In today’s technology-driven world, buying laptops for kids has be come a priority for many parents. There’s only so much kids can do on regular smartphones, and piggy-backing on someone else’s computer – like a sibling or parent’s – often causes issues at home and work.
But how do you go about choosing a laptop for kids? Which brand is the most kid-friendly? What specs will you need today to ensure that the laptop won’t be useless in a few years? What is the most durable against drops and other mishaps? Should you get a convertible 2-in-1? Should battery life be a factor?
Whatever your preference may be or whatever specific needs your child has, we’ve rounded up 15 of the best laptops for kids to help you start your search. Check them out below!
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Table of Contents
1. Samsung Galaxy Book Go
One of Samsung’s latest Windows laptops that come at an affordable price point, the Galaxy Book Go is packed with tons of great, kid-friendly features. With a crisp 1080p display, great keyboard and trackpad combo, and an incredibly slim 14-inch form factor, the external features for the price alone are enough to make this laptop for kids stand out.
This ARM-powered laptop is also pretty durable, and can go as long as 18 hours on a full charge! Perfect if students need to tote their laptops to different rooms. And as far as RAM and storage go, the options for the Samsung Galaxy Book Go are pretty decent.
2. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
This Chromebook from Lenovo really lives up to its name. It’s a 2-in-1 device that acts as both a laptop and a tablet, giving it great portability and all-around flexibility—perfect for kids who have trouble sitting still when doing assignments. It runs Google’s Chrome OS which is, admittedly, a very limited operating system. However, if you or your child uses their Google account for almost everything – i.e., drive, e-mail, documents, YouTube, etc. – then having this OS will significantly streamline productivity.
The only downsides to it are the screen – which is quite small – and the lack of port and storage options. The laptop only has one USB-C port, so expanding storage while using external hardware may be difficult. Other than that, the Lenovo Duet is a solid kids’ laptop.
3. Asus Chromebook Flip C214
Although the Asus Flip C214’s storage is quite limited compared to others with similar specs in the same price range, it still has one of the most kid-friendly keyboards we’ve seen. The letters are larger and have a shorter travel distance between them, which is perfect for beginner typists with small fingers.
This model also happens to be one of the most durable laptops for kids in the market. The keyboard is spill-resistant and the edges are reinforced with rubber to protect from shock and jostling. It has a drop-proof rating of up to four feet and a lay-flat design to prevent breaking, should a child push the 11.6-inch screen down.
The Flip C214 was originally designed as a school laptop, which is why it’s got so many safety and backup features. It also has a pretty impressive hardware setup, with two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an SD card reader for extra storage and file-sharing options. This is, hands-down, one of the best options for younger kids who might have trouble handling bigger, bulkier laptops.
4. EVOO Gaming 15
This is one of the bigger and bulkier items on this list, but we feel that the specs and performance perfectly justify the size and price point. Like all gaming laptops, this one is an absolute beast in terms of processing power. 8GB of RAM, 256GB SSD for storage, and a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 all come together to ensure your child won’t have difficulty streaming, viewing, downloading, uploading, sharing, and just generally managing files.
Also, if your child likes playing games like Minecraft or Roblox (for coding or for entertainment), the specs can guarantee smooth, seamless, stress-free gameplay. So if you prefer investing in a long-lived laptop that can service you and/or your family beyond schoolwork, this model’s a premium pick.
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5. Google Pixelbook Go
The Google Pixelbook is a nice, balanced, well-rounded model that perfectly fulfills everything you could want in a laptop for kids. It’s got an incredible “hush” keyboard (for noiseless typing), a rare 1080p webcam (so that your kid’s teacher can see them in high definition if need be), and plenty of battery life with one charge. The OS is standard and offers streamlined productivity, connectivity options are decent, and the portability of this – like most Chromebooks – is off the charts. And we love that it offers all these great features despite its fairly budget-friendly price tag.
