TechComputers & PCsLaptopsAcer Chromebook 516 GE review: great for gamers?Can you really play AAA games on a Chromebook? Our Acer Chromebook 516 GE review answers that question and more…When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Acer)T3 VerdictThe Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent valueReasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scannerWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
TechComputers & PCsLaptopsAcer Chromebook 516 GE review: great for gamers?Can you really play AAA games on a Chromebook? Our Acer Chromebook 516 GE review answers that question and more…When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Acer)T3 VerdictThe Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent valueReasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scannerWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Can you really play AAA games on a Chromebook? Our Acer Chromebook 516 GE review answers that question and more…
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Acer)T3 VerdictThe Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent valueReasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scanner
(Image credit: Acer)
(Image credit: Acer)
T3 VerdictThe Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent valueReasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scanner
T3 VerdictThe Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.
T3 Verdict
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE makes cloud gaming on a laptop affordable, and does a decent job of playing AAA games via Nvidia’s GeForce Now service. The 16-inch 2K screen is both large and detailed, and the 120Hz refresh rate makes for a smooth gaming experience, as long as your internet can keep up. Away from gaming, this well-specced Chromebook does a good job in general, with fast processors and impressive connectivity, although it doesn’t have a touchscreen or customisable keys, and the backlit keyboard is a bit underwhelming.
Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent valueReasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scanner
Reasons to buy+Large, high-res screen+Fast and responsive+Decent keyboard+Runs AAA games+Excellent value
Large, high-res screen
Fast and responsive
Decent keyboard
Runs AAA games
Excellent value
Reasons to avoid-Not a touchscreen-Backlit keyboard too dim-No fingerprint scanner
Not a touchscreen
Backlit keyboard too dim
No fingerprint scanner
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Once upon a time, gaming on a Chromebook meant running lightweight mobile games likeAngry Birdsthat didn’t demand too much in the way of system resources. If you wanted to run AAA games and get suitably high frame-rates though, you’d need a console like aPS5orXBox Series Xor a dedicated gaming PC.
Recently, though, that’s all changed. Services likeNvidia’s GeForce NowandMicrosoft’s Xbox Game Passare moving games to the cloud, allowing you to access them on lightweight devices such as Chromebooks, tablets and smart TVs, while the platform’s own servers handle the majority of the grunt work.
To take advantage of this clever tech, Acer has launched the Chromebook 516 GE (that’s ‘Gaming Edition’), with a suitably fast processor and large, colourful screen. And even if you’re not into gaming, its superior specs (when compared with the averagebest Chromebookout there) means it’s worth looking at for general use too.
But does the Chromebook 516 GE live up to its promise in practice? I got hold of a review model to find out…
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Price & availability
The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is available in Europe and the US, starting at £849/€899/$650. So it varies rather substantially depending on your location.
It’s promised to arrive in the UK in the first quarter of 2023. We’re not entirely sure why it’s so much cheaper in America than it is elsewhere, but such is economics in today’s world, eh?
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE deals$579View$593.99ViewLow Stock$698$599.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE deals$579View$593.99ViewLow Stock$698$599.99ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE deals
$579View$593.99ViewLow Stock$698$599.99View
$579View
$579View
$579View
$579
$579
$593.99View
$593.99View
$593.99View
$593.99
$593.99
Low Stock$698$599.99View
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
Low Stock
$698$599.99View
$698$599.99View
$698$599.99
$599.99
Show More Deals
Show More Deals
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Design
The ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ keys are physically highlighted on the keyboard(Image credit: Tom May)
The ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ keys are physically highlighted on the keyboard
The ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ keys are physically highlighted on the keyboard
(Image credit: Tom May)
While the 16-inch Acer Chromebook 516 GE is beautifully big, it doesn’t feel at all clunky or cumbersome. Its aluminium chassis, with titanium grey finish, feels sleek and stylish yet sturdy. And while it’s not the lightest laptop around at 1.7kg, it’s still perfectly portable enough.
There’s also a nice touch underneath, in the form of rubberised feet that run almost its entire width, which prove particularly handy when the Chromebook is sitting on your lap, providing some extra airflow.
