Acer unveiled the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 and Acer Chromebook 311, its first two education Chromebooks powered by the newly available MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor.
The new Acer Chromebooks have the features and performance technology students need to embrace a tech-forward curriculum and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Packaged in durable designs that can handle challenging school environments, the two new Acer Chromebooks help extend school districts’ budgets and deliver a reduced total cost of ownership.
“Acer Chromebooks are acclaimed as a foundational technology to prepare K-12 students for a lifetime of learning,” said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, Acer Inc. “Their durability, flexibility and ease-of-use help students collaborate and embrace new concepts with enthusiasm. Plus, they help teachers more effectively implement personalized learning strategies for their students, while IT departments can effectively manage Chromebooks to ensure sustainable operation and uninterrupted student learning.”
Performance and Battery Life in Clamshell, Convertible Form Factors
The student-friendly Chromebooks are powered by the new MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor that enables smooth performance for everyday learning and even demanding applications such as STEM programs and Minecraft Education Edition. In addition, the new Chromebooks provide up to 15 hours of battery life and have fast-charging capabilities, making them ideal for students in 1:1 programs that take their devices home for after-school enrichment, as well as for lab and classroom environments where students share devices. The new Acer Chromebooks have a power-efficient design resulting in fanless operation that is whisper-quiet.
The new Acer Chromebook Spin 311 (R725T) has a convertible design with 360-degree hinges that allow it to be used in four different modes, including tablet mode for reading, sketching and taking notes. The Acer Chromebook 311 (C725) has a traditional clamshell design that is compact and lightweight, so young learners can easily use and transport it. Both models feature an 11.6-inch LED-backlit HD (1366×768) display with IPS technology, while the Chromebook Spin 311 also has the option for an Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass display to meet the needs of students and school districts. Both Chromebooks can also be purchased with an optional TÜV Rheinland-certified display that offers low blue-light emissions.
The two new Acer Chromebooks provide access to a range of features that enhance the student experience. Both feature a Full HD webcam supported by dual microphones for class projects, and have the option for a world-facing camera for engaging science and art projects. The dedicated Quick Insert key on both new Acer Chromebooks encourages student creativity and efficiency by providing one-touch access to tools, menus, and other applications. In addition, both systems are offered with up to Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3 for strong and reliable connections to the network and peripherals.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership to Maximize School Budgets
The new Acer Chromebooks meet MIL-STD 810H testing standards and have durability features that protect schools’ investments and reduce the total cost of ownership. Each Chromebook has an impact-resistant exterior, shock-absorbent bumpers, and internal honeycomb design that protects it from drops as high as 122 cm (48 inches), making them ideal for unpredictable K-12 classroom environments. Brackets along the LCD panel and I/O ports provide reinforcement to withstand rough handling and repeated use. Both new Chromebooks have a keyboard with a unique drainage system that routes water out of the device to help protect internal components from spills up to 330 ml (11 oz). The new Acer Chromebooks’ rubber feet on the bottom of the chassis help even the youngest student to carry them comfortably and securely around the classroom or lab.
The Acer Chromebooks have several modular design features that facilitate easy and affordable repairs and replacement, leading to maximum student uptime. The serviceable keyboard can be completely removed and replaced by removing just two screws, and it also has mechanically anchored keys that are difficult for students to remove but simple for IT personnel to repair. In addition, the serviceable USB Type-C port is modular, so repairs and replacements can be quickly made to it if damaged.
The new Acer Chromebooks contribute to Acer’s sustainability goals; they utilize PCR plastics, eco-friendly packaging and energy-efficient designs for an overall reduced environmental impact. In addition, they are EPEAT registered, as well as Energy Star and TCO-certified.
Chrome Education Upgrade, Zero-Touch Enrollment Streamline Teaching, IT Administration
The new Acer Chromebooks are available to schools and school districts with Chrome Education Upgrade, enhancing deployment, onboarding, security and IT support for an entire fleet of Chromebooks. It helps protect sensitive data, so that administrators, teachers and students can focus on utilizing their Chromebooks for learning. IT departments can easily manage devices at scale, conduct admin support, and have new Acer Chromebooks automatically enrolled at school sites through zero-touch enrollment.
