The best laptops for kids that are ideal for work, play, and everything in between
The most affordable, reliable and durable laptops for students of all ages.
The most affordable, reliable and durable laptops for students of all ages.
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Most of us grew up carrying heavy textbooks, but today’s kids can lug around a library’s worth of information with a device that’s smaller than a notebook. If your child needs digital access to school materials and online resources, maybe it’s time you purchased them a laptop of their own.
Research whether or not handwritten notes are better for information retention than ones typed on a laptop keyboard, but students with laptops can conduct research, create documents, graphics, and presentations, collaborate with their classmates, and learn to use apps that they'll likely encounter later in life. Best of all, laptops are cheaper than ever before.
The Best Laptops for Kids
- Best Overall -
- Best Windows Laptop for Kids -
- Affordable Chromebook -
- Best Chromebook for Kids -
- Best for Older Kids -
- Best Macbook for Kids -
But there are hundreds of laptops for kids to choose from, and sifting through them is about as difficult as helping your child with their math homework. So, shop our picks for the best kid-friendly laptops that are reliable, easy to use, and perfect for back to school.
What to Consider
We know that reading the specifications of a laptop can seem intimidating, hard to understand, and downright boring. But we assure you — a laptop’s specs are the most important things to pay attention to when shopping for a new computer — whether it’s for you or your child.
Understanding what processor it's equipped with, its display type, how much memory it has, and its connectivity options are the key to choosing the best laptop for your child. But don't let these specs overwhelm you — we've provided a quick breakdown to explain exactly what you should look for.
- Processor: As you'd expect, the newer the processor (CPU), the more power and better performance it'll likely offer. Our two tech editors suggest opting for a laptop that's powered by an Intel Core series chip because they're more capable than the entry-level Celeron series. The latter works well for basic tasks, like general web browsing, streaming video, or typing word documents.
- Display: Since your child will likely be using the computer for both work and play, you'll want it to have a sharp screen with a good resolution. Opt for a model that has a Full HD resolution, that's 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. The bigger these numbers, the more detailed the picture on the screen will be.
- Memory: There are two types of memory to look out for: RAM, which is essentially short-term memory, and a hard drive, which is your computer's long-term memory. It stores the stuff you want to open and access throughout the lifetime of the PC. SSDs or solid-state drives are much faster and are more reliable than eMMC storage. As far as RAM is concerned, 4GB is the base amount that laptops for kids typically come with, but 8GB is ideal since you can more easily run multiple programs simultaneously.
- Connectivity: Be sure to look for a laptop for kids that support the latest and wireless standards. These features are important because they futureproof your laptop and ensure they will seamlessly pair to the latest , , and will support the latest Wi-Fi standards so you can get the fastest, most reliable download speeds. Translation? Connectivity features substantially increase the lifespan of a laptop, which is a major selling point for this investment.
Besides the above, you'll want to pay attention to the laptop's operating system. Chromebooks, which are oftentimes the most inexpensive laptops, run the ChromeOS operating system. These use the Chrome web browser (which you might actually be reading this page on) as the laptop's main interface. If you buy a Chromebook, your child will use web-based apps like Google Docs to create their work, which is then stored online. Chrome laptops can also download select Android apps, but they oftentimes have smaller amounts of onboard storage — hence their lower price points.
Other kids' laptops ship with Windows 10 in S Mode, meaning you can only install apps from the Microsoft Store. However, you can for free. That way, you can download a wider range of apps. Lastly, Apple laptops run OS X, which is a clean and easy-to-use operating system that's excellent for creative types. However, it comes at a much steeper price point. If you want a touchscreen laptop that plays double-duty as a tablet, you'll have to opt for a Chromebook or Windows laptop since MacBooks do not have touchscreens.
Whether you're looking for a unique 2-in-1 convertible laptop, a MacBook, or a Chromebook for your kiddo for when they start elementary school, we'll help you find the perfect laptop for your little one and your budget constraints.