What you need to know
- Acer’s latest Chromebooks prioritize durability first, designed to survive drops, spills, and daily backpack abuse.
- The Chromebook 311 and Spin 311 are Acer’s first education models powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 540.
- The processor enables up to 15 hours of battery life on a charge and allows for a completely silent, fanless design.
Classroom laptops often take a beating. They get stuffed into crowded backpacks and sometimes have to survive spilled juice boxes. Student devices need to be more than just smart; they need to be tough. Acer understands this, and its latest education Chromebooks focus on both durability and strong internal features.
Acer has introduced the Chromebook Spin 311 (R725T) and the regular Chromebook 311 (C725), which are the first education Chromebooks to use the MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor. While we usually see Intel or older ARM chips in this segment, this new silicon promises to handle the heavy lifting of modern STEM apps and Minecraft Education Edition without breaking a sweat.
The Kompanio 540 chip helps these laptops last longer. Acer says you can get up to 15 hours of battery life on one charge. The chip also makes a fanless design possible, so the laptops stay quiet during study time.
Acer designed these laptops to meet MIL-STD 810H standards, so they can handle drops from up to 48 inches (122 cm). The keyboard also has a drainage system that can direct up to 11 ounces (330 ml) of liquid away from the inside. So, if a water bottle leaks, the motherboard shouldn't fry instantly.
Easy, modular repairs
For parents who are tired of replacing devices, repairability is a big advantage. Acer now uses a modular design, so you can swap out the keyboard by removing only two screws. The keys are attached securely to prevent kids from pulling them off, but if one breaks, it is easy to fix. The USB-C ports are also modular, making them simple to replace without changing the whole mainboard.
These laptops are ready for the future when it comes to connectivity. Both models support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.3. This may seem unnecessary for now, but as school networks improve, these laptops will keep up and not slow things down.
Keep in mind that while these laptops are very durable, the screens are still 11.6-inch HD (1366x768) panels. This is typical for this type of device, but you should not expect 4K quality visuals.
Both models will be available in North America in March 2026. The Chromebook 311 starts at $500, and the Spin 311 starts at $580.
