Acer's Chromebook Vero 514 is the first Chromebook in its eco-focused Vero line, and it balances a sustainable design with impressive specs too.
The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 is the latest Chromebook from the Taiwanese manufacturer, and it is the first ChromeOS device to launch under its eco-conscious Vero line. Vero is Acer's line of products made with a strong focus on sustainability. Vero products are made from recycled materials and packed in recycled packaging. Acer debuted the line in 2021 to reduce waste and minimize environmental impact.
The Vero line includes the Windows-powered Aspire Vero laptops, Vero monitors, Vero projectors, Vero All-In-One and Vero mouse and keyboard. However, Acer isn't the only brand to use recycled materials. Many technology manufacturing companies have begun incorporating more recycled materials into their products and packaging. Others have also announced programs that make it easy for users to repair their devices to use them for longer.
RELATED: How Acer's Chromebook Tab 510 ChromeOS Tablet Compares To The Rest The Acer Chromebook Vero 413 is a 14-inch Chromebook with 30 percent of its chassis and screen bezel and 50 percent of its keycaps and speakers made from post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic. Acer says the Chromebook's production has helped reduce plastic waste in the ocean as it uses ocean-bound plastics in its internal fan housing and on its OceanGlass touchpad. Furthermore, the device's exterior is reported to be impact resistant and meets MIL-STD 810H standards. Finally, the Acer Chromebook Vero 413 is available in Cobblestone Grey, which Acer says doesn't feature any paint on its exterior.
Acer's new Chromebook has a 14-inch full HD anti-glare display covered with Gorilla Glass and optional touchscreen support. The screen has a brightness level of up to 300 nits and a 100 percent sRGB color range. While Acer claims that the Acer Chromebook Vero 413 has thin bezels and an 88 percent screen-to-body ratio, it has a thick chin. The forehead, which isn't as big, is home to a "full HD flare-reducing webcam" that works in conjunction with DTS audio and a smart amplifier for top-quality video calls. In addition, the Chromebook's display is reported to be 99 percent recyclable.
Inside the Acer Chromebook Vero 413 is Intel's 12th Gen processor (up to Core i7), and it is paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR4x RAM and up to 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD. To make it easy to upgrade the RAM and storage, Acer says it uses standard screws for the bottom cover. In addition, the Chromebook packs a sufficient number of ports, so owners may not need to pick up a USB hub. There are two USB-C ports, a full-sized USB-A port, an HDMI 2.0 port, and an audio jack. The Acer Chromebook Vero 413 also has WiFi 6E and an optional backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanner.
Acer ships the new Chromebook in packaging made from 90 percent recycled paper and uses 100 percent recycled plastic for the notebook bag and keyboard sheet. A valuable addition is that users can transform the inner packaging into a triangular laptop stand. The Acer Chromebook Vero 413 will be available in the U.S. starting in October for $499. It will also make its way to Europe in November with a €599 starting price.
Habeeb enjoys writing about the consumer technology space and has a keen interest in wearables, Android smartphones and tablets, and Chromebooks. When he's not writing, he's catching up on the latest TV shows and movies.