Back in the days, quickly after the 10 inch netbooks became popular, many realized that they are too small and underpowered for most of the everyday tasks.
Something with just a little bit larger screen, increased resolution, better keyboard/touchpad and more powerful hardware was needed, without eating too deep into the battery life. Thus, the 11.6 inch mini laptops were born, as an answer to a growing need.
During the last years, I’ve seen tens, maybe hundreds of small computers. Right now my main laptop is a 12.5 incher, but before that I owned an 11.6 inch Acer Aspire 1825PT, which at the time was chosen because it packed punchy enough hardware for my daily activities and a decent keyboard/display, while still compact and light enough to get along when traveling. I still feel that 11.6 inch machines are the best you can get if you need mobility, I went for the superior size class just because I needed more power for my work, power 90% of you guys won’t need.
In the lines below I’m going to tell you a couple of things about the 11.6″ laptops I consider the best picks right now, after playing and testing most of them. Like all similar posts on the site, this is not a top, it is a list, as all the devices mentioned in here are solid picks for some potential customers, but they are each meant to satisfy different needs and cope with different budgets. So it’s really up to you to pick the one that suits you best.
Budget 11.6 inch netbooks
If on a budget and consider a 10 inch computer unfit for your needs, you could go for a cheap 11.6 inch notebook. You won’t get the looks, power or the build quality of the more expensive options, but hey, for less than $300, you’re certainly getting a lot.
The 11.6 inch Samsung and Acer Chromebooks
Chromebooks are light, portable and very cheap computers, running Chrome OS and built around Google’s webservices. What’s the catch? Well, most of your content is stored online and most of your programs and web-based, which means that these computers do not run the regular Windows software, but a set of proprietary apps. Many of them are built around Google’s services, like Gmail, Youtube, Drive, Youtube, Maps, Music, Videos and so on. But you’ll find popular apps like Evernote, Facebook plus many games.
Of course, chromebooks are mostly useful when connected to the Internet, as all the content is stored online, but they can be used offline as well and have your work and content backed up locally.
Right now there are two good 11.6 inch chromebooks available in stores.
One sells for only $199 and is built by Acer, the Acer C7 Chromebook. It looks alright, it weighs about 3 pounds, it can go for 5 hours on a charge and is powered by an Intel dual-core processor, with 2 GB of RAM and a 320 GB regular hard-drive. You can easily upgrade those if you want to, BTW.
The Acer C7 Chromebook is a perfect laptop for kids – compact and very affordable
The other is the Samsung Chromebook and this one is slightly more expensive, starting at $249 . But it’s actually an entirely different machine.
It’s powered by a Samsung proprietary processor, comes with 2 GB of RAM and only 16 GB of internal storage. And that allowed Samsung to manufacture a far sleeker device, that only weighs 2.4 pounds, is 0.7 inches thick and is most of the time just as snappy as the Acer. As for the lack of internal storage, well, that’s hardly a problem since the entire computer is designed not to use local storage in the first place.
The Samsung Chromebook is more expensive, but also sleeker, lighter and better equipped
The Samsung is also more appealing than the Acer, packs a better keyboard and trackpad, offers an USB 3.0 port and lasts slightly longer on each charge. There’s also a 3G version, if you want to be always connected to the Internet.
All these being said, the Samsung Chromebook is going to be the more attractive package for many of you looking for an affordable 11.6 incher. And for good reasons, since it really is a great machine. In fact, it’s so popular these days that it topped the Bestselling Laptops list on Amazon for the last couple of months, which really means something.
Anyway, more details about these products, including pictures, user reviews and up-to-date prices, are available via these links:
- Acer Chromebook – starts at $199 (no 3G version)
- Samsung Chromebook – starts at $249 (3G version at $399)
And you can also check out Google’s Chromebooks section.
The Acer Aspire One family
If you’re after a regular 11.6 inch laptop with Windows and don’t want to spend much on it, the Acer Aspire One 725 (the Windows 8 version of the popular 722) and 756 should be your top priorities right now.
The two are very similar, just built on different hardware platforms: there’s an AMD C70 processor inside the AO725, and an Intel Celeron 847 processor inside the AO756. But which one should you choose?
The Intel platform is snappier in most tasks, including those graphics related (running FHD videos, playing light games). But the AMD options is not far behind. The 756 can also take two memory modules and up to 8 GB of RAM, while on the 725 there’s only one module (up to 4 GBs). The 725 however tends to last longer on a charge, around 5 hours of everyday use, with the Intel option is going for only about 4. Plus, on the AMD powered config there’s an USB 3.0 slot, which is missing from the Intel configuration.
