Acer Chromebook 311

Updated on June 2, 2026

The Acer Chromebook 311 is an ultraportable 11.6-inch laptop sold in two flavors: the touchscreen CB311-9HT and the matte non-touch CB311-9H. Both share an Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core processor, 4GB of LPDDR4 memory, and 32GB of eMMC storage, with a fanless chassis that runs silently and a battery rated at 8 to 10 hours of real-world use. The pitch is simple: an entry price for students, writers, and travelers who need a reliable second device, without the bulk of a 14 or 15 inch machine. At 2.43 pounds (roughly 1.1 kg) and 0.71 inches thick, it slips into any bag, and the two full-function USB-C ports give it more docking flexibility than its asking price suggests. Auto Update Expiration is set for June 2029, so Google still ships fresh ChromeOS updates to this model.

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Acer Chromebook 311 Comparison Chart

	Acer Chromebook 311	Acer Chromebook 311
Price	List Price: $259.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon	List Price: $279.99 Amazon Prices: Loading prices...
Model number	CB311-9HT-C4UM / NX.HKGAA.001	CB311-9H-C12A / NX.HKFAA.001
Performance Rating	3.1	3.1
Chromebook Plus	No	No
Processor	Dual-core 1.10 Ghz (max 2.60 Ghz) Intel Celeron N4000 Processor	Dual-core 1.10 Ghz (max 2.60 Ghz) Intel Celeron N4000 Processor
RAM	4 GB	4 GB
Internal Storage	32 GB eMMC	32 GB eMMC
Screen Size	11.6"	11.6"
Screen Resolution	1366x768	1366x768
Screen Type	IPS	IPS
Touch Screen	Yes	No
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	11.7 x 7.8 x 0.71 inches (297.18 x 198.12 x 18.03 mm)	11.7 x 7.8 x 0.71 inches (297.18 x 198.12 x 18.03 mm)
Weight	2.43 lbs (1.1 kg)	2.43 lbs (1.1 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No	No
Webcam	720p HD	720p HD
WiFi	Intel Wireless-AC 802.11ac with 2x2 MU-MIMO	Intel Wireless-AC 802.11ac with 2x2 MU-MIMO
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.0
Ethernet	No	No
Cellular Modem	No	No
HDMI	No HDMI	No HDMI
USB Ports	2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (supports DisplayPort)	2 USB 3, 2 USB-C (supports DisplayPort)
Thunderbolt Ports	No	No
Card Reader	microSD Card Reader	microSD Card Reader
Battery	3 cell, Lithium-ion	3 cell, Lithium-ion
Battery Life	10.0 hours	10.0 hours
Fanless	Yes	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	June, 2029	June, 2029

Detailed Insights into the Acer Chromebook 311

Build quality on this Chromebook punches above its price. The chassis is all plastic, but Lon Seidman described the keyboard as “really nice” with “nicely spaced keys that are very easy to type with good tactile feedback” and “decent key travel” for the class. The trackpad is a mechanical click pad that, in his testing, “tracks quite well” without feeling springy. The result is a 2.43-pound 11.6-inch laptop that feels like a working tool rather than a toy. Buyers shopping the CB311-9HT touchscreen variant get the same chassis with a glossy touch panel; the CB311-9H (model CB311-9H-C12A) uses a matte non-touch screen instead.

Performance from the Intel Celeron N4000 covers the basics. On browserbench.org’s Speedometer benchmark, Lon.TV measured a score of 51.3, which he said “puts this 11 inch chromebook right in line with its competitors in the marketplace” at this price. That maps to fluid web browsing, document editing, and video calls; it does not map to heavy Chrome tab loads, large spreadsheets, or pro creative work. The 4GB of RAM cannot be upgraded, so heavy multitaskers should look at a larger Chromebook with more memory instead. ChromeOS’s tight resource management helps, and the fanless design means the laptop will throttle before it ever gets loud (there are no fans to spin up).

