. A display with Full HD is perfectly fine and is what you'd expect to see in any laptop that isn't a budget laptop. The Acer Spin 13 offers a much higher resolution of 2,256 by 1,504. Also, this high resolution is used on a nice compact 13.5-inch display. This means the quality of the images and text on the screen is far better than what Full HD offers. This is excellent to see when you consider the price of this laptop.
It's a Hybrid Chromebook, which means you can use it as a laptop or a tablet. This also means it comes with a touchscreen display. If you're considering using Android Apps then the touchscreen display is absolutely essential. Although you can use apps without a touchscreen. It's a much better experience if your laptop offers a touchscreen. The panel used is IPS, which is vital to get a good quality image from the display. It makes colours stand out and you can view the display from any angle without any deterioration.
Display Size
Resolution
Panel Type
Touchscreen
13.5-inch
2,256 x 1,504
IPS
Yes
What display do I need for my Chromebook
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CHROMEBOOK TYPE
The Acer Spin 13 is a Hybrid Chromebook. This means you can use it as either a laptop or a tablet. This is ideal if you want to get two devices for the price of one. Also, the Acer Spin 13 has stylus support, which is perfect for when using the Chromebook in tablet mode.
Chromebook
Chromebook Type
Acer Spin 13
Hybrid
AUE DATE
All Chromebooks receive automatic updates of the operating system. This is important because the Chrome OS team are regularly improving Chrome OS. This means providing your Chromebook is still receiving updates you'll get all the benefits of the improvements made to the operating system.
It's not just improvements to the operating system you need to think about. These regular updates also deal with any potential security flaws. Once the AUE Date has expired you may no longer receive any further updates to the OS, which may mean you're more at risk when surfing the internet.
Chromebook
AUE Date
Acer Spin 13
June 2025
Find out more about the AUE date
Will the Chromebook AUE date exist in the future
CONNECTIVITY & OTHER SPECS
Having the right connectivity when buying a new laptop is important. The Acer Spin 13 comes with one USB A port and two USB Type - C ports. This is good to see because it means you can use newer peripherals, which may only work with USB Type - C. You can also use older hardware using the USB Type-A port. USB Type -- C is the newest USB port technology available. It's good because it's more versatile and can also be used to charge your device and to connect an external display.
You'll also find a Micro SD slot, which means you can easily add further storage at a later date. A Micro SD slot allows you to cheaply add extra storage using a Micro SD card. A headphone jack is also available should you wish to use wired headphones. If you prefer wireless headphones then you'll have no issues because the laptop supports Bluetooth.
CONNECTIVITY & PORTS
Available
USB Type-A
1
USB Type-C
2
Bluetooth
Yes
WiFi
Yes
Webcam
Yes
Micro SD Slot
Yes
Headphone
Yes
Finger Print Scanner
No
Backlit Keyboard
Yes
CHROMEBOOK REVIEWS
Before buying a new Chromebook it's always a good idea to read some reviews first. It's important to remember a review is the opinion of one individual. It's always a wise choice to read or watch more than one review. This way you'll be able to build up your own opinion about whether the Chromebook is right for you.
WRITTEN REVIEWS
Chrome Computing Acer Spin 13 Review
Tech Radar Acer Spin 13 Review
