Dell Chromebook 3180 Review: Durable and Student-Friendly

Educators frequently choose Chromebooks for classroom use due to their user-friendly Google operating system and robust security against malware. To address the demands of students, several manufacturers have developed durable, cost-effective Chromebooks capable of enduring rough handling and supporting elementary school curricula affordably.  Priced at $229 ($259 as reviewed), the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 offers a reliable option for educational institutions, featuring extended battery life, a rugged design, and LED lights on the back of the lid that enable students to signal virtually in class.

Durability and Drop Test for the Dell Chromebook 11 3180
Durability Standards and Design Features

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180 is designed to resist the thorough requests of a school environment. It has effectively passed 15 distinctive MIL-STD tests that survey its toughness against stuns, extraordinary temperatures, and drops from statures of 30 inches. Key toughness highlights incorporate a fixed, spill-resistant console and a screen ensured by scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass. 

Drop Test Performance

In our drop tests, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 earned a score of 7 out of 10, positioning it fourth among prevalent Chrome OS portable workstations. When subjected to drops from 2.5 feet and 4.5 feet onto both carpet and concrete, the portable workstation experienced a few scratches, and the plastic pivot and foot board were isolated.  However, these components could be snapped back into place. The only permanent damage occurred to the touchpad after a drop from 4.5 feet onto its side.

Keyboard and Touchpad Functionality

The console of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 highlights responsive keys that give strong criticism and are well-placed without the ordinary flex found in numerous budget portable workstations. After broad utilisation, writing tests yielded a rate of 75 words per diminutive with a 2 percent blunder rate, comparable to standard writing execution. The compact 11-inch size of the portable workstation may require alterations in writing approach, especially for grown-ups with bigger hands or long fingernails. 

Touchpad Performance of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180’s buttonless touchpad is sensitive, allowing for effective two-finger scrolling and three-finger swiping. Taps require minimal pressure, and there are no instances of false clicks.

 

  

Display Characteristics of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

 

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180 highlights an 11.6-inch display with a resolution of 1366 x 768, which offers nitty-gritty symbolism and appears to despise its lower resolution.  The appearance does not show high levels of colour submersion or brightness. For example, while seeing the movement picture “Avatar” on YouTube at 720p, the picture appeared clear, but the colours were less energetic than expected for such a striking setting. 

In terms of colour exactness, the Chromebook 11 3180 exceeds expectations with a Delta-E score of 0.3, outperforming the category normal of 2.3 and beating peers such as the Chromebook N7 (1.5), Chromebook C202 (2.8), and N22 Touch Chromebook (1.3). 

The screen brightness comes to 210 nits, which is satisfactory for indoor use but not perfect for open-air settings or close-shinning windows, falling short of the brighter shows of its competitors, just like the Chromebook N7 (235 nits), Chromebook C202 (250 nits), and N22 Touch Chromebook (254 nits). All are below the normal brightness of 303.5 nits. 

Whereas the seeing points on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 are adequate for individual use, sharing the screen in a bunch setting is less viable, as colours start to decrease when seen more than 45 degrees from the centre. 

Audio Performance of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

Audio on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 is adequate for kids to appreciate instructive recordings or motion pictures, but it’s not appropriate for supplanting a stereo framework. When tuning in to “Bohemian Composition,” the tall notes sounded tinny, and the vocals started to mutilate at a fair 75 percent volume. Indeed, at its greatest volume, the audio wasn’t capable enough to fill a room. 

Performance Review of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180, powered by an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and equipped with 4GB of RAM, performs adequately for basic web browsing and watching video The Dell Chromebook 11 3180, fueled by an Intel Celeron N3060 processor and prepared with 4GB of Smash, performs satisfactorily for fundamental web browsing and observing recordings. s. It handles streaming Netflix in HD smoothly while browsing Facebook simultaneously without any noticeable issues. However, when the tasks become more demanding, such as streaming Netflix alongside having multiple tabs open, the Chromebook experiences some lag in typing and scrolling, though it remains functional enough to use all open tabs.

