Acer 11" Chromebook model: CB3-132-C6ZD
Here's what I had to say the last time recommended this laptop
Watch the video above to hear why you should (or shouldn't) get it for yourself. This was recorded during the January 11th, 2019 live stream, so if you let the video run, you will also hear me talk about other devices you might be interested in as well.
I make new recommendations according to latest rebates every Friday, and you can see my latest picks here.
Quick Description
Designed to access the web simply and securely, it's an excellent fit as someone's 1st laptop or if your needs away from your desk are basic.
If you mostly want a laptop to check your Emails, social media, and streaming videos, this is a cost-effective choice.
This laptop stood out to me on 3 occasions while compiling the weekly Tech Worth Buying Newsletter. It was most recently selected 38 days ago, selling for $280.
Other Considerations
Here are a few things about this laptop which could come as a surprise. For each point, you will find how to fix it (if it's an issue) and how much to budget for it. Not every point below will be a concern, but hopefully, we can keep your surprises to a minimum.
Frequently Discounted. This device gets discounted on a regular basis (68.82% of the time to be exact).
No Optical Drive. If you still use CDs, DVDs, or Blu-Ray disks on a regular basis, you will need an external drive to read them with this laptop.$30-$150
No Number Pad. If you primarily work with numbers, the lack of a number pad on this laptop could be inconvenient. You have the option of using an external number pad to remedy that, especially if you only need it on occasion.~$20
Limited Workspace. The included screen has a lower resolution than the typical TV or computer monitor. This could hinder your ability to multi-task, especially if you work with multiple windows at once. On the plus side, things will tend to be displayed larger on screen if your eyesight is challenging.
This is easy to fix on a desk by connecting to an external monitor, but hard to address anywhere else.
Assuming you are starting over fresh, you can expect to spend $90 on accessories, for a total cost of $370.
Available at 6 locations, from $279
Based on 171 days of observation, the Acer 11" Chromebook usually costs ~$280 in Canada. If you were waiting for this laptop to drop in price, this could be the day you were waiting for.
Scroll down to find charts comparing the Acer 11" Chromebook to similar devices, to see how well it runs your favorite apps and to find where it can be bought from.
Pricing
History
Here's how this device has been priced up to now:
Here are a few Canadian retailers who currently sell this product:
- Get it New, from Costco for US$210.74, Online Only Last price check: 2019-02-13 13:29:34, EST
- Get it New, from Staples for US$211.5, Online and In-Stores Last price check: 2019-02-15 08:21:44, EST
- Get it New, from Acer for US$211.5, Online Only Last price check: 2019-02-17 14:57:17, EST
- Get it New, from The Source for US$211.5, Online Only Last price check: 2019-02-18 04:05:56, EST
- Get it New, from Newegg for US$220.58, Online Only Last price check: 2019-02-15 10:47:43, EST
- Get it New, from Amazon for US$227.22, Online Only Last price check: 2019-02-16 07:55:53, EST
- New from eBay for US$220.58, has been Out of Stock for 10 days Last price check: 2019-02-14 04:35:18, EST
Specs
Here's how the Acer 11" Chromebook ranks compared to similar devices. The more stars there are, the better (except for the price row).
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| Autonomy | |
| Ease of Maintenance | N/A |
| Bang for the Buck | |
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| Versatility for the Price | |
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| Durability | |
| Power | |
| General-purpose power | |
| Graphical power | |
| Memory | |
| Storage | |
| Portability | |
| Autonomy | |
| Ease of Maintenance | N/A |
| Bang for the Buck | |
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| Versatility for the Price | |
| Price | |
| Durability | |
| Power | |
| General-purpose power | |
| Graphical power | |
| Memory | |
| Storage | |
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| Ease of Maintenance | N/A |
The Meaty details
The Specs
The features
- Built-in Media Card Reader
- Fixed storage: Solid State (very fast)
- Webcam / Front-Facing Camera / Selfie Cam
- HDMI
- USB 2
- USB 3
- 3.5mm Headphone+Microphone combo jack
- Built-in Microphone
- Built-in Speakers
- Bluetooth 4
- Wi-Fi a
- Wi-Fi ac
- Wi-Fi b
- Wi-Fi g
- Wi-Fi n
- USB Type-A
- Multiple Monitor Support
- Built-In Keyboard
- IPS Display
What it's capable of
Here are the tasks this computer can handle and how easily it'll breeze through it. A 5-star rating means it should handle the task at a professional level, a 1-star rating means it can do it, but it likely won't be a pleasant experience.
Activities it will handle
-
Web & Communication
The basics Design Websites -
Audio & Visual medias
The basics Music Production Drawing and Illustrations Photo Editing Video Editing -
Texts & Numbers
The basics -
Video Games
Casual and Mobile Games Enthusiast Games Triple-A Video Games -
3D and CAD
The basics
Programs, Apps and Games it will handle
Activity ratings are good but sometimes, you want to be absolutely sure your next purchase will be able to run a specific piece of software.
