The 11 Best 11 inch Laptops (+Windows Pro) – 2024
You have to be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when buying 11 inch laptops because the large majority of these laptops are VERY VERY SLOW.
That’s because these laptops still use ‘tablet’ chips for CPUs. Even in 2024.
While those CPUs are good to run apps on smartphones and all, they are NOT good enough to run the full version of Windows.
In fact…
They are so slow you might get more work done with your smartphone.
Q: Why do they use a ‘slow’ mobile CPU?
There isn’t much space to fit in a proper and fast CPU in an 11 inch laptop. It can be done but it makes the manufacturing process very very expensive.
Q: So should I look for bigger laptops then?
Not necessarily….
There are a few laptops that can run Windows 11 Home/Pro fast…
Unfortunately….
You need to browse hundreds of 11 inch laptops to find from…
Fortunately for you…
I’ve already done that work for you.
In fact, I own a few of these laptops myself.
Laptop Specs for 11 inch Laptops
Before I go over these laptops…let me talk a bit about the hardware you’ll find on 11 inch laptops. I’ll summarize it here but there’s more details in the last section.
CPU
The ideal CPU depends on the OS (Operating System. Ex: Windows, Apple OSX, etc).
Chrome OS: Any CPU will work. Even the weakest ones like MediaTek & Atom CPUs.
Windows 10 in S Mode: Most CPUs are fine but the N4020,N4100,N4000 Celeron CPUs will work best.
OSX(Mac): Apple’s CPUs are designed to run fast for their OS. No need to worry about CPUs.
Linux: Any CPU works as long as you use the right distro.
Now for Windows 11 Home or Pro or Windows 12:
- Ideally Intel Core m3/m5/Y processors. EX: M3-8100Y / M5Y3. Pentium Gold chips are good too. . Some Celeron processors MAY be fast if you have 8GB RAM (N4020,N4000).
- Best to worse: Core i3>Core m3/m5/y5>Pentium Gold>AMD A9=AMD A6=Celeron>Pentium(not Gold)>Atom/ARM /MeditaTek*
*Those in RED must be avoided for Windows Home, green are okay, blue are great
RAM
RAM can help offset the lack of CPU power.
How much memory depends on the Operating System:
Chrome OS/OSX/Linux: 2GB or 4GB any size is fine.
Windows in S Mode: You can ‘make do’ with 4GB RAM.
Windows 10 Home/Windows 11: 8GB is a MUST! Not much benefit from 16GB.
*Buy it with 8GB on-board because not all 11 inch laptops are upgradeable (most aren’t).
Storage
Most 11 inch laptops have either an SSD or eMMC storage.
If you want to run the full versions of Windows (Home or Pro), you must get one with an SSD. For all other operating systems, it doesn’t matter.
Otherwise, upgrade the storage to an SSD.
Display
If new , 11 inch laptops usually have HD or HD+ resolutions at best.
If refurbished, you may find 2k resolution displays as in the case of the HP 2024 or the Surface Go.
Top 11 Best 11 Inch Laptops in 2024
This is going to be a long long list. I’ve tried to put the best 11 inch laptops for every operating system. I’ll start with an Apple laptop, follow up by laptops that can run the FULL version of Windows Home/Pro with NO LAG and then continue with laptops that can either run Windows Home/Pro but are rather designed for Windows in S mode. I’ll finish it off with 3 Chromebooks, one of which I own myself.
A brief summary of the 11 11 inch laptops to save you time:
Laptop 1: OSX (Apple) OS. Can run Windows Home/Pro through Bootcamp. Fastest of all laptops on the list.
Laptop 2-6: Traditional Laptops & 2 in 1 Laptops that run Windows Home/Pro with good performance.
Laptop 7-8:Cheap laptops that lack CPU power for Windows Home/Pro but work well with Windows in S mode.
Laptop 9-11: ChromeBooks Laptops & 2 in 1 ChromeBook Tablet Laptops.
Apple MacBooks
1. 11 inch MacBook Air
Best 11 inch Laptop Under 500
Intel Core i5 1.4- 2.7GHz
4GB RAM LPDDR3
Intel HD
128 GB SSD
11.6 inch HD Glossy
2.2lbs
13 hours+
OSX Catalina (upgradeable to Sonoma)
x2 USB 3.0 ports / Mag Safe Power Port / Apple thunderbolt port / Headphone jack
It’s been three years since the first revision of this post and I have been featuring the 11 inch MacBook Air first throughout the years and this year 2024 too simply because it’s still the best 11 inch laptop.
As of 2024, you can even find it under $300.
Sure you can find windows laptops that are near 11 inch and just as fast but they’ll be very very expensive.
Now…
Although the 11 inch MacBook air was discontinued and you’d have to buy a model from 2014. They’re still VERY VERY fast (you can click the link and read the reviews if you’d like).
Why is it fast? It’s the CPU. It’s got an Intel Core CPU as opposed to Celeron or Pentium chips.
If you check the screenshot below, I’m playing a game, programming and having many many web browsing tabs open. It’s otherwordly how an old and small laptop can do this.
Though mine is almost 7 years old , it still works and the only thing that stopped working was the charger which I had to replace (I dropped it).
