By 2021, our tech devices have gone through a myriad of changes and trends, shifting from clunky, power hungry beasts like laptops of yore, or phones from the early 90's and 2000's. Nowadays, it's all about the sleekest, most compact, but still relatively powerful enough to get most of what you need done. It's unprecedented really.
Internet accessibility and the wide-spread adoption of laptops, smartphones, and other important daily tech gadgets has simplified our lives. As these devices get smaller and smaller, they will in turn start producing fantastic tech products, in a smaller form factor, but just as able.
One such implementation of this in the real world, would be the popularity of smaller, thin, 11-inch laptops. And that's what we're here to do today, as we're going to be listing out some of the very best 11-inch laptops around to get you properly equipped for the minimalist, truly bare essentials life style.
There are plenty of capable, affordable, and attractive 11-inch laptops around these days. There are various benefits and downfalls, but we'll get to that as we go along this list. Before anything else, it's important to understand just who should be getting an 11-inch laptop, and who should steer clear from the display size.
Who Should Get an 11-inch Laptop?
Not all laptops are created equally, and each display size has a pro and con attached to it. It's definitely not for everyone, as some users just might be a bit too power hungry than the rest of us. People who need their laptops to perform various tasks like graphic design, image and video editing, using spreadsheet programs and working with huge datasets, hacking, gaming, and a bunch more are going to need a little more firepower than what you'd normally find on even the best 11-inch laptop.
While these powerful laptops will undoubtedly get you superior performance, it often comes at a high cost. I'd argue that a majority of laptop users don't even use the full extent of their laptops, needing only the basics like a web browser, word editor, presentation software, and other normal, everyday programs. That's who will be able to fully take advantage of the 11-inch laptop offerings. If you were looking for 11-inch laptops to get a laptop that's able to surf the web, check your emails, or for kids to use for homework and entertainment, you're definitely looking in the right place.
Even older teens in middle school and high school can stand to benefit with a super compact, portable laptop. But you're probably going to want to upgrade before heading for college. .
A few things you're going to need to know about even having the best 11-inch laptop is that most probably, the spec sheet isn't going to look that pretty. To accommodate a smaller display size, the laptop will also feature lower tiered specs in the processor, storage, battery life, graphics card, etc. But what you also get is a more affordable price point you'll definitely not find anywhere else. To go more in depth into these advantages and disadvantages, let's take a look at the pros and cons of getting an 11-inch laptop.
Pros and Cons of 11-inch Laptops
Pros
These three main points are the biggest 'Pros' when it comes to finding the best 11-inch laptops around.
Portability
The biggest draw to the 'best' 11-inch laptop is most probably going to be just how easy it is to carry around and use. With the 11.6-inch display size, these types of laptops will be the most portable laptop you could think of. Put in your bag, walk around campus, head to the library, during the commute to work, or head to lunch and you'll barely even notice it around.
I can see this as a very valuable feature for people like journalists, students, business men/women, who need a reliable laptop to get some work done on the go.
Affordability
Another great thing about smaller, 11-inch laptops is the affordability aspects. As I mentioned earlier, most 11.6-inch laptops come with downgraded specs like less storage and RAM, a worse processor, etc. But with this downgrade, you're met with plentiful of affordable, compact laptops. It's also great news for those on a tight budget and only really need the bare minimums of a laptop.
Being affordable is a very important 'Pro', as laptops above the 11.6-inch range will undoubtedly cost you a few hundred Dollars more. Depending on your needs and preferences, think about just how much you can afford if you could upgrade. It's not a bad idea to future proof your laptop with the latest processors, RAM, storage and display tech.
Ease of Use
Lastly, our next 'Pro' is going to be how easy it is to use 11-inch laptops. Not only is it easy to use in terms of how small it is, most 11.6-inch laptops are actually 'Chromebooks'.
Now, what are Chromebooks?
