Dell Chromebook 11.6" 3120 Review
The Dell Chromebook 3120 is all about being small and light, but its dim, low-res screen and basic performance come with the territory.
Overview
Let's be real, this Dell Chromebook isn't trying to be a powerhouse. It's a 1.48kg, 11.6-inch machine built for one thing: being small and portable. And it nails that, landing in the 97th percentile for compactness. The specs tell the rest of the story: an Intel N100 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 64GB SSD. This is a device for a very specific, lightweight workflow.
Performance
Performance is exactly what you'd expect from the numbers. The Intel N100 CPU sits in the 8th percentile. That means it's fine for Chrome tabs, Google Docs, and streaming, but you'll feel it slow down with more than a dozen tabs open. The 8GB of RAM helps keep things smooth for basic multitasking, but it's still in the 18th percentile overall. Don't even think about gaming; the integrated Intel UHD Graphics scores a 1.7 out of 100 for that. This machine is built for the essentials, and it handles them without fuss.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely portable. At 1.48kg and an 11.6-inch screen, it's in the 97th percentile for compactness. 98th
- WiFi 6 connectivity is a nice modern touch for a budget machine.
- The 8GB of DDR5 RAM is enough to keep Chrome OS feeling snappy for basic tasks.
- Chrome OS itself is lightweight and secure, a good match for the hardware.
Cons
- The screen is a major weak point, ranking in the 1st percentile. 1366x768 at 220 nits is dim and low-res. 6th
- Storage is minimal at 64GB, landing in the 6th percentile. You'll be living in the cloud. 8th
- CPU performance is in the 8th percentile. It's fine for basics but struggles with anything more. 13th
- Battery life from the 42Wh cell is likely just okay, given the modest 27th percentile reliability score. 29th
- Absolutely not for gaming or creative work, with a GPU score in the 42nd percentile.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Processor N100 |
| Cores | 4 |
| L3 Cache | 6 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | UHD Graphics |
| Type | integrated |
| VRAM Type | Shared |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 11.6" |
| Resolution | 1366 |
| Panel | TFT |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 220 nits |
| Color Gamut | 50% NTSC |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.5 kg / 3.3 lbs |
| Battery | 42 Wh |
| OS | Chrome OS |
Value & Pricing
At around $405, this Chromebook is priced for its niche. You're paying for the ultra-portable form factor and the simplicity of Chrome OS, not raw specs. Compared to a cheap Windows laptop at this price, you get less storage and a less versatile OS, but arguably a more focused and maintenance-free experience for pure web work.
vs Competition
This isn't competing with the MacBook Pros or gaming laptops on the list. Its real competition is other budget Chromebooks and low-end Windows machines. Against something like an older used business laptop at the same price, you'd get a better screen and more storage, but worse portability and battery life. The Dell's value is entirely in its size and simplicity. If you need more power or a better screen, even a basic ASUS Zenbook would be a massive upgrade, but you'd lose that extreme portability.
Verdict
This is a one-trick pony, but it does its trick well. If your entire computing life happens in a browser and you need the absolute smallest, lightest device to carry around, this Dell Chromebook makes sense. The data is clear: fantastic for portability, poor for almost everything else. For any student needing offline apps or a business user needing more power, it's a hard pass. But for a dedicated secondary travel machine, it has a place.