When it comes to big-screen Chromebooks built for serious productivity, Acer has been leading the charge for years. With the new Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025), the company continues to blur the line between budget and premium combining a stunning 16-inch 2K display, the latest Intel processors, and ChromeOS Plus features designed for both professionals and students.
In a world where Chromebooks are no longer just for classrooms, this model stands out as one of the best all rounders in Acer’s growing lineup. But does it truly live up to the “Plus” name? After several days of testing, here’s our full breakdown of how the Chromebook Plus 516 performs in real life.
Pros – Cons & Verdict
Pros
- Gorgeous 16-inch 2K display with accurate colors
- Smooth multitasking performance with 13th Gen Intel CPU
- Excellent battery life with fast USB-C charging
- Premium build and comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Slightly bulky for travel
- No touchscreen in base model
- Mid-range webcam in low-light
Verdict
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) combines everything that makes a Chromebook great simplicity, speed, and longevity with the extra muscle professionals need.
Design and Build Quality
Right out of the box, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 gives off a premium first impression. Its aluminum lid and reinforced chassis make it feel sturdy, while keeping the weight around 1.7 kg (3.7 lbs) reasonable for a 16-inch laptop. The steel gray finish with minimal branding adds a professional, understated touch suitable for office or college environments.
Acer’s design team seems to have focused on comfort and functionality. The hinge allows smooth one-hand opening, and the backlit keyboard offers deep key travel with soft tactile feedback. Combined with a spacious Corning Gorilla Glass trackpad, typing and navigation feel effortless.
Despite the larger size, portability isn’t compromised. The 516’s slim 19.9 mm profile fits neatly into a backpack, and the build exudes a solid yet elegant character exactly what productivity users want from a Chromebook in 2025.
Display and Visual Experience
The centerpiece of this Chromebook is undoubtedly its 16-inch WQXGA (2560 × 1600) IPS display. With a 16:10 aspect ratio, you get more vertical space for documents, spreadsheets, and browsing making multitasking smoother than on traditional 16:9 screens.
Colors appear crisp and accurate, and the 300-nit brightness ensures readability even in well-lit rooms. Watching Netflix, YouTube, or editing photos on this large canvas feels immersive and vibrant.
Acer’s ComfyView anti-glare coating helps minimize reflections, so even under fluorescent lighting or near a window, visuals remain sharp. For students, designers, or remote workers who spend hours on screen, this balance between resolution and comfort makes the Plus 516 one of the best visual experiences among 2025 Chromebooks.
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Performance and Hardware
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 is powered by Intel’s 13th Gen Core i3 or i5 processors with Intel Iris Xe Graphics, paired with 8 GB LPDDR5 RAM and 128 GB NVMe SSD storage. It’s a big step up from older Chromebooks that relied on budget Celeron or Pentium chips.
In real world performance, this machine is a powerhouse for ChromeOS. Boot times are under 8 seconds, and it handles 20+ browser tabs, 1080p streaming, and Google Workspace multitasking without any stutter. Even light photo editing on Canva or Adobe Express (Android app) runs smoothly thanks to the improved GPU.
Linux (Beta) support means developers or advanced users can run coding tools or light IDEs with ease. For creative users, the integrated AI-boosted Google Photos editing suite and offline Docs editing take advantage of the Chromebook Plus enhancements.
Whether you’re writing reports, managing spreadsheets, or switching between Android apps and Chrome tabs, the Acer 516 stays consistently smooth and cool, thanks to an efficient thermal design and quiet dual-fan system.
Software and ChromeOS Plus Experience
The “Plus” badge isn’t just branding, it represents a smarter and more capable version of ChromeOS. The Chromebook Plus 516 ships with the latest ChromeOS Plus update, introducing new AI-driven tools and offline capabilities that set it apart from standard models.
You get access to features like:
- File Sync, which automatically saves your Google Drive files for offline work.
- AI photo editing through Magic Eraser and enhanced Google Photos tools.