Chromebooks, for those uninformed, is simply laptops that use Google's simplistic Chrome OS, and most times will feature very, very affordable laptops. The only caveat being that Chrome OS isn't as flexible as their older, more experienced operating system counterparts like macOS and Windows 10. But it makes up for it by being suuuper easy to use. It's a great option if you were getting a laptop for a young child, elderly person, or even teens who just need to use apps available from Google's armada of software.
Cons
While there are great things about the best 11-inch laptops available today, there are going to be some pretty obvious downfalls. These 'Cons' will really be dependent on the type of user you are. If you can look past it however, then its a different story. But if not, I'd recommend finding a bigger display size, and simultaneously, better specs.
Power
This is because our first Con is going to be that 11.6-inch laptops are really not suited for power users. Yes, you may be looking to find the most cost effective laptop, but if you know that you're going to need your laptop for CPU and GPU intensive tasks, then you best look elsewhere. Not to mention the lacking RAM and storage options. An 11-inch laptop best suits users who aren't going to be using it for much, doing the minimal in terms of programs, software, and everyday tasks.
Value for Money
Another Con that directly relates to not having enough power is the value an 11-inch laptop represents. I'm going to take a guess and say that if you're reading this, you're probably in the market to find the cheapest, most compact laptop available. While an 11.6-inch laptop may fit the description, often times you'll find that investing just a little more money will get you much better laptop, which will last you a longer time.
How badly do you need that 11.6-inch display? Are you willing to compromise for slightly bigger for more money? If so, I'd definitely not recommend a 11.6-inch laptop for users looking for a device to last them reliably for a long time.
Speed
And lastly, probably the biggest problem you'll comes across in our search for the best 11-inch laptops is that for the most part, they're slow. Well, not exactly, but let me explain. Yes, when you first receive the laptop, you may find great performance as you use it for the first time. But what I've found in my time reviewing and working with various laptops is that over time, especially a few years, these devices will undoubtedly slow down substantially. It's not a fault of its own, but the downgraded specs will most likely catch up to users over time.
As an example, I'm going to take one of the better specced 11-inch laptops, the HP ProBook x360 11 EE laptop. Even though this is pretty impressively specced for the price, it features only a Intel Celeron processor from the Intel Celeron N4000 lineup, 4GB RAM and 128GB Solid State Drive. Overtime, you'll find the laptop slowing down due to lacking RAM and less powerful processors. Just remember that over time, you're probably going to experience worse performance as you pile on more and more programs, software, files, documents, pictures, videos, etc. on the system storage.
Now that you're aware of the pros and cons of finding a mini laptop, let's go through the recommended features & specs you're going to want on an 11.6-inch laptop.
Recommended Features & Specs
While these recommendations are just that, recommendations, we're going to highlight some important features to make sure you're confident in your purchase. Not all laptops will have similar functionality, so it's important to set some base standards to better understand what to look for in an 11-inch laptop.
Operating System
The very first consideration you're going to have to make when looking for a laptop is the operating system it's running on. You're going to have three main choices of operating system when it comes to 11.6-inch laptops: Windows 10, macOS and Chrome OS. All three operating systems have their own advantages, disadvantages, and operating system specific features. Since the 11.6-inch market has been relegated to mostly being Chromebooks, this is going to be a popular option. Chrome OS is capable for everyday use, making it the simplest operating system out of the lot.
Windows 10 and macOS both are slightly more complex, and allows you to do more than the limitations set by Google's operating system. But for the most part, these laptops will cost you quite a bit more, especially for Apple's pricey hardware. Windows 10 is also going to be the most recognizable operating system for the average user, which gives you a bit more options. This also allows you to find a great 11-inch gaming laptop or convertible laptop, depending on what you're on the look for.
For Apple however, it's been a while since they've released a 11.6-inch display laptop. Their last released would be the 2015 released Apple MacBook Air, which isn't ideal. Being a laptop from 2015, the Apple MacBook Air may not be a great option to last you a longer time due to it being outdated. If that doesn't bother you however, I'd fully recommend getting a 2015 MacBook air.