The keyboard is well spaced and there’s a lovely sponginess to the keys, which are nice and responsive. The trackpad, made of Ocean Glass, is nice and big, and the ‘W’, ‘A’, ‘S’ and ‘D’ keys are physically highlighted.
My only niggle is the backlight on the keyboard isn’t that bright, so it can be difficult to see in daylight. The lack of customisable gaming keys also seems like an oversight on a dedicated gaming Chromebook.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Screen and speakers
The hinge can stretch all the way to 180 degrees(Image credit: Tom May)
The hinge can stretch all the way to 180 degrees
The hinge can stretch all the way to 180 degrees
(Image credit: Tom May)
The jewel in the crown of the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is the generous 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600, also known as 1440p or 2K. In my testing, it consistently provided sharp colours and good levels of brightness, plus the screen’s matte finish helped keep glare to a minimum when I was outdoors. Best of all, the high refresh rate of 120Hz means smooth framerates when gaming, although it’s a shame you can’t turn this down when you’re not playing games, to help conserve your battery.
Aside from games, such a lovely 2K screen also makes this a good purchase for anyone wanting to stream movies and TV shows in high resolution. And even if you’re just using this Chromebook for openingGoogleDocs, the larger display size gives you extra scope for placing multiple windows next to each other, for better productivity. Note that it’snota touchscreen, though.
Finally, the audio from the two top-firing speakers is decent, if not amazing; providing a solid audio experience for gaming, entertainment and video calls, even at maximum volume.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Connectivity
On the left are a USB-C port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and an audio jack(Image credit: Tom May)
On the left are a USB-C port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and an audio jack
On the left are a USB-C port, a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port and an audio jack
(Image credit: Tom May)
The Chromebook 516 GE isn’t quite as thin as someultralight laptops, but that means there’s room for a lot more ports. And so connectivity is another strong suit here.
On the left side, you’ll find a USB-C port and a 2.5Gbps Ethernet port for a wired connection. There’s also a 3.5mm audio jack for connecting a headset or speakers.
The inclusion of a 2.5G Ethernet port is particularly useful for cloud gaming, as a hardwired connection can make for a more stable gaming experience compared to the drop-outs you can get over less reliable Wi-Fi.
On the right side, the Acer offers a single USB 3.2 port, an HDMI port, a second USB-C port that supports 10Gbps transfer speeds, and a Kensington lock notch for physical security.
There’s also support for external displays and TVs, thanks to that HDMI port and support to DisplayPort over USB-C, should you prefer to experience your games on an even larger screen.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Performance
On the right you’ll find a USB 3.2 port, an HDMI port, another USB-C port and a Kensington lock(Image credit: Tom May)
On the right you’ll find a USB 3.2 port, an HDMI port, another USB-C port and a Kensington lock
On the right you’ll find a USB 3.2 port, an HDMI port, another USB-C port and a Kensington lock
(Image credit: Tom May)
Featuring a 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1240P processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 8GB of RAM, the Chromebook 516 GE was full of promise in terms of performance. And it turned out to be as good in practice as it was on paper.
At the same time, you will be missing out on a lot of software that’s not available for ChromeOS, fromMicrosoftOffice to Photoshop to 3DS Max, so there’s a compromise to be made there.
The main takeaway, though, is that if you’re looking for a Chromebook, this is the fastest one I’ve ever used. And whether I was writing articles, editing videos, using Google Drive, consuming entertainment, or just browsing the web, I pretty much experienced zero lag throughout.
The 516 GE is a speedy performer, both for games and general computing(Image credit: Tom May)
The 516 GE is a speedy performer, both for games and general computing
The 516 GE is a speedy performer, both for games and general computing
(Image credit: Tom May)
But what of gaming performance? Well, the Chromebook 516 GE is optimised for both Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud-based gaming service and Xbox Cloud Gaming, which means you can run full-blooded AAA titles on this device, at 1600p / 120fps on the former and 1600p / 60fps on the latter.