History
The 11” Macbook Air was released after the original 13” MacBook Air which has released in 2009. Back then it was widely known as the best laptop to the point that it quickly became popular among writers and programmers. Why? it was thin, lightweight and had an insane amount of battery for its time plus it had a keyboard that Steeve Jobs himself took part in designing.
There was a different MacBook released a few years after in efforts to make it even more portable: The New MacBook which you can still find in 2024 as refurbished on Amazon. It’s basically a 12” MacBook Air with a retina resolution however with no ports.
Back then you had three choices for a thin lightweight macbook: MacBook Air 13 and 11 inch plus the New MacBook (12”). Apple wanted to promote its “New MacBook” so the 11” MacBook Air was discontinued , that is , no newer versions have been released since 2016.
The 13” MacBook Air was later on replaced by the “New MacBook Air” which took a completely design with the keyboard & trackpad. Eventually they reverted back to the old design, which Steeve Jobs took part in desining, because people missed the old design.
Because Apple kept changing the design of their MacBook Airs and even go as far as replacing the 11” MacBook Air. People out of desesperation bought 11 inch and 13 inch MacBook Airs just in case they became obselete, especiall writers like myself. I bought 3 back then…this is why you can still find so many to buy as refurbished and sometimes as almost ‘New’.
Hardware
Before I chose the 11” MacBook Air for the list, trust me I checked at least 200 laptops (almost all the results on Amazon too) and still found the 11” MacBook Air as the only laptop with an Intel Core CPU as opposed to much slower Pentiums, Celerons & Arm chips. I found a couple of 10 and 11” Laptops (they will be listed soon) with an Intel Core CPU too but not as fast as the MacBook Air’s Intel Core i5 CPU.
SSD vs eMMC
Most 11 inch laptops will have eMMC storage which is still BETTER than regular old fashioned HDDs (Spinning Drives).However, eMMC flash drives are not as fast as Solid State Drives (SSD) and have much less capacity. The SSD of the latest 11 inch MacBook Air (2015) uses the NVMe interface plus 2 lanes of the PCIe 2.0 connection, compared to the eMMC, its much closer to the modern PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD on 2024 laptops.
Performance
With the Intel Core i5 and even with the 4GB RAM model you can do the following multitasking:
- 20 tabs open with Chrome
- Large spreadsheets with plugins open
- Zoom
- Programming with an IDE or the terminal
And still have NO LAG.
I have done the above and replaced Zoom with a game like WoW and still had no lagging issues (graphics settings to low of course).
I used my 11 inch MacBook Air to run some serious computatinal physics. ( I used to run simulations on how to backtrack a particle with the direction given as it arrived on earth, the goal was to backtrack it to the end of galaxy).
- While waiting for results I could run facebook, play music, and browse the web still with no lag.
Design
I recommend you pick this model over the “new MacBook” models. The reason is beause it’s got the same design steeve jobs took part in:
- It has the good old USB + thunderbolt port + MAGSAFE powercord
- The magsafe is EXTREMELY useful to keep your laptop away from drops. The power cord magnetically attaches instead of being ‘plugged in’ so if someone trips over the power cord since the cable is weakly attached to the power port, it’s not going to send your laptop flying.
- It has the best keyboard and trackpad designed on MacBooks.
- It has the original scissor-switch mechanism as opposed to the criticized butterfly keyboard.
- The trackpad on MacBooks has three finger functions , is more responsive and a lot bigger than what you find on bigger laptops.
- Since you’re buying the 11 inch Model, you may accidentally use the trackpad due to the keyboard area being too small.
- Battery life (if new or near new) should be the same as the newer MaBooks too due to the low resolution display and low power CPU.
- The refurbished ones with the lowest battery lives should last approx 6 hours as you use it on a trip sharing cellular data.
- If you replace the battery or buy a near new model it should last more than 10 hours.
What about Windows? I want to run Windows!
You can install Windows on this laptop. In fact, I did and you can use choose to either use Windows or OSX (Mac OS) when you turn on your computer. The process of installing windows is done through bootcamp.
| 11 in MacBook Air | |
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Windows Home & Pro
2. Microsoft Surface Go 3
Best 2 in 1 11 inch Laptop -Windows Home/Pro
Intel i3-10100Y
8GB DDR4
Intel HD 615
128GB SSD PCIe NVMe
10.5 inch FHD IPS
1.18lbs (w/o keyboard)
10 hours
1 x USB-C (can be used for power delivery), Surface Connect Port (For Surface Dock)
Windows 11 Pro
Now let’s talk about the TWO best windows laptops which have 11 inch or smaller displays. These laptops…
- COME with WINDOWS Home or PRO
- AND which you will NOT have to switch another operating system due to lack of performance.
We’ll start with the most expensive one but lighter Surface Go.
Hardware
This is the ONLY small sized laptop that has the PROPER hardware to run the full version of Windows. It’s got both:
- The 8GB RAM requirement (DDR4)
- The fast Intel Core CPU
Now, the intel Core CPU here is not the same Intel Core CPU we all know of . It’s not a Core i5 or a Core i3, it’s an Intel i3-10100Y which is a MOBILE CPU. Even though it’s a mobile CPU, it’s still much FASTER than Intel Celeron or Pentium CPUs. It’s really the best you can hope for a small laptop or computer device. You will never find a full blown an Intel Core i5 or Core i3 CPU (Ex: Core i5 1240P) on a small laptop. The reason is: size & cooling, there isn’t space for either on an 11 inch device.
