Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is available now for $549.
- Its bright, 120Hz display plays nicely with a solid processor, making it fast, responsive, and optimized for cloud gaming.
- Despite being a gaming Chromebook, the keyboard isn’t great.
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
When Google announced the release of six new Chromebook Plus devices in late 2024, all eyes were on the new models from Acer, HP, and Asus. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE, a beefed-up refresh of the previous cloud gaming model.
Also: Should you take gaming on Chromebooks seriously? Nvidia’s latest move says it all
Chromebook Plus refers to devices that are largely the same as “regular” Chromebooks (light, agile, run on ChromeOS, and are designed for the cloud) but boast more robust hardware and leverage Google’s Gemini for a host of AI functionalities.
The AI functionality in the new Chromebook Plus devices ranges from flashy features like generative AI wallpapers to photo editing tools in the Google Photos app and Google Chrome’s Help Me Write app. More notably though, they come with Gemini on every device and the addition of the Quick Insert key where Caps Lock lives.
Best laptop deals of the week
Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.
The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 120U from Intel’s “Raptor Lake” series from 2024. This is a powerful processor found in much more expensive laptops and the power behind the gaming performance. This, along with the sharp-looking 16-inch WQXGA display with a 120Hz refresh rate and decent speakers make it look more like a solid gaming laptop than a Chromebook.
Also: This Acer laptop from last year is proof that you don’t need to upgrade in 2026
That said, Acer’s Chromebook Plus 516 GE is designed for cloud gaming, not for playing games off of its local drive. It can come with up to 2TB PCIe NVMe SSD storage, but starts at 256GB with 8GB of RAM. This is not a lot, but it’s fine for a device that’s designed to work almost exclusively off the cloud.
In that vein, the laptop features a 2.5G Gigabit Ethernet LAN port along with Wi-Fi 6E for multiple connectivity options. Other ports on this device include an HDMI port, one USB-A port, two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a Kensington lock slot. It charges via USB-C.
In my testing of the 516 GE, I fired up GeForce NOW and launched a few different titles. Performance was quite good across the board on Diablo IV, Manor Lords, and some more casual titles. Everything was up and running within seconds with impressive performance, but high-end titles at max graphics will push it to its limits.
Also: The best Chromebooks for students in 2026: Expert tested and reviewed
It’s easy to use, though. The device’s startup time is swift, and app launches are just as fast. Switching back and forth between apps is also responsive.
I’m not going to say this is the best gaming laptop I’ve ever used, but given what it’s designed for, its performance was impressive, and folks into cloud gaming will absolutely appreciate how good it feels.
The upgraded hardware in the new line of Chromebook Plus enables the devices to embrace multitasking and productivity in a way that was, let’s face it, a little hit-or-miss on previous models. Google touts roughly double the processing power, double the memory, and double the storage on Plus models, letting you run industry-standard creator apps like Adobe Photoshop or Lumafusion.
Regarding the laptop’s physical appearance, the display is definitely the best part. The 16-inch matte screen gets quite bright and features a 100% sRGB color gamut. If you’ve read any of my previous reviews, you’ll notice I can’t stand a dim display, and this one doesn’t disappoint. Also, despite not having a dedicated graphics card, visuals look crisp and smooth.
Also: This premium Lenovo Chromebook made me forget about my MacBook and Windows PC
The rest of the laptop is rather nondescript. The keyboard is made of black plastic with white sides that emulate a backlight, but in my opinion doesn’t do much to portray a sleek design. The glossy black finish on the body is a magnet for fingerprints, and the plastic bezels surrounding the display are what you’d expect from a laptop at this price point.
Normally, I would say the lack of a full-sized keyboard on a 16-inch laptop holds it back, but in this case, the extra real estate elongates the Ctrl, Shift, and Alt keys. While this is a nice touch, the keyboard as a whole is still kind of “mushy”. Also, the arrow keys are small, which is a little puzzling, and the lack of labeling on the top row of keys (which act as function keys) is not convenient for gamers who use those key binds.
ZDNET’s buying advice
If you’re a gamer who primarily streams off the cloud and is looking for a portable, capable device, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a fantastic option, especially for the price. It doesn’t have a high-end video card or tons of RAM, but the display’s fast refresh rate and solid processor make it well-suited for streaming games and multimedia.
Also: How much RAM does your PC really need in 2026? A Windows and Mac expert’s opinion
Despite its niche near the top of the line of gaming Chromebooks, the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE would also make a solid device to take to work with its strong battery life and nice processor.
To entice people to join the Chromebook Plus party, Google is offering the Google One AI Premium plan for free for a year to new users. This gives you not only upgraded storage but also enables you to use Gemini Advanced, including in Docs and Gmail.
