Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible Review

The Acer R13 is a Chromebook that has trouble figuring out who it is. Its build quality and screen are similar to what you’d expect from a much more expensive device, and all of its internal hardware is similar to what you’d find in a device that costs half as much.

It’s not clear why they put low-end hardware in a mid-range case. It’s fine for web browsing, but it’s very slow, even compared to other Chromebooks with similar prices. Still, its low price, long battery life, and solid construction make it a strong candidate for the best budget Chromebook for writers if the Acer Chromebook 514 is not available.

Why did we like the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible?

The Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible is a cheap Chromebook that works well enough. It has a good full HD screen, good battery life, and a good range of uses because it can switch between laptop mode and tablet mode. If long battery life is important to you, the Acer Chromebook 715 is also a good choice.

Pros:

It lasts a long time on a charge.

It was not too expensive.

It’s well made for the price.

Cons:

It doesn’t have enough storage space.

It’s priced too close to better phones.

Display Resolution of Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible

The Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible’s screen isn’t great as far as IPS panels go, but it’s a lot better than the 768p TN panels that are usually found in this price range (the display on the Acer Chromebook R 13 is better and offers rich and vibrant colors).

It has good viewing angles and clear details, but it falls short in most other ways. Its brightness is only about 250 nits, which isn’t very bright, and its colors aren’t anything to write home about since they only cover 64% of the sRGB spectrum.

This makes the screen look dull and off-color, which makes it a bad choice for watching media at that price. At the same price, the Acer Chromebook 514 has a better screen and, to be honest, is a much better machine overall. The Asus Chromebook Flip C302 has a similar screen and better hardware at the same price.

Is Chromebook R13 Convertible Battery Life good?

The Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible’s battery life is by far its best feature. It can run for about 11 hours on a single charge thanks to its low-end ARM processor and small, dim screen. This makes it good for long workdays and gives it an advantage over high-end Chromebooks like the Google Pixelbook i7, even though you have to give up a lot to get those numbers. To say that the MT8173C is slow would be a huge understatement.

Weight

The weight of the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible, which is 3.2 pounds, is just about average for a screen that size. It’s not heavy at all, but its odd shape and weight make it hard to use on a tablet, which is one of its main selling points. It works with the Google Play Store, which means it can run Android apps. This is a real plus for its tablet mode, but 3.2 pounds is a lot for a tablet, and 13 inches is pushing the limits of what is comfortable to use as a tablet.

What is the Durability of Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible?

The Chromebook R13 Convertible doesn’t have a problem with durability in terms of general longevity. Its aluminum chassis is well-built and durable, and the overall build quality is great. The Acer R13 could be mistaken for a higher-end machine if it didn’t have big bezels and a bad screen. It also has a long battery life, which means that the battery should still work well even after a few years of wear and tear.

Inputs

Most of the time, the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible doesn’t have a lot of options for input. You can see a single USB C port, a single USB A port, a microSD card slot, an audio jack, and, surprisingly, HDMI out. More USB ports would have been nice, but HDMI out is unusual on Chromebooks and should be praised. Its backlit keyboard is solid, has a good amount of travel (about 1.6 mm), and is generally comfortable to type on.

Review of the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible

Even though the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible isn’t great in many ways, its build quality and battery life are excellent. But the CPU it has is a bit of a letdown. I wasn’t expecting an Intel Core i7 or anything like that, but a Core M CPU or even a Pentium would have made it a much better product. Its screen isn’t great, so it’s not great for watching movies or TV, and its size makes it a bad choice as a dedicated tablet.

However, it’s still a great choice if you don’t mind the size or want the flexibility. If you’re only interested in its multimedia tablet features, you might be better off looking for deals on an older flagship Android tablet. For example, the Galaxy Tab S6 has been on sale for less than this Chromebook, even though Android’s many limitations make it a much worse laptop.

If you can spend more, the Acer Chromebook 514 is a better choice because it has a better screen and much better internal hardware. However, if you can’t spend more, the Acer Chromebook R13 Convertible is a good choice, especially if it’s on sale.