Why You Can Trust CNET This popular Acer convertible Chromebook is on sale for $199 (save $100)
The half-tablet, half-laptop Spin 311 might be an ideal option for younger students with basic computing needs.
For the same price as a typical budget Chromebook, you can get a Chromebook that's also a tablet.
If you're shopping for a budget Chromebook, you probably know what to expect: a fairly low-resolution display, not much storage, so-so battery life. All that's OK if the intended user is, say, a middle-school student who just needs to work on assignments in Google Classroom.
But if that Chromebook can also double as an Android tablet? For the same price as a standard Chromebook? Now we're talking. And that's exactly the case here: For a limited time, and while supplies last, Walmart has the Acer Spin 311 11.6-inch Chromebook for $199. That's $100 off the regular price.
The Spin 311 has "basic Chromebook" written all over it, from its MediaTek processor to its 32GB of storage to its thick-bezeled display. The key difference, though, is the hinge that allows that touchscreen display to wrap a full 360 degrees. So in addition to tent and presentation modes, you can switch to full-on tablet mode -- complete with Android apps.
There's also a USB-C port for charging and whatnot, and a Type-A USB port for legacy devices. Acer opted for Wi-Fi 5 here instead of Wi-Fi 6, but I doubt that will be a factor for most users.
CNET hasn't reviewed this model, but nearly 200 buyers had overwhelmingly positive things to say in their 4.5-star-average reviews.
If you're going to buy a budget Chromebook, I say get one that's a budget tablet as well.
Your thoughts?
Read more: The best Chromebooks for 2021
CNET's Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on tech products and much more. For the latest deals and updates, follow him on Facebook and Twitter. You can also sign up for deal texts delivered right to your phone. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and check out our CNET Coupons page for the latest Walmart discount codes, eBay coupons, Samsung promo codes and even more from hundreds of other online stores. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Answers live on our FAQ page.