6. Microsoft Surface Go 2
Despite being in the same price range as a budget laptop, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 has specs and features that could easily be seen in higher-priced models. And, bonus; it even has a touchscreen and inking support, making it the perfect digital notebook and/or sketchpad.
Add 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM to its fairly impressive processing power, and you’ve got a device with enough juice and flexibility to fulfill your child’s needs both in and out of school. The all-day battery life is a pretty sweet deal, too.
Take note, though, that the keyboard and pen aren’t included with the base model! You’ll have to purchase them separately.
7. Acer Chromebook C933T
If you’re after an inexpensive laptop with solid battery life, great screen display, and excellent performance, the Chromebook C933T will not disappoint. It manages upwards of 10 hours on one charge and has a fairly hefty 8GB of RAM and 64GB of storage – more than enough to handle online classes every day, with a few hours of gaming on the side.
This Chromebook also doesn’t have a touchscreen ability which, in the case of very young children, can prevent accidental interference (closing windows, transferring files, sharing files, etc.). Just be aware that the C933T has pretty weak speakers compared to its competitors. Headphones are highly recommended for non-recorded class sessions.
8. Lenovo Flex 5
If you want just a basic, no-fuss, convertible laptop with a solid keyboard, upgradeable storage, and a pretty intuitive touch display, then the Lenovo Flex 5 is a great choice. The AMD Ryzen 5000 processor offsets the 4GB of RAM, giving this model just enough juice to power through a full days’ worth of school activities. You can turn this into a stable laptop for projects and study or into a highly portable tablet for when your kid is out and about.
Major kudos to the design, too; instead of detaching the keyboard from the tablet, you can instead fold it out of the way. This lessens the risk of losing, dropping, or damaging the separate parts.
An excellent combination of good graphics (Radeon), great hardware (Ryzen), and a budget-friendly price point make the Lenovo Flex 5 one to watch.
9. Apple MacBook Air 13
If you don’t mind springing for a Mac for your kid’s laptop for school, the MacBook Air 13 is a decently powerful laptop that rises to pretty much any occasion. Running on Intel Core i7 with up to 16GB of memory, a storage capacity of up to 2TB SSD, and a decently strong 11-hour battery (definitely enough to last a full school day), this model’s a good choice for older students with more demanding laptop needs. In fact, if scheduling isn’t a problem, this unit would make a good family laptop, too.
Definitely has enough juice in it for online games, online shopping, and casual social media checking on top of whatever scholastic projects your kids have lined up. The 13.3-inch display is also one of the crispest and most detailed ones by far. Perfect for watching pre-recorded lessons and live video calls.
10. Asus VivoBook L203MA Ultra-Thin Laptop
Many reviewers praise the lightweight feeling of the Asus VivoBook, with many mentioning how conducive the portability is for remote learning.
It’s a pretty bare-bones laptop with a standard price tag, but its portability, serviceability, and durability set it apart from other low-cost laptops with similar specs. 4GB of memory means that it won’t be able to run multiple demanding processes at once, but it’s definitely got enough in it for basic school tasks i.e., word processing, video streaming, file sharing, file management, etc.
Some reviewers even mention that it can handle Roblox just fine, provided there aren’t several other programs running in the background. And if memory is a problem, this model has an SD card reader for external storage.
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11. HP Stream 11-inch HD Laptop
Clocking in at 14 hours of battery life, 32GB of storage and solid connectivity options, this 11-inch HD laptop is a good example of “small, but powerful.” As one of the sturdiest options on this list, this is a practical choice for very young students who may struggle with handling laptops – even one as small as this!
It’s worth noting that this is one of the lowest-priced laptops on this list, but its features are arguably up-to-par. It has USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, a full-sized HDMI, a microSD card slot, and a combination audio and mic jack for listening and participating during streamed lectures.
Overall, a very strong contender in terms of value-for-money, and perhaps the most portable non-convertible model on this list.
12. HP Envy X360 13
This may be one of the pricier laptops we’ve put here, but we have good reason to include it.
