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Acer Chromebox CXI3

 & Gabe Carey gabe_carey@pcmag.com

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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The Whole Setup

If you have a spare monitor lying around, the Acer Chromebox CXI3 is a quick and easy way to get started with a new computer.

Can't Have Too Many Ports

The Chromebox CXI3 has a wealth of ports split across the front and rear faces. On the front, below the power button, are two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a MicroSD card slot, and a 3.5mm jack that serves as a headphone and mic combination.

Rear Ports

On the rear of the machine, you'll find an HDMI output, an Ethernet jack, three USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port (this one with support for data delivery, display output, and power delivery), and a Kensington-cable lockdown notch.

Plain Peripherals

The Chromebox CXI3 also comes with a basic laser mouse and a chiclet keyboard. The keyboard mirrors the keyboards on Chromebooks, which have special browser-centric shortcuts in place of the function-key row.The mouse has tiny crevices in its left and right sides for your thumb, ring finger, and pinky finger to grip.

In Good Standing

You can position the Chromebox CXI3 standing on edge, or flat; it comes with a vertical stand that adds a few feathers to its weight.

Standard Design Fare

The block-shaped machine sports a plain black finish with two gray panels surrounding the ports. Dead in the center of the left side is the Acer logo, with the Google Chrome logo in one corner. On the right side is a long series of air vents for letting out heat.

About Our Expert

Gabe Carey

Gabe Carey

gabe_carey@pcmag.com

Gabe Carey is a Junior Analyst at PCMag specializing in peripherals, storage and the systems that power them. Prior to joining this website, he was an ardent freelance reporter for Digital Trends and TechRadar, though his most noteworthy accomplishment was racking up over 15,000 signatures on a petition to change the national anthem to Sonic Adventure 2's "Escape from the City." You can follow him on Twitter @GabePCMag.

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