Other than that, the two are nearly identical, with only slight differences when it comes to their keyboards, trackpads and ports layout. The two glossy 11.6 inch screens are also the same and the two laptops are both running Windows 8.
Not even the prices can set the two apart. The Acer Aspire One 725 with an AMD C70 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 320 GB HDD sells for around $350 these days, with discounts. More details are available via this link.
On the other hand, the Acer Aspire One 756 with an Intel Celeron 847 processor, 2 GB of RAM and 320 GB HDD sells for just under $300 (more details here), but you do get extra RAM with the 725, so price wise, the two are very close.
So, which one is better? Personally, I’d go for the 756, because it is slightly faster. But the 725 has pros of is own, like the longer battery life and that USB 3.0 slot. A more thorough comparison between the two 11.6 inch Acers is available here, but it’s written in Dutch (Google translate is your friend).
Two good affordable laptops: the Acer Aspire One 756 (left) and 725 (right)
Everyday 11.6 inch notebooks
If you’re after an 11 incher that just looks better than the ones above and slightly more powerful, you should look at the laptops we’re going to talk about in this section, with prices ranging from $350 to $600.
You’ll notice that many of the laptops in here are powered by AMD E Series processors, which are considerably faster then the AMD C series APU found on the Acers mentioned above. Have them next to Intel’s Core iX ULV platforms and they are going to loose, even in front of the Core i3 entry level CPU, but AMD powered ultraportables are a lot cheaper then the Intel motorized options and that’s why they are popular.
HP Pavilion dm1/dm1Z – value for money
HP’s offer in this class is one of the most well received around the world, packing good features and a proper price tag.
On the outside there’s a good looking plastic case that feels quite sturdy. It’s available in silver/black or Burgundy red. Opening the lid you get a glossy 11.6 inch display, 1366 x 768 px resolution and an ergonomic full-size keyboard with island keys. That trackpad with integrated click buttons is decent too, considering its reduced size.
In terms of hardware, the dm1z series is built around an AMD platform, with either AMD E-1200 or the faster E-1800 APUs, 4-8 GB of memory and several storage options. You also get Wireless N, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 and a 6 Cell battery rated at 8 hours of life on paper, which means like 5-6 hours in practice.
Prices start at $379 for the Pavilion dm1 series on HP’s website, where you can actually configure your own HP dm1 model.
Overall, the HP dm1, like the other AMD powered 11.6 inch laptops out there, is not the fastest or the sleekest ultraportable and is definitely not a match for an ultrabook. But if you’re after an affordable 11.6 incher for casual tasks, some videos and light games, it will do the job. For only around $400-$450.
The HP Pavilion dm1 does offer plenty for the money
Sony VAIO E Series – the looker
The Sony Vaio E is a fancy 11.6 inch mini laptop built on a similar AMD hardware platform as the HP on top . In line with the good Vaio tradition, it is better looking than many of its competitors, with an interesting design, although is still made from plastic. It is available in several colors though, including red, pink or light blue.
Opening the lid you get an 11.6 inch glossy display, an ergonomic keyboard with independent keys and a decent trackpad, just a little bit cramped.
Inside, there’s the AMD E-1800 APU, 4 GB of RAM, 500-750 GB hard-drive, top connectivity (Wireless N and Bluetooth) and Windows 8. A full selection of ports is lined on the edges and the whole thing will last for about 5 hours on a charge, which is not really bad.
The 11.6 Sony Vaio E starts at $450, for the above configuration, so it’s similarly priced to other AMD powered ultraportables.
All in all, this is a Vaio and not a bad one at all. Except for its design, there’s little setting it apart from its direct competitors, but the price is good, so you should definitely check it out. More details, including discounted prices, pictures and user reviews, are available via this link.
Design wise, the Sony Vaio E series has something of its own. And is available in may color options too
Asus VivoBook X202E / S200 – mini laptop with a touchscreen
Asus VivoBook X202 – ultrabook with a touchscrene, for less than $500
The VivoBook X202E is the first ultrabook in this list. But unlike many of the others we’re going to mention in the next section of this post that speaks about premium 11.6 inch laptops, this one is very affordable. My full review for the X202E is available here, you should definitely have a look.
In fact, you can get a VivoBook X202 (or S200, as it’s called in Europe), for under $500 these days. And that’s only a little bit more expensive than those devices above, but you get a lot more.
The laptop’s body is made from a mix of matte plastic and aluminum, it comes with an 11.6 inch touchscreen and is powered by an Intel Core processor. Yes, it’s a Core i3, so it’s not going to be very fast, but is still snappier during daily use than those AMD hardware platforms, and even when dealing with multimedia content.
The X202E also has a decent keyboard and a fairly accurate trackpad, plus can go for about 4-5 hours of average use each charge.