As a bonus it has an SSD which will ALSO aid in launching software and multitasking between several software much faster. It’s only got only three ports however: USB-C port, headphone jack and a surface connect port. The latter can be used for charging & connect a Surface Dock which allows you to expand the number of ports and thus connect a mouse, keyboard, display, etc…
The cool thing about the surface connect port is that it’s just like the MacBook’s “magsafe” port, it attaches magnetically so it’s less prone to accidents.
Performance
Performance will be FAST for Windows 11 and Windows 12 DESPITE the fact that this is not a full blown Intel Core. On benchmarks, the Core m3 chip is just as fast as the older generation Intel Core CPUs.
Because you also have 8GB and an SSD, you can expect to have the same performance as the MacBook Air we discussed before. That is you can have the following set up and still be lagless:
- Zoom
- AAA Game at low settings or Youtube playing in the background
- MS Office
- Chrome + Several Tabs Open
You can also easily edit videos and photos with the good ol’ software you know of: Adobe Premiere & Photoshop.
Design
The most salient feature of the design is the weight and thinness. It’s 10.5 inches diagonally and so thin it’s very easy to carry around without a backpack or suitcase. Some models have an LTE connection. The TouchScreen is very responsive so feedback is quick, pretty much like an iPad or a smartphone.
Thus, if you get one of those models, you can use it sort of a big cell phone while standing somewhere.
The keybaord so you see on the picture is sold separately. If you decide to buy it, it will turn into a regular laptop. It also attaches magnetically and with the rear Kickstand using it on a plane or train tray is comfortable.
The battery lasts about 10 hours. This is expected due to the low power CPU and the small display.
The only real issue with this laptop is the display brightness, it cannot be used with direct sunlight on it you will not be able to see the screen contents.
| Surface Go 3 | |
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3. HP ProBook x360
Cheap 2 in 1 – 11 inch Laptop 
Intel Core i3-10110Y
8GB DDR4 LPDDR3
Intel UHD 615
128GB SSD
11.6 inch HD TN display
3.2 lbs
10 hours
NO
1 x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack ,1 x HDMI ,2 x USB Type-A 3.1 , SD Card Reader, x1 USB Type C port
Windows 10 Home (Upgradeable to Windows 11)
This is the second laptop I was able to find that’s both CHEAP and has the high end hardware to run Windows 11 or 12 without hiccups:
- It has the same CPU as the Surface Go 3 which is FASTER MUCH faster than Celeron & Pentium chips.
- It has 8GB RAM DDR4.
- It has the 128GB SSD
It’s also a 2-1 in one notebook but it’s a little too heavy to give you the same functionality as the Surface Pro Go 3 (3.2lbs vs 1.18lb) though you can use it as a tablet while sitting down or watching movies. You cannot use it as a tablet standing up or a cellphone replacement for any ocassions your smartphone runs out of battery because it’s too heavy to carry around with one hand and quiet thick too.
Display: display brightness is high so unlike the Surface Go 3 you’ll have an easier time using outdoors or next to windows with strong sunlights. However, the resolution is LOW. It’s only got HD resolution as opposed to FHD. This will limit you to pretty much using one window at a time for whatever software your using and you’ll have to ALT+TAB if multitasking.
Performance: Nonetheless the performance should be the same as the Surface Go 3. You can have run several programs at once and even play AAA games at low settings because it also has 8GB RAM. You can have dozens if not a hundred of web browsing tabs open and still feel no lag.
| HP ProBook X360 | |
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4. Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
Best 11 Inch Laptop – Lenovo 
Intel Pentium Silver N5030
8GB RAM DDR4
Intel HD 600
256GB SSD
11.6” TN Display HD
3.51 lb
10 hours
USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, HDMI, MicroSD card reader, Ethernet port
Windows 11 Home
This is a laptop with an Intel Pentium CPU that can run the full version of Windows (Home or Pro) with no lag. Why?
Hardware
Because although the CPU is weak for Windows Home or Pro, it has an SSD and 8GB RAM, both are HUGE performance boost that can offset the lack of CPU power. The CPU is Intel Pentium Silver, although generally Pentium CPUs are slower than Celeron CPUs, this Pentium CPU is either as fast as the best Celeron CPU or slightly faster.
Design
Despite being small it is somewhat of a ‘thick’ laptop. It’s about .9 inch thick and weighs 3.5 lb. The extra weight is due to the thickness and the fact that it has a ruggerized cover which is good for protection against falls and mishaps. The extra thickness and space also allows for lots of ports to be ready available.
The main issue with this laptop is the display. It’s only got 720p resolution (like the vast majority of 11 inch laptops) and low brightness levels (250 nits). It is however a touchscreen display and if you buy the stylus you can also use it as a tablet.
| Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11e | |
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5. ASUS VivoBook L210
Best 11 inch Laptop – ASUS
Intel Celeron N4020
4GB DDR4
Intel HD
128GB eMMC
11.6 inch HD TN display 1366×768
2.31 lbs
10 hours
1 x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack ,USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI
Windows 11 S (Upgradeable to Windows 11 Home)
I’ve been posting this model for the past few years now. The reason is simple, it’s still one of the most popular 11 inch laptops. Hundreds being sold each month (you can click the link to check the stats yourself) mostly because it is extremely cheap (180 dollars or so). It’s probably the cheapest laptop in the entire list.
