Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE vs ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024)
The Verdict
These laptops serve completely different purposes despite similar price positioning. The Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE is a productivity-focused 16-inch machine with a 2560x1600 display, 13th Gen Intel i5 processor, and impressive 9-hour battery life. Its aluminum lid and plastic chassis feel reasonably premium, though the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage are modest. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024) is a compact 13.4-inch gaming ultraportable weighing just 1.1kg with superior processing power (Core i9-14900H), twice the RAM (16GB), and quadruple the storage (1TB). Its 165Hz display edges ahead at 500 nits versus the Acer's 350 nits, and the Thunderbolt 3 connectivity is more flexible. However, battery life drops to 5 hours, making it less suitable for extended unplugged work. Choose the Acer if you need all-day productivity, excellent battery endurance, and a larger working canvas without Windows overhead. Pick the ASUS for gaming, demanding applications, portability when plugged in regularly, and Windows software compatibility. These aren't direct competitors but rather different solutions for different lifestyles.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE if…
- →120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- →Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- →i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
Buy the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024) if…
- →RTX 4060 in a detachable tablet form factor — truly unique
- →165Hz touchscreen enables both gaming and creative pen input
- →Incredibly light at 2.43 lbs for a gaming-capable device
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
Pros
- 120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
- Ethernet port is rare and valuable for cloud gaming stability
- ChromeOS is fast, secure, and low-maintenance
Cons
- ChromeOS cannot run native Windows games or Steam natively
- 256 GB storage fills quickly for offline content
- 8 GB RAM is not upgradeable
- 1.88 kg is heavy for a Chromebook
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Windows
ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4060 in a detachable tablet form factor — truly unique
- 165Hz touchscreen enables both gaming and creative pen input
- Incredibly light at 2.43 lbs for a gaming-capable device
- XG Mobile eGPU support for desktop-class performance at home
- MUX switch for direct GPU rendering in games
Cons
- 5-hour battery life is very short
- Keyboard is detachable but feels cramped
- Fan noise is loud under gaming loads in such a thin chassis
- Expensive at $1,799 for a 13-inch gaming device
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE | ASUS ROG Flow Z13 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | ChromeOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.88 kg | 2.43 lbs (1.1 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 357 x 254 x 20.4 mm | 11.57 x 8.0 x 0.55 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| USB-A ports | 1 | 1 |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 1 |
| Ethernet | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| Capacity | 65 Wh | 56 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16 inches | 13.4 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS touchscreen |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 165Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 350 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5 | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 12-core (4P + 8E) | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P | Intel Core i9-14900H |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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