The Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is cheap, but don’t underestimate its capability. Despite costing pennies, the Chromebook 311 is one of the best value laptops with stellar flexibility – not to mention its upgraded specs for under $200.
For students, children, or anyone looking for an affordable and extremely portable machine that gets the basics done right, the Acer CBO311-1H-C1MX is one of the best Chromebooks for students that can compete with some of the best budget laptops for a comparable price.
It’s a highly functional kit with one of the best laptop keyboards I’ve seen on a budget Chromebook yet. That said, it isn’t free of compromises (and some strange design choices) and isn’t the only affordable, capable Chromebook out there. Competition is tough at this price point, including the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i, but the Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is a decent choice.
Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 Specs
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4500
- RAM: 4 GB, DDR4 SDRAM
- Screen: 11.6-inch (29.5cm); HD (1366 x 768); 16:9; IPS
- Storage: 64GB eMMC Flash
- Optical drive: No
- Ports: 1 x USB-A; 1 x USB-C
- Connectivity: Wireless IEEE 802.11ac; Bluetooth 4.1
- Camera: HD webcam
- Weight: 2.65 pounds
- Size: 11.3 x 7.8 x 0.71 inches
Design and Features
The Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is a little, compact machine, and its design, build, and look blend well with its size enormously. First, it’s pure black: black on the back, on the keyboard, and bezels around the screen. But this makes the entire aesthetics cohesive and attractive for a little Chromebook.
The main body of the Spin CBO311-1H-C1MX sports the same matte black material, but the back of the screen has a subtle Gateway logo printed. This feels like it could be for added durability to protect the screen, but on aesthetics, it works well, too, adding texture and fun to the design.
Overall, this 0.7-inch-thick laptop is pretty portable, weighing only 2.65 lbs, and feels reassuring for those looking for a durable Chromebook. The only exception on this laptop is the keyboard panel, especially for powerful typers.
The screen on the Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is good but is a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, it is clear and easy on the eyes, but on the other hand, it doesn’t get as bright as you’d find on more expensive laptops – 220nits maximum. That is expected since the screen has a maximum resolution of 1366 x 768 and the bezels are thick.
The keyboard and touchpad are still satisfying to use and click your way around. The only concern here is that the keyboard has a bit of flex, but only if you’re a heavy typer. And, despite the keyboard being the same size as on other Acer Chromebooks, it feels a bit small – due to its place in a smaller design. But you do get used to this more cramped design in time, but it will take a little while.
Port selection is basic, but at least it gets a USB-C port that can be used for data transfer and charging, alongside a USB A port and an audio jack. You’ll have to do without an Ethernet port, however, making it a purely wireless Chromebook. Given its size, that’s a fair compromise.
Performance
The Acer Gateway CBO311-1H-C1MX is powered by an Intel Celeron N4500 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB eMMC storage. The processing power is fine for a machine this size. Shifting from window to window feels snappy, even when you have a couple of lightweight applications running. For most use cases, the Gateway’s performance is acceptable for basic daily use.
For daily tasks like watching YouTube videos, typing college assignments, or finishing an official report, it gets the job done. However, the Acer Chromebook 311 lacks the firepower to load more demanding tasks, with notable hiccups when you attempt to overload it with tasks in the background. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics card used here offers enough power to play web games, and that’s all.
In general usage, the Chromebook 311 can run a single light task at a time. Flipping between multiple tasks tends to cause some occasional pauses, and clicking on a dormant web tab will lead to another wait as the content loads back, a little more memory can smooth things over, that’s for sure, but such is the way with cheap laptops.
On battery life, the IdeaPad 3i stacks up well against competitors, lasting up to 10 hours on a single charge. That’s almost an entire day at school or work and some more; we’ve seen some Windows laptops like the Acer Aspire 3 last that much, though.
Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 Review | Verdict
The Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is another sub-$200 black Chromebook in the market swimming with them. That makes it hard to justify, especially compared to something like the Asus Chromebook Flip CX1 convertible., which does what the Chromebook 311 does better in many areas, for a little more.
The saving grace is the Gateway Chromebook 311’s keyboard, which is truly phenomenal. It’s not as good as the best laptop keyboards, but the fact that an 11.6-inch Chromebook is even in the realm should speak volumes. The battery life is solid, too, and although performance is middling, the Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 is enough to handle light, day-to-day tasks.
Recommended Configuration
acer Gateway Chromebook 311 CBO311-1H-C1MX Laptop | Intel Celeron N4500 | 11.6" HD (1366 x 768) Display | 4GB LPDDR4X | 64GB eMMC | Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac | Chrome OS | Star Black
$145.00 in stock
1 used from $155.00
The Review
Acer Gateway Chromebook 311
The Acer Gateway Chromebook 311 (CBO311-1H-C1MX) is affordable, has solid battery life, and a great keyboard that makes it stand out in a crowd of budget-friendly Chromebooks.
PROS
- Solid battery life
- Exceptional keyboard
- Very affordable
CONS
- Dim, low-res screen
- Massive bezels around the screen
Review Breakdown
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RS SCORE
