The Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series is a great device for students and professionals who need a lightweight and portable computer. This Chromebook has an 11. 6-inch screen, 4GB of RAM, and a 32GB SSD. It runs on the Chrome OS operating system and is powered by a Celeron N3060 processor. The Dell Chromebook 11 3100 is a great value for the price, and it offers good performance and battery life.
Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series Review
The Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 Chromebook is similar to other education-focused Chromebooks. It’s made of chunky black plastic with a 360-degree hinge. This allows you to fold it into tablet form or place it on your desktop. This makes it feel solid and sturdy.
This combined package ticks enough boxes for the Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 to be a solid choice for school kids in need of a borderline-unbreakable study aid. There are also better options for older students and general laptop purchasers.
Pros
- Compact
- Design that is sturdy and kid-friendly
- A keyboard that is spill-resistant
- There are many ports
- Very affordable
Cons
- A little bit heavier
- It looks boring
- It is more expensive than comparable models
- There is no microSD card reader slot
- Touchpads below standard
1. Specs – It’s basic hardware but does the job.
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4020 Dual Core Processor
- Display: 11.6” HD (1366 x 768) Anti-Glare Screen
- Hard Drive Size: 16GB
- RAM: 4GB
- Camera: Front-Facing Webcam 720p
- Ports: x1 USB-C, x2 USB-A, 3.5 mm Headphone Jack
- Weight: 2.85 pounds
So far, so good? Yes, for the most part. However, it is not as rugged as you might think. The Chromebook is also very basic and has limitations that make it challenging to use for everyday tasks.
The tech behind the scenes is essential, even if it’s comparable to similarly priced Windows laptops.
All options run on a low-powered Intel Celeron N4000 processor. You have the option of either 4GB (in our case) or 8GB LPDDR4 memory and between 34GB to 64GB of eMMC storage.
These parts are highly low-power to non-techies. Google’s Chrome OS requires a light system to work. However, web browsing and document editing are fine. But basic editing in Pixlr can cause the machine to stutter. Geekbench 4 scores put the device on par with affordable smartphones when it comes to performance.
Chrome OS is ideal if you use mainly Google apps, such as Google Docs or Google Sheets. It offers a simplified interface that’s built around Google’s services. You don’t need to purchase Microsoft Office licenses.
It is not as powerful as full-fat Windows, and it won’t allow you to install third-party apps. All apps must be downloaded from Google Play Store. Chrome OS does not fully utilize the Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 touch screen functionality and tablet mode.
Many Chrome OS apps don’t support touch optimization. You can use Chrome OS apps in this manner by downloading an Android app from Google Play Store. However, this is a risky move as not all apps are correctly optimized and provide a poor user experience. Smaller developers often crashed, and Photoshop Elements didn’t work well on my Chromebook 3100 2-in-1.
Students and older buyers should be aware that the device’s small dimensions, low-quality keyboard, and limited screen can cause discomfort during prolonged use.
The Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 screen has a significant bezel and a low resolution of 1366 x768. Most laptops will have Full HD (1920 x1080) displays.
The brightness and battery life of the display partially compensate for this and strengthen its position as an educational product. The screen’s maximum brightness of 274 nits was sufficient to make it legible in all conditions except direct sunlight. However, the Gorilla Glass coating can become quite reflective in such situations.
The color space coverage is also shallow at 60.4% sRGB and 44% Adobe. I also recorded 7064K, far below the 6500K standard. This means that the Dell Chromebook Chromebook 3100 2-in-1’s screen is entirely unsuitable for photo work.
These findings are unlikely to be of any interest to buyers of this laptop. Still, it’s worth keeping them if you want to see the contrast between the display on a Dell Inspiron Chromebook 147000 2-in-1 and the Dell Inspiron Chromebook 14.7000 2-in-1.
The chiclet keyboard is also very cheap to touch. It’s one of the few parts of the device that feels fragile, offering poor travel and an actuation point with a spongy feel. This is a common problem with Chromebooks and not a fault of Dell.
The Geekbench 4 battery benchmark showed that the Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 lasts eight hours. With the screen set at 150 nits brightness (the level most people would feel comfortable using in a lecture hall or classroom), the Chromebook 3100 2-in-1 was able to run the benchmark for around eight hours. Although this is a significantly shorter battery life than the advertised 13 hours, it was still remarkably efficient in real-world use. Regular use of the machine allowed me to get an entire nine-to-5 workday with no need to charge the charger.
2. Design
Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series’s budget-friendly pricing would make one think that the device is low-quality and cheap. The truth is that this stereotypical view is wrong. This laptop was designed to withstand daily use by children. A few design-centric features distinguish this Chromebook. These include durability and endurance. The rounded edges of the Chromebook extend outwards to protect USB ports from being damaged. Rubber bumpers on the bottom of this device helps prevent most falls and drops.
