Acer Chromebook 516 GE review 2024: great performance

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The Acer Chromebook 516 GE says that it is the world’s first gaming Chromebook, which is both true and completely pointless. With game streaming services like Nvidia GeForce NOW, any Chromebook with a good internet connection can be used to play games. This is how the 516 GE works right now, since the ChromeOS Alpha update that would let it work with Steam hasn’t come out yet.

That being said, this Chromebook is great. It works well, efficiently, and quickly for its specs, and if you have a fast internet connection, you can stream games without any problems. It also has good airflow, so even playing games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Dying Light 2 for long periods of time doesn’t make it run too hot. It also works well for work, as it can handle conference calls, web browsing, video streaming, spreadsheets, and more without hiccups or slowing down.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Design

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is big for a Chromebook, which makes sense since it’s made for gaming. It also doesn’t look very stylish, with a plain black body that is more round than slim. But even with all that, it’s still not very heavy.

Even though the chassis is light, it doesn’t feel as flimsy as many Chromebooks do. However, it’s not as sturdy as the average Windows gaming laptop in terms of weight and build. It’s a good thing for the 516 CE because it makes it much more portable and easy to carry than those laptops. You can buy this laptop from its official website.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Display

The huge 16-inch screen is the first thing you’ll like right away. The Chromebook 516 GE from Acer has a screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 (16:10) and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. This isn’t quite as good as what ASUS is doing with the Chromebook Vibe CX34 and its 144Hz refresh rate, but we doubt you’ll really notice the difference.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Keyboard and touchpad

Even though it’s not a mechanical keyboard, it has enough “bounce,” “response time,” and “feedback” to let you write essays or the next great American novel in between games. We would have liked a little less sponginess and maybe louder key presses, but for a first try, it wasn’t too bad.

One thing that was disappointing, especially for a device that wants to be used for gaming, was the lack of brightness in the RGB backlighting. It works fine at night, but it will be hard to see during the day.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Performance

The Chromebook 516 GE is a great tool for getting work done. Its 16:10, 16-inch screen gives you plenty of room to work. Even simple tasks look great because of the high number of pixels and smooth 120Hz refresh rate. It’s basically one of the best Chromebooks we have ever tested. But you don’t buy something this big and powerful to mess around in Google Docs, so let’s get to the real reason we’re here: gaming performance.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Connectivity

Also, there are a lot of ports for a Chromebook, which is a nice surprise. On the right side, there is one USB 3.2 port, a full-size HDMI output, and a USB-C port that can transfer data at 10Gbps.

On the left is a second USB-C port and an unexpected 2.5Gbps Ethernet port, so you can plug in when Wi-Fi isn’t enough for your cloud gaming needs. You can connect a headset or speakers to a 3.5mm audio jack.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Performance And Battery

Besides the performance, it’s important to note that Acer didn’t skimp on the number of ports. There are two USB-C ports, a 2.5G Ethernet jack, a full-size HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5mm audio combo jack, and a Kensington Lock on the Chromebook 516 GE. It’s great that the 516 GE has both HDMI 2.1 and a better Ethernet port, especially if you want to use it with a gaming monitor.

Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Price and availability

This review is of the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 build with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB NVMe SSD. This model sells for $649/£849 in stores. US readers can easily buy from places like Best Buy, but UK readers will have to look around a bit. In the US, the price of this model has recently gone down to $449, so there are deals to be had.

The Acer Chromebook 516 GE (CBG516-1H), which has 12th Gen Intel Core i7, costs $849 or £999. At this price, you’re almost close to getting a good Windows gaming laptop, like the Acer Nitro 5, which can also support cloud gaming clients. If you want to compare this Chromebook to a Windows machine, check out our guide to the best laptops for gaming.

Final Words

Although it may be a bit of an exaggeration to call the Acer Chromebook 516 GE the “first gaming Chromebook,” when combined with other streaming services, this laptop from Acer is a fantastic gaming machine. Regrettably, despite recent improvements, it cannot participate in direct gameplay over Steam.

ACER CHROMEBOOK 516 GE REVIEW: THE GOOD AND THE BAD

FAQS

Is the Acer Chromebook 516 GE touchscreen?

It has a screen with a resolution of 2560 x 1600, but unlike most Chromebooks, it is not touch-screen. Instead, you get a screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, which is useful if you use a cloud service like Nvidia GeForce Now or Xbox Game Pass that lets you stream games at high refresh rates. 

Can you install Windows on a Chromebook?

Yes, Windows can be put on a Chromebook. Still, it’s not as easy as installing Windows on a normal laptop. Chromebooks are not made to run another operating system. They have different keyboard settings, and you can’t change the firmware very much.

What is a Chromebook best used for?

Chromebooks are best for doing things on the web, like browsing the web, working on documents online, and using web streaming services like Netflix or Amazon Prime in a web browser. You can also download and use Android apps to play games and have fun, even if they don’t work exactly like they do on your phone.