The computer may not be as essential in our lives as the smartphone can be, but it is nonetheless an important piece of equipment to have. But not everyone is comfortable or necessarily wants to take the lead in dealing with the fluctuation of Windows. One of the alternatives accessible to the general public is at Google with Chrome OS. Acer is not missing the boat with its range of Chromebooks. Therefore, with this Acer Chromebook Spin 713, Far from their Gaming branch and the Acer Predator Helios 700.
When you do not know what to choose, between the portability of a laptop such as the Acer Swift 5 2020 offers and the performance of a desktop computer such as the MSI Prestige P100 associated with a high refresh rate Gamer screen that can provide the MSI Optix G24C4, one may be led to compromise on any of the criteria. But why make these compromises when we are offered to have the power and portability combined in a gaming laptop? This Acer Predator Helios 700 will certainly answer your questions.
General Info
| Acer Chromebook Spin 713 | Acer Predator Helios 700 | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Acer | Acer |
| Model | Chromebook Spin 713 | Predator Helios 700 |
| Weight | 1.37 kg | 4.9 kg |
| OS | Chrome OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Display | LED FHD | IPS |
| Dimensions | 13.5 inch | 17.3 inch |
| Type | Chromebook | Gaming Laptop |
Display
| Acer Chromebook Spin 713 | Acer Predator Helios 700 | |
| Display Type | LED FHD | IPS |
| Display Size | 13.5 inch | 17.3 inches |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Display Resolution | 2256 x 1504 pixels | 1920 x 1080 pixels |
| Touch Screen | Yes | No |
| Refresh Rate | – | 144 Hz |
| Dimension | 300 x 235 x 16.80 mm | 429.26 x 299.72 x 41.66 mm |
Offering a 13.5-inch LCD screen in 3: 2 format and not 16: 9 like what is usually found on a laptop. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 allows a display with more height, very practical in games or office automation. But it will be a little more restrictive for playing movies and series, generally in the Panavision 2.35: 1 format. They will leave the too large top and bottom edges.
With a resolution of 2256 x 1504 pixels, it offers good visual comfort with a rendering largely detailed enough for the use for which this Acer Chromebook Spin 713 CP713-2W is intended.
It is also tactile for fingertip use. Unfortunately, even if it is not really essential, the integrated stylus is no longer present, unlike previous models. Although the latter is not essential since the touch is quite precise and responsive, some would have preferred its presence, in particular, to reduce fingerprints on the screen. Because yes, touch screen means having traces permanently, as we can see.
The brightness setting is versatile enough to work just as well when you’re in the dark as it is when you’re outdoors. However, for a computer that uses tablet mode as a selling point, it is a shame not to find automatic brightness management to make its use even more fluid.
This Acer Predator Helios 700 offers us a beautiful LCD Full HD of 17.3 inches. Its size is more than enough for a laptop. It gives a nice rendering with a correct size when the computer is used at a classic gaming distance (a little further when the keyboard is out)
Especially since with a refresh rate of 144 Hz and Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, it offers a very fluid visual rendering for guaranteed visual comfort.
So having more would certainly have been counterproductive. The machine’s autonomy is not already very high; this could have been the characteristic too much if it were further reduced. Especially since Full HD is perfectly mastered and the graphics are just as appreciable.
With a maximum brightness measured at 275 cd / m², it is sufficient for indoor use as what this Predator Helios 700 is intended for. With its anti-reflective screen, the brightness remains sufficient even with a lot of light. It will still have its limits, and this will become insufficient if you are outdoors in full sun.
We can see a slight lack of reds and blue tones a little more present in maximum brightness. The more the screen brightness decreases, the more this difference grows, and the bluish tint is felt.
Keyboard
The single-zone backlit keyboard offers a more than classic layout. But not being under Windows, the absence of the dedicated key at the bottom left is also noticeable. This makes it possible to have much larger “Ctrl” and “Alt” keys, especially side by side. It also ignores the traditional “FN” keys, which only leave their multimedia function visible.