This is how resilient this device is. The strength of the Chromebook 11 from Dell is no joke. This laptop’s strength testing is far more thorough than the MIL-STD standard. This Chromebook was tested for durability by Dell, dropping it on steel from 30 inches. It also survived 5,000 micro-drops. This Chromebook is intended for homes and classrooms teeming full of children. It’s easy to see how Dell has created a Chromebook affordable enough to last many years.
The Chromebook 11’s all-plastic chassis is reinforced to ensure safety. However, this comes with a cost: weight. The device is almost three pounds in weight, which can be a little too heavy for children who use it as a classroom or daily driver. The device is not portable.
The display is attractive and well-made. The show does not look cheap, which is what we expected. Although the colors aren’t too bright, the viewing angles are good. However, it is essential to acknowledge that the display’s resolution is only 1,366 by 768. This is a very affordable device that can be used every day of the week.
The ruggedness of the keyboard deck continues down to the keyboard. Although it may feel a little awkward at first, typing on it is generally more comfortable over time. It is very rigid and sturdy, and the deck is high-quality. However, the consensus isn’t impressed with the touchpad. The touchpad on the Dell Chromebook 11 is complained about by customers as it can sometimes feel stiff and problematic. It feels inferior to other devices’ standards.
The I/O is a great feature that brings some light to the positive side of the device. There are plenty of ports to accommodate all your data transfer and charging needs, except for the microSD card reader slot. A single USB-C port is available and two USB-A ports that are compatible with legacy technology. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack. The webcam’s front-facing 720p camera takes photos and videos on average. It is not too bad, but it isn’t too great. When you consider the price of this laptop and the features it offers, it is impossible to resist buying it if you are on a tight budget.
3. Performance
Although the design is attractive and the build quality is excellent, what about the performance? The Dell Chromebook 11 (3100), 4GB RAM, and a 16GB hard drive are suitable-looking devices. It also features an Intel Celeron N4020 dual-core processor. This device delivers enough power to allow school-goers and kids to accomplish their tasks quickly and complete work on time. This Chromebook can handle all sorts of Chrome tabs and Google Play Store apps day in and day out. Considering its cost, it’s not unreasonable to expect more from the middling Chrome OS.
There are multiple Chromebook 11 models that you can buy for a little more than $249. All variants can be viewed here. You’ll get more storage on your hard drive if you upgrade to the higher-end version. The internal storage, or RAM, remains the same regardless of which Chromebook 11 model you choose. This Chromebook also comes in a 2-in-1 model that includes a touchscreen. Convertible versions allow you to rotate your screen 360deg and provide complete flexibility for students.
The Dell Chromebook 11’s biggest problem is its inability to receive strong Wi-Fi signals in terms of performance. If the Wi-Fi router is not in the same space as the dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi, it will struggle to connect. This could be a problem for devices that rely on internet connectivity as their primary source of income. This problem can be solved by purchasing an LTE-enabled Chromebook 11. However, it will cost you more, so make sure to budget accordingly.
4. Battery Life
The Chromebook’s incredible battery life is another reason to buy it. Only a few other Chromebooks can match this. This device will last more than 10 hours on a single charge. That’s quite impressive. The Chromebook 11 supports USB-C charging, so you can expect it to charge quickly and then get you back up again.
Although Dell claims that the device can last up to 14 hours, this is difficult to attain if you stream HD quality content with near-full brightness. Although it can reach 12 hours of battery life with this device, you would have to use it very sparingly. We are happy to give the Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series our approval.
Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series – best Chromebook for kids
The Chromebook 11 (3100) is one of the most popular Chromebooks you can purchase so that your children can use it for work and play. It is specifically built to withstand everyday bumps and simple abuse, which comparably-priced competitors can’t. Although it’s more versatile and polished than a tablet, it’s not as elegant. The Chromebook Duet with its detachable keyboard is probably the better choice if you’re considering one of these.
Chromebook 3100 is highly durable: It has been rigorously tested beyond MIL-STD standards to ensure that it can withstand the school day. The Chromebook 3100 has been tested to withstand 5,000 micro-drops and 30-inch drops onto steel*. Rubberized edges reduce impacts from bumps and falls.
The spill- and tamper-resistant keyboard is kid-proof. Students can use it to learn, discover, and share with no worries. It can withstand up to 12 ounces of liquid. The keyboard’s top mount design means that the entire palm rest can be retained in the event of any damage.
Ports remain protected: Ports have reinforced brackets that secure them. Students can also test the port to make sure they can connect and disconnect as often as needed.
Should I buy a Dell Chromebook 3100 2-in-1?
The Dell Chromebook 11 3100 Series is a good choice if you are looking for a rugged Chromebook that your child can take to school or an accident-prone student who needs an essay writing machine that will not break soon.
The keyboard is not the only thing that makes the device feel indestructible. It can be used for introductory essay writing web browsing, and the battery life lasts enough to last a school day.
It has a small screen and low-power components, making it difficult to do basic photo editing. For a Chromebook, the PS400-plus cost is also relatively high. There are cheaper options available in the Chrome or Windows ecosystems if you don’t require the rugged design.
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