- Smart Video Call Enhancements background blur, noise cancellation, and lighting adjustments that work across Meet or Zoom.
- Long-term update support through 2033, ensuring nearly a decade of security and performance updates.
The software feels snappy, fluid, and intelligent. Switching between virtual desks, running Android apps, and connecting to an Android phone for notifications all happen seamlessly.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery endurance is one of the strongest aspects of the Acer Chromebook Plus 516. It houses a 65 Wh lithium-ion battery that easily delivers 10–12 hours of mixed usage web browsing, document editing, YouTube, and music playback.
During video streaming tests at 70% brightness, it lasted nearly 11 hours, comfortably covering a full workday.
Charging is equally impressive. The 65 W USB-C PD adapter refills around 50% in 45 minutes, meaning even short breaks are enough to get you going again.
Compared to other large-screen Chromebooks, like the HP x360 Plus or ASUS CX54, Acer’s optimization between the Intel chip and ChromeOS provides better longevity per charge, an essential factor for hybrid workers and travelers.
Audio, Webcam, and Connectivity
The Chromebook Plus 516 doesn’t compromise on multimedia. Its dual upward-firing speakers are tuned with DTS Audio, offering rich, balanced sound with good stereo separation. Whether on calls or watching movies, audio remains clear and distortion free at high volumes.
The 1080p webcam with AI noise reduction and auto-light adjustment is ideal for video conferences. Combined with dual digital microphones, your Google Meet or Zoom sessions look sharp and sound natural.
Connectivity options are generous:
- 2 × USB-C (Thunderbolt 4)
- 1 × USB-A 3.2
- HDMI 2.1 port
- microSD slot
- 3.5 mm audio jack
Wireless connectivity includes Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2, ensuring fast and stable performance even on crowded networks.
In everyday use, these options make the Plus 516 a versatile hub for external displays, storage, and accessories, something not all Chromebooks can claim.
Storage and Expandability
The 128 GB NVMe SSD offers quick read/write speeds for file transfers and app installations. For users needing more space, ChromeOS integrates cloud storage options seamlessly Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive all sync automatically.
The microSD card slot allows easy expansion for offline photo or video storage. Combined with ChromeOS Plus’s smart file caching, you’ll rarely hit storage limits even if you work with large documents or offline media.
Price, Variants, and Availability
Pricing starts around $449 USD for the Intel Core i3 model and goes up to $549 USD for the Core i5 variant. For its size, display quality, and performance, it sits comfortably in the mid-range segment competing directly with the HP Chromebook x360 Plus and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook.
Availability is widespread across Amazon, Best Buy, and Acer’s official site in the U.S. and U.K., with select regions (including Asia) receiving it later in 2025. Student discounts or trade-in offers often reduce the price further, making it a compelling value pick for schools and freelancers alike.
FAQ
Yes, it runs Android apps from the Google Play Store and supports Linux (Beta) for developers and advanced users.
Expect 10–12 hours of web browsing, streaming, and light productivity among the best in its class.
Only select variants include touch; the base model is non-touch but offers excellent clarity and color accuracy.
It feels more premium than most mid-range models, with a metal lid and strong hinge design.
Absolutely. While it’s not meant for heavy video editing or gaming, it’s perfect for writing, research, presentations, and general office productivity.
Final Verdict
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) proves that ChromeOS laptops can deliver both power and polish without the premium price tag. Its large 2K display, Intel Core performance, and long battery life make it one of the best productivity-focused Chromebooks you can buy this year.
From video conferencing to document editing, everything feels fast, fluid, and reliable. The inclusion of ChromeOS Plus features like File Sync and Magic Eraser makes daily workflow smarter and more efficient.
If you’re a student, remote worker, or professional looking for a simple yet powerful laptop that covers all the essentials this is an easy recommendation.
Acer’s balance between performance, display quality, and durability ensures the Chromebook Plus 516 stands out as a true workhorse for 2025.