Best Acer Chromebooks in the UK

Need a versatile laptop that’s going to help you keep up with work and the news on the go? Instead of lugging around a 5-kilo device, go for the Acer Chromebook R13 NX.GL4EK.003 instead. This model boasts a pretty wide 13.3” screen with Full HD resolution, perfect for browsing in high quality. Despite that large diagonal, you shouldn’t ever have issues placing the Chromebook in front of you as it’s convertible. You can fold it to put it into Tent Mode, making it resemble a tablet. Alternatively, use Stand Mode to achieve a similar effect but with more sturdiness.

A lot of the more basic touch-controlled devices get scratches on their screen really easily and end up losing the sensitivity required for efficient touch controls. However, this Acer Chromebook has a touchscreen that supports multiple sources of input at once and is protected by reinforced glass. This means that you can use your whole hand to move files around and navigate the web without worrying about leaving marks on the screen.

Although we’re quite happy with the 4Gb RAM, a respectable level for a Chromebook, we’re a bit unsure in regards to the actual storage capacity. Though you can add a microSD card, it can only increase your storage space that much and an external drive would do the job better. However, this Chromebook only has one USB Type-A port, which means you’ll often have to choose which device you can hook up to the laptop, and not all drives will even support this gadget.

All in all, though, if you want a lightweight and effective Chromebook that won’t let you down in terms of screen controls, the Acer NX.GL4EK.003 is a solid choice. As long as you don’t plan to stuff it full of files, it should serve you well and fulfil any needs you might have. Its versatile placement modes make it viable for any environment, a true companion for a modern person on the go.

The Acer Chromebook R11 is a budget-priced laptop that brings outstanding performance in a light, thin chassis. It has the unique 360-degree, dual-torque hinge that makes it easy to open and holds it in place when you swipe, pinch, and tap on the touchscreen, offering you a wobble-free touch control. The Chromebook slides easily into tablet mode from the standard laptop shape—tablets are more convenient for scrolling through web pages on the go, after all. In fact, you can use the Chromebook R11 in three modes: as a standard laptop, as a tablet, and in a tent mode; the position sensor will flip the image on the display over automatically when you go into the tent mode.

With the latest MIMO 802.11ac technology, the Chromebook R11 provides incredibly fast connection speed and long signal range. An impressive Intel Braswell CPU enables it to support an ultra-fast USB 3.0 port. The Acer R11 comes with separately located USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports. An integrated webcam supports HDR imaging for brighter video chats and clearer photos. Also, there's a full-size HDMI port with HDCP support, an SD card slot, and a headphone jack. The device is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core Intel processor with 2GB or 4GB of RAM. Chromebooks were created for Internet surfing and cloud-based works mostly, not for collecting files on the drive, so most users will find 32GB of storage quite enough. It should be mentioned that you'll get 100GB of Google Drive storage, so there is enough space to store everything you need in the cloud.

The laptop has an aluminum top with a distinct engraving-like pattern that makes it even more attractive. A nano-imprint technology creates this distinguished texturing which allows you to grip the laptop firmly. This remarkable slim 19.2mm notebook, weighing less than 1.6kg, can easily slip into your bag.

Tired of spending your commutes or those awkward 2-3-hour flights staring at the seat in front of you and trying not to drift off to sleep? You don’t have to settle for this monotony or limit yourself to the measly choice of in-flight entertainment. Just get the Acer Chromebook NX.G4XEK.001, a portable laptop that will let you enjoy an array of movies or TV shows at your own leisure.

The built-in dynamics are pretty powerful and guarantee clear sound even at maximum volume so you can watch videos or listen to music even if you don’t have headphones, perfect for a lazy Sunday morning on the couch. If you’re on your commute though, just plug in your earbuds into the headphone jack, slide in an SD card, and watch an episode or two of your favourite series. And we do recommend getting a card as this model only has 16Gb of built-in memory.

You’re not limited to just entertainment, of course, as you can surf the web via Google Chrome using this Acer Chromebook. However, don’t open too many tabs as the 2Gb RAM isn’t powerful enough to support 40 tabs, even if you’re just reading Wikipedia. That’s probably one of the few big flaws as we might not expect our Chromebooks to be ultra-powerful, but comfortable web surfing is a must.

So if you’re just looking for a device to kill time and enjoy some entertainment while away from home, the Acer NX.G4XEK.001 is a good and reasonably budget-friendly pick. It could use a bit more power but it’s fine as is for the more basic tasks.

Want to be sure that, no matter how far away from home you are, you will always have a Chromebook helping you kill some time or browse the web? We recommend going for a model with the absolute best battery and that would be the Acer NX.GM8EK.002. This model boasts a built-in Li-Po 3-section battery that holds up to 3980 mAh. If, however, you’re not that well-versed in battery specs, let us just say that one charge will be enough for 13 hours of uninterrupted work. That’s pretty awesome but what makes it even better is the fact that the 45W AC-adapter gets the gadget charged in just 2 or 3 hours. You could juice the Chromebook back up to nearly full charge while you take a nap in your hotel or sit down to relax in a coffee shop.

We do have to admit that this model may not be absolutely perfect for travelling as it’s one of the thickest in the line-up at 2.2 cm. It could be tough to fit into an already full bag, that’s for sure. Thankfully, it’s sturdy enough to withstand vibrations and external damage that might come during transportation.

Last but not least, we feel the need to point out that the Acer NX.GM8EK.002 is pretty powerful for a Chromebook. With 4Gb RAM, a Celeron N3060 processor, and 32Gb internal memory, it’s one of the more well-rounded models out there.

So if you’re always on the go and tired of scrambling to charge up your gadgets before they die, don’t hesitate to go for the Acer NX.GM8EK.002. This device will work longer than most and offer enough power for comfortable web browsing, movie watching, and conference calls, great for business and pleasure.

A lot of people seem to be looking for a Chromebook that could serve as an easily transportable web browser as well as a gaming station. While we wouldn’t exactly call any Acer Chromebook good for gaming due to the limitations imposed on this device type, if we had to pick one we’d go with the Acer Chromebook NX.GC2EK.007. First off, the 14” screen is perfect for playing games thanks to high resolution and the deep colours it displays. Then, while 4Gb of RAM and an Intel HD Graphic 400 graphics card may not be enough for high-end new titles, they should be suitable for older titles. If you want to take a trip down memory lane or catch up on games that you missed a few years ago, the Acer NX.GC2EK.007 will be more than sufficient.

However, note that your games will have to be on the smaller side since this model only has 32Gb of built-in memory. You might think that it’s no issue thanks to memory extensions. But you’d have to spend money on an external drive to achieve that as the NX.GC2EK.007 doesn’t even have a slot for memory cards.

This Chromebook, however, is great for travellers as its metallic body is protected from all types of damage without adding much weight to the laptop. It’s great for conference calls thanks to a good built-in microphone and an HDR-supporting webcam. That way you can stay connected to work even while you’re on a business trip.

So whether you’re a serious businessman looking for a travel companion laptop to keep up with the office stuff or a young gamer itching to have a gadget that can help you spend time on train rides or flights, the Chromebook NX.GC2EK.007 is a solid and affordable pick.