Acer Delivers 15.6-inch Budget-Friendly Chromebook
New Chromebook boasts longest battery life – up to 11.5 hours
NEW YORK - After launching the Acer Chromebook 15 line, the industry’s first Chromebook with a 15.6-inch display, Acer today expands this line with a new model, the Acer CB3-531, available at a wallet-friendly price of only $199.99. The new Acer Chromebook 15 features 11.5 hours of battery life, the longest in the industry’s 15-inch Chromebook segment.
“Our Acer Chromebook line has been pleasing customers and winning awards since we introduced the first model in 2011,” said Jerry Kao, president of Acer Notebook Business Group. “The new model is a homerun for an important segment in the market – people who want a large 15.6-inch display Chromebook and long battery life at a price that fits in a limited budget. The capabilities and ease-of-use of the Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 make it a great choice for families, seniors, and anyone who wants to enjoy the many benefits of Chrome on a large display.”
According to the latest data from Gartner, Acer Group is currently the world’s leading Chromebook brand with over 36 percent market share in 2014(1).
Vibrant, large-screen display leads the industry
The Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 has a large 15.6-inch LED-backlit TFT LCD display that delivers a productivity boost since customers have more room to enjoy video, apps and tabs. Plus the new Chromebook’s display features Acer ComfyView anti-glare properties to minimize the amount of reflecting light for less eye strain and fatigue. The HD 1366x768 resolution ensures that customers can comfortably enjoy content.
The two full-sized upward facing speakers deliver increased volume and exceptional audio clarity. Plus, the built-in web cam supports High Dynamic Range imaging for clearer photos and brighter video chat experience.
All-Day Battery Life with Solid Performance
The new Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 provide extra-long battery life of up to 11.5 hours so customers can use the device for all-day fun, or productivity at work or school.(2)
The Acer Chromebook 15 is powered by the Intel® Celeron® N2830dual-core processor and has Intel® HD Graphics to provide a responsive experience. The 16GB eMMC storage provides fast saving and accessing of data.
Fast Wifi Connectivity
The Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 keeps customers connected whether they’re streaming video, browsing websites or catching up on email. The Chromebook includes fast MIMO 2x2Wifi 802.11ac wireless connectivity, which is up to three times faster than previous generations.(3)
Reinforced, durable design with Large Touchpad
The new CB3-531 model in the Acer Chromebook 15 features the same reinforced design as the premiere models in the line. The case can withstand up to 60kg of force, while the corners have been fortified to tolerate up to 45cm drops without damage. These design enhancements translate into greater strength and reinforcement to endure bumps and drops.
The textured granite gray surface of the CB3-531 is comfortable to hold and ensures a secure grip when moving around the home. Plus, when Chromebook can be easily moved, since it weighs just 2.0kg (4.41 pounds) and measures only 383w x 256d x 24.2h mm (15.08w x 10.08d x 0.95h inches).
The Acer Chromebook 15 line features the largest touchpad of any Chromebook today. As a result, customers will have a better overall experience and greater flexibility to zoom, scroll and navigate around the device. Also, customers can connect other peripherals to it via Bluetooth 4.0, the USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 port and HDMI port. The SD/SDXC card reader accepts cards up to 128GB in capacity.(4)
Chrome is Secure, Easy to Use, Share
The Acer Chromebook 15 is great for a range of customers who view, edit, create and collaborate both on-line and off-line in programs, such as Office documents and Gmail. Chromebooks are simple to use and ideal for sharing by multiple users, since users can log into their own account to access Docs, website bookmarks and other information. Storage on Google Drive(5) protects files, documents, and photos safely in the cloud, and ensures that the most current version of the file or document is always available and safe, even if the Chromebook is lost or stolen.
Security is a key benefit of the Chrome OS, as it’s automatically updated to guard against ever-changing online threats. In addition, the Supervised Users feature helps get children online in a safe, controlled way.
Model, Availability and Pricing
The new Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 will be available with 16GB of internal storage and 2GB RAM.(4) The new Chromebook will be available in North America starting in July at prices starting at $199.99. It will also be available in EMEA starting in June 2015 at prices starting at €249. Exact specifications, prices and availability will vary by region.
The new Acer Chromebook 15 CB3-531 was unveiled today at the next@Acer press event at 4 World Trade Center in New York, where the company announced its latest devices and solutions for families, students and professionals. For more information, visit acer.com/nextatacer.
1. Gartner “Market Share: Devices, All Countries, 4Q14 Update” February 13, 2015.
2. Battery life may vary depending on usage. Actual battery life varies depending on product specifications, computer settings and applications or features launched. All batteries’ maximum capacity diminishes with time and use.
3. Based on an IEEE 802.11ac draft specification. Actual speed will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network, and other factors. Up to three times faster is referring to the comparison between 802.11ac and 802.11n.
4. Accessible capacity varies: (MB = 1 million bytes; GB = 1 billion bytes)
5. More information on Google Drive on Chrome devices: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/2703646?p=driveoffer&rd=1
6. IDC 2014