Acer Chromebook 311 (C733U) review

The Acer Chromebook 311 is a budget laptop built to last, but is it for you?

A photo of a Chromebook on a wooden table with its screen on
(Image: © Future)

Our Verdict

The Acer Chromebook 311 won't break the bank but it also won't do everything you may want from a laptop. If you're after a laptop that will take a hit and enable you to get on with most day-to-day jobs – writing, budgets, streaming, web browsing – then Acer's low-cost Chromebook is a good buy. It's ideally suited for students who want to take notes, write and research safely in the knowledge it'll last and everything is saved to the Cloud. But be warned, you're not going to create art, play games or do complex tasks on this functional laptop.

For

  • Chunky and robust build quality
  • Decent general performance
  • Excellent battery life

Against

  • Low quality screen
  • Chrome OS has limitations

Why you can trust Creative Bloq Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

This Acer Chromebook 311 review throws up a number of interesting questions we all need to ask ourselves, including what do you really need from a laptop? While more expensive laptops from Apple, Dell and Acer turn up the power and the technology, this low-cost Chromebook turns common thinking on its head: this is a simple, robust and effective laptop that bucks many trends. 

Acer Chromebook 311 specs

CPU: 1.1GHz Intel Celeron N4000 (quad-core, 4MB cache, up to 2.6GHz boost)
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 600
RAM: 4GB DDR4
Screen: 11.6-inch, 1,66 x 768 pixels
Storage: 32GB eMMC
Ports: 1x USB C, 1x USB A
Connectivity: 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth
Camera: HD webcam
Weight: 1.25 kg 
Size (WxHxD): 30.2 x 20.9 x 2.1cm

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Verdict
6

out of 10

Acer Chromebook 311

The Acer Chromebook 311 won't break the bank but it also won't do everything you may want from a laptop. If you're after a laptop that will take a hit and enable you to get on with most day-to-day jobs – writing, budgets, streaming, web browsing – then Acer's low-cost Chromebook is a good buy. It's ideally suited for students who want to take notes, write and research safely in the knowledge it'll last and everything is saved to the Cloud. But be warned, you're not going to create art, play games or do complex tasks on this functional laptop.

Editor, Digital Arts & 3D

Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & 3D at Creative Bloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and video game titles Play and Official PlayStation Magazine. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on digital art, VFX and video games and tech, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5.