Are those good enough? I’d say yes, especially for less than $500. And I’m not the only thinking so for sure, as this laptop is already very popular and appreciated by those who bought it. See this link for the latest prices, more details and a bunch of user reviews. And you should also check out my Asus X202 Video review, embedded below.
Acer Aspire V5 – power for money
If you’re after a powerful, but yet affordable 11.6 inch mini laptop, you should definitely check out the 11.6 inch version of the Acer Aspire V5. Design wise, the V5 isn’t impressive. It’s thicker than that VivoBook above, but is still portable, weighing about 3 pounds. A mix of plastic and aluminum is used for the exterior and the result looks and feels alright, but that’s about it.
However, the hardware your getting for the money you’ll be paying is definitely noteworthy. An Aspire V5 packing an Intel Core i5 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 500 GB HDD and running Windows 8 sells for just under 500 bucks, while an Intel Core i3 configuration goes for under $450. Yes, there’s only a regular 11.6 inch display, no touchscreen, but like I said, the V5 is more about delivering excellent features as cheap as possible, while leaving most of the fanciness on the sides. And it does a great job at that.
Thus, there’s no wonder the Acer Aspire V5 is appreciated, as you can see from this link, where you’ll find more details about this unit, pictures, user reviews and up-to-date prices. Go ahead and have a look.
The Acer Aspire V5 is all about delivering top features for a low price point
Lenovo ThinkPad x131e – the poor man’s ThinkPad
The ThinkPad x131e is Lenovo’s take on an 11.6 inch proper laptop, offering the solid and classy ThinkPad casing and a couple of extra goodies that you can’t find on most 11.6 inchers.
It is however more expensive than the 11.6 inchers with similar hardware specs, but for some of you it might be worth the pennies, as it’s solid and offers a good non-glare display, plus excellent keyboard (AccuType) and trackpad (and TrackPoint). Features like the fingerprint reader or the embedded cellular modem available as an extra option are just some of the few that set it apart from the competition.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X131E is available in two different hardware configurations, one built around an AMD E-1800 plaform and the other around an Intel Core i3 Sandy Bridge (!) processor. The first starts at around $550, the other at $620. Both include 4 GB of memory, 320 GB 7200 rpm HDD, Wireless N, a 6 Cell 57 Wh battery and Windows 7 or 8 operating systems.
Bottom point, the X131E ThinkPads are pricey and unless you really want a rugged mini laptop, the matte screen and that excellent keyboard, you’re probably going to be just fine with many of the other options listed above in this article.
Lenovo ThinkPad x131e – comes with solid casing, non-glare screen and excellent keyboard as strong points
Premium 11.6 inch mini laptops
If money are not a concern, these are the devices to get. They offer the best in terms of hardware, build quality and looks, but with appropriate price tags, of course. So have a look at the options below, but also check out this other post about the best 11.6 inch ultrabooks available these days.
Asus Zenbook UX21A – the top 11.6 inch ultrabook
The Asus Zenbook UX21A is the second member of the 11.6 inch Zenbook family and fixes many of the issues we noticed with its predecessor, the UX21E. It keeps the aggressive looks, slender body (only weighs 2.4 pounds) and high quality materials. Opening the lid though, you’ll get a new keyboard and an improved trackpad. And there’s an IPS Full HD display, with a non-glare coating, so definitely an awesome option in this class.
Inside, the Zenbook UX21 houses Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, 4-8 GB of RAM and 128-256 GB SSD storage, thus it’s a beast, but packing all these in a thin body has some repercussions: the battery life goes to only about 4 hours of daily use and the laptop is going to run very hot when pushed. For standard daily use, it’s going to be fine though.
The Zebook UX21A starts at around $999 in the US, for a Core i5 configuration, with 4 GB of RAM and a 128 GB SSD. More powerful versions with Core i7 processors are a bit more expensive, but you should see this link on Amazon for up to date prices and discounts.
All in all, the UX21 is a solid alternative to the MBA, but only for Windows users. Apple’s ultra-portable still packs a better keyboard and trackpad, but except for those, the UX21 is on par or superior to Apple’s ultraportable. And it is more affordable too.
Asus UX21A – a top 11.6 inch laptop, with powerful hardware and an awesome display
Sony Vaio Duo 11 – the 11.6 inch business ultrabook
The Vaio Duo 11 is a hybrid, a device that can be used either as a laptop, or as a tablet. It runs Windows 8, it offers an awesome touchscreen with a Full HD IPS panel and is powerful enough to cope with all of your requirements. On top of that, it comes with an included pen and digitizer, so you can use it to take notes, sketches, drawings and so on.
