Is the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 worth buying?

Acer

Acer Chromebook Plus 516

Ranked #6 in Chromebooks

493 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

Announced May 2024 by Acer

Excellent screen and battery; firmware support keeps it dependable for years.

Consolidated from 19 cited sources across 18 outlets

Where the cited sources landed, as we read them

8 positive sources
7 neutral sources

See the sources

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Pros & cons

✓ Excellent screen
✓ Good battery
✓ 1200p screen
✓ Affordable

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

Evidence 14 articles, 4 video reviews and 1 community source

8 positive sources

BGR Hisan Kidwai · reviewer

The UI feels super smooth, and all apps open instantly. While cloud gaming relies heavily on your internet connection, buyers have reported a really good experience when streaming and playing Steam games on the Chromeboo k. Even with its power, the battery life is solid, with users getting around 10 hours of screen time.

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MergeDroid MergeDroid · 12K subscribers · Oct 2025

It does feel pretty well put together for a all plastic build. It's got the rounded corners again on the sides, just that slightly um shaped edge on the rear corner for the hinge, but yeah, feeling okay. A little bit of flex perhaps, but then that's going to be normal as you get to these larger sizes of Chromebooks.

Watch F Facebook Online Grant · owner

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE delivers power, speed, and a stunning 16-inch 120Hz display built for work and cloud gaming. Smooth performance, a sharp webcam, RGB keyboard, and ChromeOS smart features make everyday tasks effortless. If you want a fast, future-ready Chromebook, this one easily stands out.

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PCforAlla Mattias Inghe · reviewer

För 2 000 kronor mer än Acers prispressade Chromebook Plus 514 får du istället Chromebook Plus 516. Det är inte bara en laptop i ett större format – 16-tumsskärm istället för 14-tumsskärm – utan också en markant uppgradering på andra punkter. Inte på alla – en sak är faktiskt sämre här.

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Trusted Reviews Reece Bithrey · reviewer

The Chromebook Plus 516 (2025) also benefits from the same small 65W USB-C charging brick as its little brother, providing reasonably brisk charging speeds. Getting back to 50 percent took 30 minutes, while a full charge took 82.

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PCWorld Matthew S. Smith · reviewer

The Chromebook Plus 516 is faster than the Chromebook Plus 514, which I recently reviewed with the Core i3-N305 inside. The Core i3-1315U also defeats the Asus Chromebook Plus CX14 with Intel Core 3 N355.

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Mashable SEA | Latest Entertainment & Trending Haley Henschel · reviewer

The battery life of the Chromebook Plus 516 is excellent: It held out for 14 hours and 7 minutes in our testing, making it the third-longest-lasting Chromebook we've tried.

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T3 Article

That alone makes the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 a winner.

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7 neutral sources

LinkedIn Shashank Singh · reviewer

The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 may not win any design awards, but its performance is a compelling argument for those prioritizing speed and efficiency. Equipped with Intel's latest N-series processors and a 16-inch display, it caters to professionals who need a reliable device for multitasking.

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MergeDroid MergeDroid · 12K subscribers · Oct 2025

So, the larger 16-in option, the 516, does feel well put together, but it can't feel quite as robust as the 514, because that offers an aluminum lid over the plastic found on the 516. Also, the smaller, more compact build, of course, it's just going to feel more sturdy in that. And the antenna bands you've got up here on the 514, as well as being functional, I think they're pretty good to me.

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Laptop Mag Article

The one drawback to this gaming Chromebook is its battery life, as the Chromebook 516 GE lasted just 7 hours and 40 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test.

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My Gears Tube My Gears Tube · 2K subscribers · Jul 2026

Users who need specialized Windows software, professional creative applications, or demanding gaming capabilities may find a Chromebook limiting.

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Business Insider William Antonelli · reviewer

The 516 GE's biggest drawbacks are the flaws you'd expect from any gaming laptop: It has loud fans and shorter battery life than other models.

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Notebookcheck Ninh Duy · reviewer

I tested the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 and liked its large display and fast performance – but it doesn’t have the best battery life

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Android Central Article

Massive 16‑inch 120Hz display

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4 stance not read sources

WIRED Luke Larsen · reviewer

I was delighted to see that the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 didn't skimp on a crappy touchpad. That goes a long way toward improving the experiencing of actually using the laptop on a moment-by-moment basis. I wasn't annoyed every time I had to click-and-drag or select a bit of text.

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Chrome Unboxed Chrome Unboxed · 273K subscribers · Apr 2025

In this giant box in front of me is the brand new Acer Chromebook Plus 516. Now, that model name might sound familiar to you, and it should. We've reviewed and talked a lot about the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE that is basically right here in front of me. This isn't the Plus branded one, but it's basically the same thing.

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ZDNET Kyle Kucharski · reviewer