Save $80 on what could be Chromebook of the year: Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is $549
When I reviewed the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, I said it was in the running for my “Chromebook of the year” pick. For $629, you get a high-end convertible with 10th-gen Intel Core i5 paired with 8 GB of memory, which is more than enough horsepower for most people. I think it’s a great value at that price but it’s on sale at Best Buy now for $549.
From my review:
The price to value ratio for the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is super high. It can easily handle the workload of a student who’s learning remotely. It’s ideal as an all-day browser and online productivity machine for anyone who needs more horsepower than an entry-level Chromebook. Even developers could be happy with this package based on my usage of Visual Studio Code in Linux. For Android Studio folks, you’ll probably want a Chromebook with more memory though.
Keep in mind that the Spin 713 is the successor to my daily driver purchased last year, the Acer Chromebook Spin 13. Not only is the Spin 713 improved in many ways, even at its suggested retail price is about $200 lower than the comparably equipped prior year model.
To be clear, you have to want a touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio if you’re considering the Spin 713. I find the speakers to be lacking in quality as well, so that’s something to consider dealing with or preparing to use headphones for audio content. There’s also no integrated stylus like the Spin 13 has but truth be told: I didn’t buy that model for the digital pen. Unless having one is important to you, it’s an easy feature to do away with.
Aside from the very capable Core i5 CPU, there’s another nice hardware upgrade in the newer Spin 713 as well: NVMe storage which is much faster than the eMMC storage used in most other Chromebooks. There are exceptions such as the Asus Chromebook Flip C436 and Samsung Galaxy Chromebook. They use faster NVMe storage but cost $799 and $999, respectively. Acer has somehow found a way to get high-end Chromebook components in the Spin 713 while keeping the cost much lower than its competitors.
Simply put, you’re getting a lot of Chromebook for the money here. Unless your budget is still in the sub-$500 range or you only need an entry-level device, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 at this price is a great deal. Here’s a rundown of the specs to give you an idea why I think that:
| CPU | Intel Core i5-10210U Processor |
| GPU | Intel UHD 620 Graphics |
| Display | 13.5-inch 3:2 2256 x 1504 touchscreen, USI stylus support |
| Memory | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD, microSD card for expansion |
| Connectivity | Dual-band WiFi6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Input | Backlit keyboard, multitouch trackpad, dual microphones, 720p webcam |
| Ports | 2 USB Type-C (3.2), 1 USB Type-A, combination microphone / headphone jack, HDMI out |
| Battery | 48 WHr, claimed run-time of 10 hours |
| Weight | 3.02 pounds |
| Software | Chrome OS automatic update expiration date: June 2028 |
Update: This post was originally published on November 16. As of today, the deal is back.
”Acer has somehow found a way to get high-end Chromebook components in the Spin 713 while keeping the cost much lower than its competitors.”
I opted for the Asus Chromebook Flip C436. There are reasons perhaps for the higher price. Although the Asus has an i3 CPU and a 16:10 aspect ratio, it has a fingerprint scanner and keyboard backlighting. The speakers are decent and the build is quite attractive as well as sturdy. Still, apples-to-apples, rarely can anyone beat Acer on price.
Shortly after this chromebook was released Best Buy ran a special on it. I had really been thinking to buy SOME KIND of new computing device. I had used an Acer 720P (?) for a long time, but it was way long in the tooth and hadn’t received any updates for a long time. As soon as I saw Kevin’s notice that the S713 was on special at Best Buy I placed an order and picked it up the same day at my local Best Buy.
They do car delivery really well. You pull up, send a text message with your license plate number and a Best Buyer walks out. I poppped my trunk open, the put the box inside my car, I closed the trunk and drove off.
All the specs on this laptop are right on. I know I could have spent more money but I think it would have been diminishing returns… This is enough for me and will hold me for a few years.
Battery life – that is a hot topic these days. When I use this chromebook all day I hammer it all morning. I always keep like five or six tabs open. By noon I am hungry. I don’t have a servent making food for me. So I have to stop and take a break.
Breaktime = charge the chromebook <— easy to remember!
At the end of my lunch break, the chromebook is 100% – it charges really fast.
Anybody who can work on one of these things all day without getting up and stretching their legs or getting some food is pulling your leg – seriously. Think about it!
Memory – there aren't many chromebooks with 8 gb of memory – all computing devices like memory. Don't cut yourself short here.
NVME – super important. This is the new drive standard. Don't settle for SSD anymore. And forget the other one – emm? I Forget.
Backlit keyboard – also super important. Right now I'm out on the patio and there's plenty of light. At night the room is dark. If you can't see the keyboard you can't use the device. You gotta get backlit keyboard. Keep looking until you find one.
Also the keyboard on this thing is perfect for me and I was a Thinkpad user for many many years.
2 usb ports! Yes!!
Oh – and get a USI pen – they are available now – I got mine from HP.
Just make sure it's a real USI pen and not a fake.
I think people are a little confused, because for YEARS they saw the Pixelbook priced at like $999 and were told "it's top of the line!" ( and it was!)
And now there are many chromebooks priced at half that price that are excellent machines. But people are still stuck with that $999 price.
You don't need to pay that price anymore!
Thanks Kevin!
Yup, I know you’re thrilled with yours, Harry. Great to hear!