Acer Chromebook Plus 516 Series

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE CBG516-2H

Specifications

Price comparison

Average Score: 81.13% - good

Reviews

80% I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 and liked its large display and fast performance – but it doesn’t have the best battery life
Source: Techradar
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is a large Chromebook with a vibrant and sharp display and great performance. Its ultra large size might be overkill for some, though, and limits its portability credentials – as too might the slightly disappointing battery life. Still, if you’re looking for a high-performing Chromebook that’ll stay put, the Chromebook Plus 516 is a solid choice.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/30/2025
Rating: Total score: 80% price: 70% performance: 90% mobility: 50% workmanship: 80%

75% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 Review: Basic Chromebook With a Big Screen and Battery
Source: CNet
There is nothing wrong with the Chromebook Plus 516 to prevent a recommendation. Its shortcomings -- uninspired plastic design, weak audio output, no keyboard backlighting -- are not uncommon to a Chromebook. However, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is clearly a better buy when it can be found for less. I would only point you toward the Chromebook Plus 516 when it's on sale and the GE model isn't. The full price of the GE model is $649, which is $170 more than the "non-GE" Chromebook Plus 516. That's a reasonable discount for giving up some screen resolution and speed, processing power, keyboard backlighting and an aluminum lid. But when that price difference not only disappears but swings the other way, there's no reason to choose the Chromebook Plus 516 over the GE model.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 04/25/2025
Rating: Total score: 75%

80% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2025) Review
Source: PC Mag
When it comes to cloud gaming, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE proves that Chromebooks can fill a special niche, improving upon the original Chromebook 516 GE. With faster processing, a vivid, high-refresh-rate display, and an enhanced RGB, anti-ghosting keyboard, the new Chromebook Plus model proves that the gaming Chromebook category has a place in the ChromeOS lineup and even improves when paired with the enhancements of Chromebook Plus. Whether you're an avid gamer making the most of online streaming services like GeForce Now or a budget shopper who just wants an exceptional Chromebook, you'll quickly see why the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE won our Editors' Choice honors after using it.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/03/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%

70% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE review: Did the gaming Chromebook level up?
Source: Laptop Mag
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a cloud gaming device. It does well on productivity metrics, but its on-device gaming performance is outpaced by your average smartphone. And most of the games you could play on the 516 GE are better optimized for phones and touchscreen devices anyway, leaving the Chromebook Plus in the dust. Unfortunately, the updated model does not fix the things we disliked about the original 516 GE. The keyboard is still mushy, the battery life is sub-par, the audio is still tinny, and the display is still a standard IPS without touchscreen support. If you wanted a gamer-lite productivity machine with color LED backlights and a quality webcam, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE isn’t a bad option. But ultimately, you can run GeForce Now and Steam for ChromeOS on any Chromebook. So, you’re probably better off going for the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus instead, because you get a far nicer display, longer battery life, and a better overall Chrome device.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 12/21/2024
Rating: Total score: 70%

84% I played AAA games on a 'gaming Chromebook' with GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass — which one is better?
Source: Mashable
Put one way, the Chromebook Plus 516 GE is an incredible value: You can play high-end PC games at their highest settings and highest frame rates for less than the cost of a PS5 Pro. As a nice bonus, it’s also a fully functional laptop. This $650 machine is expensive and beefy by Chromebook standards, but it’s still a better value than a gaming laptop as long as you don’t mind game streaming. Quality battery life, a great keyboard, and a solid gaming display seal the deal. I might never buy one of these for myself, but there’s definitely someone out there who would get the most out of the Chromebook Plus 516 GE.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/07/2024
Rating: Total score: 84% performance: 90%

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE review: worth the upgrade? [VIDEO]
Source: Chrome Unboxed
If you can still find the original 516 GE, especially at a clearance price, it’s definitely the better buy. You’ll get the same great performance and features for less money. However, if you can only find the Plus version 516 GE, don’t worry. It’s still a fantastic Chromebook that you’ll enjoy using and the $649.99 MSRP has always been a very fair deal on both of these versions of this incredible Chromebook. At some point in the near future, only the new model will be available, so if you are seeing this when both are available, definitely choose the more affordable option at the time.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/26/2024

90% Can you play games on a Chromebook Plus? I tested one to find out
Source: Android Authority
If you are interested in a Chromebook that can handle your business and casual needs, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is perfect as long as your apps and services of choice are either available directly through the web, as an Android app, or can be sideloaded through the Chromebook’s Linux compatibility layer. As a gaming device? Chromebooks aren’t still ready to take the gaming world by storm. Just like I said previously, this is more on Google than Acer. Steam support is still a beta feature that’s sort of “try at your own risk” as results can vary from game to game. Additionally, the death of Stadia makes the whole cloud gaming angle a little harder to sell, even if it plays nicely with all the major 3rd party cloud platforms.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/16/2024
Rating: Total score: 90%

90% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE (2024) review: a great, if not mind-blowing, refresh
Source: Techradar
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a refresh of the first gaming Chromebook, a title I thought to be functionally useless until I tried out the laptop for myself. The new version is a fine upgrade as the specs have all been improved (and doubled in some cases), it sports an excellent display, and the keyboard and touchpad are still great. However, the sound quality is still awful and though affordable for a gaming machine it's on the pricey side for a Chromebook.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 06/29/2024
Rating: Total score: 90% price: 80% performance: 100% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%

80% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE review: A bit weird, but still great
Source: PC World
Acer’s Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a strong pick for shoppers who want a ChromeOS laptop with good performance, lots of storage, and a big screen. The $650 price tag is a bit high for a Chromebook, but the 516 GE offers a lot of value for the money, and it’s sure to appeal to ChromeOS loyalists. It’s also a solid platform for cloud gaming, as the 120Hz display offers good motion fluidity. However, the updated Core 5 120U processor puts the new 516 GE in an odd spot. It has two fewer cores than the Core i5-1240P in the outgoing model and, as a result, delivered slightly lower performance overall. I still recommend the 516 GE, but the new model feels more like a marketing maneuver than a useful update.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/07/2024
Rating: Total score: 80%

One of the best laptops you can buy for less than $700 is not what you'd expect
Source: Zdnet.com
If you're a gamer who primarily streams off the cloud and is looking for a portable, capable device, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a fantastic option, especially for the price. It doesn't have a high-end video card or tons of RAM, but the display's fast refresh rate and solid processor make it well-suited for streaming games and multimedia. Despite its niche near the top of the line of gaming Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE would also make a solid device to take to work with its strong battery life and nice processor. To entice people to join the Chromebook Plus party, Google is offering the Google One AI Premium plan for free for a year to new users. This gives you not only upgraded storage but also enables you to use Gemini Advanced, including in Docs and Gmail.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 06/02/2024

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE CBG516-2H, Core 3 100U

Specifications

Price comparison

Average Score: 80% - good

Reviews

80% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Affordable and reliable
Source: T3
In conclusion, let's start off with the biggest appeal: the price. You won't find many genuinely usable laptops cheaper than this one. That alone makes the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 a winner. This Acer is more than just 'usable', though, it's actually pretty good in a lot of areas – and that means it's certainly one of the better-value Chromebooks you're going to come across at this screen size. There are always going to be trade-offs at this grade, though. A Chromebook is no MacBook Air in terms of design and build. The battery life, audio, and build quality are all fairly average, too, while the core spec is somewhat basic – so keep your expectations in check.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/18/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) Review
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) is a solid Chromebook for those wanting a big-screen option with modest power, solid battery life, and a good port selection. It also provides some clever software. Just watch out for a heavier frame and its more generic looks. Paying more obviously gets you more, with higher-priced models upping the resolution on the screen with a more inspiring and lighter frame, such as with the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus. With this in mind, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) still ticks the right boxes if you’re after a competent, affordable Chromebook with the benefit of more screen real estate. For more options, check out our list of the best Chromebooks we’ve tested.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 09/18/2025
Rating: Total score: 80%

Acer Chromebook Plus 516 CB516-1H

Specifications

Price comparison

Average Score: 80% - good

Reviews

80% Acer Chromebook Plus 516 review: Not pretty, but pretty fast
Source: PC World
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 would be just another middling Chromebook, but it’s saved by two perks: the large display and the Intel Core i3 chip. The large screen provides a great alternative to the often cramped 14-inch displays most Chromebooks ship with, and the Intel Core i3 processor is a significant upgrade over Chromebooks with lower-tier Intel hardware, as well as those with entry-level MediaTek Kompanio chips. There are downsides. Pricing seals the deal, as the Chromebook Plus 516 isn’t any more expensive than competitors with smaller displays and less capable CPUs. It might not be pretty, but the Chromebook Plus 516 is a good choice if you want a fast, functional Chromebook with lots of display real estate.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/27/2026
Rating: Total score: 80%

Comment

Acer: In 1976, the company was founded in Taiwan under the name Multitech and was renamed Acer or Acer Group in 1987. The product range includes, for example, laptops, tablets, smartphones, desktops, monitors, TVs and computer peripherals. Since 2007, the group has merged with Gateway Inc. and Packard Bell, which also market their own laptop product lines.

Acer computers are designed for a variety of purposes, including ultrabooks for mobile use, gaming laptops for gamers, affordable options for everyday tasks, and 2-in-1 convertible laptops for versatility. Acer's product portfolio also includes tablets that offer portable computing and multimedia capabilities.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

Intel Iris Xe G7 80EUs: Integrated graphics card in Intel Tiger Lake G7 SoCs based on the new Gen. 12 architecture with 80 EUs (Execution Units / Shader Cluster). The clock rate depends on the processor model. The Tiger Lake chips are produced in the modern 10nm+ process at Intel.

Intel UHD Graphics 64EUs: Integrated graphics card in Intel Alder Lake SoCs based on the new Gen. 12 architecture (Xe) with 64 EUs (Execution Units / Shader Cluster). The clock rate depends on the processor model. 

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

Intel Raptor Lake-U:

Core 5 120U: High-end mobile processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Offers 2 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores and can process 12 threads simultaneously. The maximum turbo clock of the P cores is 5 GHz.

Core 3 100U: High-end mobile processor based on the Alder Lake architecture. Offers 2 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores and can process 8 threads simultaneously. The maximum turbo clock of the P cores is 4.5 GHz.

i3-1315U: Raptor Lake-U based mobile CPU with 2 performance cores and 4 efficient cores. The performance cores offer hyper threading, leading to 8 threads that can be processed. The CPU clocks from 0.9 to 4.5 GHz. The TDP is specified at 15 Watt.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.

16.00:

This range for display formats was and is a rarity. It is larger than the general standard of 15 inches, but not yet in the range of large workstations. One usually has higher screen resolutions available, but portability suffers from that.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

No weight comment found (one expected)!

80.82%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

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