Acer C720 Chromebook Review & Specifications

It's not the flashiest laptop, and it doesn't have the best display, but Acer's latest Chromebook has a lot of inner beauty to make up for a mediocre exterior that Computer Shopper calls "humdrum." The 1366 x 768 display is also pretty pedestrian, but Laptop Magazine finds it "sharp enough for viewing photos, reading text and streaming video." However, the C720's real strength is in handling basic computing tasks, and Ars Technica says it gives "you an impressive amount of computing power for your hard-earned bucks, "and its Haswell chip allows the C720 to "deliver outstanding battery life," according to Computerworld. The limitations of Chrome OS still keep it from being a daily driver for most users, but for those who just need an internet-only laptop the $229 C720 offers good bang for the buck.

Key Features: 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 TFT display; 19.9mm thick and 1.25kg; 100GB of Google Drive space; up to 8.5 hours battery life; VGA camera; HDMI; Bluetooth 4.0; 16GB flash storage; SD card slot Manufacturer: Acer

Acer C720 Chromebook: Design

Excluding the vastly more expensive Chromebook Pixel, Google’s legion of cheap laptops can never be accused of trying to be MacBook Air clones like most ultrabooks and that doesn't really change with the C720. The grey plastic lid is broken up only by Chrome and Acer logos along with the matte black base isn't radically different from the C7, but it's the drop in weight and thickness that is instantly noticeable.

At 19.9mm thick and weighing in at 1.25kg, it’s lighter than the Acer C7 Chromebook and the Samsung Series 3 Chromebook, so in a bag or in the hand it’s not going to be a strain. The build quality is very similar to the C7 and Samsung Series 3 Chromebooks, so it’s a largely plastic affair that feels durable and well-built although we did pick up the odd scratch on the chassis.

All the ports and connections are discreetly hidden around the edges of the body. Over on the right you’ll find the Kensington Security slot, USB 2.0 port and SD card slot. On the left, there’s the proprietary power port so no microUSB charging here, a full-sized HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port and headphone jack. Above the screen is a VGA camera that doesn’t yield particularly spectacular results but it does mean you can use Google Hangouts to video chat. There are definitely more expensive laptops on the market that struggle to boast this range of connectivity so when you consider the price, it's really impressive.

Acer C720 Chromebook: Screen & Sound Quality

Taking the Pixel out of the equation once again, Chromebook displays have largely underwhelmed and the C720 doesn't make any improvements in this department. Acer uses a 1,366 x 768 resolution TFT LCD display matching Acer' first Chromebook, the Samsung Series 3 and 14-inch HP Pavilion Chromebook for screen resolution.

It’s bright and vibrant enough for basic web browsing and viewing angles are decent, but it doesn't take long to realise that it lacks sharpness. The app icons are fuzzy around the edges and the screen can look a little washed out. For watching video, colours lack punch and accuracy so don't expect wonders for higher resolution content.

On the plus side, there is HDMI support on board, so you can connect it to a TV and mirror the display to review photos or use it for presentations.

For sound, everything is taken care of by the speaker grille hidden underneath the laptop. Don't expect great things though. It's not the loudest set up and there's very little sense of power or warmth. The higher the volume, the tinnier the experience becomes so you are going to want to grab a pair of headphones or pair up a Bluetooth speaker to get the best out of it.

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