On the other hand, to be easily used when switched to tablet mode, the start key is replaced by a simple lock key and is moved to the left side of the keyboard. In the same 2-in-1 use approach, additional volume keys can also be found on this same blank. The trackpad in the central position is quite present, occupying the third area under the keyboard.
However, it houses a backlit semi-mechanical keyboard with a numeric keypad. Of which it is possible to interchange the main showers of the Gamer. Namely, ZQSD, here WASD, since we received it in its QWERTY version.
We also notice that these keys and the directional arrows have a slightly different color from the others. This is done to differentiate them from others due to the presence of MegaForce technology.
The little extra of this keyboard is that it is a Hyperdrift keyboard. It bears this name because we can pull out the keyboard and its touchpad towards us thanks to a translational movement. Being foldable over its entire length just above the touchpad turns it into a wrist rest.
Once the keyboard is out, we see that this reveals the two fans of this Acer Predator Helios 700. Hidden under their ventilation grid which protects them and is separated by a small glass plate which is also backlit under which we can vaguely distinguish the rest of the cooling system.
The air outlets by the coolers are omnipresent on the outside of the computer. We can easily see them on the end of each side of the body and almost the entire rear blank, especially since their bluish color makes them stand out very well.
Performance
| Acer Chromebook Spin 713 | Acer Predator Helios 700 | |
| Processor Name | Intel Core i5-10210U 4-Core | Intel Core i9-9980HK 8-Core |
| Graphics | UHD Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 SDRAM | 32 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 128 GB | 1 TB |
Since this is a Chromebook, it is not possible to use our benchmarks software for Windows computers. It is, therefore, necessary to fall back on the applications of the PlayStore and, in particular, those which one uses to test the telephones. And what we can say is that with a score of 946 in the single score and 3215 on, it barely distances a Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro, which for its part had obtained scores of 895 and 2831, respectively.
Acer Predator Helios 700- Equipped with an Intel Core i9-9980HK, if you like power, you will be delighted since we are on top of current processors. You certainly won’t even know what to do with all that power depending on your usage. Since it has 64 GB of DDR4 RAM, enough to support anything you could ask of it.
To obtain the best performance, it is possible to have access to overclocking of the CPU and GPU in 4 different power modes. Overclocking is only available if the computer is plugged into AC power and the battery is at least 40% charged.
Multimedia
| Acer Chromebook Spin 713 | Acer Predator Helios 700 | ||
| Web-cam | Yes | Yes | |
| Speakers | Yes | Yes | |
| Audio | 3.5 mm | 3.5 mm Input 3.5 mm Output | |
| Usd Slots | 3.0 x 1 3.2 x 2 | 3.1 x 1 3.2 x 1 | |
| Wireless Lan | Yes | Yes | |
| HDMI | Yes | Yes | |
| GPS | No | No | |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 v | 5.0 v | |
| Ethernet | RJ45 | RJ45 | |
| Memory Slots | No | No |
Acer Chromebook Spin 713
We can see between the volume and start keys, an HDMI port, and a first USB 3.2 type C port. On the left is a second USB 3.2 type C port accompanied by a more conventional USB 3.0 type A port. The latter is followed by a 3.5mm mini-jack and a Micro SD card reader.
It is not at the peripheral level that we can blame it the most since it has 2 USB-C 3.2 ports (one on each side) and a charging port. Admittedly, that will only leave one available when charging, but a USB 3.0 Type-A port remains in the game. It is rare to use them all at the same time.
On the other hand, although it has a Micro SD card reader, if you need to transfer the last photos taken with your Nikon Z5 camera, which uses SD cards, you will have to use an adapter. It is obviously possible to use a GoodRAM Micro SD IRDM directly with its adapter to SD card. However, this will not be a problem if you only use it to transfer files from the micro SD card of your phone.
Fortunately, the presence of an HDMI port is part of it. Although it is becoming increasingly rare on new laptops that want to be thin, as proven by Razer and its Blade Stealth 13 ultrabook, which does not have one. It’s perfect for spending evenings on the big screen with a BenQ GV1 video projector.
