Acer Chromebook 311 model: CB311-9H-C0Z8

Ranked #6 among Laptops priced under $575.

Acer Chromebook 311

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.

Guillaume's pick!

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.

This is a good laptop for...

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 (62.68% 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 $370.

Currently Exclusive to Best Buy for $350

Based on 210 days of observation, the Acer Chromebook 311 usually costs ~$350 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 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).

Laptops

Bang for the Buck1/5
Versatility for the Price3/5
Price0.5/5
Durability4.5/5
Power0.5/5
General-purpose power0.5/5
Graphical power0.5/5
Memory1/5
Storage1.5/5
Portability5/5
Autonomy3/5
Ease of MaintenanceN/A

Netbooks

Bang for the Buck2/5
Versatility for the Price2/5
Price2/5
Durability4/5
Power2.5/5
General-purpose power2.5/5
Graphical power2.5/5
Memory4/5
Storage4.5/5
Portability4.5/5
Autonomy1/5
Ease of MaintenanceN/A

All Smart Devices

Bang for the Buck1/5
Versatility for the Price3/5
Price0.5/5
Durability3/5
Power0.5/5
General-purpose power0.5/5
Graphical power0.5/5
Memory1.5/5
Storage1.5/5
Portability4.5/5
Autonomy2.5/5
Ease of MaintenanceN/A

The Meaty details

The Specs

Operating System: Chrome OS, Android (Chrome OS)
Processor: Intel Celeron N4000
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
Memory: 4.00 GB
Storage: 64.00 GB
Screen Size: 11.6"
Screen Resolution: 1366×768(135.09ppi)
Dimensions: 29.60 × 19.90 × 1.82 cm
Weight: 1.100 kg

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

  • Web & Communication

    The basics 5/5
    Design Websites 0/5

  • Audio & Visual medias

    The basics 2/5
    Music Production 1/5
    Drawing and Illustrations 2/5
    Photo Editing 1/5
    Video Editing 1/5

  • Texts & Numbers

    The basics 3/5

  • Video Games

    Casual and Mobile Games 1/5
    Enthusiast Games 0/5
    Triple-A Video Games 0/5

  • 3D and CAD

    The basics 0/5

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.

Web & Communication (3 / 3)

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Texts & Numbers (5 / 11)

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Drawing and Illustrations (0 / 11)

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Audio & Visual medias (0 / 4)

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3D and CAD (0 / 8)

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Music Production (0 / 10)

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Photo Editing (1 / 6)

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Video Editing (0 / 13)

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Enthusiast Games (1 / 58)

More Enthusiast Games Software

Video Games (4 / 9)

More Video Games Software

Triple-A Video Games (0 / 72)

More Triple-A Video Games Software

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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