Hardware
Nothing special about it. It’s the usual hardware you find on 11 inch laptops and ChromeBooks:
- 8GB RAM, Celeron CPU, TN 720p display and 128 eMMC Storage
As for the webcam and microphone, the mic works great, no screeching sounds and registers sound accurately. The webcam is decent, a little low quality but hey it’s 180 dollars laptops. For school purposes , if you are a student, it will do. If you are a teacher you may have to think about the low quality camera.
Performance
Because it’s running Windows in S mode, performance is decent. You can multitask between apps and have a dozen tabs open before you lag. I wouldn’t advice you to install the full version of Windows 10 Home on this machine though. It’s going to run somewhat OKAY during the first few weeks but as bloatware, software and files collect, it will run extremely slow.
Stick with Windows in S mode and you won’t be yelling at your screen everytime the computer freezes.
Another option is to install…
Linux: I personally like this guide . If I were you I’d try to use a youtube video and find a tutorial on it. It’s pretty easy but it will take some time. If you install Linux, then you’ll be able to install all the third party software you want while at the same time being able to launch several apps simultaneously with no lag.
For this model, I always recommend you use Ubuntu or else you may have issues with the wireless card not being recognized. If you decide to try another Distro and get wireless card issues, get a USB WiFi Antenna and call it a day.
Design
Unlike the cheap 11 inch laptops we went so far, this one is thinner and lighter plus it has all the ports you’ll ever need: x2 USB ports, USB-C port, SD Card Slot, HDMI port and of course the headphone jack. The only port missing is the ethernet port.
Keyboard and TrackPad:
Keyboard is decent. Space between keys, the size of each and their travel (push down) distance ( which is high) makes it hard, to accidentally press the wrong key making it easier to type fast. The delete key however is positioned unconventially, you may mistake it for the power button and accidentally send your laptop to sleep the first few weeks.
You won’t feel as cramped as the usual 11 inch laptop. Keyboard has no backlit.
Trackpad quality is excellent no need to buy a separate mouse unless you want to speed up your workflow. There’s also a numbpad on the trackpad, perfect for those crunching numbers on sheets too.
| ASUS VivoBook L210 | |
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6. Dell Latitude Pro
Fastest 11 inch Laptop 
Intel N200
8GB RAM LPDDR5
Integrated UHD Graphics
128GB SSD
11.6” HD 2 in 1 TouchScreen
2.98 lbs
10 hours
Windows 11 Pro
x2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ; 1 x HDMI; 1 x Headphone/microphone combo jack
This is the last laptop on the list that can handle Windows 11 Home or Pro. I know I posted several 2 in 1 laptops so far but this one is special.
In other words, this is a 2 in 1 laptop touchscreen laptop that has an insane amount of power relatively speaking of course.
Hardware
If you look at the CPU name, it’s not celeron , nor pentium, nor Core m3. It’s a new chip based on the alder lake architecture which is just as fast as some of the slightly older Core i5 CPUs!
On top of that it runs on DDR5 RAM, the latest and fastest RAM type available on laptops as of 2024.
It also has the SSD on check.
Basically, this laptop should in theory perform even faster than the more expensive Surface Go 3 and the good ol’ MacBook Air.
Design
There’s no catch!
It can turn into a tablet just like any premium 2 in 1 laptop. The keyboard however is not detachable, it’s soldered to the base of the laptop. If you flip back the keyboard however it turns into a regular tablet. The Touchscreen quality is good enough for drawing, playing sensitive to touch games and writing equations.
Display: It’s a regular 720p display. Do not make the mistake of thinking it’s a 4k display as it says in the description. It’s a mistake by the seller it’s meant to say Intel UHD graphics which is the name of the graphics card. Camera doesn’t work well I wouldn’t pick it up if my work relied solely on a high quality camera.
It weighs around 3 lbs and it’s about .9 inch thick.
| Dell Latitude Pro | |
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Windows in S Mode
7. HP Stream 11
Best 11 Inch Laptop Under 250
Intel Celeron N4000
4GB RAM DDR4
Intel HD
32GB eMMC
11.6” TN Display HD
2.5lb
10 hours
1 x Headphone-out & Audio-in Combo Jack ,1 x HDMI ,2 x USB Type-A 3.1 , Micro SD Card Reader, x1 USB Type C port
Windows 10S (Upgradeable to Windows 10 Home – not recommended)
The HP Stream 11 is still one of the most popular 11 inch laptops we have to list it in 2024 too.
Here’s what I think about the HP 11 Stream:
It’s a VERY VERY SLOW & USELESS LAPTOP if you plan on running the full version of windows (Home or Pro). Why? The hardware is BAD!
Hardware
The CPU is too slow. It’s not even the fastest Celeron CPU. Also RAM is only 4GB and it’s soldered. Soldered RAM means it cannot be replaced. There’s no additional slot for you to upgrade it to 8GB RAM.
Storage: It’s eMMC. This is faster than HDDs but not as fast as an SSD. So you won’t get any performance boosts to run the full version of Windows.