Those being said, in a few words, there are plenty of things you’ll like on this Sony. But there are at least a couple that you won’t. For starters, there’s the keyboard. Since this computer is a slider, with the screen sliding on top of the keys, there was limited space to fit the keyboard. And that’s why the end result is extremely cramped, so it will take a lot of time to actually get used to it. Then, there are the issues involved with the entire screen sliding mechanism, which feels flimsy and does not allow you to easily adjust the screen’s vertical viewing angles. And last but not least, the battery life you’re getting with this laptop is not impressive.
But if you really want an unique looking hybrid ultrabook (BTW, check out this post if you’re after a hybrid ultrabook with a touchscreen), I guess you could live with those. And perhaps you won’t mind paying $1200 or more for a Vaio Duo 11 either. You should see Sony’s website for more details about the prices and the available configurations.
Long story short, the Sony Vaio Duo 11 is definitely an interesting machine. It feels solid, is powerful, beautiful and unique between 11.6 inchers. But that doesn’t necessarily make it better, that’s why many of you might rather go for a classic looking laptop, like the Asus Zenbook or the Apple MacBook Air.
Sony Vaio Duo 11 – an unique looking hybrid, but not without some annoying quirks
11.6 inch Apple MacBook Air
Today, the MBA is still one of the sleekest 11.6 inchers out there and packs awesome looks and good performances, but it does seem a bit overpriced and outdated for what you’re getting.
Looks wise, there’s little you can say wrong about it. This one is thin and light (2.4 pounds), and its aluminum casing is both beautiful and sturdy. The backlit keyboard is also very good and the trackpad is probably the most reliable you’re going to find on any 11.6 inch laptop these days. The hardware is up-to-date as well and you can choose between several configurations, with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors, 4-8 GB of RAM, 64, 128 GB or bigger SSDs and so on.
There are however some aspects where the MBA is no longer on par with its competitors. First, you’re getting a very limited selection of ports on it, but most importantly, the 1366 x 768 px LCD display on this laptop is not a match to the IPS panels offered by many of the other premium 11.6 inch ultrabooks.
And on top of that, the Air is pricey. The 11.6 inch MacBook Air starts at $999, with an Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB SSD, while beefed up versions can get a lot more expensive. You should see Apple’s website for details, but Amazon usually offers solid discounts on Apple laptops, so you should check out this link too if you’re after the MBA.
Bottom point, the Macbook Air is still one of the most popular 11.6 inch ultraportables of the moment, but feels a bit old these days when compared to the ultrabooks recently released. I do expect this to change soon though, so stay tuned for updates.
Apple Macbook Air – still one of the most popular 11.6 inchers of the moment
Wrap up
As proven in the article above, there are still a couple of good options for 11.6 inch mini laptops and ultrabooks these days.
Those machines listed in the first sections of this post as mainstream picks are probably going to be the best picks for the average user, with good features and excellent value for money. The AMD Fusion options can really offer good everyday performances, handle multimedia content or some games, while being rather affordable. And if you need more power for your everyday tasks and a bit better battery life as well, those Intel Core iX devices should be the ones to focus around, especially since these days you can get an Intel Core powered laptop for less than $500.
Last but not least, there are those premium 11.6 inchers and I expect to see others in this category in the next months or so. More details about premium 11.6 inch laptops are also available in this article over at Ultrabookreview.com.
Of course, if you still haven’t find a proper ultra-portable for your needs and budget, you should also check out my lists of 10 inch netbooks or 12 inch mini laptops. Or just look at this massive post about ultrabooks.
Anyway, that’s about it for now. This list is being constantly updated, so don’t forget to check it out from time to time for updates. And as always, if you need any help in picking an 11.6 inch laptop, have any questions or just something to add to this post, don’t hesitate to leave a comment, I’ll be here to reply.
Thanks for this review and all of your others. I’ve been agonizing over which 11″ to select and have been on hold for months continually waiting for the promise of the newer ones.
I’m a little surprised at your recommendations, those being 3 of the older ones. Also, it could really be helpful if you’d date your articles.
Erik, check the post right now. I’ve just finished upgrading it with the latest products only a couple of minutes ago
Thanks for the update. Looks good!
Hi Mike. Thanks for your reviews. They are really helpful.
Talking about the Toshiba T215 (with dual-core AMD CPU and hdmi output), as i would like to use the notebook also as video server, do you know if it really handles up to 1080p content?
