Acer Tips $349 Convertible Chromebook Spin 11

Considering a Chromebook? Acer and Lenovo have some new options you might want to check out.

Acer today unveiled two new Chromebooks: the convertible Chromebook Spin 11 and the durable Chromebook 11 C732. Not to be outdone, Lenovo tipped several Chromebooks, including the convertible 500e Chromebook.

The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 features a 360-degreee hinge design that allows it to be used in four different ways: as a traditional notebook, a tablet, standing up in display mode, or in "tent-mode" for smaller spaces. It has two USB 3.1-Type C ports, a front-facing wide field-of-view webcam (plus an optional rear webcam for use in tablet mode), and promises to deliver up to 10 hours of battery life on a charge.

Aimed at education and commercial customers, the Acer Chromebook 11 C732 (above) was designed for durability. It features an IP41-rated, "spill-resistant" keyboard, and complies with the US Military durability standard MIL-STD 810G. It has a fan-less design, also features two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, and promises to last 12 hours on a charge.

Both Acer Chromebooks are slated to go on sale in North America this March. The Chromebook Spin 11 starts at $349 while the Chromebook 11 C732 starts at $299.99 for touch models and $279.99 for non-touch versions.

Meanwhile, Lenovo's new 500e Chromebook features the same four modes as the Acer Chromebook Spin 11, and is aimed at the education market, featuring rubber bumpers as well as reinforced ports and hinges.

It sports an 11.6-inch HD IPS display with Gorilla Glass, a pressure-sensitive pen that's stored in a built-in compartment, and a 5MP camera that works in all four modes. In terms of specs, it's powered by an Intel Celeron N3450 processor, offers up to 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and promises to provide 10 hours of battery life on a charge. The 500e Chromebook is expected to go on sale this month, starting at $349.

If you need something a little cheaper, Lenovo also unveiled the 300e and 100e, which start at $279 and $219, respectively, and are both available with either Windows 10 or Chrome OS. Both Windows models are slated to begin shipping this month, while the Chrome version of the 300e is expected to go on sale next month and the Chrome 100e is expected to arrive in March.

Yesterday, Microsoft also announced a number of new Windows 10 devices that cost as little as $189.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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