Display
Since we are highlighting 11-inch laptop sizes, naturally, that's going to be the display size we look for. But the size isn't the only thing that matters *wink*, and one very important spec when it comes to the display is its resolution. One thing I'm going to have to point out is that historically, the 11-inch laptop category seems to be dominated by the 1366 x 768 resolution, also known as a HD resolution. Meaning, most laptops that comes with a 11-inch display will more than likely have an accompanying HD resolution. At the end of the day, you're going to be seeing specs like "11.6-inch HD IPS Display".
While 1366 x 768 HD isn't absolutely terrible, it isn't great considering for a little extra money you can get a Full HD display and bigger screen real estate. Regardless, that means your options are pretty limited to finding a 11.6-inch HD IPS display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. A convertible laptop with a touchscreen display, anti-glare, or higher resolutions are a great value add depending on the rest of the laptop specs. It's also a good way to get a bit more for your money, so if you were dissuaded because of the lackluster resolution, you should look into the extra tech the display features.
Processor
Arguably the most important part of any laptop you'll find, the processor. The processor is the spec that controls most functions and tasks you do on the laptop, so it's best to find a powerful processor to ensure reliable performance. For 11-inch display laptops, you're going to find that most often, these laptops feature a dual-core processor like the Intel Celeron processor lineup, Intel Pentium lineup, or the Intel Core i3 / Intel Core i5. Your best bet would be to find something like the Intel Core i3 or Intel Core i5 depending on its generation.
If a dual-core processor like the Intel Celeron N4000 processor, Intel Celeron N3060, etc. have a faster base frequency (GHz) than an outdated quad-core processor, it's safe to say it's a better bet. That being said, our base standard for the search is going to be a dual-core processor like the Intel Celeron N4000 or Intel Pentium processor. For the base frequency, we should aim for processors that come with at least a 1.1GHz base. Any less than that, you might find less reliable performance, lag, crashes, and freezing on your laptop.
RAM/Storage
The processor isn't the only thing that influences a laptop's performance, with the RAM and storage space being equally as important. As I mentioned earlier, 11-inch devices will more often than not downsize the rest of the specs along with the display. This isn't a bad thing, but it does limit your performance if you're not careful with how you're using the laptop. For the RAM capacity, we're going to recommend a base 2GB RAM variant to ensure steady performance. While this is our base spec, you really should look for a little extra in the RAM department, making a 4GB RAM capacity a solid choice for your money. It's never a bad idea to have a little more RAM after all.
In regards to the storage space, you're going to find plenty different options to choose from. Smaller, more compact laptops like an 11-inch will more often than not feature eMMC storage options. This makes it different from standard HDD and SSD storage capacity as eMMC storage is soldered directly onto the motherboard. Which means its storage capacity is severely limited, making a storage capacity like 32GB eMMC and 64GB eMMC the norm. If you had a lot of files, documents or programs you need to run on a daily, I'd suggest ignoring something like a 16GB eMMC storage capacity and opting for a 128GB SSD at the least. Most affordable, entry-level Chromebooks won't have these options, so your best bet is to find a Windows 10 enabled laptop.
Battery Life
The last, essential feature we're going to highlight is going to be the battery life. Battery life is often the most neglected feature even though in the long term, it's very important. While battery life won't have a direct correlation to your laptop's overall performance, it's an integral feature for your day-to-day use.
There's no use in investing in a portable 11-inch laptop if it's going to limit it's portability with a horrid battery life. Battery life directly relates to how portable your laptop is, making it very important for those who want a truly wireless, minimalist experience. A long battery life lasting over 10 hours is the best you could hope for.
Now that we've gone through all the features you need to be aware of, let's get into our search to find the best 11-inch laptop available today!
