Exploration Junkie is reader-supported. If you buy through links on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
11-inch laptops continue to grow in popularity because of the unparalleled convenience and immense portability they offer. These laptops are very compact and lightweight and will easily fit into most backpacks. The small weight means you can easily carry them about making them ideal for people – students, professionals, and so on – that are always on the move and need to get some work done.
The fact that you get comfortable keyboards also increases the appeal of 11-inch laptops. However, don’t expect the laptops to be powerhouses. You’ll have to trade some performance for portability but you’ll still be able to get an 11-inch laptop that can handle all your daily tasks.
There are several 11-inch laptops in the market and while many promises to fulfill all your requirements, not all of them will be able to meet your needs. As a result, I carried out extensive research and testing to bring you the very best 11-inch laptops available on the market. Below you’ll find the best 11-inch laptops, their pros, cons, and a buying guide to help choose a laptop that fulfills your requirements.
Guide Contents
The 7 Best 11-Inch Laptops for 2024
HP Stream LaptopOur Top Pick
2021 Newest HP Stream 11-inch HD Laptop, Intel 2-Core N4000 up to 2.6 GHz, 4 GB RAM, 32 GB eMMC, Webcam, HDMI, Windows 10 S with Office 365 Personal for 1...
The HP Stream is a portable 11-inch that comes with the durability of HP products. Transporting this laptop is extremely easy and it’s also convenient to carry around. The 11-inch screen has a 1366 x 768 resolution which is very good considering the size of the laptop and the price range.
You’ll also be able to multitask fairly well with the 4GB DDR3L RAM bandwidth. As long as you are not running anything too heavy on this laptop, you’ll be able to multitask without any or much lag. There is also the 32GB eMMC storage which should be able to save most of your files. You can’t expect gigantic storage capacity from 11-inch laptops.
The keyboard is very comfortable to use as the keys are spaced apart nicely and look crisp and clean. And this brings about a comfortable typing experience. Battery life is very good as you’ll easily get up to 12 hours of battery life from this laptop.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11.08 x 7.59 x 0.66 in / 28.15 x 19.28 x 1.68 cm
- Weight: 2.3 lbs / 1050 g
- Processor: Intel 2-Core N4000
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: Intel UHD Graphics 600
- Hard disk: 32GB eMMC
- Operating System: Windows 10 S
- Battery life: up to 12 hours depending on use
Pros
- Super Lightweight.
- Good display.
- Good RAM bandwidth.
- Impressive speaker quality.
- Good battery life.
Cons
- No major shortcomings.
Lenovo Chromebook C330 Laptop
The Lenovo Chromebook C330 is a sleek and stylish Chromebook with a blizzard white finish. This laptop is a 2-in-1 laptop that has four modes. You can use this laptop in the tent, tablet, laptop, or stand mode. The 11.6” IPS display has a Full HD resolution which provides you with colorful images with high clarity.
As you’d expect from a quality Chromebook, this laptop comes with seamless integration with all your Google accounts making this machine ideal for students, family, or professional use. The incorporated MediaTek MT8137C processor is specially optimized to run apps on Google Play Store.
You get 4GB RAM bandwidth which is standard for 11-inch laptops. However, the 64 GB storage space is more than what is typically offered at this range. Combine this with the additional 100GB space you’ll get from Google Drive and you have enough space for your files. 10 hours of battery life is what you’ll get from this Lenovo Chromebook which is no joke.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11.5 x 0.77 x 8.48 in / 29 x 1.9 x 21.5cm.
- Weight: 2.64 lbs / 1197 g
- Processor: MediaTek MT8137C
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: Integrated – PowerVR SGX543
- Hard disk: 64B eMMC
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Battery life: up to 10 hours depending on use
Pros
- Super portable.
- You enjoy the quintessential adaptability of Chrome OS.
- Good display.
- Fast.
- Large storage space.
- Impressive battery life.
Cons
- You’ll have to look at other options on this list if you want to run Windows OS.
