Dell Chromebook 3120: Durable for learning, but is it enough?
The Dell Chromebook 3120 stands out with its ultra-durable design and nearly 11 hours of battery life, making it suitable for school environments. However, the thick screen bezels and poor trackpad experience are points to consider carefully.
Durable design is a top priority
The Dell Chromebook 3120 is built with durability in mind, targeting students. It has rounded edges covered in soft material to help absorb impact. According to the manufacturer, the device can withstand a drop of 30 inches onto a steel surface and 48 inches onto plywood.
Not only is the Chromebook 3120 durable, it's also designed to be easy to repair. The top-mounted keyboard and mounting screws make maintenance and component replacement easier. The hinge is also flexible, allowing the screen to open 180 degrees flat, adapting to many usage positions.
However, this durability comes at the cost of very thick screen bezels. This significantly reduces the actual display space on the 11.6-inch screen, creating a feeling of narrowed workspace.
Performance sufficient for learning tasks
With an Intel N100 processor and 4GB or 8GB RAM options, the Dell Chromebook 3120 handles basic tasks like word processing, creating spreadsheets, browsing the web, and taking online classes well. It's also capable of playing HD videos smoothly and playing some light Android games.
The screen has HD resolution (1366 x 768p), sharp enough for an 11.6-inch screen. Colors are quite vivid, but low brightness can make it difficult to view content in bright environments or dark movie scenes. The screen surface is also quite glossy, prone to reflection.
One plus is that even the standard version is equipped with a touchscreen, making navigation more convenient. However, the smoothness and accuracy are not enough to meet the needs of professional users when drawing or handwriting.
Limited input and interaction experience
The input experience on the Chromebook 3120 is a significant letdown. While the keyboard layout is well-spaced, the keys lack responsiveness, resulting in characters being missed when typing quickly.
The trackpad is the biggest weakness. With its small size and poor precision, cursor navigation becomes jerky and lacks smoothness. Touch gestures are also inconsistent, often failing to recognize commands. Therefore, using a separate mouse is the recommended solution for a better working experience.
Battery life and connectivity
Battery life is one of the bright spots of the Dell Chromebook 3120. With a 42WHr battery, the machine can run continuously for nearly 11 hours in the video playback test. The battery takes about two hours to fully charge.
The device is equipped with the necessary connection ports, including two USB-C ports (support charging and external display output, located on both sides), one USB-A port and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Detailed technical specifications table
| Parameter | Basic Configuration (Non-Touch) | Evaluation configuration | Maximum configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel N100 (4 cores/4 threads, 3.4GHz) | Intel N100 (4 cores/4 threads, 3.4GHz) | Intel N100 (4 cores/4 threads, 3.4GHz) |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated) | Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated) | Intel UHD Graphics (Integrated) |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR5-4800 | 4GB LPDDR5-4800 | 8GB LPDDR5-4800 |
| Screen | 11.6-inch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare | 11.6-inch HD LCD Touchscreen (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare | 11.6-inch HD LCD Touchscreen (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC | 64GB eMMC | 64GB eMMC |
| Connection port | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio jack | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio jack | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 |
| Camera | 720p | 720p | 720p |
| Battery | 42WHr | 42WHr | 42WHr |
| Weight | 1.28 kg | 1.28 kg (Regular Version) / 1.44 kg (2-in-1 Version) | 1.28 kg (Regular Version) / 1.44 kg (2-in-1 Version) |
| Size | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm |
Conclusion: Who should buy the Dell Chromebook 3120?
The Dell Chromebook 3120 is a worthy choice for the education segment thanks to its clear advantages in durability and portability.
Buy if you:
- Need a device that is super durable, impact resistant and easy to repair.
- Prioritize portability with compact, easy-to-carry design.
- Expect long battery life for a full day of school.
Do not buy if you:
- Requires a precise and responsive trackpad for work.
- Want a large screen with thin bezels to optimize display space.
- Regularly work in bright light environments or require a high-brightness display.