Performance
However…
If you run Windows in S mode. That’s another story. The hardware is neither good nor bad for Windows in S mode or LINUX. Either OS will run FAST with 4GB and the celeron CPU. You can also multitask between applications and run several apps/software with those two operating systems as shown below:
Design
It’s not a heavy laptop but it’s thick. Some colors are kid-like: purple, cyan, red, etc. If you’re not using this for school but rather work or writing, then there’s also other colors to choose from.
The trackpad is bad, plain and simple, just bad. You’re going to need an external mouse. If you decide to buy this laptop you have to buy it.
The storage is slow but for Windows in S mode it’s okay. The problem is the storage capacity, it’s too low and this laptop cannot have the storage taken out or upgraded. So you also have to buy an external SD Card and permanently attach it to the SD Card Reader.
| HP Stream 11 | |
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8. MicroSoft SE Laptop
Best 11 inch Laptop Under 300
Intel Celeron N4120
8GB RAM DDR3
Intel UHD Graphics 615
128GB SSD
11.6” IPS 1366 x 768
2.45lbs
10 hours
Windows SE Mode
The microsoft laptop has an 11 inch version which was released by Microsoft. The absolute main take away of this laptop is the Operating System so we’ll talk about that first.
Windows SE mode: School & Kids
Windows 11 SE a variation of Windows 11 with a few features restricted but nonetheless still more close to the full version of Windows than Windows 11 in S mode. You can install third party apps but when an app is launched you will have to use it in full screen mode (for focus purposes) and whatever you install has to be done by an administrator. Basically, it’s a trimmed down version of Windows 11 for school purposes.
Now let’s talk about the hardware…
Hardware
It has pretty much ALMOST the same hardware requirements I outlined for those wanting to run the full version of Windows 11 (Home or Pro). If you compare the specs to the Surface Go 3 or the HP Pro X360, the two most recommended laptops for the full version of Windows in this list, the only thing that’s missing is the Incel Core m3 CPU.
Performance
Performance is going to be FLAWLESS if you use Windows 11 in S mode or Windows 11 in SE mode. Since you have 8GB RAM and the Celeron is multicore (thought with lower speeds) you will still be able to launch several tasks simultaneously and laglessly (if that’s word) switch between these apps.
Windows Home or Pro: Now if you decide to switch out of Windows SE or S mode, there will be a significant difference in performance. You won’t necessarily lag and have to run one application at a time but you will start lagging if you use several software simultaneously. You won’t be able to have a game in the background, with MS Office plus a youtube video running in the background.
You will be able to have dozens of tabs open along MS Office and youtube though, this is enough for work purposes.
Design
Completely different design than the Surface Go. This is a laptop not a 2-1 in device.
The display isn’t touch screen either.
It’s pretty much designed for kids & school basically an attemp to replace ChromeBooks. So it’s neither lightweight nor thin. The display resolution isn’t high either. It’s close to 720p.
Lastly, it cannot be RAM or SSD upgraded, nonetheless it isn’t likely you’ll need more RAM & Storage Space, it’s plenty if we are talking about work & school purposes.
| Microsoft SE Laptop | |
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Chrome OS
We’ve gone through pretty much every 11 inch WINDOWS laptop worth looking at.
Now we’ll take a look atthe top 3 best 11 inch laptops that are ChromeBooks I’ve found. I’ll explain what makes these different than Windows, what you can do to improve their usability, etc. Make no mistake, ChromeBooks though may not have Windows 11 Pro or Home, are actually MOST of the time an even BETTER choice than Windows laptops when it comes to simple tasks and schoolwork. Let’s start with my favorite.
9. ASUS Chromebook C202SA
Resistant 11 inch Laptop with Chrome OS
Intel Celeron N3060 1.6-2.48 GHz
4GB RAM DDR3L
Intel HD
32 GB eMMC
11.6 inch HD Anti Glare
2.2lbs
10 hours
Chrome OS
x2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 ; 1 x HDMI; 1 x Headphone/microphone combo jack x1 SD Card Reader
Generally 11 inch laptops that have Windows Home or Pro (not S mode) will run somewhat slow and sometimes VERY VERY slow due to the lack of hardware that can fit in 11 inch laptops.
Chromebooks are extremely fast regardless of what hardware they have…the reason? The operating system.
Chrome OS
ChromeBooks do not need a decent CPU like Windows 11 or the upcoming Windows 12 will need because Chrome OS is a very very lighweight operating system. In other words, it doesn’t require good CPU power & memory to run FAST. The usual super slow CPUs (for Windows Pro or Home) like Celeron, Pentium and even Atom chips will make Chrome OS run like a cheetah.
This is why most ChromeBooks only have 4GB and some even have 2GB.
One big problem with ChromeBooks is the low storage capacity. However, since it is synced with the cloud and this is not a laptop where you can install ‘third party software’ and ‘high graphics games’ you don’t need that much space. If you do need extra space, the best way to add storage is through an SD Card. You just attach it to the SD card reader and leave it there permanently, voila you have an additional storage drive!
Performance
You can have MS Word, spreadsheets, NetFlix + several dozens of web browsing tabs with just 4GB while still being able to smoothly switch between these apps.
Everything may seem to be perfect so far, so what’s the caveat?
Installing Software on Chrome OS
The downside is that you cannot install software the same way you did on Windows laptops. You cannot download from the web then click install.