HP Chromebook Laptop
Weighing roughly the size of a magazine, this HP Chromebook is one of the most portable laptops on the market and one you’d not hesitate to take along with you wherever you are going. I like the build of this laptop as it’s very sturdy and durable. The plastic body may not be as nice as metals but it’s very easy to keep clean.
The screen resolution is good especially when you consider the range of this laptop and the touchscreen feature, which works well, is a nice addition. You’ll also be impressed with the full-size keyboard which is comfortable to use and have a nice positive response.
You’ll find the 4GB very capable of multitasking efficiently and while the 32GB storage space isn’t the greatest, it’s standard at this range. You can always put in a micro SD card and use it as storage for your Android apps.
The battery life is just as HP advertised and you’ll be getting over 10 hours of use. A nice surprise about these laptops is the speakers which are loud and clear. An audio fanatic may find issues with them but most people will find the speakers satisfactory.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 7.59 x 11.22 x 0.66 in / 19 x 28 x 1.8 cm
- Weight: 2.36 lbs / 1070 g
- Processor: MediaTek – MT8183
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: MediaTek Integrated Graphics card
- Hard disk: 32GB eMMC
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Battery life: up to 10 hours depending on use
Pros
- Immense portability.
- You enjoy the quintessential adaptability of Chrome OS.
- Good build.
- Good screen display.
- Impressive battery life.
- Impressive audio performances.
Cons
- Chromebooks are still not for everyone and you are better off running Windows OS if you need it.
Asus L210 Laptop
Ultra-thin and lightweight, the Asus L210 is an ideal travel-friendly laptop. Wherever you are going, the L210 will accompany you without being an extra burden. The Intel Celeron N4020 that powers this laptop is fast and powerful. About the display, you get an Ultra-thin 11.6 HD display and 768p resolution that will provide more than satisfactory image quality.
The 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage, which is higher than what is typically offered at this range, brings about an enjoyable and smooth experience for users. Thanks to the backlit and comfortable keyboard, you can easily use this laptop even in dim and dark places. There’s also a large 6-inch multitouch pad with palm-rejection technology that offers an excellent experience.
The day-long battery life means you don’t have to carry your charger around or look for a power outlet. And the fanless design brings about a silent operation when using this laptop.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11 x 7.5 x 0.67 in / 27.5 x 19 x 1.7 cm.
- Weight: 2.31 lbs / 1047 g
- Processor: Intel Celeron N4020
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: Intel Integrated Graphics card
- Hard disk: 64GB eMMC
- Operating System: Windows 10 S
- Battery life: up to 12 hours depending on use
Pros
- Ultra-thin and lightweight.
- Fast processor.
- Backlit and comfortable keyboard.
- Large storage capacity.
- Day-long battery life.
- Silent operation.
Cons
- No major shortcomings.
Apple MacBook Air Laptop
The Apple MacBook Air is one of the best 11-inch laptops ever produced. While Apple discontinued this product some time ago, the good news is that there are still many new and refurbished MacBook Air available on the market.
You must have noticed the MacBook Air is one of the most expensive laptops on this list. And rightly so, just not because it’s an Apple product. The MacBook Pro comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, which is a rarity in this range. You typically get Celeron or mobile processors at this range. The Intel Core i5 processor may be a couple of generations old but is still more powerful than what you’d find from most if not any 11-inch laptop on the market.
Another standout feature of this laptop is that you get SSD storage, and 125GB of it. The keyboard is also very comfortable to use and the battery life can be up to 13 hours depending on use.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11.8 x 7.5 x 0.67 in / 27.5 x 19 x 1.7 cm.
- Weight: 2.31 lbs / 1047 g
- Processor: Intel Core i5
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000
- Hard disk: 125GB SSD
- Operating System: macOS
- Battery life: up to 13 hours depending on use
Pros
- Lightweight and travel-friendly.
- Powerful and fast processor – Intel Core i5 is no joke.
- Fast and large storage – 128GB SSD is surreal at this range.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Amazing battery life.
Cons
- This laptop is like an 11-inch laptop of fantasies. No major shortcomings!
