Allwinner Chromebook Dell Chromebook 11 3100 11.6" Chromebook - 1366 x Review

Look, this is a $59 Chromebook. That's the one thing you need to know. It's not a laptop, it's a web browser with a keyboard attached. For that price, you get a functional machine that can handle Google Docs, YouTube, and checking email. That's it. Don't expect to run apps, don't expect to store files locally, and for the love of all that is good, don't try to game on it. It's a disposable tool for a single, simple job.

Honestly, nothing surprised me. It's exactly as slow as you'd think. That single-core AMD CPU sits in the 2nd percentile, which means 98% of all laptops are faster. The 4GB of RAM is in the 1st percentile. It will chug with more than a handful of browser tabs open. The only thing that isn't rock bottom is the GPU, which lands in the 56th percentile, but that's meaningless because the rest of the system holds it back so badly you'll never notice.

At $59, the value proposition is simple. If you need a dedicated machine for a kid to do homework on Google Classroom, or a terminal to check a single website at a kiosk, it's worth it. For literally any other purpose, it is not worth it. You are trading every ounce of performance and future-proofing for an incredibly low price.

Forget the MacBook Pro and gaming laptops on the competitor list. That's like comparing a skateboard to a Ferrari. The real comparison is to other cheap Chromebooks or used devices. For about $50-$100 more, you could find a used Chromebook with a better screen, more storage, and a dual-core processor. If your budget is locked at $59, this is your only 'new' option, but know you're buying the absolute bottom of the barrel.

Only buy this if your budget is $59 and not a penny more, and you need a new device for the most basic web tasks. For everyone else, save up another $50-$100. You'll get a massively better experience that won't feel obsolete the moment you open the box. This Chromebook is a last-resort purchase, not a smart one.