Acer Chromebook 516 GE pregled

Acer's Chromebook 516 GE ($649.99) is among the first in a wave of new ChromeOS-powered gaming laptops, which offer an unusual premise: solely cloud-based PC gaming, in a Chromebook that's closer in hardware to a classic Windows gaming laptop. The “GE” stands for “Gaming Edition,” and the system comes with features like an RGB keyboard and a 120Hz display to back that up. It doesn't have a dedicated AMD or Nvidia graphics processor, like a Windows gaming machine would. But it's still one of the best Chromebooks we've ever seen, and one uniquely suited to let you get into high-end PC gaming with a fraction of the hardware usually required. The Chromebook 516 GE's overall quality earns it our first Editors' Choice award for gaming Chromebooks.

A No-Joke Gaming Chromebook

While the idea of a Chromebook made for gaming may sound like a punchline—especially as Google's own Stadia game streaming service is set to shutter in 2023—in many ways it's an idea that's finally ready to be a reality. True gaming on ChromeOS hasn't been that far-fetched for some time, with Stadia itself and other game streaming services (such as Nvidia's GeForce Now) proving to be technically sound for years. Android-app support then made several thousand new games, many with relatively high-end graphics, available natively on Chromebooks.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

But the real key to gaming on ChromeOS is server-based cloud computing. When gamers talk about games, they don't mean Angry Birds, they mean the AAA titles in their Steam library with high frame rates and support for ray tracing. Gamers with a capital “G” want fast-paced combat shooters, raid parties in MMOs, and sprawling adventures in RPGs. More to the point, they want the games that require dedicated hardware to produce top-notch, fluid graphics.

Cloud gaming delivers all of these experiences by offloading the graphics and input processing to a remote server equipped with high-end graphics hardware. Services like GeForce Now let you use a virtual gaming rig, complete with its latest graphics cards, and then stream the game directly to your system over the internet. And using them is not limited to Chromebooks: Game streaming services have brought gaming to Windows and Mac laptops, Android and iOS mobile devices, and even smart TVs.

This means that Chromebooks suddenly have a real shot at finding a place in the wider world of gaming. Obviously, they won't replace genuine Windows gaming rigs or game consoles for diehard enthusiasts. But that's never been the customer base that Chromebooks have catered to. Instead, this knocks down one more barrier to buying a Chromebook—reliable high-end gaming is suddenly an option.

The 516 GE Configurations: One, With More to Come

At the time of this review, Acer offered only one configuration option for buying the Chromebook 516 GE, and that's our review unit. It's model number CBG516-1H-53TY, which sells for $649.99 MSRP.

Built for cloud gaming at high frame rates, our test model is equipped with an Intel Core i5-1240P, a 12-core processor that also uses Intel's latest Iris Xe Graphics. This is paired with 8GB of memory and a 256GB solid-state drive for storage. The latter matches the largest SSDs we've seen in a Chromebook.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

However, press releases from both Acer and Google indicate that the 516 GE should have an additional model on the way, with “up to a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 P-series processor,” and a larger RAM allotment with “16GB of LPDDR4X RAM.” This higher-spec model isn't being sold yet, so we don't have pricing details at the time of writing. But know that the model we tested likely won't be the ceiling for machines like this for long.

Gaming on a Chromebook: An Awesome Reality—Mostly

While we've looked at less-impressive options for gaming on ChromeOS laptops, the advent of more substantial cloud gaming services means that you can do a lot more than run Minecraft or play scaled-up smartphone games. To test these advances, I used Nvidia's GeForce Now for this review.

(Zasluga: Nvidia)

Firing up GeForce Now on ChromeOS, I jumped right into some free game demos, as well as pulling up games from my Steam library and other services. While Nvidia has a free option for signing up, it limits you to an hour of gaming, allows for “standard”-level access to Nvidia's gaming servers, and generally pushes a game image at lower than 1080p resolution.

Using a trial offer included with the new gaming Chromebook, I was able to upgrade myself to Nvidia's highest performance tier for free for three months. (It's normally priced at $19.99 per month, or $99.99 for six months.) This significantly improves the performance, giving you access to Nvidia's best (GeForce RTX 3080-based) servers, with up to 4K resolution and frame rates up to 120 frames per second. Game sessions can stretch to eight hours a day.

(Zasluga: Nvidia)

With GeForce Now providing the horsepower and pumping the games straight to my Chromebook, I did what (until recently) was impossible: I played real games, with decent frame rates, without much in the way of lag or other buggy issues. I didn't have to fiddle with drivers or display settings. I didn't even have to worry about plugging in my Logitech F310 gamepad when I got tired of using the keyboard, because it worked flawlessly right away.

