I tested Dells compact Chromebook, and its a great tool for school but youll want to pair it with a mouse

Date:
Tue, 04 Nov 2025 04:38:49 +0000

Description:
The Dell Chromebook 3120 is billed as the perfect companion for educational purposes but is it fit for the classroom?

FULL STORY ======================================================================Dell Chromebook 3120: Two-minute review

The Dell Chromebook 3120 is a small but tough laptop designed to withstand
the rigors of student life.

Its compact and rounded design is certainly different. The softer material around its edges help protect it from impacts, making the Chromebook 3120 tougher than many others in this field.

Not only is it more rugged than the best Chromebook constructions, its also easier to repair, thanks to its top-mounted keyboard and captive screws that keep the various materials together.

The price paid for this toughness, however, is the huge bezel around the screen, which reduces the display size by a disappointing amount. At least it features screws in each corner, which again should help with servicing.

There are only four ports on the Chromebook 3120: two USB-C, one USB-A, and a headset jack. The type-C ports are located on either side, which improves versatility, and both support charging and external display connections.

The performance of the Chromebook 3120 is respectable, handling the sorts of tasks students demand of their laptops quite well. It can also handle HD
video streaming and even light gaming, though nowhere near as well as many of the best laptops , so temper expectations. (Image credit: Future)

The display is sharp and vibrant enough to enjoy such content, although its lack of brightness can cause some visibility issues, especially when viewing darker scenes. Its also a little too reflective at times.

I was pleased to see that even the non-convertible model of the Chromebook 3120 features a touchscreen, which can be useful for navigation, although its not smooth enough for dedicated illustrators and handwriters.

The keyboard layout is good, with plenty of space between keys to make typing comfortable. However, presses frequently failed to register when I used it, which was frustrating. Worse, though, was the touchpad, which is too small
and imprecise for accurate and smooth navigation.

Battery life, on the other hand, is up to expected standards. It lasted close to 11 hours when I played a movie on a continuous loop, which eclipses many
of its rivals, although there are others that can endure for longer.

Considering its budget pricing, the Dell Chromebook 3120 is a worthwhile proposition. Thanks to its durability, portability, and performance, it
really shines as a study companionbut I would recommend pairing it with an external mouse to eschew the wayward touchpad. Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Price & availability (Image credit: Future) Starts from $179.99 / 369.68 (about AU$350) Available now Reasonable price

The Dell Chromebook 3120 starts from $179.99 / 369.68 (about AU$350) and is available now. It can be configured with 4GB or 8GB of RAM, and a 2-in-1 version is also available, with a display made with Gorilla Glass.

This is a fantastic price for a Chromebook of this spec, making it one of the best student laptops around thanks to its performance and touchscreen functionality.

If youre looking for something even cheaper, the Asus Chromebook CX1505 is a great alternative. It doesnt have a tough exterior or a compact form like the Chromebook 3120, but it has respectable performance and a great display.

Meanwhile, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is one of the best student
Chromebooks in our view, thanks to its truly convertible nature and lively performance. Value: 5 / 5 Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Specs

These are the specs for the Dell Chromebook 3120: Dell Chromebook 3120 specs

Base configuration (Non-touch)

Review configuration

Max configuration

Price

$179 (about 135 / AU$275)

Clamshell: $299.99 / 369.68 (about AU$460)
2-in-1: $369.99 (about 280, AU$565)

Clamshell: $329.99 (about 250, AU$400)
2-in-1: $399.99 (about 305, AU$610)

CPU

Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)

Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 3.4GHz)

Intel N100 (4-core/4-thread, 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 Non-touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare

11.6-inch Touch HD LCD (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare

11.6-inch Touch HD LCD, (1366 x 768p), Anti-Glare

Storage

64GB eMMC

64GB eMMC

64GB eMMC

Ports

2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, 1x 3.5mm combo audio

Wireless

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

2.82 lbs | 1.28 kg

Clamshell: 2.82 lbs | 1.28 kg
2-in-1: 3.17 lbs | 1.44 kg

Clamshell: 2.82 lbs | 1.28 kg
2-in-1: 3.17 lbs | 1.44 kg

Dimensions

11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm

Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm
2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins | 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm

Clamshell: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.82 ins | 303.9 x 207.9 x 20.8 mm
2-in-1: 11.96 x 8.19 x 0.85 ins | 303.9 x 207.9 x 21.5 mm Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Design (Image credit: Future) Rugged construction Compact form Large screen bezel

The Dell Chromebook 3120 has an unusual outer shell for a laptop nowadays. It has rounded edges covered in a soft-touch material, almost as if it has been fitted with a bumper case. This makes it look more like one of the best
rugged laptops than a budget Chromebook, and Dell claims its as durable as those more durable devices. According to Dell, the Chromebook 3120 can withstand 30-inch drops onto steel and 48-inch drops onto plywood, something that'll probably matter if this is going to be used by a child.

In keeping with the durable chassis, the lid is also reassuringly solid, with no wobble to it at all. Whats more, its also very flexible even the non-hybrid variant can still recline all the way back to 180 degrees, making it very amenable to various setups.

Despite all this ruggedness, the Chromebook 3120 is very compact, making it very easy to carry around. Its heavier than you might expect, but not to an onerous extent.

Another advantage of the design of the Chromebook 3120 is the fact that its easy to maintain. It features a top-mounted keyboard and a captive screw in the chassis that keep its various materials together, both of which make the Chromebook 3120 readily repairable.

One of the worst aspects of its design, however, is the huge bezel around the display. No doubt this helps with durability as well as repairability (there are easily accessible screws in each corner), but it severely compromises the already small real estate.

There arent many ports on the Chromebook 3120, but theyre wisely chosen.
There are two USB-C ports, which should help the device to stay relevant for longer, and both accept charging and external monitor connections.

