Acer's latest Chromebooks include the first-ever 17-inch model

Have you ever wanted a Chromebook so large it could serve as a desktop replacement? Maybe not, but you’re about to get it regardless. Acer has introduced six new Chromebook models that include what it says is the “industry’s first” 17-inch model, the Chromebook 317 (pictured above). You can read our hands-on with the system to get an in-depth look.

The 17-inch Chromebook unsurprisingly centers on a 1080p display (touch is optional) that Acer claims is ideal for remote school and work — you can participate in a video meeting while plugging away at your latest project. Accordingly, the Chromebook 317 also has an optional 82-degree webcam and equally optional dual mics to improve your chat quality. There’s room for a number pad, a large trackpad, a 10-hour battery,  a microSD slot, and two pairs each of USB-C and USB-A ports.

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Performance isn’t the system’s strong suit, however. The 17-inch Chromebook ships in June starting at $379.99 (€399), but you’ll have to make do with a dual-core Celeron (albeit with Wi-Fi 6) and a conventional screen. Maximum configurations top out at a quad-core Pentium N6000, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of storage. The Chromebook 317 is a mainstream portable with a large screen rather than a mobile workstation, and you should plan accordingly.

There are choices if you need more than the 17-inch Chromebook can deliver. The 13.5-inch Chromebook Spin 713 (shown at middle) and its Enterprise Spin counterpart are billed as the first Chrome OS laptops to meet Intel’s Evo specifications for performance. That means 11th Gen Intel Core processors up to the i7, a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6, fast charging, and at least nine hours of battery life — Acer estimates 10 hours. You’ll otherwise get familiar Chromebook Spin 713 features, including a 2,256 x 1,504 touchscreen and a military-grade aluminum body. They ship in June starting at $699.99 (€769) for a unit with a Core i5, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

The two remaining models, the 14-inch Chromebook 514 (below), its Chromebook Enterprise 514 sibling, and the 14-inch Chromebook 314 are all aimed at the mainstream, including students. Both 514 laptops boast Pentium and 11th Gen Core chips, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, Wi-Fi 6 and military-grade bodies. The lone ARM system of the mix, the Chromebook 314, runs on an eight-core MediaTek MT8183 chip and promises up to 15 hours of battery life, albeit with ‘just’ USB-C.

The Chromebook 314 is due in July starting at $269.99 (Europe in August for €329), while the two 514 variants will reach Europe in August at €549 (October for the US, when they’ll cost $599.99). They won’t be as attention-getting as the 17-inch Chromebook 317, but they might make the most sense if you value performance over raw visual real estate.