All the software you can install is limited to what’s on the Android store which doesn’t mean you’ll be limited software-wise. What I mean is that you can the usual software: MS Office, Zoom, etc, basically the most widely used software since they have an app version on the Android store (the same way phones have lots of apps ready to install on the store)
Third party Software with Linux
If you want to install third party software the same ways you did on Windows, there’s only one way to do it: install Linux on it.
Installing Linux on a Chromebook it’s like opening up a pandora’s box: millions of third party sfotware are now available including the good ol’ software everyone uses like Office, Zoom and you can even install Steam on Linux to run games.
That doesn’t mean you have to delete chrome OS, you can both on the same laptop. You can choose to boot the system with either or you can switch out of Chrome OS to Linux.
Design: ASUS C202
The main reason why I picked this model over all the other ChromeBooks available is the design: it’s ruggerized all over plus the screen can be tilted back to 180 degrees. This is going to help you if you are like me and have little care for electronics.
For example, like leaving your ChromeBook near the kitchen sink, on top of the fridge or or throw it to the floor on top of a bunch of dirty clothes.
| ASUS ChromeBook C202SA | |
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10. Acer Newest X360
Best 11inch Laptop – 2 in 1 ChromeBook
MediaTek MT8183C
4GB RAM LPDDR4
Integrated Mali-G72 MP3
64 eMMC
11.6” HD 2 in 1 TouchScreen
2.31 lbs
10 hours
Chrome OS
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C / 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A / 1 x headphone/microphone combo; Wireless-AC
Of course there are ChromeBooks that also act like a tablet where you can even write with a stylus. This is the cheapest yet highest quality 2 in 1 11 inch ChromeBook I found in 2024. It was released last year but it’s still the top 2 in 1 .
2 in 1 TouchScreen: It works just like a 2 in 1 Windows laptop. You can flip back the keyboard and turn into a tablet. The keyboard is attached of course. I’ve found no ChromeBooks with detachable keyboards and it makes sense because that would make them expensive. With the display shown here you can draw, play games, take notes, write equations, etc.
Stylus: It comes with its own stylus but most of the styluses designed for ChromeBooks will work. The stylus here looks a little like a pen but it may not be as accurate and as sensitive for accurate drawing. You want to look at the Surface Devices or an iPad if you’re looking for accuracy. However, taking notes, doing basic graphic design work,math equations it does the trick.
Display: It’s a regular 11 inch laptop display. It’s HD (720p resolution) but it has an IPS display (more accurate colors, good for drawing and designing). However, the brightness levels are too low, becomes unusable under strong sunlight.
Keyboard & TrackPad: low travel keys. Responsive and clicky when typing. However, you don’t have a delete button, the CAPS LOCK is replaced by a search button which is almost universal on all ChromeBooks.
Other Features: It has a long battery life like every ChromeBook ~13 hours (a little on the higher end) despite the touchscreen display (which uses a lot of energy). It’s extremely lightweight 2.31 and easily fits into any backpack. There’s a lack of memory however and you cannot stick an SD Card reader to increase the memory you’ll have to either resort to using the Cloud or using a large USB stick.
| Acer Newest X360 | |
| PROS | CONS |
|
|
11. Samsung Chromebook 4
Simple & Cheap 11 inch Chromebook
Intel Celeron Processor N4020
4GB DDR4
Intel UHD Graphics 600
64GB eMMC
11.6 ” HD TN display
2.6lbs
10 hours
Chrome OS
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C / 1 x USB 2.0 Type-A / 1 x headphone/microphone combo; Wireless-AC
Now the final 11 inch laptop on the list is just a simple ChromeBook. No 2 in 1 features, no touchscreen display, no rubber around the chasis for extra protection, it’s just a simple laptop that runs Chrome OS.
Hardware & Design
Hardware is the same as most ChromeBooks. Same Intel Celeron CPU & low storage. Luckily, there’s an SD card reader so you can max out storage capacity. Unlike most chromebooks it has an extra USB port apart from all the usual ports.
Trackpad is large and responsive. However, the keys have low travel so it may take sometime to get used to.
Good option if you want something cheap with a sleek profession look.
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 11 | |
| PROS | CONS |
|
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How To Buy The Best 11 inch Laptop
Finding a fast 11 inch laptop for Windows (Home or Pro) is VERY VERY difficult. Three reasons:
- Most CPUs on 11 inch laptops are very slow. They go by the name of Celeron, Pentium, Atom X5 & MediaTek.
- Most 11 inch laptops will only have 4GB RAM. The ideal RAM being 8GB RAM because Windows 11 Home or Pro will usually require around 4GB RAM.
- Storage found on 11 inch laptops are slower than SSDs.
The best 11 inch laptops will usually have:
- 8GB RAM
- SSD
- Intel Core CPU.
This will open up the possibility to not only have a super fast workflow with the full version of Windows but also let you:
- Do video/photo editing.
- Play games at low settings.
Obviously, you can multitask and do everyday tasks with it. If you find an 11 inch laptop with all three specs listed above you will be able to:
- Watch videos with no interruptions (some models freeze every few minutes).
- Use MS Office with no lag when scrolling (freezes a bit to render new content)
- Browse the web w/ at least 20 tabs with no lag.
