Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512 Comparison

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Acer Chromebook 515

15.6 inches | October 2021

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Acer Chromebook 512

12 inches | January 2022

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Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512 Comparison Overview

Acer Chromebook 515

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Acer Chromebook 512

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Acer Chromebook 515

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Acer Chromebook 512

See at AMAZON

In this review, we will be comparing Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512, two laptops by Acer. Acer Chromebook 515 was introduced to market in October 2021 and Acer Chromebook 512 was launched in January 2022. There is only 3 months difference between Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 are members of Acer's Chromebook series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Acer Chromebook Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Acer Chromebook 516 GE	October 2022	16.0"	356.6 x 249.7 x 21.3 mm	1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)
Acer Chromebook 311	January 2022	11.6"	296 x 199 x 18.15 mm	1.1 kg (2.43 lbs)
Acer Chromebook 314	January 2022	14.0"	325.4 x 232 x 19.7 mm	1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)
Acer Chromebook 512	January 2022	12.0"	297.18 x 231.4 x 21.08 mm	1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)
Acer Chromebook 515	October 2021	15.6"	357.9 x 240.5 x 20.65-24.86 mm	1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Acer Chromebook 515 and Acer Chromebook 512 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Acer Chromebook 515 Key Specs

Launched in October 2021
15.6" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Pentium Gold 7505
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4
8GB Ram
357.9 x 240.5 x 20.65-24.86 mm (14.09 x 9.47 x 0.81-0.98 inches)
Weight: 1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)

Acer Chromebook 512 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
12.0" TN LCD, 3:2 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Celeron N5100
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 24 EU)
4GB Ram
297.18 x 231.4 x 21.08 mm (11.7 x 9.11 x 0.83 inches)
Weight: 1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Acer Chromebook 515 over Acer Chromebook 512

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~78% vs ~62.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	6.3 mm vs 21.8 mm	15.5 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	15.6 inches vs 12 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen PPI	141 ppi vs 137 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	1920 x 1080 pixels vs 1366 x 912 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	250 nits vs 235 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU FLOPS	0.84 TFLOPS vs 0.3 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Faster data transfers
NVMe Type SSD	Yes vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 1.4 vs No	Fast way to input numbers
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Easily see the keys under low light
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs No

Reasons to choose Acer Chromebook 512 over Acer Chromebook 515

Weight	1.30 kg vs 1.70 kg	0.4 kg lighter
Number of USB-A Ports	2x USB 3.2 vs 1x USB 3.2	Connect more device at the same time
Avg. MSRP Price	$0-400 vs $400-800	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Common Strengths of Acer Chromebook 512 and Acer Chromebook 515

Launch Dates	October 2021 vs January 2022	Both laptops are recent models
Screen Coating	Matte vs Matte	Less reflections on the screen
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards

Common Weaknesses of Acer Chromebook 512 and Acer Chromebook 515

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
HDR Support	No vs No	No HDR Support
Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Acer Chromebook 515 and the Acer Chromebook 512.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.7 kg (3.75 lbs)	1.3 kg (2.87 lbs)
Surface Area	861 cm2 (133.4 inches2)	688 cm2 (106.6 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~78%	~62.4%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.3 mm	~21.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.11 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.242 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Black

Comparison of the Acer Chromebook 515 and the Acer Chromebook 512 External Dimensions

Weight

Chromebook 515 weighs 1.7 kg (3.75 lbs), whereas the Chromebook 512 weighs 1.3 kg (2.87 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Acer Chromebook 515

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Acer Chromebook 512

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Thickness Comparison

Acer Chromebook 515

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Acer Chromebook 512

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Acer Chromebook 515 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Acer Chromebook 512 is 0.11 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Pentium Gold 7505 Intel Core i3 1115G4 Intel Core i5 1135G7 Intel Core i5 1145G7	Intel Celeron N5100 Intel Pentium Silver N6000
Base Frequency	2.0 GHz	1.1 GHz
Turbo Frequency	3.5 GHz
Number of Cores	2	4
Number of Threads	4	4
L3 Cache	4 MB	4 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4 48 EUs	Intel UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 24 EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	10 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	992	623
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	2270	1665

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Acer Chromebook 515 and Acer Chromebook 512.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Pentium Gold 7505

Laptops with: Intel Celeron N5100

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel UHD Graphics Xe G4	Intel UHD Graphics (Jasper Lake 24 EU)
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	300 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1200 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	844.8 GFLOPS	460.8 GFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	System Shared	System Shared
Shading Units Cores	384	192
TMUs	24	12
ROPs	12	6

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Acer Chromebook 515 has a FLOPS value of 0.84 TFLOPS whereas the Acer Chromebook 512 ' has a FLOPS value of 0.3 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Acer Chromebook 515 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	4GB 8GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	1x4 GB
RAM Clock	4266 MHz	4266 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR4X
Upgradable	No	No
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 3.0 (4x)	Custom

With a larger RAM capacity of 8 GB, the Chromebook 515 offers an advantage for multitasking and resource-intensive applications compared to the Chromebook 512's RAM capacity of 4 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Acer Chromebook 515	Acer Chromebook 512
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✖ Not supported.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	0 Wh	0 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	No
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	45 / 65 W	45 W

Moreover, the Chromebook 515 boasts a larger battery capacity of 56 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the Chromebook 512's45 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Acer Chromebook 515

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Acer Chromebook 512

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 256 GB, the Chromebook 515 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Chromebook 512's max. storage capacity of 64 GB.

Storage Options	128 GB, 256 GB	32 GB, 64 GB
Upgradable	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	eMMC
NVMe	Yes	No

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Acer Chromebook 515 and Acer Chromebook 512 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Chromebook 515 has a display size of 15.6".On the other hand, Chromebook 512 has a smaller 12.0" display.The total usable screen area of the Chromebook 515 is 670cm² / 104inch² whereas the Chromebook 512's total usable screen area is 429cm² / 66inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Chromebook 515 features a higher pixel density with 141 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Acer Chromebook 515

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Acer Chromebook 512

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Brightness
The Chromebook 515 offers a higher maximum brightness of 250 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Acer Chromebook 515

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Acer Chromebook 512

Avg: 12.0-12.9"

Acer Chromebook 515 vs Acer Chromebook 512 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Both Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 have USB-A ports. Chromebook 515 has 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports, while Chromebook 512 has 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports.
Both Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 feature 2x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Neither Chromebook 515 nor Chromebook 512 has Thunderbolt port.

HDMI
Chromebook 515 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 1.4) for connecting to external monitors. Chromebook 512 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both Chromebook 515 and Chromebook 512 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 3.2	2x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	No	No
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 1.4	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Optional	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No