Whats more, theyre located on either side to improve versatility. The only other ports on the Chromebook 3120 are a USB-A and a headset jack, both located on the left, but these are the next two interfaces I wouldve chosen
to include on a Chromebook.

The keys have a slight but noticeable texture to them that feels smooth yet tactile. There are some useful shortcuts on the top row, but there arent as many as youll find on other Chromebooks even those the same size as the Chromebook 3120. Design score: 4 / 5 Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Performance (Image credit: Future) Good all-round performance Reflective display Poor touchpad Benchmarks These are the benchmark scores for the Dell Chromebook 3120 : TechRadar Battery Life Video Test: 10 hours and 44 minutes
Jetstream2 Benchmark: 181.945
Kraken Benchmark (lower is better): 743.3ms
Speedometer 3.0: 11.2 (0.71)

The general performance of the Dell Chromebook 3120 is pretty good. Its fast and snappy enough for basic tasking, from notetaking and essay writing to spreadsheet creation and browsing.

It can handle video streaming very well, too, even at 1440p. However, higher resolutions are beyond it, since youll have to contend with frequent and lengthy buffering times.

Its even capable enough for some light gaming. I managed to play Asphalt Legends on medium settings smoothly, with no disruptive stutters or lag. Be warned, however, that not all Android games are compatible with the
Chromebook 3120, including Alien: Isolation and Hitman: Blood MoneyReprisal .

The 1366 x 768p resolution is sharp enough for a display this small, and colors are pleasingly vibrant. Brightness is sufficient for the most part, although I wish it had more when viewing content featuring dark tones, as these can be hard to see at times.

The display also has a tendency to plunge into total blackness if the angle isnt set just right for your particular environment. Whats more, it can be quite reflective, which further sullies the viewing experience. (Image
credit: Future)

The keys felt good to use, and their generous spacing makes them easy to navigate, even with the limited real estate. However, they lack feedback, and frequently my presses would fail to register while typing, requiring a firmer touch than with many other keyboards.

The touchpad, however, is more frustrating. Its very small, which can make navigation and certain productivity tasks awkward, such as dragging items
from one side of the screen to the other.

It also lacks refinement, with its jerky tracking spoiling my attempts at smooth, precise movements: the cursor either moved slower than expected or jumped too far ahead of where I wanted it to go. I also found that taps were very inconsistent, failing to register at least half of the time.

The touchscreen proved more responsive, but it can be quite grabby, resulting in unsmooth swipes and gestures. This isnt the device for you if you plan on making copious amounts of drawings or handwritten notes, but the
functionality is still useful for navigation purposes. Its a shame that
finger marks are quite visible, though. Performance score: 4.5 / 5 Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Battery life (Image credit: Future)

The battery life of the Chromebook 3120 is very good. In our movie playback test, it lasted close to 11 hours, which is an impressive performance considering the smaller 43Whr battery, and puts it ahead of much of the competition.

It beats the Asus Chromebook CX1505 , for example, which managed about 7
hours in the same test, but just fails to match the Acer Chromebook Spin 312
, which managed over 11 hours.

Its also reasonably quick to charge, taking about two hours to completely replenish. Battery life: 4.5 / 5 Should I buy the Dell Chromebook 3120?

Notes

Rating

Value

The can outlast it is well-priced given the spec and functionality.

5 / 5

Design

The tough chassis is welcome, as is the small size. Shame about the large bezel, though.

4 / 5

Performance

The Chromebook 3120 can be used for all sorts of tasks, and it deals with
them all pretty well. The touchpad is poor, though.

4.5 / 5

Battery life

Battery life is above average, although there are others that slightly edge past it.

4.5 / 5

Total Score

The Chromebook 3120 does a sterling job as a student device, providing all
the functionality and performance you could need for the classroom. But youre best off using it with an external mouse.

4.5 / 5 Buy the Dell Chromebook 3120 if...

You want a durable machine
Thanks to its drop resistance and repairability credentials, the 3120 should last from term to term.

You want something easy to carry around
It might be surprisingly heavy, but its still very portable, largely thanks
to its compact form factor. Don't buy it if...

You want a great touchpad
The touchpad is too small and inaccurate for heavy use get yourself one of the best mouse picks to go with it.

You want a large display
The lid housing the display is small enough, but the large bezel compromises it even further. It can also succumb to darkness and reflections under
certain conditions. Dell Chromebook 3120 review: Also consider

Here are some alternatives to the Dell Chromebook 3120 that are also
fantastic for students:

Asus Chromebook CX15
Its not as portable as the 3120, but its still quite thin. And its large
width means you get a widescreen display, which is one of the highlights of the CX1505. It also performs rather welland its cheaper than the Chromebook 3120.

Read our full Asus Chromebook CX15 review .

Acer Chromebook Spin 312
If youre looking for one of the best 2-in-1 Chromebooks , the Spin 312 is a great choice. Its capable performance and sleek, portable design make it yet another student favorite. Plus, its display, though small, is a treat for the eyes, thanks to its sharp resolution. Its a little reflective like the 3120, though.

Read our full Acer Chromebook Spin 312 review . How I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120 Tested for two days Used for a variety of tasks Chromebook reviewing experience

I tested the Dell Chromebook 3120 for two days, during which time I used it for a multitude of tasks.

I used it for productivity, general browsing, streaming video content, and gaming. I also ran our series of benchmarks for Chromebooks and tested its battery life by running a movie on a continuous loop.

Ive been using Chromebooks and other laptops for years, and have reviewed plenty of them as well, ranging in their price points, form factors, and purposes. First reviewed November 2025 Read more about how we test



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/computing/chromebooks/dell-chromebook-3120-review


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