Best 11-inch Laptops
1. ASUS Chromebook CX22NA
Our first laptop on the list is going to be ASUS Chromebook CX22NA which comes with run of the mill Chromebook specs. There isn't much to write home about regarding the design, as it's a simple, grey color scheme and minimal branding around the laptop chassis. The first thing you'll notice about the ASUS Chromebook is the 11.6-inch HD display with a 1366 x 768 resolution. At least the display on this one is a LED-backlit display, rather than the standard LCD panels we usually see at this price tag.
Under the hood, the ASUS Chromebook has got a pretty simple setup consisting of a dual-core Intel Celeron N3350 processor, 4GB RAM and 16GB eMMC + a 64GB SD card for the storage capacity. While the 16GB eMMC is pretty low in terms of storage space, at least you can add in your own SD cards which are pretty inexpensive. At the very least though, ASUS should've included a base storage 32GB eMMC capacity as this is more of an industry standard. The ASUS Chromebook also features Intel HD Graphics 550 which should be sufficient for some light gaming.
A few extras the laptop comes with includes a SD card reader, 3x USB 3.0 ports, HD webcam, weighs in at 2.2lbs and has a long battery life of 10 hours. All in all, the ASUS Chromebook is a pretty standard option at a very affordable price for those looking to get an entry-level mini laptop for everyday use.
2. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Next up on the list, we're featuring another capable Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311. This laptop comes packed with a lot to offer users, including the added versatility of a convertible laptop. Yes, that's right, we've gotten into the 2-in-1 Chromebook category which isn't as plentiful as you'd first imagine. The first spec we're going to go over is the 11.6-inch HD Display which is actually touch capable with a 1366 x 768 resolution. Meaning, you can convert the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 into a tablet format by flipping the display to the rear.
Under the hood, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 isn't lacking in the performance department with a dual-core Intel Celeron N4020 powering the laptop. The supporting specs on the Acer Chromebook includes 4GB RAM, a 32GB eMMC storage space and an Intel HD Graphics 660 GPU. With this spec sheet and considering how much the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 costs, this is a simple recommendation thanks to the admirable performers on-board.
The laptop comes with a few extra features to make it standout including Wi-Fi 5, microSD Card reader, HDR Webcam support, a fully array of ports including USB Type-C, 2x USB 3.0 and up to 10 hours of battery life. Overall, a phenomenal deal with a very impressive spec sheet and accompanying features at a super affordable price. Not to mention it's 2-in-1 capability which notches the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 a top spot on the list.
3. Microsoft Surface Go 2
The next featured laptop is also another fantastic 2-in-1 convertible laptop, the Microsoft Surface Go 2. To be fair, this isn't really a laptop thanks to the tablet form factor, but once you've attached the Surface Type Cover, a mouse and/or Surface Pen, you've got a super versatile laptop in your hands. It's slightly 'cheating', but the Microsoft Surface Go 2 actually features a display smaller that 11.6-inch, housing a 10.5-inch PixelSense touch display with a 1920 x 1280 resolution. I mean, it's just a bit smaller, but I think fits very well into the mini laptop category.
For the performance, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 comes packed to the rim with an impressive lineup of specs. Starting things off, the Surface Go 2 comes with a dual-core Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y, 8GB RAM and a sizable 128GB SSD storage space and Intel HD Graphics 615. Considering the fact that we've seen nothing but capacities lower than this so far, a 128GB SSD is very impressive. Not to mention you can expect even better performance due to it being a SSD rather than eMMC storage space.
The Surface Go 2 continues to impress with the rest of their specs including front and rear facing cameras, Windows 10 Home S, a headphone jack, USB Type-C port (No USB 2.0 here), SD card reader, and long battery life of up to 10 hours. The Microsoft Surface Go 2 is a very compelling package for users looking for a laptop and tablet combo. This is also one of the few laptops on the list that actually comes with Windows 10, so if that's what you're looking for, this is a solid Windows 10 enabled 2-in-1 laptop.
