Editor’s Rating: 8.5/10
Offers a good combination of durability, flexibility, and battery life for a budget laptop.
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The Good
A durable and functional 11-inch model. This 2-in-1 device is a flexible option for young students looking for a device that they can do their schoolwork, listen to some music, and can last for more than a day.
The Bad
Multitasking might be an issue with this device’s mediocre power and dim screen. The lack of a USB Type-C port could also make it a less attractive option for many users.
Detailed Review of Dell Chromebook 11 3189 (2019)
When it comes to the best laptop for kids, Chromebooks are usually one of the top choices because of their combination of affordability and features, making them a great laptop to use for school work.
This is what the Dell Chromebook 11 is trying to offer. It’s a 2-in-1 device that has a great collection of features that both kids and parents will greatly appreciate and enjoy whenever they use this device.
A decent-sized display, solid battery life, and flexible functionality makes it a good choice for both school and play activities. However, there are some drawbacks to this device, as there are some features that Dell would need to improve on.
Dell Chromebook 11 Configuration In Review
Processor: Intel Celeron N3060 Dual Core (2.48GHz) | RAM: 4GB DDR3 | Storage: 32GB eMMC | Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics | Display: 11.6” HD touchscreen display, 1366 x 768 pixels resolution | Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: 9 Hours | Weight: 3.30 lbs | Other Features: Dell Activity Light
Durable and Well-built Laptop with Flexible Configurations
Let’s dive deeper into this review and see if the Dell Chromebook 11 is one of the best Chromebooks available.
…is durable enough that you won’t have to worry too much about how your kids handle the device…
In terms of looks and design, the Chromebook 11 doesn’t really have that “wow factor”. It has a simple design with a gray plastic finish on the outside and the Dell logo in the center, as well as the Chrome logo at the top left corner.
On the top right corner of the cover is the Dell Activity Light, which is the three-colored light that students can use to communicate with their teachers without the need to raise their hand or even or even talk. It just requires a Chrome Extension to use this feature.
You will also see a rubberized strip on the outside edge of the entire laptop. This will act as protection for bumps and bruises, making sure that this laptop is durable enough that you won’t have to worry too much about how your kids handle the device.
This laptop has a dimension of 12 x 8.2 x 0.9 inches, making it bulky compared to other Chromebooks. But that bulkiness is because of the laptop’s added protection, making it the most durable device available.
Despite being thicker than other Chromebooks the Dell Chromebook 11 will still fit nicely on a middle schooler’s backpack, as well as on their hands. The great thing about this device is that it’s also a 2-in-1 laptop, which means it can also be converted into a tablet.
The device can be configured for laptop mode, tent mode, and tablet mode. The hinges used are sturdy and stable to keep the laptop in place, while you or your kid bend it into the different modes available.
Based on the design, you can already see how durable this laptop is. But to make sure of it, the Chromebook 11 underwent the MIL-STD 810G testing and rating. This means that this device can withstand extreme temperatures, blowing sand and dust, shocks, vibrations, and even a drop or 2 of up to 30 inches
You won’t have to worry too much about the laptop being fragile or delicate that it can easily break down if your kid is not careful. It may not be the best-looking laptop available, but it is one of the most durable you can find.
Great Features and Functionality
Aside from a good design, the Dell Chromebook 11 also offers great features and functionality.
The device’s keyboards offer great feedback and are pleasant to type in. Of course, it can be a bit uncomfortable and difficult for adult-sized hands to properly type on the keyboard. You can still type on it, but it will be slightly harder. But for a kid, the keyboards are just right and comfortable enough for them to use, even for longer periods.
…sound quality is surprisingly good and loud, especially while in tent mode…
The laptop pairs the keyboard with a buttonless touchpad which has good sensitivity, even with two fingers used. The response is quick and accurate, but tapping on it does produce a certain noise. It’s not likely a problem but it can be annoying.