Connectivity is the surprise upside on the spec sheet. Both USB-C ports are full-function, so each one handles power delivery, data, and video output, and Lon.TV connected the laptop to two external 4K displays and “was able to drive both of those displays independently at 4k at 60 frames per second and it was able to maintain its own internal display” at the same time. That is rare at this price. Two USB-A 3.0 ports round out the wired connections (handy for a USB ethernet adapter when WiFi is unreliable), and a microSD slot lets you offload some pressure from the 32GB internal drive. WiFi is 802.11ac with 2x2 MU-MIMO, Bluetooth is 5.0, and there is a 3.5mm headphone / microphone combo jack plus a Kensington lock slot.

Reviewer Insights on the Acer Chromebook 311

Lon Seidman’s Perspective

Lon Seidman from Lon.TV framed the Chromebook 311 as “basic transportation here, but it actually performs pretty well and I was impressed with the value proposition on this one.” His point was not that the hardware is exciting; it is that it costs little and still does the job. He flagged the keyboard as a stand-out feature for the segment and said directly, “if you’re doing a lot of writing I think this might be a really good laptop for writers looking for something simple to draft something on.” For people who already own a more capable laptop and want a light second machine, that framing lands.

The headline finding from his review was the dual 4K external display test. Despite the entry-level Celeron, Lon.TV ran two separate 4K monitors at 60Hz alongside the built-in panel and reported that the device “was able to drive both of those displays independently.” He also called out the security angle: “if you are somebody who’s concerned about an expensive laptop getting lost or stolen when you’re out and about this one I think will take a lot of that concern away.” That is the practical case for a $200-ish Chromebook over a $1,000 ultrabook for travel, coffee shop work, or field use. Readers who want to think through that case more fully may find our guide to budget Chromebooks for digital nomads useful.

Display, Linux Apps, and Speakers

The 1366x768 IPS panel is the weakest link, and Lon.TV did not soften it: he measured roughly 300 nits, calling it “not terribly bright but it’s a little brighter than some of the cheaper laptops I’ve looked at recently,” with “somewhat decent viewing angles” and a matte finish on the CB311-9H non-touch variant. For indoor desk use the panel is fine; for outdoor or bright window use, expect to squint. Sound is the other compromise: the bottom-firing grilles drive what he flatly called “very tinny speakers,” so plan on headphones or external speakers for any media that matters.

The upside that does not show up on most spec sheets is full Linux app support. ChromeOS Crostini works on this hardware, and Lon.TV showed himself installing and running Nano from a Linux terminal on the device. That puts real text editors, command-line tools, and even some lightweight development workflows in reach, which is more than most $200 laptops offer. If you are curious about that path, our guide to Linux on ChromeOS walks through what it can and cannot do.

Customer Reviews of the Acer Chromebook 311

Amazon shoppers currently rate the Acer Chromebook 311 (CB311-9H) at 4.5 out of 5 stars across 249 global ratings, with 74% awarding five stars and 14% awarding four. The pattern is consistent with the professional reviews: light users love it, and the few complaints come from people who pushed it past its design brief. One verified buyer wrote, “For less than $200 dollars (+tax), I would not buy anything else,” and praised the battery as lasting “a month” between charges with intermittent use. Several reviewers called out fast boot times and responsive day-to-day handling for browsing, email, and document work.

Common criticisms track the trade-offs you would expect from a budget device. The tinny speakers professional reviewers flagged show up in customer reviews too, with several buyers noting the audio is fine for video calls but disappointing for music or movies. The 32GB of storage fills up faster than people expect if they sync local copies of large folders, though the microSD slot makes inexpensive expansion painless. A handful of switchers coming from Windows or macOS noted a short learning curve before the web-first workflow clicked.

Conclusion

The Acer Chromebook 311 earns its place as a capable entry-level device for students, writers, and budget-conscious buyers who understand the trade-offs. With ChromeOS updates guaranteed through June 2029, it has years of safe service left, and the combination of real 8 to 10 hour battery life, silent fanless operation, native Linux apps, and dual-4K USB-C connectivity delivers more than the price tag suggests. If you need a primary work laptop, more RAM, or a 1080p display, look at the under $300 tier instead. If you need a light, cheap, ChromeOS-on-the-go machine that can also dock to a real desk setup, the CB311 stands up.

To stack the CB311 against other budget Chromebooks side by side, visit the Chromebook Comparison Chart.

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