Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1 Review: Portable and Prepared for Young Students

I didn’t feel the need to baby the Chromebook 11 during my review period. It sits on my kitchen counter while I cook, gets pushed out of the way when I need space, and spends plenty of time tossed in my bag without a protective sleeve. The laptop’s durability encourages that kind of casual handling, and it never complains nor does it show signs of wear.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Dell’s keyboard is a pleasant surprise. While it lacks backlighting, the keyboard’s generous key travel and crisp, tactile clack make typing far more enjoyable than I expected at this price. The touchpad is small but reliable, with a plasticky click that feels intentional.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The display is a compromise. Its 11.6-inch diagonal size feels cramped, and the thick bezels only make it feel smaller. The 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution feels like the 2000s. Its colors appear muted, its brightness is modest at best, and the screen’s glassy finish produces lots of reflections.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

This laptop’s convertible functionality works well, though its 3.44-pound weight makes it less ideal as a tablet replacement. It’s more useful in an easel-style setup, with the screen folded back by about three-quarters and the keyboard lying face-down on the desk. Rubber feet on the keyboard deck keep the laptop from sliding around in that easel mode.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

You won’t find many creature comforts throughout this laptop. The 720p webcam is well exposed but washed out, while the 5MP world-facing camera is noticeably sharper. The speakers sound hollow, but get loud enough for solo listening. Overall, you’ll find nothing fancy about the Chromebook 11, but it’s serviceable for a device intended to take a beating by a legion of grade-schoolers.