The sound quality is surprisingly good and loud, especially while in tent mode. It can easily be heard in a small-sized room, and even a medium-sized room if the volume is put on full. It will be easy for your kid to show a video or play songs or music for the class to hear.
The Chromebook 11 also has adequate ports available. There are two USB 3 ports, an SD card reader, the AC power jack, and a full-sized HDMI port on the left side of the device. On the right, there’s the microphone/headphone jack providing for different functionality.
You will also see the power button, a volume button, the Noble Wedge security slot, and a charging status light on the right side. The lack of a Type-C USB port might be an issue for some users, but it’s not a deal-breaker.
As for the display, the device has an 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 screen resolution HD display. It’s not the best display available, but at this price range, it’s expected. The display, though, does provide good color, as you can clearly see the color distinction of images and videos.
The touch screen is also very responsive, whether it’s in laptop, tent, or tablet mode. We didn’t encounter any issues when we were using it. We did find that the screen’s brightness suffers a bit outdoors or when the sun’s reflection is directly on it. So make sure to avoid using it near windows when the sun is out.
Solid Battery Life
In terms of performance, the Dell Chromebook 11 3189 is decent. It’s a good option for browsing the net while doing some paperwork or streaming videos while reading some articles.
However, doing serious multitasking work is something that this device can’t do properly. The Intel Celeron N3060 and 4GB of RAM are not powerful enough to do multitasking without experiencing any lag or slow down.
This device uses the Integrated Intel Graphics card, which is not the best graphics card around. It is enough to run some games, provided you lower its graphics setting and it’s not running other applications or programs.
Don’t expect this device to do a lot of things outside of basic school work and light gaming. If you want a budget gaming laptop, you can check our list of the best gaming laptops under $500.
This 2-in-1 laptop runs the Chrome Operating System, which is a stripped-down OS that uses the Chrome browser as the main interface to the web. Most of the programs this laptop can install are web-based programs. Dell’s website offers subscription-based extensions you can install on this device.
As mentioned earlier, one of those extensions will be used for the Dell Activity Light, which will allow your kid to communicate with their teacher without raising their hand or calling for their attention.
Most extensions can be used only while the laptop is connected to the internet, but there are some that can provide offline use. Since this is a Chrome OS, don’t expect that it can run Windows-based software. So if your kid’s school uses Windows programs, you will have a problem with this laptop.
Battery life is something that you won’t experience with this device. The test that we ran showed the Chromebook 11 can last more than 9 hours on a single charge doing basic work. If the workload is not even heavy like not streaming videos, it can stretch up to 11 hours.
So this laptop is good for a day’s worth of school work, including doing your kid’s homework, and still have some spare time to enjoy and relax.
Critics Reviews
Dell’s Chromebook 3189 runs Google’s operating system, but also bends back into tablet and tent modes so students can easily use the touch screen, show classmates, what they’re working on, or interact with Android apps when Google updates its OS to support them. Though this 11-inch laptop doesn’t have the strongest performance or brightest screen, the Chromebook 3189’s durable chassis, strong audio, and all-day battery life make it the best Chromebook for young students.
Buy It If…
This is the perfect model if you want a durable laptop that has good battery life and decent enough power to be able to handle most school work and even do some light gaming or video streaming. It’s also a huge bonus that this is an affordable laptop that you can also convert into a tablet if needed.
Don’t Buy It If…
Should multitasking, as well as running Windows software, a requirement for your needs, then this is not the best model to have to meet both requirements.
Dell Chromebook 11 3189 (2019) Alternatives
There are many different options available, should you find that this is not the right model for your kids. Here are some of the ones we recommend:
- Acer Chromebook Spin 11: A thin and lightweight 2-in-1 laptop with good battery life
- ASUS Chromebook Flip: Has 14-inch display, decent power, and affordable price
- Lenovo Chromebook 2-in-1: A well-designed Chromebook with great features
Verdict
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If you’re looking for other budget laptops for your needs, there are many options available. You can check out our list of the best laptops under $500. If you’re looking for other Dell laptops, here’s our list of the best Dell laptop available.