Simply put, the HP Envy X360 13 is an absolute powerhouse of a laptop. We’re talking 13.3 inches of smooth, 1080p visuals, an AMD 4000-series processor for fast, flawless management, and plenty of RAM and storage space for light gaming or heavy content creation (i.e., video editing, photo editing, drawing, etc.). It’s a little chunkier compared to other laptops with similar screen sizes, but it’s not downright unwieldy. In fact, its base aluminum construction and compact design are enough to keep it firmly within the “light and portable” category.
It also manages roughly 12 hours of run time with one full charge—a neat little feature for kids who forget to plug it in. Honestly, the Envy X360 isn’t just a laptop for kids. We could easily see this model serving a university student fairly well!
13. Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
Lenovo’s IdeaPad line always gets such high praise—and with good reason. It’s affordable, versatile, and packs a pretty powerful punch in terms of battery. One full charge gives you almost 22 hours of juice. If your child forgets to charge it the night before, they’ll probably still have a working Chromebook in the morning.
It runs on the standard OS that all Chromebooks do and has some pretty hefty storage and memory options for heavier workloads.
However, we will point out that this model has one of the most finicky trackpads amongst the laptops for kids that we’ve reviewed. There’s also the fairly inconvenient fact that the charger and headphones share one port. If you aren’t at full percent, you’ll have to forego headphones or opt for some wireless, Bluetooth in-ears.
But overall, considering its portability, performance, and battery life, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet gives you some fairly hefty bang for your buck!
14. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
If processing power is one of your top priorities for your kid’s laptop, the Chromebook Spin 311 uses an AMD APU—basically, a more capable, amped-up version known for its Radeon graphics technology and better 3D capabilities. If your child is into 3D art or animation, this is a big win. And even if they aren’t, this is still a great feature to have for avid Minecraft and Roblox gamers. Enjoy the crisp, HD graphics.
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The dual-core processor pulls off heavy tasks easily and the fabulous flip design of the whole thing is honestly very impressive.
The battery isn’t that great, but as long as you remember to charge it in between sessions, you should be good to go! Overall a solid laptop choice for the price you pay.
15. MacBook Air M1, 2020
We’re wrapping up this list with the laptop that has perhaps the best performance and battery life combination by far. If you’re willing to invest in a fairly heavy-duty model that outperforms most any other laptop, a MacBook Air with the new Apple M1 chip should be your go-to.
It boasts solid aluminum construction and a slim unibody that makes it highly portable without taking away from the premium feel. It comes with a beefed-up macOS and plenty of juice (14 hours and 41 minutes on one full charge) to keep your kid going through a full day of online learning.
What’s more, the audio components (i.e., built-in microphone and speakers) are top quality. Your child should have virtually no problems interacting with the instructor.
Conclusion
Honestly speaking, choosing the best laptops for kids can be difficult to do, what with all the great models coming out in response to remote learning requirements.
Product reviews, tests, and evidence-based facts are good starting points to help you narrow your selection down, but the final purchasing decision ultimately comes down to personal preference. Are you okay with spending this much? Do you like how this laptop looks more than that laptop? Do you prefer the design of this model? Does this one not feel right?
Choosing one for your kid’s education definitely presents some unique challenges, too. However, we’re fairly confident with the models we’ve outlined here. To recap:
- Samsung Galaxy Book Go
- Lenovo Chromebook Duet
- Asus Chromebook Flip C214
- EVOO Gaming 15
- Google Pixelbook Go
- Microsoft Surface Go 2
- Acer Chromebook C933T
- Lenovo Flex 5
- Apple MacBook Air 13
- Asus VivoBook L2030MA Ultra-Thin
- HP Stream 11
- HP Envy X360 13
- Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook
- Acer Chromebook Spin 311
- MacBook Air M1, 2020
All 15 come highly reviewed and seem like solid contenders for what’s currently out in the market. But we still recommend that you ultimately do your own individual research. At the end of the day, the best laptop for your child is one that you feel perfectly meets their needs.