- Program with light IDEs with no lag when loading pre written functions
Pretty much anything that doesn’t require heavy use of graphics processing.
That’s really the gist of it. Now for completion purposes let me go in depth about each component.
A) CPU
| Name | Cores | Threads | Base Speed (GHz) | Boost Speed (GHz) |
Cache |
| Celeron N4000 | 2 | 2 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 4MB |
| MediaTek MT8173C | 4 | 4 | 1.6 | 2 | 2MB |
| Celeron N4100 | 4 | 4 | 1.1 | 2.4 | 4MB |
| Celeron N4200 | 4 | 4 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 2MB |
| Atom x5 E8000 | 4 | 4 | 1.1 | 2mb | |
| AMD A9-9420e | 2 | 2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | 2MB |
| AMD Athlon 3050U | 2 | 2 | 2.3 | 3.2 | 1mb(l2) |
| AMD E2-6110 | 4 | 4 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 2mb(l2) |
| AMD A6-9220e | 2 | 2 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1mb(l2) |
| Intel Core M-5Y31 | 2 | 4 | 0.9 | 2.4 | 4mb |
| Intel Core i5-7Y54 |
2 | 4 | 1.2 | 3.2 | 4MB |
| Intel M3-8100Y | 2 | 4 | 1.1 | 3.4 | 2mb |
| Pentium Gold 4425Y | 2 | 4 | 1.7 | — | 2mb |
| Pentium 4405U | 2 | 4 | 2.1 | 2mb | |
| AMD A4-9120C | 2 | 2 | 1.6 | 2.4 | 1mb |
| Intel Core i3-10100Y | 2 | 4 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 2mb |
| Pentium Gold 4415Y | 2 | 2 | 1.6 | — | 2mb |
| Pentium Silver N5000 | 4 | 4 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 4MB |
| Intel N200 | 4 | 4 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 6MB |
| Celeron N5000 | 4 | 4 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 6MB |
This table above lists pretty much all the CPUs found on 11 inch laptops. The table was made 2 years ago but it’s still relevant in 2024 because CPUs are not ‘upgraded’ on 11 inch laptops the same they are upgraded on bigger laptops (there isn’t space to make more powerful CPUs).
Here’s what the colors mean:
Atom = not good for Windows Home or Pro. Okay for Chrome OS/Windows S mode. Better for Linux
Here’s the break down:
Intel Atom
I’ve only listed ONE atom CPU on the table and the reason is: they’re slow it’s meaningless to discuss about each individually. They were chips designed for TVs , consoles or anything that doesn’t need that much CPU power.
After some time, they were slowly redesigned to be used in laptops too but even the latest and fastest Atom CPU will not give you decent performance with the full version of Windows: be it Windows 10, 11 or 12.
Ideally they’re better suited for Linux System. They might even be somewhat slow for Chrome OS / Windows.
Intel Celeron
These were primarily designed for Tablets which are more complex than TVs thus they are originally faster than Atom Chips even though they have the same design and architecture as Atom chips.The difference is that they run at higher clock speeds. A few of these will perform just as well as some of the older Intel Core i3 CPUs.
N4000 vs N3000:
The first number after the N stands for the generation.
The 3rd generation is quiet obselete and if you find it on a 11 inch laptop, regardless of the OS, you should stay away from it.
You’ll find a similar priced laptop with the 4th generation Celeron CPUs which will be SIGNIFICANTLY faster.
Intel Pentium
These are not the ol’ fashioned CPUs from the 2000s. They have the same name but they have a different architecture and design.
The architecture is similar to the “Intel Core i3”, “Intel Core i5” and “Intel Core i7” and it also has their most salient features: hyperthreading and turbo-boost.
Performance wise, they’re not all the same. There are SLOW Pentium Chips and there are VERY FAST Pentium Chips.
In fact, many of the pentium chips you’ll find on 11 inch laptops perform worse than Celeron Chips.
The most common is shown in the table in blue and the AMD Chip with the same color has similar performance.
Intel Pentium Gold & Silver
Pentium Gold chips are somewhat faster than most celeron chips (except the 5th and 6th generation Celeron Chips: N5000). The architecture and performance is closer to the mobile i3 chips we’ll discuss soon.
Pentium Silver Chips are NOT as fast as Pentium Gold chips, their performance is generally higher than celeron chips however.
Mobile Intel Core Series & N200
These share the same architecture as the very fast Intel Core i3 and Core i5 chips you know of.
However, their clock speeds and performance have been ‘nerfed’ so that they can fit in small devices without requiring high control on temperatures (due to the small space available in 11 inch laptops).
Because they use far less power (than regular Intel Core Chips) they have way more battery and are noiseless (they don’t require the same fans and ventilation system of Intel Core i3 or Core i5 Chips).
Intel Core i3 / Intel Core i5
I have written an entire article about Intel Core i3 CPUs and another one for Intel Core i5 CPUs.
Long story short they are not found on 11 inch laptops with the sole exception of the 11 inch MacBook Air which had a Core i5 Chips specifically designed for those line of MacBooks back in 2010s.
Summary:
More Tips:
- If you want to compare performance of two CPUs. Do not rely solely on the clock speed numbers.
- Architecture and design plays just as big of a role in determining performance.
- Use www.notebookcheck.com and check the benchmarks instead (as shown in the bar graph above).