I played some rounds of Rainbow Six: Siege, taking out terrorists and working with a team to disarm bombs and foil attacks. I played Chorus, getting into sci-fi dogfights in space. I even played the notoriously demanding Cyberpunk 2077, getting chromed up in the seedier parts of Night City. And you know what? It was all excellent—the games just worked. 

Gameplay was smooth and looked sharp on the 16-inch, 120Hz display, and I didn't perceive any lag between button presses and onscreen actions. Firing up a game took just moments, and didn't leave me with the feeling like I had to jump through hoops to play games I already owned. It was simply an enjoyable experience almost every time I sat down to play.

(Zasluga: Nvidia)

However, I ran into a few rough spots. I tried to play Death Stranding but wasn't able to, due to availability issues on Steam. Instead of pulling up the game—which is in my Steam library—I was shunted over to a webpage explaining that I may need to find the game through a different platform (perhaps GeForce Now). Older games also aren't always supported, like Ashes of the Singularity or F1 2020. Interestingly enough, some mnogo older games are—I found Team Fortress 2 and the original Far Cry in the GeForce Now library, and both worked just fine.

I also sometimes ran into issues when I tried to return to a game between sessions. Cyberpunk 2077 wouldn't let me continue my game due to “a problem connecting with cloud storage.” It prompted me to continue from local storage, but that's not a workable option on a Chromebook. This wasn't an issue on any other games I tried playing, but when it happened, I was simply out of luck, with no obvious fix in sight.

A Design That Shines

Even if you set all of the gaming considerations aside, the 516 GE is a very well-made Chromebook. The aluminum chassis is sturdy and slick with its titanium gray finish. The 16-inch laptop is significantly larger than most high-end Chromebooks, which are usually 13 to 14 inches. But despite the larger size, it's relatively lightweight, at just 3.75 pounds, and nowhere near as bulky as your typical gaming laptop, measuring just 0.84 by 14 by 9.8 inches.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

The display isn't just bigger than most. The 16-inch IPS panel puts out a 2,560-by-1,600-pixel resolution—the highest we've seen on a Chromebook. It's also faster, with a 120Hz refresh rate that doubles the 60Hz standard offered on every other Chromebook we've reviewed this year. Surrounded by narrow bezels, and offering high apparent brightness, the display looks as quality as many more expensive Windows machines we've tested. The only complaint: It's not a touch screen. This panel is great for traditional games, but the Android-app support offered on modern Chromebooks all but demands touch input, and most of that capability is lost without it.

Note: We couldn't actually test the color quality and brightness with our usual equipment. Without a ChromeOS or app-based calibration option, we'll have to take Acer's word for it when it claims 100% coverage of the sRGB color gamut. But even comparing it side-by-side with pricier laptops, like the Lenovo Slim 7i Carbon, it looks every bit as vibrant and accurate.

While Acer doesn't load up this Chromebook with audio extras—you won't be getting Dolby Atmos on these stereo speakers—the system's four speakers do provide decent quality, with loud volume. While gamers usually prefer headphones, the speaker quality is decent enough that you can still enjoy a game without plugging anything in.

The Chromebook 516 GE's Inputs and Ports

The 516 GE's keyboard is one of the most obvious differentiators between this and any other Chromebook. Made for gaming, it has both RGB lighting and highlighted WASD keys, so it's easy to get back into your game if you move your hands. The RGB capabilities are simple, with your choice of single-color backlight for the entire keyboard, or a rainbow pattern that has no granular control. All of the RGB options are found in the Chrome Settings menu, under the Wallpaper & Style personalization options.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

But this keyboard is more than just a board with pretty lights. Acer includes anti-ghosting, so you can bang out key combos as fast as your fingers will let you without the keys missing inputs, and the typing feel is the best I've ever experienced on a Chromebook. 

The accompanying touchpad is also effective, with a wide, glass-like surface made from a material Acer calls OceanGlass (a slightly misleading name, since it's actually made from reclaimed plastic debris from the high seas). The touchpad is also moisture-resistant, so it will hold up against the occasional spilled drink or sweaty palms when games get too intense.

The accompanying webcam is also a step up from the usual, with a sharper 1,920-by-1,080-pixel resolution. Considering how rarely we see full HD webcams on laptops in this price range, it's an unexpected bonus.

Likewise, the connectivity is a nice surprise, with plenty of ports for a Chromebook. On the right edge, you'll find a single USB 3.2 port, along with a full-size HDMI output, and a USB-C port that supports 10Gbps transfer speeds.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

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

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

Wireless support is superb here, with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 included. There's also a Kensington lock notch, if you want to physically lock down the laptop with a security cable.

