Acer has added a new member to its Chromebook lineup, the C720, with more RAM, battery life and an improved processor.
Acer, one of the biggest PC makers, is known for its affordable and high-end Chromebook options. Now, the tech giant is taking control of the industry by offering the first-ever Intel Core i3-powered Chrombook. The Acer C720 offers extra processing power and upgraded RAM options along with improved battery life.
According to Acer, the latest C720 is the industry's first Chromebook to come pre-loaded with Intel Core i3 under the hood. The previous model in the C720 lineup was powered by Intel Celeron processor. Acer has basically added some extra power and improved battery life of up to 8.5 hours while keeping the outlook intact. The new Chromebook C720 comes in two models, C720-3404 and C720-3871, with different RAM sizes.
"This is an incredibly exciting time to be a leader in the Chromebook market, since customers are responding with tremendous enthusiasm for the product's performance, capabilities and value," Eric Ackerson, senior product marketing and brand manager, Acer America, said in a press release, Thursday. "We've been breaking new ground with our Chromebooks since 2011, and our new Intel Core i3 model will deliver more of what our customers love about our Chromebooks, including excellent performance and all-day battery life."
The Acer C720-3404 is the pricier version with 4GB RAM, while the C720-3871 comes with downgraded 2GB RAM. Both laptops feature similar specifications such as 11.6-inch display with 1366x768 pixel resolution, Wi-Fi, built-in webcam, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 and HDMI ports. Both models will come with 32GB of solid state drive storage to power up the machines in less than 7 seconds.
Acer's C720 Chromebook lineup has been highly popular, mainly due to its different price options. The company launched the first C720 model in October last year, with Intel's Haswell processor for $249.99. Later, the Acer C720-2848 targeted the low-end market with its $199 price tag. In January this year, Acer further expanded its lineup with all-touch C720P model in new colors after announcing the first touch Chromebook in November. Acer claims it controls 46.7 percent of the Chromebook market share and new additions should help boost its presence in this category.
The Acer C720-3404 and C720-3871 will be available in North America starting this month for $379.99 and $349.99, respectively.
