Acer Announces the New Chromebook Spin 11, Chromebox CX13

Acer has announced its three new Chrome OS devices for 2018. The company has unveiled two new Chromebooks and a new Chromebox that’s packing an 8th generation Intel chipset. All three of them will arrive with Google Play Store support since they are capable of running Android apps.

The New 2018 Chromebook Spin 11

The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is a laptop-tablet hybrid that features four versatile usage modes thanks to its 260-degree hinge. It comes with a hinge that lets users prop it up in tent, tablet, laptop or touch-only mode. The device comes with an 11.6-inch touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 1,366 x 768.

The new Chromebook Spin 11 comes in two models: CP311-1N and CP311-1HN. The two Chrome OS laptops are virtually the same, but the CP311-1HN comes with its very own Wacom EMR stylus. The stylus itself doesn’t have its own battery, which means that it’s passively powered, as pointed out by PC World.

There are very few Chromebooks that come with its own stylus, and most of the best ones aren’t so cheap. The Google Pixelbook, for example, costs $1,200 when bundled with the stylus. For the Chromebook Spin 11, the upcoming device will start at $349 sans the stylus, but Acer hasn’t given an exact pricing for specific configurations.

The two models of the Acer Chromebook Spin 11 can be configured to come with an Intel Pentium quad-core N4200, a quad-core Celeron N3450 or an Intel dual-core Celeron N3350. It also has 4GB or 8GB of RAM, 32GB or 64GB of eMMC storage and a battery that Acer promises can deliver “all day” battery life.

“We are continually innovating to improve every product in our extensive Chromebook line,” Acer general manager of of commercial and detachable notebooks James Lin said. “The new Acer Chromebook Spin 11 continues in the tradition of the Chromebook R 11, which won many awards for its design, performance and strong feature set, and now includes even more features that make life better for our customers, including the latest ports, all-day battery life and solid performance in a stylish, convertible design.”

Other specs for the new Chromebook Spin 11 include two USB Type-C ports, two USB 3.0 ports, a microSD card reader, Bluetooth 4.2 and 801.11ac Wi-Fi. Acer says that the two models will be available in North America in March.

The Acer Chromebox CX13

Acer’s new Chromebox CX13 is powered by 8th Gen Intel Core processors. It’s small and compact, and it’s ideal for users who may already have a monitor and a keyboard at home or at the office. The machine comes with its own stand, which allows users to have it stand vertically on the table, according to 9To5Google.

The Chromebox CX13 features a Gigabit Ethernet port, three USB ports, HDMI out and a USB Type-C port. On the other side of the device is a microSD card reader, another pair of USB ports and an audio jack. Acer didn’t give out information on pricing and availability yet.

New Chromebook 11 C732

Acer’s new Chromebook 11 C732 is primarily aimed at the education markets, as pointed out by Android Police. The new Chrome OS laptop is IP41-rated and features a durable build that makes it a good option for children.

The Chromebook 11 C732 features the same USB ports found in the Chromebook Spin 11, but it only comes with a traditional laptop hinge. The C732 features an 11.6-inch display with a screen resolution of 1,366 x 768. The non-touch model comes with an IPS or TN display, while the touchscreen model comes with an IPS touchscreen.

The Chromebook 11 C732 is powered by either an Intel dual-core Celeron N3350 processor or a quad-core Celeron N345. Storage options include 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. Acer says that the device is able to deliver 12 hours of battery life. The Acer Chromebook 11 C732 starts at $299 for the touch models and $279 for the non-touch. The Chrome OS laptop will be available in North America sometime in March.