Testing the Acer Chromebook 516 GE: Ready to Play

Armed with a 12th Generation Intel Core i5-1240P processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 8GB of RAM, the Chromebook 516 GE meets the basic hardware requirements for game streaming in ChromeOS. This also has the pleasant side effect of making it one of the snappier ChromeOS laptops on the market. In a category dominated by low-powered CPUs and minimal local storage, the 516 GE is pretty darn premium, with its 256GB SSD and fast 120Hz display.

But it's not the only quality Chromebook you can get. For our comparisons, we're looking at some Chromebooks of the better class, which offer Intel Core processors, higher-end features, and swankier build quality than the average Chromebook. Acer's Chromebook Spin 714 ($729), for example, earned an Editors' Choice award for its blend of performance, features, and excellent design. The enterprise-minded HP Elite Dragonfly Chromebook ($1,734 as tested) is another award winner, commanding a premium price for a hardware lineup very similar to the Acer's, with 12th Generation Intel processing, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. But even systems like the Asus Chromebook CX9 ($999.99 as tested) and the 2021 Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 Chromebook ($549.99 as tested) offer peppy performance and great usability. You can see their basic specs in the table below.

Testovi produktivnosti

Testiramo Chromebookove sa tri kompleta za mjerenje performansi: jedan ChromeOS, jedan Android i jedan online. Prvi, CrXPRT 2 kompanije Principled Technologies, meri koliko brzo sistem obavlja svakodnevne zadatke u šest radnih opterećenja kao što su primena foto efekata, crtanje portfelja akcija, analiza DNK sekvenci i generisanje 3D oblika pomoću WebGL-a.

Naš drugi test, UL-ov PCMark za Android Work 3.0, izvodi različite operacije produktivnosti u prozoru u stilu pametnog telefona. Konačno, Basemark Web 3.0 radi na kartici pretraživača da kombinuje niskorazine JavaScript kalkulacije sa CSS i WebGL sadržajem. Sva tri daju numeričke rezultate; veći brojevi su bolji.

The 516 GE doesn't top every test here, but it posts comparable numbers to these other top models, coming within a handful of points of the best models we've tested. These general performance tests show that the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is one of the better-performing Chromebooks we've seen.

Testovi komponenti i baterija

Two other Android benchmarks focus on the CPU and GPU, respectively. Primate Labs' Geekbench uses all available cores and threads to simulate real-world applications ranging from PDF rendering and speech recognition to machine learning, while GFXBench 5.0 stress-tests both low-level routines like texturing and high-level, game-like image rendering that exercises graphics and compute shaders. Geekbench delivers a numeric score, while GFXBench counts frames per second (fps).

Konačno, da bismo testirali bateriju Chromebooka, petljamo 720p video fajl sa osvetljenošću ekrana postavljenom na 50%, jačinom zvuka na 100% i onemogućenim Wi-Fi i pozadinskim osvetljenjem tastature dok se sistem ne zatvori. Ponekad moramo reproducirati video sa eksternog SSD-a priključenog na USB port, ali Acer ima više nego dovoljno interne memorije za čuvanje video datoteke.

Here we see a distinct advantage offered by the Acer, as it puts up a dramatic score in Geekbench 5.4, demonstrating the best processor performance of a Chromebook to date, and leading in graphics performance in the more demanding of our GFXBench tests.

However, this Chromebook's biggest win may not even be the test with the best results. With nearly 10 hours of battery life, the gaming-ready Chromebook is long-lasting enough to compare to its peers, but that's far and away better than any 16-inch, honest-to-goodness gaming laptop we've reviewed recently, where battery life of 4 to 6 hours is more common. Obviously, the Acer isn't driving the same sort of graphics hardware or cooling systems, but since it delivers playable gaming performance without that high-wattage hardware, it doesn't need to. If you want to game longer on the go, a gaming Chromebook like this might be the best choice.

(Zasluge: Kyle Cobian)

All told, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a top performer among Chromebooks in its price range, making it reliable for all other tasks that these laptops are generally capable of—document-based work, web browsing, and more—in addition to its readiness for cloud gaming.

Verdict: A New Laptop Category Is Born

As a gaming Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE combines powerful hardware and helpful features, creating not only a purpose-built machine for game streaming, but also a top-flight Chromebook in general. The design is excellent, the performance is among the best we've seen, and the feature set is surprisingly premium given the price. It's a very good Chromebook on its own; the cloud gaming is just the hot new feature it's made to showcase. We can recommend regardless of whether you're interested in the cloud gaming features.

Ultimately, the first of any new type of device is going to define the category it helps create. Sometimes that's a moot point, as new innovations wither from lack of interest or manufacturer support. But others help reshape the industry. With this being among the first gaming Chromebooks, we're confident in saying that cloud-gaming-capable Chromebooks will be here for the long haul—provided the cloud services themselves can keep up with user expectations.