Quick Summary

SpecificationsReleased in September 2013, the Acer C720 Chromebook is based on ChromeOS and is powered by a dual-core Haswell-based Intel Celeron 2955U (1.4 GHz) processor with 2GB of RAM (with 4GB available in some models)and a 16GB or 32GB SSD. At a low price it has speed, portability and the ability to boot quickly out of sleep or hibernation and run for 8–9 hours on a battery that weighs just 1.25kg. Its hardware has, surprisingly, turned out to be remarkably durable and hacker-accessible over time.

Performance & Battery

Chrome OS responsiveness:

Boots up in 6-7 seconds, resume from sleep is immediate. Applications run quite well on the Haswell micro-architecture – web browsing, Google Docs, and streaming video.

Battery life:

Plan on 8.5–9 hours of light use on Chrome OS. Under such heavier loads it still hangs around 6 hours. With Linux battery life is a tiny bit lower, 5 – 6 hours approximately.

Display, Audio & Build Quality

• Display: Matte screen with decent clarity. Viewing angles and color reproduction are limited due to the TN panel.

• Audio: Loud for its size with decent clarity.

• Thermals & Noise: Stays cool on light tasks. Fans spin up under heavy loads but generally stays quiet.

Chrome OS & Offline Use

ChromeOS is speedy, safe, and easy. It’s perfectly fine for web-based work, like email and Docs, but offline functionality remains less robust than it is on Windows or Linux.

Mod Friendly: Linux & Coreboot

It’s a big hit with developers and enthusiasts, the C720 is. It also features support for developer mode, Coreboot firmware, and operates Linux distributions such as GalliumOS and Ubuntu with ease — especially the 4GB version. That makes it an ideal, inexpensive Linux laptop.

“What a little champ… runs Gallium OS pretty well… I’d say this is by far one of the most competitive Chromebook for the price! — Reddit User

Final Verdict

By 2025, the Acer C720 is still a pretty viable laptop. It’s fast for you to browse, write and stream with, and when Linux is installed you have a full desktop to replace for general use. For students, coders and otherwise tech-interested folks who work within a budget, the C720 is still the techie’s ticket.