Felipe, I haven’t tried it myself. In fact, I haven’t had the chance to test this AMD Nile platform yet. Toshiba claims it will run 1080p and will be able to stream it via HDMI. However, there are some posts and threads in found on various sites claiming content would be choppy and unwatchable . Now, i’m not sure if those guys had the best drivers or the best codecs installed, so I can’t be 100% sure 1080p won’t work until i try it myself. However, that won’t happen to soon, Toshiba does not bring this particular version to my country and I am not sure if they will ever do
Thanks again, Mike. As Toshiba doesn´t give an answer in their site (and their information continues telling about the 1080p), the way is to wait and read about more owner´s tests with it.
superb reviews.
I’m thinking about the new 11.6 mac air
I am very impressed with your articles and revies; they have been very helpful…thank you!!
What if you could get an Acer Aspire AS1551 as above but only with 2 MB memory for $390? Would that put it in your mainstream?
yea, sounds good
Why no mention of HP’s new DM1z series…all 7200rpm drives, AMD Neo CPUs w/ATI HD 4225 graphics…the K125 CPU with 3gb of DDR3 RAM is just $449, w/free shipping!
DavidB, it will probably get mentioned in a future update, haven’t got the chance to play with it yet…
Bought a Gateway VR46 ( Acer) with 64 bit Windows7,4GB RAM,500GB HD and felt carry case.Has bluetooth and WLAN-only lacks 3G which I’ll overcome away from home witha prepaid data stick.Very nicely featured though and compact.Basic model gets Optical Drive which you lose on the Rossi up spec model- weight and thinner proFile.
Well informed articles and appear to be updated farily regularly.
I noted that the Acer 1830T now comes in a core i7 model, pound for pound surely the fastest 11″ ultra portable/netbook, I say this as the price is certainly fairly reasonable. Not available in the UK yet despite being available in US and parts of Europe for some time. I run the predecessor 1810TZ, excellent machine.
Is the Gateway VR46 available in Europe or the US.I’ve been very happy with mine but can’t understand why you don’t see more of them.Also the Asus VR6 Lamborghini which also seems to have a low profile.
Hi Mike,
I am thinking of buying either Lenovo Edge 11 or Asus 1215N for my daughter in college. The former is not yet reviewed by you yet. How is that product compared to Asus 1215N?
Gnowic, that Lenovo is not sold in my country so I can’t share any opinion on it
Hi, I´ve been looking for a decent 11.6 netbook in europe, it seems impossible to find, i spent some time researching and it seems they re withdrawing, toshiba doesn´t seem to offer them anymore, the same goes for samsung x120 and x125 line. I´m beggining to think they´re afraid of stop selling both 10 inch netbooks, 13,3 laptops, and those expensive ultraportables. Seriously it´s beggining to look a little fishy. I don´t know if they have prohibitions by intel on processor use on small laptops, but it seems something strategic is happening, and it´s hampering our choices, there are so little number of 11.6 models compared to 10 inch netbooks, and they aren´t available. Does anyone know if any models are planned to come out?
Yes, there are quite a bunch of them incoming. For now with AMD’s new Zacate hardware. And hopefully soon with the new ULV Intel Sandy Bridge. So stay tuned.
hi,thanks for your reviews,can u tell me where can i order acer time line 1830t in Austria?(please provide link)
sry mohsen, not familiar with the .at market
You could search for it on amazon.de and maybe they deliver in Austria as well?
I was hoping I’d find your thoughts on the Dell M101z and/or the HP dm1z, 2 very similar machines. I had been searching for a head to head comparison on them
brad
definitely the HP dm1z deserves a spot here. I’ve written about it in this other post: http://www.tlbhd.com/hp-pavilion-dm1-reviewed-6849/.
Not sure what to say about that Dell. Still, none of them is available in my country yet so i don’t know where i could get my hands on them
Bought one of these and I think they are pretty good for the money paid on Amazon.com. I also purchased a good soft case with handles at nuvo-tek.com for only $11.95 with free shipping.
By the same token, if anyone knows of where I can buy a hard case (not soft) that is a good fit for this netbook, please let me know.
Thanks
What exactly did you buy Rod?
Anyone know if the Lenovo x120e will be acpi compliant?
I understand the HP dm1 is not.
NEED TO KNOW , THE BEST 10″ OR 11″ NET BOOK WITH WINDOWS XP…… THAT I CAN STILL BUY!
Steve, I don’t think you can still find new Windows XP netbooks out there… COuld look for the older popular models, like the Toshiba Nb250 or the Asus 1005HA
Time to move away from windows XP. 10 years old, end of life. But if you insist, and know what you’re doing, you might just be able to get an installation of XP onto an older version Atom based netbook. may of the 10.2″ atoms originally came with XP.
Time to move away from windows XP. 10 years old, end of life. But if you insist, and know what you’re doing, you might just be able to get an installation of XP onto an older version Atom based netbook. may of the 10.2″ atoms originally came with XP.