A 1 star rating means the program'll be usable (according to the developer's own definition; some are more demanding than others); 3 stars mean recommended specs are met with this device; 5 stars will means you will have plenty of overhead to handle uncommon uses of that program like mods, plug-ins and more.
In the same price range
For roughly the same price, you could get one of these. Anything in there sounds like a better deal?
-
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 from US$230;
~$390 with accessoriesSpecsDevice Ratings
Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck 12.58% better Versatility for the Price equivalent Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability 10.76% better Autonomy 32.77% better Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Processor: Samsung Exynos 7870Graphics: Samsung Mali T830Memory: 2.00 GBStorage: 16.00 GBScreen Size: 10.1"Screen Resolution: 1920×1200Dimensions: 25.40 x 15.53 x 0.82 cmWeight: 0.53 kgdetailed info from US$226.6 - US$226.6 from Samsung (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:37:11, EST
- US$301.36 from Mike's Computer Shop (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:39:24, EST
- US$302.13 from Newegg (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:20:33, EST
- US$302.14 from Best Buy (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:17:25, EST
- US$302.14 from London Drugs (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:34:26, EST
- US$302.14 from The Source (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:36:11, EST
- US$302.14 from Amazon (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:36:49, EST
- US$302.14 from Staples (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:17:34, EST
- US$302.14 from Walmart (New)as of 2019-02-17 04:37:14, EST
- US$303.65 from Tiger Direct (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:35:44, EST
Pricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
Zowie XL2411 24in Widescreen 144Hz 1ms TN LED LCD Gaming Monitor from US$230;
SpecsScreen Resolution: 1920×1080Dimensions: 57.00 x 22.20 x 43.10 cmWeight: 5.90 kgdetailed info from US$226.6 - US$226.6 from Newegg (New)as of 2019-02-17 14:06:10, EST
- US$226.6 from Amazon (New)as of 2019-02-15 08:09:05, EST
- US$226.6 from Memory Express (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:30:39, EST
- US$377.4 from eBay (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:10:09, EST
Pricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
Acer 11" Chromebook from US$220;
~$381 with accessoriesSpecsDevice Ratings
Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck -35.22% inferior Versatility for the Price -30.82% inferior Power -10.07% inferior Storage equivalent Portability equivalent Autonomy 26.05% better Processor: Intel Celeron N3060Graphics: Intel HD GraphicsMemory: 2.00 GBStorage: 16.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.77 x 21.01 x 2.21 cmWeight: 1.36 kgdetailed info from US$219.81 - US$219.81 from Tiger Direct (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:22:23, EST
- US$259.08 from Newegg (New)as of 2019-02-16 07:54:35, EST
- US$298.36 from Best Buy (New)as of 2019-02-15 09:26:53, EST
Pricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
Lenovo Chromebook N42 - 14" from US$2106% cheaper than usual
~$360 with accessoriesSpecsDevice Ratings
Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck -27.67% inferior Versatility for the Price equivalent Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability -20.88% inferior Autonomy 28.57% better Processor: Intel Celeron N3060Graphics: Intel HD GraphicsMemory: 4.00 GBStorage: 16.00 GBScreen Size: 14"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 33.15 x 23.19 x 2.29 cmWeight: 1.50 kgdetailed info from US$203.94 - US$203.94 from Mike's Computer Shop (New)as of 2019-02-15 10:45:08, EST
- US$249.19 from Newegg (New)as of 2019-02-15 10:46:38, EST
Pricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
Acer 11" Chromebook from US$2205% cheaper than usual
~$376 with accessoriesSpecsDevice Ratings
Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck equivalent Versatility for the Price equivalent Power equivalent Storage 11.32% better Portability equivalent Autonomy equivalent Processor: Intel Celeron N3060Graphics: Intel HD GraphicsMemory: 4.00 GBStorage: 32.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.40 x 20.40 x 1.87 cmWeight: 1.10 kgdetailed info US$216.04 from Amazon (New)as of 2019-02-17 12:48:32, ESTPricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the Amazon site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
Asus 12" Ruggedized and Water Resistant Design Chromebook from US$2104% cheaper than usual
~$363 with accessoriesSpecsDevice Ratings
Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck -27.05% inferior Versatility for the Price equivalent Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability equivalent Autonomy equivalent Processor: Intel Celeron N3060Graphics: Intel HD GraphicsMemory: 4.00 GBStorage: 16.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.46 x 20.07 x 2.29 cmWeight: 1.00 kgdetailed info from US$206.21 - US$206.21 from Amazon (New)as of 2019-02-15 08:24:20, EST
- US$225.86 from Walmart (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:07:03, EST
- US$226.6 from Tiger Direct (New)as of 2019-02-18 04:24:07, EST
- US$229.29 from B&H (New)as of 2019-02-15 11:07:14, EST
Pricing Accuracy
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer's site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. ×