Having heard reports of issues with the Xbox service (which were more to do with Microsoft than the Chromebook end), I instead opted to try out Nvidia’s GeForce Now. This currently costs $19.99 per month or $99.99 for six months, but you get a three-month trial with your purchase. That gives you access to over 1,400 games from Steam, EGS, EA Origin, Ubisoft Connect, and GOG.com.
I tried out Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassins Creed and they were both perfectly playable on the 516 GE, with smooth framerates and minimal lag or stuttering, even when I switched from wired Ethernet to my (admittedly decent) Wi-Fi connection.
With multiplayer games like Fortnite, and Apex Legends, I experienced bit of latency at times compared with other, more expensive gaming PCs. Super-competitive players will find that frustrating. But for a casual gamer who’s mainly out to, you know, have fun, I don’t think it’s really an issue.
As for battery life, the generous 65Wh battery did a good job, keeping me going throughout a full day of work (around seven hours) on a single charge with 70 per cent screen brightness. As expected, this dropped down to between four and five hours when gaming, but that’s still pretty decent going.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE review: Verdict
Playing AAA titles on the 516 GE isn’t the perfect gaming experience, but it’s perfectly fine(Image credit: Tom May)
Playing AAA titles on the 516 GE isn’t the perfect gaming experience, but it’s perfectly fine
Playing AAA titles on the 516 GE isn’t the perfect gaming experience, but it’s perfectly fine
(Image credit: Tom May)
We experienced a little latency on multi-player games, which might put off super-competitive players, but for casual gamers it does a great job. It’s a decent laptop too, and its 16-inch display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz and a WQXGA resolution of 2560 x 1600 makes it great for watching TV and movies. Connectivity is especially strong, compared with the limited number of ports on many modern MacBooks and Windows laptops.
It’s not perfect though: the keyboard backlight isn’t very bright, and we’d have liked to see customisable keys. It’s disappointing, too, that the screen isn’t a touchscreen. And more generally, if you only want a laptop for basic tasks like checking social media and emails, surfing the web and making Zoom calls, then this gaming-focused Chromebook is probably overkill. But for gamers and anyone who consumes a lot of media on their laptop, it’s a solid choice.
Also consider
Good alternatives to the 516 GE include theAsus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flipand theLenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook– both of which have 16-inch screens and also support the Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now platforms.
TheAsusoffers the advantage of being a2-in-1 laptop, offering up to 512GB storage, and featuring a smooth 144Hz refresh rate. On the downside, its screen is lower resolution (Full HD) and it has a slightly older 11th Gen Intel processor.
The Lenovo, meanwhile, comes with a 12th Gen Intel Core i3 or i5 CPU processor and a 71Whr battery offering up to 11 hours' battery life, but again the resolution is just Full HD.
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 dealsAcer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all pricesAsus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all pricesLenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 dealsAcer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all pricesAsus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all pricesLenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 dealsAcer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all pricesAsus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all pricesLenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Acer Chromebook 516 GE, Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip and Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 deals
Acer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all pricesAsus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all pricesLenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all prices
Acer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all prices
Acer Chromebook 516 GE$579ViewSee all prices
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
$579View
$579
$579
See all prices
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all prices
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip$499.99ViewSee all prices
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip
Asus Chromebook Vibe CX55 Flip
$499.99View
$499.99
$499.99
See all prices
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all prices
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16$429ViewSee all prices
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16
Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16
$429View
$429
$429
See all prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
TOPICSmicrosoftplaystation
TOPICS
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
PS5 could finally be getting Gears of War and Halo after game-changing decisionThe age of exclusives is coming to an end
The age of exclusives is coming to an end
Is this the most insufferable Netflix trailer of all time?Meghan Markle has a show coming
Meghan Markle has a show coming
Samsung Galaxy Ring just got bigger, and so did its sleep-tracking featuresThe brand expands its compact wearable with larger sizes and enhances the Samsung Health app with smarter sleep and wellness tools
The brand expands its compact wearable with larger sizes and enhances the Samsung Health app with smarter sleep and wellness tools