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180 has a score of 49.9 on the JetStream benchmark test, which evaluates JavaScript performance—a basic viewpoint of advanced web browsing and applications. Whereas this score adjusts closely with its coordinate competitors, all prepared with the same CPU, it falls essentially short of the category normal score of 166.06. This dissimilarity underscores its confinements for more serious assignments. 

Within the WebGL Aquarium Illustrations Test, which assesses 3D illustration capability by mimicking a tank with 2,000 swimming angles, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 recorded 26 outlines per moment. This execution is on par with the likes of the Chromebook 11 N7 (25 fps) and somewhat better than the Chromebook C202 (27 fps), whereas strikingly outperforming the N22 Touch Chromebook’s 15 fps. In any case, compared to the much higher category normal of 239.4 fps, which incorporates more strong tablets, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180’s capabilities in dealing with complex graphical assignments are humble. 

Overview of Chrome OS and Software on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

On the occasion that you’re currently familiar with Chrome OS, the client interface on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 will feel comfortably recognisable. The system is on a very basic level, centred around the Chrome browser, with the lion’s share of applications being web-based devices that work directly inside the browser.Similar to Windows, there’s a taskbar at the foot of the screen showing open applications and a framework plate that displays data such as time, battery level, and Wi-Fi status. 

Whereas most applications on the Chromebook require an online association, there are a few that can be used offline, such as Gmail Offline, the camera, and the photo editor. Instructive education has to coordinate understudies towards appropriate instructive websites and applications, as the Chromebook does not come with pre-installed easy routes to scholastic assets. 

In spite of the fact that Chrome OS has started to support Android apps, the need for a touchscreen on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 makes it less perfect for those who wish to take full advantage of Google’s portable programme offerings. 

Battery Life Evaluation of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180 is ready with satisfactory battery life to back an understudy all through a full school day and past, counting extracurricular works out. In our intensive battery test, which incorporates determined web browsing over Wi-Fi, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 was found to operate for 8 hours and 55 minutes. This length beats the ordinary 8 hours and 10 minutes; also, it edges out the Chromebook C202, which kept going for 8 hours and 23 minutes.  Be that as it may, it falls short when compared to the longer battery life of the N22 Touch Chromebook and the N7 Chromebook, which kept going 10 hours and 26 minutes and 10 hours and 38 minutes, respectively. 

Heat Management in the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

The Dell Chromebook 11 3180 kept up a comfortably cool temperature amid our testing sessions. After spilling video substance for 15 minutes, we recorded the touchpad temperature at 78 degrees Fahrenheit. In the mean time, the console and the foot of the tablet come to temperatures of 88 and 94 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Amazingly, all these temperatures remained well below our consolation edge of 95 degrees, guaranteeing a comfortable client encounter indeed amid amplified utilisation.

Webcam and Videoconferencing with the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

The 720p webcam on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 may disappoint users expecting clear videoconferencing quality.  In my encounter, pictures captured were grainy and showed up darker than anticipated, indeed in well-lit conditions. Whereas the colours were rendered precisely, the detail was missing. Be that as it may, understudies might discover a few fun ways to utilise the different built-in channels that can change pictures imaginatively, such as including sepia or grayscale impacts, mutilating facial highlights, or making ghost-like picture trails amid development. 

Configurations and Warranty of the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

I assessed the Chromebook 11 3180 in its most elevated setup, estimated at $259, which incorporates an Intel Celeron N3060 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC capacity. A more essential adaptation is accessible for $219, which decreases both Smash and capacity by half.

The gadget comes with a one-year constrained guarantee, advertising a few affirmation on its solidity and producer back.

Final Thoughts on the Dell Chromebook 11 3180

For schools and guardians looking for a solid Chromebook, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 offers solidity, successful execution, and significant battery life matched with a user-friendly console. It stands as a strong alternative, particularly in instructive settings.

For those considering other alternatives, the Asus Chromebook C202 can be acquired for beneath $200 and highlights a prevalent console and plan capable of withstanding drops from up to four feet. Then again, the Lenovo N22 Touch Chromebook, estimated at $230, has a touchscreen interface, comparable execution, and longer battery life, making it another reasonable alternative.

Eventually, in the event that the need is for a tough, tried-and-true Chromebook that can endure a full day of scholastic use, the Dell Chromebook 11 3180 could be a commendable choice. 

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