Review: Acer C720 Chromebook with Core i3, best value yet

The C720 Chromebook has become a product line with the release of the third model. The first shipped with an Intel Celeron Haswell processor that I found to be a decent performer. The second, the C720p, added a touch screen to the package. Now Acer has released the C720 without a touch screen, replacing the Celeron with an Intel Core i3 processor. I've been using it for a few days and find it to be the Chromebook to beat.

All three C720 models are physically identical, with similar hardware with the exception of processors and the touch screen on the C720p. Setting my C720 alongside the new C720 with Core i3, it is impossible to tell them apart. It's the first time I am glad there is a "Core i3" sticker beneath the keyboard.

The laptops are made with thin plastic which feels cheap. Mine has held up to the bumps of the road for months, and is actually constructed well.

Due to the nature of Chrome OS and the similarity of the hardware of the C720 line, rather than essentially repeat the reviews of the earlier models, I'll link to them. Check out both reviews to get the details on them and thus this new model.

Acer C720 reviews: Six months with the Acer C720 Chromebook: Still good for $199 | Acer C720P Chromebook (hands on): Touch at a reasonable price | Acer C720 Chromebook first impressions: Fast and cheap

The hardware specs of the C720 Chromebook as reviewed:

This review is concentrating on the performance of the Core i3 processor, since functionally this unit is nearly identical to the two earlier models previously reviewed. You would expect the faster processor to perform better, and that's the way it is. This is the fastest Chromebook I've used, with the exception of the Chromebook Pixel I evaluated last year. That's a significant statement, as I've tested most Chromebooks on the market.

Using the C720 Chromebook, everything happens nearly instantaneously no matter how many browser tabs are open. It doesn't matter what tasks are running, either.

Like the two models before it, the C720 with Core i3 has a great keyboard and trackpad. The keys have a nice tactile feel when typing and the layout is traditional. The button-less trackpad is a nice size and like all Chromebooks it works better than most trackpads on Windows laptops. Controlling the interface is smooth and natural.

The display uses the standard resolution of 1,366 x 768, and has a matte finish. This is better for working outdoors than glossy screens. I first found the screen to be washed out until I turned up the brightness slightly. I now have no issues with the screen.

The Acer C720 with Core i3 (that's a mouthful) is fairly light and thin. It fits in every gear bag I own designed for an 11-inch laptop or bigger.

Even with the performance bump from the Core i3 processor, the Haswell technology keeps the battery life at a reasonable level. Acer claims 8.5 hours on a charge, and my real-world testing has it at about 8 hours. This is good enough for all day usage away from an outlet.

Pros:

• Good performance
• Decent battery life
• Nice size and weight

Cons:

• More expensive than the previous Celeron model
• Low resolution display

Reviewer's rating: 9 out of 10

This Chromebook is one of the best I've tested. The performance is excellent and the user experience quite good as a result. If I was in the market for a Chromebook the Acer C720 with Core i3 processor would be my choice. I do find the Celeron processor (Haswell) in the earlier C720 Chromebook that I own to be quite good, and see no need to upgrade.

The Acer C720 Chromebook with Core i3 is available now from Acer and major retailers. The C720 has a MSRP of $379.99, and comes with Google's 100GB of free cloud storage (for two years) and 12 free GoGo inflight wi-fi sessions.

Additional Chromebook coverage: 

• Six months with the Acer C720 Chromebook: Still good for $199
• Chromebooks: Going offline to compete
• Chromebooks: Stuck between a rock and a cheap place
• 11 tips and tricks for the Chromebook
• Acer C720P Chromebook (hands on): Touch at a reasonable price
• Day one with the Acer C720 Chromebook
• Acer C720 Chromebook first impressions: Fast and cheap
• Chromebooks: Unlikely battlefield for Intel vs. ARM
• HP Chromebook 11 hands on: Distraction-free writing with vivid display
• Google announces new Chrome devices from Acer, Asus, HP, and Toshiba
• Chromebook Pixel: One of the best laptops I've used
• Acer unveils first Chromebook with Haswell for $249
• Chromebook Pixel: 5 tips and trick
• Chromebook Pixel hands on (photos)

The C720 has good viewing angles.

The hinge on the C720 allows pushing the screen back significantly, although it won't go flat.

The keyboard is solid, with good key travel and spacing. It gives decent tactile feedback for rapid touch typing.

The matte display is a standard 1,366 x 768 resolution. 

Ports, Left - Right: Power, HDMI, USB 3.0, audio in/out

Ports, Left - Right: SD card (full-size), USB 2.0, Kensington lock