What do you think of the HP dm1 Series
working on updating this post. The DM1 is one of the devices that will be added
So come back in 1-2 days for the new version of the article
Yes yes, like I said, working on this…
Thanks for a very interesting post. It seems that the manufacturers are doing a lot of thinking about more powerful netbooks. I wish they were putting more effort into making them thinner, lighter, quieter, and longer lasting instead. But nevertheless, there are some interesting options listed here, and so I very much appreciate the overview. All in all, it doesn’t seem like quite enough improvement to justify upgrading my 10.2″, Atom N280-driven Acer AspireOne quite yet. Hopefully we’ll see some of these processors become lower power over the next 6 months so I can find an 11-incher with 9 or 10 hours of battery life.
Aren’t there any 11.6″ laptops with Atom processors? Some of the newer lines with CPU-integrated Intel graphics aren’t exactly speedy but they’re super low power. But I only find 10.2″ models. My next netbook needs more pixels!
I wish there were a few ARM based netbooks too. It seems as though a 1+Ghz ARM might be a very acceptable CPU for an extremely lightweight, low power netbook. Can’t get a tablet. No keyboard just doesn’t work when you type for a living.
Thanks again!
@Mike The new HP 3105m is mighty impressive. Your thoughts & possibly your review !!?
Like I said, am currently working on updating this post. this might be one of th candidates,. thanks guys for your patience
To check your note “Windows 7 Professional version of the 3105m goes for $499 ” … I visited the HP USA link: http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06b/321957-321957-64295-3740644-3955548-5093697-5093701-5096651.html to get a price of US$449 for Win7 Home Premium 64Bit ($50 less than 32Bit Win7Pro). I think this is a better option considering the shift to 64Bit models even if one has to go by Home Premium option but its totally worthy.
I really appreciate your analyses – I have a Macbookpro – and I notice no one talks about how hard it is to do word processing on a MAC I am ready to pitch mine out the window – its beautiful the screen is great its wonderful when your online but trying to use MS Office on the machine is painful for so many reasons if you ned the machine for word processing and presentations it is just an albatross and I give up – I have been tracking your articles as I am thinking perhaps a mini book is the way to go thanks for your review
Thank you for the comprehensive breakdown. One request I have (if you are taking them) is to add an upcoming models section for future models that we may be aware of already but are not yet available. Just a one line entry for each one listing them as possible contenders to the list would be good and then we could research them ourselves. I am in the market for an 11 incher, but non of theses are quite “perfect”. It’s nice to know when that next great thing is just around the corner. Thanks again.
Hey Justin. Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll try to add something like this to my tops asap, hopefully by next week.
Thanks a ton. I’m thinking about either a ten or eleven incher. I know there will always be something better around the corner, but I don’t like to buy when that something better is right around the corner.
Hi Mike. I just want to ask if the Acer Aspire AS1830-3595 a good buy for an ultraportable laptop. I saw one in Newegg for sale at 380 US Dollars, and it looks great.
It’s an older device but it’s pretty OK, especially for that kind of money. I believe it comes with a previous generation Core I3 processor, right? The ie-330M or something like that? Anyway, offers pretty poor viewing angles and the flat keyboard ain’t that great on that one, I have the exact same one on my Acer 1825PT 11.6 incher.
Thanks Mike. I’m going to try saving up a few bucks to get a sufficient 11.6 incher.
What do you think about Lenovo S205? It looks like a powerful one, equipped with the newest AMD E procie and 4 gigs RAM on a 11.6″ view. And the skin painting motif makes the appearance very cool.
It’s not bad, but i haven’t tried it myself and that’s why it’s not in here. but it should be on par with all the other devices with an AMD e250 or the newwer e450
Dear Mike,
I just bought the Fujitsu PH521 with AMD APU E-450 here in Taiwan for about USD 549,-.
You can get the same with E-350 for USD 449,-.
I think it is a great notebook and competes pretty well with HP DM1, E120 Thinkpad or Asus 1215B.
Furthermore, Fujitsu laptops are very popular in Taiwan because of their quality.
Best regards!
thnak you for your info.
I had a lenovo s12 that i love to death, however, recently crashed. I am looking for something very similiar. any recommendation?
12.1 inches, white, is what i really wanted.
There aren’t many 12 inchers in stores anymore as they were replaced by 11.6 inch mini laptops. See the ones below. The Lenovo S205 or the new S206 that should get in stores soon should be good picks for you.
