Acer Chromebook 311 model: CB311-9H-C0Z8
Ranked #3 among Laptops priced under $525.
Quick Description
Chromebooks excel as easy-to-carry travel companions for those of us who need to remain connected on the go with a focus on online resources and the cloud, and this model is no exception. It does not offer the most connectivity options, but this is fixable with a USB-C dongle and charging via USB-C opens a few possibilities, like using portable battery banks and travel chargers.
This laptop stood out to me on 3 occasions while compiling the weekly Tech Worth Buying Newsletter. It was most recently selected on 2020-09-11, selling for $270.
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 (54.43% of the time to be exact).
Slow storage. Once started, this laptop should perform ok, however, expect it to take some time to start up, launch programs and open large documents. This could potentially be fixed by replacing the hard drive with a faster component but I couldn't confirm that it is indeed an option in this case.$60+
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+
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.
Set Expiration Date. This laptop will cease to receive updates from Google after June 1st, 2026, making it more vulnerable to new threats past this date. If you're adventurous, some users have been able to turn their Chromebooks into Linux machines before, but it does require a bit of extra know-how, and most people will likely want to look for a replacement past this point.
Every tech company declares its products obsolete and stop supporting them eventually; Google mostly differs by setting this date long in advance instead of notifying us after the fact. Still, this information should play a role in your decision, especially if you're considering buying an older model.
Assuming you are starting over fresh, you can expect to spend $18 on accessories, for a total cost of $320.
Currently Exclusive to Best Buy for $300
Based on 79 days of observation, the Acer Chromebook 311 usually costs ~$350 in Canada. The lowest price on record for this laptop is $249.99. 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 Chromebook 311 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:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Best Buy at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.Specs
Here's how the Acer Chromebook 311 ranks compared to similar devices. The more stars there are, the better (except for the price row).
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| Ease of Maintenance | N/A |
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The Meaty details
The Specs
The features
- Built-in Media Card Reader
- IPS Display (incl. PLS, AHVA, etc.)
- Multiple Monitor Support
- USB Type-C
- Built-In Keyboard
- Built-in Microphone
- Built-in Speakers
- Bluetooth 5
- Wi-Fi a
- Wi-Fi ac
- Wi-Fi b
- Wi-Fi g
- Wi-Fi n
- USB 3.1
- USB Type-A
- 3.5mm Headphone+Microphone combo jack
- Webcam / Front-Facing Camera / Selfie Cam
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
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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?
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#7, Laptops (under $525)
Asus Flip C234MA 2-in-1 Chromebook from US$320;
~$428 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 Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy by All Smart Devices standards
Bang for the Buck -15.39% inferior Versatility for the Price equivalent Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability equivalent Autonomy 39.39% better Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Processor: Intel Celeron N4020Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 64.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.20 x 19.90 x 2.01 cmWeight: 1.200 kgdetailed info US$316.51 from Best Buy (New)as of 2020-12-01 06:57:17, 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 Best Buy site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
#5, Laptops (under $525)
Asus C523NA 15.6" Chromebook (Touch) from US$16043%, Best price yet!
~$219 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 12.5% better Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability -10.57% inferior Autonomy equivalent Processor: Intel Celeron N3350Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 500Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 32.00 GBScreen Size: 15.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 35.81 x 24.89 x 1.52 cmWeight: 1.410 kgdetailed info from US$153.62 - US$153.62 from Visions Electronics (New)as of 2020-12-01 03:45:03, EST
- US$169.83 from Memory Express (New)as of 2020-12-01 04:02:00, EST
- US$446.42 from Newegg (New)as of 2020-12-01 06:24:05, 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. × -
#1, Laptops (under $525)
Asus Chromebook C204MA 11-inch Chromebook from US$17031%, Best price yet!
~$238 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 21.15% better Versatility for the Price 11.53% better Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability equivalent Autonomy equivalent Processor: Intel Celeron N4000Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 32.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.20 x 19.90 x 2.01 cmWeight: 1.200 kgdetailed info US$169.83 from Staples (New)as of 2020-12-01 06:55:11, 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 Staples site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
#6, Laptops (under $525)
Asus C523NA 15.6" Chromebook from US$18038% cheaper than usual
~$250 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 equivalent Portability -10.57% inferior Autonomy equivalent Processor: Intel Celeron N3350Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 505Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 64.00 GBScreen Size: 15.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 35.81 x 24.89 x 1.52 cmWeight: 1.451 kgdetailed info US$177.55 from Best Buy (New)as of 2020-12-01 07:41:40, 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 Best Buy site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
#10, Laptops (under $525)
Lenovo S330 14-inch Chromebook - Business Black from US$280;
~$370 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 -33.66% inferior Versatility for the Price -27.89% inferior Power equivalent Storage equivalent Portability -17.31% inferior Autonomy 18.18% better Processor: MediaTek MT8173Graphics: ARM PowerVR GX6250Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 32.00 GBScreen Size: 14"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 32.57 x 23.24 x 2.08 cmWeight: 1.501 kgdetailed info US$270.19 from Best Buy (New)as of 2020-12-01 06:14:18, 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 Best Buy site at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. × -
#4, Laptops (under $525)
Acer Chromebook Spin 311 from US$260;
~$347 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 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 equivalent Portability equivalent Autonomy 27.27% better Bang for the Buck Versatility for the Price Power Storage Portability Autonomy Processor: Intel Celeron N4000Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600Memory: 4.00 GBStorage: 32.00 GBScreen Size: 11.6"Screen Resolution: 1366×768Dimensions: 29.72 x 20.57 x 2.01 cmWeight: 1.202 kgdetailed info US$254.29 from Amazon (New)as of 2020-12-01 03:19:47, 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. ×