Samsung Chromebook 4 Laptop
Samsung has several quality laptops in the 11-inch space and the Samsung Chromebook 4 is one of such laptops. The HD Display is pleasing and slightly better than what you’d typically get at this range. I’m a big fan of the military-grade durability of this Chromebook 4 which makes it durable and long-lasting.
The Intel Celeron Processor N4000 is very fast and lets you complete your tasks quickly and efficiently. You get 6GB RAM bandwidth which is more than is typically offered at this range and this gives you more room for multitasking. You aren’t going to experience any lag with this laptop.
There is also the 64GB eMMC flash storage that gives you more space to save your files. And the amazing battery life of 12.5 hrs allows you to get through the day without having to charge your laptop. Services like Google Assistant can also be integrated allowing you to speed your everyday tasks with voice command.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11.3 x 7.9 x 0.67 in / 27.5 x 19 x 1.7 cm
- Weight: 3.75 lbs / 1700 g
- Processor: Intel Integrated Graphics
- RAM: 6GB
- Graphics card: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000
- Hard disk: 64GB eMMC
- Operating System: ChromeOS
- Battery life: up to 12.5 hours depending on use
Pros
- Slim and lightweight.
- Pleasing display.
- Fast processor.
- High RAM bandwidth.
- Good storage capacity.
- Amazing battery life.
- Very durable.
Cons
- No major shortcomings. However, Chromebooks are still not for everyone and you are better off running Windows OS if you need it.
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 Laptop
Acer Chromebook Spin 11 2-in-1 Touchscreen Laptop Computer_ 11.6" HD_ Intel Celeron N3350 up to 2.4GHz_ 4GB LPDDR4 RAM_ 32GB eMMC_ 802.11AC WiFi_ Type-C_...
Another 11-inch laptop on this list that is very portable and easy to transport. The Acer Chromebook spin comes with an Intel Celeron processor that’s fast and completes your tasks in a fast and efficient manner. I like the 11.6-inch HD multi-touch IPS display which is pleasing, bright, and colorful.
You get 4GB ram which is standard at this range and the 64GB storage (32GB eMMC, 32GB SD card) provides more than enough space to store your files. Should you need more storage space, Acer offers you 100GB of space on google drive.
Battery life is great as you can get up to 10 hours of battery life depending on use. The keyboard of this laptop is well-designed and brings about a comfortable typing experience.
Quick Specifications
- Screen size: 11.6 inches
- Laptop size: 11.9 x 8.2 x 0.8 in / 30 x 20 x 2 cm
- Weight: 3.09 lbs / 1401 g
- Processor: Intel Celeron N3350 dual-core processor
- RAM: 4GB
- Graphics card: Integrated Intel HD Graphics
- Hard disk: 32GB eMMC
- Operating System: ChromeOS
- Battery life: up to 10 hours
Pros
- Compact and portable.
- Fast processor.
- Good display.
- Comfortable keyboard.
- Good storage capacity.
- Great battery life.
Cons
- Chromebooks are still not for everyone and you are better off running Windows OS if you need it.
Best 11-Inch Laptops – The Guide
I always include a buying guide after recommending the best products in a particular category. The purpose of the buying guide is to help you understand the features of a product. This will, in turn, help you understand what to look out for when making a decision about a product.
Below are the factors you should consider before buying an 11-inch laptop.
What To Expect From an 11-Inch Laptop?
The main benefit you get from an 11-inch laptop is unmatched convenience and portability. They are ideal travel laptops that you can easily carry from one place to another with unbelievable ease. However, this incredible portability means that there have to be some tradeoffs.
One of such tradeoffs is the low-powered processors that 11-inch laptops possess. The reason for this is that it’s difficult (or expensive) for manufacturers to fit a powerful processor into a small compartment without sacrificing free space. However, the processors of 11-inch laptops are capable of handling moderate to minimal daily tasks. So if you are doing anything that isn’t CPU/GPU-intensive, you’ll be fine.
Don’t expect 11-inch laptops to have the brightest or sharpest display. Depending on the model, the display may be sharp and bright while some may not be as bright especially when you are outdoors. However, don’t go for an 11-inch laptop with a resolution below 720p.
