Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 Models and Review

Promising the moon isn’t the challenging bit; it’s living up to the promise of productivity, style and cost-effectiveness that pinches many computing devices. Not, however, the Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 — an elegantly designed 15.6” laptop that is a new and exciting offering from the Acer family.

It claims to deliver sound performance combined with ease of use, connectivity and viewing pleasure. These promises, indeed, are aligned with the pillars on which the Chromebook rests: cloud-based computing, mobility, and complete assurance about your data. For this new range, Acer has developed three models in its signature style.

Acer Chromebook 15 CB315: Available Models

The Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 is available in three models within a range of $329 to $399.99. Note that the models look and feel similar, all measuring 15.6” and weighing about 4 lbs. They have only a few variations in configuration and pricing — notably the processor strength and power. That said, all the Chromebooks in this series possess the innate surety of performance and security that you expect from Acer.

Model 1 – Acer Chromebook CB315-1HT-C9UA: It is available at a competitive starting price of $329. This model runs the Chrome OS and offers a dual-core processing power.

Model 2 – Acer Chromebook CB315-1H-C9Y4: This mid-priced model in the range is available at $349.99. It boasts of a quad-core processor and a sleek ComfyView display.

Model 3 – Acer Chromebook CB315-1HT-C4WQ: The dearest in the range, this one has a price tag of $399.99. It delivers speedy processing and reliable, superior computing.

Let’s drill deeper and unearth this machine’s capabilities to justify its claims, across the range. We discuss more subtle differences among the models in the rest of the review.

Portability & Design

The latest Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 measures 15.14 x 10.09 x 0.79″ and weighs around 4 lb. It is sturdily built and comfortable enough to carry with you when heading outdoors.

The cross-hair brush pattern used in the design of this laptop is particularly classy, giving it a distinctive appearance. Quite an agile and stylish companion, we daresay, for both your personal and professional environs!

The Performance Meter

The new Acer Chromebook 15 is powered by an Intel Celeron processor at 1.10 GHz. While the CB315-1HT-C9UA model is fueled by an Intel Celeron N3350 (two cores), the CB315-1HT-C4WQ and CB315-1H-C9Y4 boast of a Celeron N3450 (four cores). This is a high-performing configuration and neatly manages your everyday computing needs.

The battery backup, too, will serve you well. The 4670 mAh (three-cell) battery lasts up to 13 hours. This is virtually most of your working day unless you’re an unredeemable workaholic and night owl. (In which case, you’ll only need to use the included 45W AC adapter to plug in and get more juice.)

Read: Acer Chromebook 11 CB311-7H-C5ED Review

All the models have 4GB RAM (LPDDR4), 32GB storage, and shared memory for graphics (LPDDR4 again). The CB315-1HT-C9UA model runs the Chome Operating System, which is excellent in terms of security and streamlined functioning. In fact, it also contributes to the longevity of the battery backup. However, you don’t have to fret about going without apps you have been used to, say Skype or Microsoft Office. The device comfortably supports these Android apps, and you can install them from Google Play. Verifiably, their operation on the Chrome OS is smooth and glitch-free.

Display, Graphics & Sound

On this Chromebook, the display experience is reasonably neat, sharp and crisp. It supports Intel HD Graphics 500 and In-Plane Switching (IPS) on a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080. Since the aspect ratio is a competent 16:9, the display is detailed and makes it possible to decipher minute details in both text and images. Due to the IPS support, the viewing remains unaffected despite the sharpness of the angle you see things from.

A unique feature of the Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 is its technology to give you an improved media experience when browsing the internet or using the webcam. The stereo speakers (two in all three models) are upward facing, which means the sound doesn’t get affected when you keep the laptop on a table or, well, your lap. The front-facing HDR camera (1280 x 720) has a wide field-of-view, making your video-calling experiences more delightful. The coloring and clarity of images are also impressive.

Notably, while the CB315-1HT-C9UA and CB315-1HT-C4WQ support CineCrystal technology, the CB315-1H-C9Y4 model supports ComfyView. This gives it a unique display quality since the ComfyView technology uses a matte finish to reduce reflections on the screen.

Connectivity & Ease of Use

To keep you connected on-the-go, the laptop supports 802.11ac wireless LAN standards. This is almost thrice as speedy as the older 802.11n, so connectivity is fairly fast. It also has two USB 3.0 ports, a card reader, and two USB 3.1 ports (Type-C). The USB 3.1 ports are especially spectacular in their speed of data transfer. To see some numbers here, the speed is reported to be up to ten times that of USB 2.0! This makes sharing of data — even massive audio and video files — very quick and convenient.

Using the Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 is straightforward; the multi-touch display and touchpad are satisfactorily responsive. The keyboard is backlit, so accessibility isn’t difficult even in conditions of poor lighting. Note that the CB315-1H-C9Y4 doesn’t come with a backlit keyboard.

The Verdict

The Acer family has always been committed to brilliant computing performance with unmatched style. The new Acer Chromebook 15 CB315 turns out to be a worthy member of the family, well delivering on its claims at an attractive price point. It can double up as a reliable school companion, professional colleague or home buddy — all with equal ease.

Keep reading: Acer Chromebook 11 CB311-8H-C5DV Review

The processing strength and battery life of this laptop are commendable, as is the commitment to quality display and swift data transfer. It would definitely be well worth exploring this offering if you have been scouting for a quiet, unpretentious but steady performer.