- The best CPU choices for an 11 inch laptop that runs Windows Home or Windows Pro is either a pentium gold chip or the mobile Intel Core CPUs in the table.
- The rest of these processors are only good for other Operating systems : Linux, Chrome OS, etc.
- Celerons are a mixed bag they may or may not give you fast performance on Windows Home or Pro.
B) RAM
RAM is EXTREMELY important. I’d say just as important if not MORE important in getting you fast performance with the operating system of your choice.
2GB RAM: this much will do for Chrome OS but the best performance will be by using Linux.
4GB RAM: This is more ideal for Chrome OS and Windows in S mode
You can safely multitask between everyday software while at the same time have several tabs open without having to worry about freezing or lag when scrolling down or alt tabbing.
Windows Home/Pro vs 4GB RAM:
Now here’s the thing. Windows Home/Pro don’t necessarily take a specific amount of RAM (most people think it will take around 4GB). It will actually accomodate itself to use whatever RAM is available while leaving a bit of spare RAM for you to run your software. The problem is that even though you can make do with 4GB RAM, it will not be optimal performance.
Upgrading RAM on an 11 inch Laptop
Below an upgrade tutorial for RAM & Storage on a 11 inch laptop. The process should be the same because the design of this laptop is similar to most 11 inch laptops that are upgradeable (most aren’t upgradeable keep that in mind!).
8GB RAM: This is the perfect amount for the full version of Windows 10 , 11 or 12. As of 2024 more and more 11 inch laptops are now being sold with 8GB RAM out of the box, that is, you no longer need to worry about upgrades.
C) Storage
eMMC(Flash) vs Solid State Drives
These are the two types of storage you’ll find on 11 inch laptops.
eMMC or ‘Flash’ Storage will be the most common. I’d say about 90% of 11 inch laptops will have an eMMC.
The remaining 10% will have an SSD (Solid State Drive).
What’s the difference?
They both use the same type of memoy (NAND). Both have speeds much higher than HDDs (Hard Disk Drives or the old fashioned spinning drives you know of).
eMMC vs SATA III SSDs (one type of SSD) will have pretty much the same speed.
However, PCIe NVMe SSDs send data through lanes and have more lanes available for data transfer so they are SIGNIFICANTLY faster in transfering data than eMMC storages. (Lanes are like roads, the more roads, the more vehicles you can fit to send stuff)
Which one is best for Windows 10 Home?
Obviously SSDs, having super high data transfer speeds is SUPER useful not just for transfering files but also to boot up systems, run Operating systems and software too.
SSD: Performane Boost
If you end up with a slow 11 inch laptop or any laptop that doesn’t have an SSD.
You will massively increase performance if you can upgrade the storage to have an SSD.
In some cases, it may be all you need. Say if you have a Pentium or Celeron CPU and 8GB RAM, you MAY turn your machine into a high performance beast for everyday tasks if you add an SSD or in the worst scenario, you’ll significantly increase performance to at least be able to launch one or two software simultaneously with the full version of Windows.
It’s hard to tell what the outcome will be because it’s up to how well the CPU performs. If you have two CPUs on two different machines, the performance of each may be different due to overall design of the laptop.
eMMC storage = means not upgradable
Unfortunately, eMMC storage pretty much means you cannot replace the eMMC storage device because it is SOLDERED to the motherboard. However, some laptops have an extra slot for additional storage.
To find out just go to google and type “LAPTOP NAME + MODEL NUMBER” plus the words “UPGRADEABLE” on the google search bar and click on every website until you find any info on your specific model.
How to deal with Low Storage on 11 inch laptops?
If it’s not storage upgradable and you end up with 64GB eMMC storage (windows can take at least half of it) , you can always do either of the following:
- Cloud storage: Use a free cloud storage service or pay for one. Use your google account to save important files.
- SD Card Reader: Use the SD Card Reader to insert an SD Card memory. You can find a 128GB SD card reader as slow as 15 bucks. You don’t have to take it out everytime you store a file. Just stick it there and don’t remove it. Let it function as a permanent additional storage device.
Battery Life
11 inch laptops will generall have extremely high battery lives. Usually around 10 hours , the lowest you’ll find might 8 and the highest might be 13 hours. If you want to maximize battery life when shopping for 11 inch laptops keep the following in mind:
- You get more battery with lighter operating systems. This is the exact order from longest to shortest battery: Linux > Chrome OS > Windows S mode > OSX > Windows Home/Pro.
- The more powerful the processor the less battery you’ll have. Find an ideal CPU for your operating system as described in the CPU section.
- Don’t grab Intel m3 if you are using Chrome OS or Linux. Grab Intel Celeron for example.
- Low resolution (HD) aren’t necessaril a bad thing, they consume less power. FHD resolution are nice but can cut down battery performance by 2-3 hours.
- Be wary of brightness levels. You can choose a high brightness display but remember to set it to low when you don’t need that much brightness.
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Author Profile
- I am physicist and electrical engineer. My knowledge in computer software and hardware stems for my years spent doing research in optics and photonics devices and running simulations through various programming languages. My goal was to work for the quantum computing research team at IBM but Im now working with Astrophysical Simulations through Python. Most of the science related posts are written by me, the rest have different authors but I edited the final versions to fit the site's format.
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