11-inch laptops may run on Windows or Chrome OS. Chrome OS uses Google Chrome as its principal user interface and is especially good for cloud users.
Storage options are also limited on these laptops and you’ll seldom see a model that exceeds 64GB. You can always use an SD card to increase storage space available to you.
You can expect to get full-size and comfortable keyboards. I’m impressed with the quality of some of the keyboards of the 11-inch laptops I tested.
Many 11-inch laptops are designed to be used throughout the day and thus usually have an amazing battery life. You can expect a battery life of up to 12 hours. And this eliminates the need to carry chargers around especially if your laptop is fully charged before you leave your home.
Who Are 11-Inch Laptops Good For?
11-inch laptops are ideal for students and professionals that are always on the move and want the flexibility to work anywhere without a heavy machine bogging them now. You should also take a look at these laptops if you are looking for budget laptops/convertibles for daily computing tasks like taking notes, checking and reply mails, and so on.
You can also get an 11-inch laptop to serve as your second laptop for life on the move. If you are a heavy computer user that’s into serious gaming, video editing, or Photoshop, then these laptops are not for you. You can use 11-inch laptops for some light video editing though, especially if you are on a budget and don’t mind waiting a moment to process stuff.
Types of Laptops
11-inch laptops come in different types and may be any of the following:
Notebook: A notebook is a laptop or personal computer that trades off some functionality for portability and compactness.
Chrome book: Chromebooks are budget-friendly alternatives to MacOS or Windows OS laptops. These laptops run on Google’s Chrome OS which uses Chrome Browser as a user interface. Chromebooks are ideal for cloud-based users. However, you can’t operate Windows or MacOs programs on Chromebooks.
Convertible laptops: Also referred to as 2-in-1 laptops is a portable computer that has both the features of both a laptop and a tablet. You can detach the keyboard of these laptops and use them as a tablet.
How To Choose Your Laptop
Display
Many 11-inch laptops offer a reasonably pleasing HD display that provides good color rendition. Go for a screen resolution of at least 1365 x 768p so you can view your content without distortion. There are a few premium 11-inch laptops that offer beyond full HD (1080p) resolution but they are very expensive.
RAM
The amount of RAM bandwidth you have will determine the level of multitasking your laptop is able to handle. Don’t go for an 11-inch laptop with 2GB RAM as you’ll just be wasting your money. 4GB RAM is standard and will allow you to multitask without any lag.
6GB and 8GB RAM are not so common but will result in a faster laptop. And this will be of great benefit to people that do light video or photo editing.
Processor
Intel Celeron, Intel X5, AMD 9, and so on are the types of processors you can expect in 11-inch laptops. These processors are far from being the most powerful available but they can easily do your everyday tasks like browsing the internet, checking email, working on documents, playing multimedia content, and playing light games.
Storage Space
Storage options are limited in 11-inch laptops and the maximum storage capacity you are most likely to find is 64GB. The storage technology used is eMMC which is the same used in smartphones. This is because eMMC storages are small and consume much less energy. There is also the fact that eMMC is faster than HDDs. But they don’t provide a lot of storage space like HDDs.
There are 11-inch laptops that have SSD storage, like the Apple MacBook Air above, but they will be more expensive.
Operating System
11-inch laptops will either run on Windows, MacOS, or Chrome OS. Both Windows and Mac OS offer more options especially when it comes to applications. Chrome OS runs on Chrome Browser as a user interface. Chromebooks are ideal for cloud-based users. However, you can’t operate Windows or macOs programs on Chromebooks.
Battery Life
The battery life of your 11-inch laptop is one of the most important features you should look out for. Many people want a laptop that can get them throughout the day without being tethered to a power outlet. Finding an 11-inch laptop with day-long battery life is easy as strong battery life is one of the key features of 11-inch laptops, just like their portability.
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the best 11-inch laptops available on the market. These laptops aren’t the most powerful but you get unmatched convenience, portability, and amazing battery life to get through the day. Use the buying guide to know what to look for in 11-inch laptops and choose one that meets your needs.