Hi Mike
I was keen on purchasing a DM1, S205 or X120e, but I have read on the forums that they all come with very weak if not faulty wi fi . The problems are frequently posted about with some people having to replace the wi fi units. Have you heard about these problems/complaints and do you know if there has been any easy/ effective solutions? I think its serious hardware problems, which makes these models very inneffective netbooks. Considering they cna charge a premium price, its surprising Leonovo and HP didnt sort out the problem. Any suggestions? I will probably purchase Toshiba now, but netbooks in general are becoming difficult to find. Thanks abd great reviews. I found them the most helpful on the bet.
hi mike, please tell me which one is better the hp dm1 series 11.6″ laptop with i3 2367m 1.4ghz,4gb ram,500 gb hd
OR
samsung np305u series 11.6″ laptop with amd e450,2gb ram ,500gb hd.
Hei Ash. It depends on waht you need from that laptop. The Intel Core i3 version will be a bit snappier for daily tasks, multitasking, etc.
The Samsung with the Amd platform is better in terms of graphics and will allow you to run some games (not the latest titles though). Both will be able to run Full HD video at ease and should offer about the same battery life (with a slight advantage towards the Intel I’d say).
Hi mike, what would you say about the asus 1225b built with amd processor considering dat i’m not a gaming person but like its portability. thanks
Maxwell, see my review of the 1225B here on the site and the video review. I speak about the games as well
Hi Mike. Is there any specific reason to choose the Lenovo s205 over the acer 722? They seem pretty similar in specs but not so in price, the acer being cheaper.
Also, the 1225b over the Lenovo s205 with the Asus being the most expensive?
Thanks in advance,
Klaus
Klaus, first of all let’s make sure we’re comparing exactly the same hardware platforms for all the three. The Acer from waht i know is available with a slower AMD C60 APU, while the other two come with AMD E350 or AMD E450 APUs. The latter platform far outperforms the first.
With that in mind, the Ao 722 is a glossy device and is the worst built or finished of the two. It’s not bad though, but there’s little attention to details on that model, which is actually alright for that price range.
Now, what I like on the S205 is the keyboard, which is very good, way better than the one on the Acer and slightly better than the one on the Asus.
Both the Acer and the Lenovo feature glossy screens, the Asus has a matte one, which will come in handy when taking the laptop outside. Also, the Asus comes with a matte plastic exterior, so is less prone to scratches, smudges, etc
And then there are some other issues like how easy it is to upgrade memory on these machines (I guess you’ll want 4 GBs of RAM with them), do they have HD webcams or not, do they have USB 3.0 ports or not, do they run loud or do they get hot. For those you should read dedicated reviews and find out more.
Basically, the Acer is way cheaper than the others because it’s also worst when it comes to details. For its money and if you’re ok with all its issues, it’s a best buy. If you need the keyboard and the slightly better feel, the Lenovo is a good buy. As for the Asus, as long as we’re talking about similar hardware platforms as the ones on the Lenovo, it shouldn’t be more expensive. You get USb 3.0, matte screen and exterior, you’ll decide if those are worth the extra bucks or not
Hello mike, i wanna know if asus 1225b has got intel specs in the market.
Hi Mike, great website, I was wondering if you will be reviewing the Acer one 725 and the 756. I like the idea of the 756 options of celeron or pentium, I’m in the UK, any idea of release dates in Europe also for these two models.
Paul
hey Paul. I’ll do my best, unfortunately Acer’s are a bit difficult to grab around here lately, they tend to get in stores late and the PR’s don’t have any press samples. But I’ll try
I hope you’ll be able to review any laptop with the newer AMD E2-1800 chip like the new HP DM1 and Sony Vaio E 11inch
It will be interesting to compare it to the E-450.
Yea, I hope so too… I didn’t get my hands on the new AMD APU till now
Mike: I just bought an Acer One 756-2420 from Costco. It is an 11.6″, 4GB/%00GB with a 4cel ion battery. I will be using it when we travel to mainly watch dvd and surf the net for sports scores and some email. We travel 3-4 times a year out of the USA. Would this be a good mini and which brand of external drive would you recommend.
Wendell, any USB DVD unit will work. I’ve listed some of my favorites over here, but others will work just as well: http://www.tlbhd.com/best-external-dvd-drvies-for-netbooks-774/
Mike: The Acer has 4GB / 500 GB memory.
Hey mike, nice guide. I am actually thinking of buying an ASUS or ACER, can’t decide what model yet. But I’ll definitely go for an AMD proc, do you have any recommendations? Thanks
Well, there’s the Asus 1225B, the Acer AO722 or the newer Acer AO 756
what do you sugest for my !3 year old daughter she is in 7th grade my budget is around under $300 thanks
Hi Mike,
Just dropping by to say thankyou for your review on 11.6″ laptops. Ive been looking for informative reviews for a while and never found anything suitable. And now I’ve stumbled across yours and its perfect! Very helpful with enough technical info I can easily understand!