4. HP Stream 11 Pro G5
If you wanted a little extra bite out of your dedicated mini laptop, you should definitely check out the HP Stream 11 Pro G5. What can only be described as the quintessential professional petite laptop, the HP Stream 11 comes with a solid lineup of specs for the price. Starting off with the design is where the laptop's disadvantage comes to play with an outdated look and huge bezels around the 11.6-inch HD display. But if you can get over that, I'll add that I do enjoy the simple, minimalist look around the rest of the laptop's design.
For it's performance, the HP Stream comes packed with an Intel Celeron N4000 processor, RAM 4GB, and for storage, 64GB eMMC. The storage space may seem a bit lacking even with the relatively high capacity for mini laptops, but it does support microSD, SDHC, SDXC storage space expansions. The processor is still a pretty great one comparatively. Don't expect quad-core processor performance, but you should be good to handle some light browsing, taking online classes, watching videos, etc.
A few extra features you can find on the HP Stream 11 includes a solid port collection with a 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1x USB 2.0, 1x headphone/mic jack and 1x HDMI, Windows 10 Pro S and up to 12 hours battery life. If you were looking for a great Windows 10 enabled mini laptop, the HP Stream has a lot to offer in a super appealing package.
5. Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook
Our next laptop on the list is delving back into Chromebook territory with the Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook. Not only is it a Chromebook, the Dell Inspiron 11 is also a convertible 2-in-1 laptop which is useful for day to day activities. Scrolling through Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms just feels right when you're using a touchscreen, doesn't it? That touchscreen on the Dell Inspiron 11 is a 11.6-inch HD display with the standard 1366 x 768 resolution. Nothing special, but it's good enough.
For its performance, the Dell Inspiron relies on an Intel Celeron N3060, RAM 4GB and a modest 32GB eMMC storage space. For graphical tasks, the laptop comes with an Intel HD Graphics 400 graphics card. Similar to the other Chromebooks and laptops we've seen so far, to extend the storage you can take advantage of built-in SD card reader for an extra boost to your storage capacity.
The Dell Inspiron 11 Chromebook also comes with a handy little feature, a spill resistant keyboard. I'm sure many parents can relate, a Godsend to help the laptop's durability with accidents prone to happen with young kids. If only everything could be spill resistant, right? The laptop also comes with 1x HDMI, 2x USB 3.0 which is faster than the outdated USB 2.0, a 360-degree hinge, HD webcam, and up to 12 hours of battery life.
6. Samsung Chromebook Plus
Our last entry to the list is going to be another solid Chromebook which might just beat out the rest on paper. The Samsung Chromebook Plus has come out to impress, starting off with the design we see a more modern display with a 12.2-inch Full HD touch display. Oh, and did I mention that this is a convertible laptop too? You're getting an attractive touch display with a solid 1920 x 1200 resolution, compared to the lackluster 1366 x 768 resolutions we've seen so far. This inclusion, along with the rest of the impressive specs do cost you slightly more than the rest, but it's looking like a good deal so far.
Under the hood, the laptop continues its hot streak with an Intel Core m3-7Y30 processor, RAM 4GB and a great storage options with a 64GB eMMC and an included 256GB SD card for a boost to storage. This is a great deal, especially since you get extra storage out the box. If you were worrying about nothing having enough storage space, this might be the right laptop for you.
A few extras included on the Samsung Chromebook Plus consists of an included digital pen, front and rear cameras, stereo speakers and up to 11 hours of battery power. All in all, the Samsung Chromebook Plus came to impress with the most compelling package when you consider all you get for the money.
Conclusion
Now that we've gone through a whole range of mini laptops, we're going to pick just one as the best of all the best 11-inch laptops.
Our winner today is going to be none other than the Samsung Chromebook Plus!
At a first glance, this 11-inch laptop had all the right specs and features especially considering the price. It's also the only Chromebook on the list topping the 1366 x 768 HD resolution, which gets it waaay higher on the list. That included with solid performance, a modern, rounded look makes this the absolute best 11-inch laptop you can find. Okay fine, it's a bit bigger than 11-inches but you're not gonna disqualify it on a technicality, are you?