Despite having two speakers for a stereo system, the sound is really not an asset . Not because the quality is bad in itself. But the bass and treble are quite timid (or even nonexistent for the bass) . On the other hand, the mediums are quite well represented for a good distinction of the voices in particular.
Acer Predator Helios 700
Connectivity level, we can not really say that we feel left out by Acer. The PC has 5 USB ports, 3 3.1 ports, 2 USB C ports, 1 DisplayPort port, 1 HDMI port, and 1 Ethernet port.
We could still blame the location of the latter. For example, the Ethernet port is on the left side. However, it might have been more practical than having it on the back not to have the ethernet cable running right in the middle of the office, especially since it is not a cable that is doomed to be handled regularly like any other cable external device.
To continue on the Internet connection part, you must not neglect the Wi-Fi connection, because indeed, not everyone has the possibility of connecting directly to their box. This Predator Helios 700 offers a so-called “Wi-Fi Killer” feature that makes it compatible with Wi-Fi 6 technology, allowing up to 2.4 Gbits / s.
However, the connection results from “classic” Wi-Fi are inferior to the results obtained with my 2017 MacBook Pro. Be careful; it is not bad for all that. It’s still good, but it’s a shame to have put the package on a technology that few people have without allowing us to get the best of the technologies already available.
The stereo speakers with which this Predator Helios 700 is equipped are located at the front. The sound is therefore sent directly in our direction.
The default audio is a small letdown on a product like this. It is a war machine in a box of the most imposing, yet audio level we end up with a sound not fundamentally bad because it remains well managed. But we do not really feel depth with low bass and a rather low maximum sound volume compared to the size of the beast.
Especially when playing. Indeed the speakers being directly directed towards us, by their positioning on the front face, find themselves in a way obstructed by the keyboard which one tends to deploy as soon as it is necessary. So in itself, almost all the time.
Battery
| Acer Chromebook Spin 713 | Acer Predator Helios 700 | |
| Battery Type | Li-Ion | Li-Ion |
| Battery Capacity | 3 Cell | 4670 mAh |
| Battery Backup | 10 Hours | 3 Hours |
| Power | 45 W | 330 W |
Acer announces a battery life of 10 hours for this small Chromebook, which is pretty decent for a laptop. In fact, with a versatile use between office automation and multimedia in its tablet form, it is quite easy to last a full day without problems.
However, this battery life is especially valid with minimum brightness. It is not surprising to see it melt faster with maximum brightness. A loss of 10% can be observed after 30-35 minutes, which reduces it to just under 6 hours. But who really needs the brightness for up to 6 hours straight?
Acer Predator Helios 700- On such a monster, autonomy is no longer really part of the game. Indeed we find ourselves holding a little less than 2 hours for most classic multimedia use. It can go down to just under an hour when asked for a little more resources. We can also appreciate the presence of an battery management selector according to our use.
Conclusion!
If what you’re looking for is a hassle-free computer for doing office work and relaxing a bit, this Acer Chromebook Spin 713 will do the job perfectly. Chrome OS is also a convincing alternative to Windows, simpler and more intuitive that will suit all the family. However, it will be necessary to ignore software that is not compatible with the Play Store.
Fortunately, its use in tablet mode lends itself very well anyway to the use of applications found in the Play store. Its power is more than satisfactory to run the many games that we find there.
Its biggest weak point is clearly its sound quality, even if we have seen much worse elsewhere. But for a price, we cannot ask it to be perfect.
Acer Predator Helios 700- The performances are very clearly at the rendezvous, but it must also be said, we have just seen a computer launched at the low price of 4800 USD. Although it does have a few flaws, especially concerning its noise pollution during exercise and its not so portable format, these are just a few flaws that do not change its performance in any way. And its use.
Especially since this is a gaming laptop whose place is: placed on a desk accompanied by the peripherals that go with it.