Thanks again
Hello Mike,
I would like to get the Asus Zenbook UX21 A. It is the 11.6 inches Zenbook with the 3rd generation Ivy Bridge Intel processor. I have no idea where to buy it. I have seen the 13.3 inches UX31 A Zenbook available in Amazon but not the 11.6 inches. Do you know anything about the availability of the 11.6 inches UX21 A in US-Canada?
hey Leo. I’ve found it on BestBuy’s website, the Core i7 version, going for $1200. have a look
Hi Mike,
I called Best Buy Here in Vancouver and they say that they dont have in stock anywhere in Canada. Could you send me the link where you saw that?
Many thanks.
Leo.
Hey Leo. They might only have it in the US… Here’s the link: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+Ultrabook+11.6%26%2334%3B+Laptop+-+4GB+Memory+-+128GB+Solid+State+Drive+-+Radiant+Silver/5773032.p?id=1218694833446&skuId=5773032&st=asus%20ux21a&cp=1&lp=1.
Hey Mike
Im looking for a basic 11.6″ or 12″, almost exclusively for writing. It just needs to be able to run a screenwriting program smoothly (which ive heard can be a problem for some slower pc’s). Some storage for music etc too.
Any suggestions?
Thanks, Ky
Most of the ones above will do just fine, look at the Lenovos and the HP’s for the best keyboards. Dell’s are alright too. I’d stay away from Acer and even Asus though.
I want to buy a notebook but I feel lost, I don’t know what’s better a notebook or a tablet!!??? I am a teacher and I want to connect my device to a projector
what’s better for me!!! PLEASE HELP ME
well, it depends. a laptop is more versatile, has the ports, the keyboard, etc. The newer tablets will have those as well, in some way, but will be more expensive.
With the Surface tablet it’s a bit more complicated, as it’s not officially sold in my country
Please we badly need a review on Microsoft’s Windows 8 Surface tablet which also comes with a keyboard
Thank you so much, your website is the best one I ever got accross.
Hi, I need to purchase a laptop/netbook? for Christmas for my daughter. She wants a small one preferably 11.6″. It will be used for facebook, internet surfing and online small games. Can you make any suggestion Please; I don’t know anything about computers>.
sabrina, those listed in here will do. I’d probably pick between the Hp dm1 and the Asus 1225b
Hi Mike, first of all I love your reviews they are very usefull!
I really want the new Asus vivobook x202e 11.6″ but I really don’t know which I have to buy, because there is one with the Intel i3 and the 100 euro cheaper Intel Celeron. Is the difference between those two so big that, that 100 euro extra is money well spend? It is really just for everyday work
Hopefully you can help me out
Take a look at Clevo 110er; I updated mine with Crucial M4 SSD. I am pretty sure that this is the fastest 11-incher out there (with up to 16GB of RAM); what astonished me was that it has 4 hours or more of battery life also; and it can be found for under $1K
hi there i have the 13.3 inch macbook air 256 gb flash all macbook airs have 512 gegabytes flash storage
Hmm.. I have an old DM1 2020eo with an AMD Neo x2 1.3Ghz. How does it compare to the newer 4300-series DM1 with the 1xxx cpus?
the new configs are faster and more efficient. The speed difference is pretty big, so if you’re not satisfied with your old dm1 anymore, you could consider an upgrade
How would the above mentioned laptops compare to the following two 11.6 inch laptops?
HP Elitebook 2170p and Clevo W110ER (the Clevo W110ER is a bare-bown that can be customized by many different companies. Malibal and ExoticPC can even install a matte screen onto it with additional fees)
For the Zenbook UX21A, which would give better battery life, the i5 or i7 in the currently available configs? This is for Office, java based web apps, web browsing, and powerpoint presentations.
Hi Mike,
I’m replacing my old MacBook for a Windows 8 based lappy, but I’m having trouble figuring out what I need.
Mostly I’m a writer and net surfer, but I need the power to edit movie quality video, basic photoshopping and editing, and record quality audio while on the go. Suggestions based on those requirements?
Thanks for your time.
I believe you should go for one of the 13.3 inch ultrabooks, with at least an Intel Core i5 processor.
If you’re a writer, you’ll ready need a keyboard as good as possible, so I’d look at the Lenovos, Dells and HP offers. Personally, I’m a Lenovo x220 USER AND i’M LOVING IT, but it’s not an ultrabook, it’s a bit larger.
Anyway, if you can wait a couple of months though, Intel will launch the new Haswell hardware platform very soon and we should see a bunch of new devices by the end of the summer, that should be better than what we have now.