Acer Chromebook 11 N7

Note: The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 reached its Auto Update Expiration (AUE) date in June 2022 and no longer receives Chrome OS updates. This page is maintained for historical reference.

The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 (CB311-7HT) was designed specifically for the education market, prioritizing durability over raw performance. Released in 2016, this 11.6-inch touchscreen Chromebook featured MIL-STD 810G military-grade certification, making it one of the most rugged budget Chromebooks available at the time. Pocket-lint described it as “one of the sturdiest laptops in the world at this price,” and that assessment held true throughout its lifecycle. The spill-resistant keyboard with a drainage system capable of handling up to 11 ounces of water made it particularly well-suited for classroom environments where accidents were inevitable.

Acer Chromebook 11 N7 Comparison Chart

	Acer Chromebook 11 N7
Price	List Price: $279.99 Amazon Prices: Check Price on Amazon
Model number	CB311-7HT-C7EK / NX.GN4AA.001
Perfomance Rating	2.4
Chromebook Plus	No
Processor	Dual-core 1.60 Ghz (max 2.48 Ghz) Intel Celeron Processor N3060
RAM	4 GB
Internal Storage	16 GB
Screen Size	11.6"
Screen Resolution	1366x768
Screen Type	IPS
Touch Screen	Yes
Stylus / Pen	No Stylus Support
Dimensions width x length x thickness	11.65 x 7.83 x 0.71 inches (295.91 x 198.88 x 18.03 mm)
Weight	2.43 lbs (1.1 kg)
Backlit Keyboard	No
Webcam	1280x720
WiFi	802.11ac
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet	No
Cellular Modem	No
HDMI	Full-Size HDMI
USB Ports	2 USB 3
Thunderbolt Ports	No
Card Reader	SD / SDXC
Battery	3 cell, 3980 mAh, Lithium-ion
Battery Life	10.0 hours
Fanless	Yes
Auto Update Expiration Date	June, 2022

Detailed Insights into the Acer Chromebook 11 N7

The Chromebook 11 N7’s design philosophy centered on surviving the rigors of daily student use. The chassis was engineered to withstand drops from 48 inches, and the reinforced construction gave the device a reassuringly solid feel that belied its budget price point. While this rugged build added some weight at 2.43 pounds, it remained portable enough for students carrying it between classes throughout the day. The fanless design meant completely silent operation, eliminating the distraction of cooling fans spinning up during tests or quiet study periods.

Performance was adequate for basic educational tasks, though the Intel Celeron N3060 processor showed its limitations with heavier workloads. As 9to5Google noted, “the C731 isn’t for content creators,” and media-heavy web pages could cause noticeable slowdowns. However, for Google Docs, research browsing, and educational web applications, the 4GB of RAM and dual-core processor handled the workload without significant issues. The 16GB of internal storage was limiting, but Chrome OS’s cloud-first approach meant most files lived in Google Drive anyway.

Battery life was consistently praised as one of the Chromebook 11 N7’s strongest features. Reviewers measured between 8.5 and 12 hours of real-world usage, with 9to5Google calling it “the highest point of the C731’s user experience.” This endurance meant students could leave their chargers at home, confident the Chromebook would last through a full school day. The 11.6-inch IPS touchscreen, while limited to 1366x768 resolution, provided adequate viewing angles for classroom use. However, multiple reviewers noted the display was dim and easily washed out in bright lighting conditions, a trade-off for the budget price point.

Reviewer Insights on the Acer Chromebook 11 N7

Laptop Mag’s Assessment

Laptop Mag awarded the Chromebook 11 N7 3.5 out of 5 stars, praising its durability credentials. “The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 earns high marks for its excellent battery life and durable frame,” they wrote. The review highlighted the innovative keyboard drainage system, noting “Not only is the Chromebook 11 N7 built to survive drops from 48 inches, but its keyboard is designed with a gutter system that can drain out spills of up to 11 ounces of water.” Their main criticisms focused on the dim display and heat buildup on the underside during extended use, common issues for this class of device.

Pocket-lint’s Perspective

Pocket-lint gave the N7 4 out of 5 stars, with particular praise for the typing experience. “The best part of the Acer Chromebook 11 N7 is the typing experience. The ultra rigid insides and frankly brilliant-for-the-price keys make this one of the best typing experiences you can have in a £200-odd ultraportable.” They recommended it for “those who’d rather have a laptop that feels hard as nails rather looks that tell those nearby it’s worth nicking.” The review noted that battery life fell short of Acer’s 13-hour claim at around 8.5 hours in testing, and the lack of USB-C was already becoming a limitation even in 2017.

9to5Google’s Take

9to5Google’s comprehensive review focused on the student use case, noting “For the busy student who constantly runs between classes and is comfortable working off of Google Docs…there’s a certain peace of mind that comes with a tough and rugged laptop that you can throw around, even in the rain.” They found battery life to be exceptional at 10-12 hours per charge. Criticisms included poor speaker quality from the bottom-mounted drivers, trackpad sensitivity issues with two-finger right-clicks, and the proprietary charging cable that couldn’t be replaced with a standard USB connection.

Conclusion

The Acer Chromebook 11 N7 served its intended purpose well as a durable, affordable education device during its active support period. Its military-grade construction, excellent battery life, and quality keyboard made it a practical choice for schools and students who valued reliability over cutting-edge features. The compromises in display quality and processing power were acceptable trade-offs for a device designed to survive years of classroom abuse. While it no longer receives updates and is not recommended for purchase, the N7 demonstrated that budget Chromebooks could be both affordable and built to last, influencing subsequent generations of education-focused devices from Acer and other manufacturers.