The best Chromebook for artists provides an easy way to show off your portfolio, and the best Chromebook for kids is something that’s durable (and most likely includes a touchscreen!). The Acer Chromebook R11 combines all of these requirements into one system, offering a 2-in-1 device that comes in at less than $450. Although the price is slightly on the high side, you do get free shipping from Amazon Prime!
Why We Like It – Acer Chromebook R11
The Acer Chromebook R11 isn’t the ultimate gaming machine, but it is a great choice for casual users on the go. Running on Chrome OS (an operating system based on Google Chrome), this Acer Chromebook offers 32GB of eMMC storage, up to ten hours of battery life, & a 360° hinge design. This chromebook is an improvement compared to some others. See our Acer Chromebook R11 Convertible Review for more information.
- Quad-Core Processor
- 4GB of RAM
- Has an HDMI Port
- Doesn’t Have a Full HD Display
- Slightly Heavy for a “Tablet”
- Limited Internal Storage
Display Type
Powered by Intel HD Graphics, the Chromebook R11 has an 11.6-inch IPS touchscreen display. This display has a glossy finish, so it’s not very good for bright rooms thanks to a large amount of screen glare. The screen, despite being an IPS panel, doesn’t have very good viewing angles. Check out our Acer Chromebook R 13 Convertible Review to learn more about display types and resolutions. It tends to get dark quickly when viewed at an angle, so it’s not great for multiple concurrent viewers. Still, the display itself is fairly clear, although the maximum brightness could be a tad higher (it’s only slightly higher than the 200 nits of the Lenovo Chromebook S330).
Resolution
The 11.6-inch touchscreen IPS display on the R11 is only standard HD, not full HD. This is somewhat disappointing, because the display itself has fairly good color & contrast, but is held back by a low resolution of 366 x 768p. The touchscreen has a 10-point touchscreen, so it will definitely meet all of your touch display needs. You can easily use it in laptop mode, display mode, tent mode, or tablet mode, but the device is a little bit heavy for extended use as a tablet (a lighter, non-convertible option is the Google Pixelbook Go i5 Chromebook).
Battery Life
Acer claims that the Chromebook R11 will last up to 10 hours on a single charge. This is an accurate claim, so you can easily expect the R11 to last an average workday. That said, the battery life is lower than some of its competitors, but should still be long enough for most people. Sadly, the R11 doesn’t have any fast charging capabilities, so you will want to plug it in before it dies if you’re planning on having a 9+ hour workday.
Weight & Durability
At 2.76 pounds, the Acer R11 isn’t the lightest 2-in-1 system, but it’s not extremely heavy either (a heavier but cheaper option is the HP Chromebook 14). The casing of this device is mainly plastic, but Acer did make the top of the device out of aluminum, which helps reduce potential damage to the screen. Since the device has a 360° hinge you won’t have to worry about bending the display back too far (although it’s important to know that the screen does not swivel).
Inputs
You’ll find a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB-C port, an HDMI port, and a full-sized SD card slot on the R11. While not the most expansive set of ports we’ve seen, this device easily provides enough connection options for most people. Internally, this Chromebook has 4GB of DDR3L RAM & 32GB of eMMC storage. This laptop does come with 100GB of cloud storage on Google Drive free for a year, but if you want more internal storage you will have to use the SD card slot.
Acer Chromebook R11 Wrap Up
The Acer Chromebook R11 offers a one-piece daily use solution for most users that want a laptop with the option of a tablet mode. The battery life isn’t particularly impressive and the internal storage is lacking, but this device is primarily targeted at cloud-based users. For them, the R11 is a great choice for an everyday Chromebook.
