The Best Laptops for Kids in 2020
How to Choose the Right Laptop
The question of whether (and when) to buy your son or daughter a smartphone is fraught with concerns over responsibility, online safety, and much more. The same goes for buying a laptop, except for one very important difference: Many elementary and middle schools consider them essential educational tools, and equip classrooms with machines for their students. Other schools require parents to purchase laptops, offering a selection of recommended models.
Their effectiveness at improving learning is up for debate, but the upshot is that your kid might need to use a laptop at school whether you like it or not. They’ll almost certainly want to use it at home, too, both for fun (messaging their friends, watching videos, playing Fortnite) and homework (looking up information, typing book reports).
Kids being kids, the list of factors to consider doesn’t end there. Don’t forget about parental controls, durable plastic, and water-resistant keyboards. At least you won’t have to worry about the cost. Buying a kid-friendly laptop need not break the bank—all of our recommended models cost less than $700, and most are well under $500—and the even better news is that just because they’re inexpensive doesn’t mean that they are necessarily slow or poorly made.
Our focus here is on younger kids. If your child is at the university level, check out our roundup of the best laptops for college students. And you’ll find even more choices in our overall roundup of the best budget laptops.
Which Operating System Is Best?
Before you begin to evaluate features, you’ll start with the essential question that has plagued PC shoppers for decades: Which operating system should I choose?
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This is not the Mac vs. Windows debate of old. New Apple laptops aren’t available for less than $500—not even close. The least-expensive Mac laptop, the MacBook Air, starts at $999 and is still overkill for an elementary- or middle-school student. If you’re an Apple fan and want to raise your son or daughter to be one too, you’re best off giving them a hand-me-down and buying a new MacBook or MacBook Pro for yourself.
Reused Macs aside, most parents will choose between Windows 10 and Chrome OS, the operating system from Google. In addition to running web apps within the Chrome browser, Chrome OS can also run apps from the Google Play store designed for Android smartphones and tablets, including Microsoft Office. If you’ve decided against buying a smartphone for your kids but they talk your ear off about wanting to play mobile games, buying a Chromebook might be a good compromise.
Windows 10 has also become more useful as an operating system for kid-oriented laptops thanks to the Windows 10 S Mode, which is aimed at the education market and, among other security enhancements, prevents apps from being installed unless they’re available on the Microsoft Store. This means you’ve got the ability to block games and apps based on their content ratings (something you can also do with Google Play apps). When your son or daughter gets older and more responsible, you can easily upgrade to the full version of Windows 10 to remove these limitations. S Mode isn’t common pre-installed in consumer systems you’ll buy in-store, but you may run across it in isolated machines like the Microsoft Surface Go, or in a school-issue PC.
If your child’s school has specific software that runs only on Windows, your operating system choice will be decided for you. If not, you’ll want to take a close look at Chrome OS, since a few Chromebooks include decidedly kid-friendly features (such as easy-grip coatings, or display lids that double as whiteboards).
Built for Backpacks: Assessing Ruggedness
Unique features like these are what transforms an ordinary cheap laptop into a school-friendly machine that kids won’t outgrow or destroy in a few months. Arguably the most important is how rugged the case is.
A few Chromebooks and inexpensive Windows laptops have spill-resistant keyboards, which means that they should survive splashing with an ounce or so of water unscathed. It’s much rarer to find entire laptops that are waterproof; the ones that are (models like Panasonic’s Toughbook line or Dell’s Latitude Rugged Extremes) typically cost several thousand dollars and aren’t geared toward kids at all. Likewise, it’s relatively easy to find reinforced lids or cases made of rubber to help absorb drops from a few feet, but you just won’t find fully ruggedized machines anywhere close to this price range.
Portability is another key concern, especially for middle- and high-schoolers who walk to school with backpacks laden with heavy textbooks. Most laptops in this category with screen sizes from 11 inches to 13 inches weigh about 2.5 pounds. Go above 3 pounds, and you’re putting a real burden on your child’s shoulders.
Battery life is important, too, but it’s no longer the limiting factor that rendered the laptops of a decade ago useless if they spent more than an hour or so away from a power outlet. Even some of the cheapest laptops now boast times of about 10 hours on PCMag’s battery rundown test, thanks mostly to their power-sipping Intel processors.
What Specs Should My Child’s Laptop Have?
The final consideration is how your kids will use the laptop, which in turn determines the processor, storage, and memory configurations you should select. Tasks such as taking notes, writing papers, or making PowerPoint slides require little more than the bare minimum, which means that an Intel Celeron or Pentium processor will suffice; a few budget Chromebook models now also use AMD mobile processors. The next step up is an Intel Core i3, which you should consider if your kid’s teachers regularly have them stream online educational videos. An Intel Core i5 or i7 is all but impossible to find on a laptop or Chromebook that costs about $300.
If you opt for a more powerful processor so your kids can stream videos, you might also want to consider a 2-in-1 convertible or detachable laptop, which can double as a tablet thanks to a hinge that rotates 360 degrees, or a screen that detaches completely from the keyboard base. Most hybrids and convertibles are more expensive than the price range we’ve discussed to this point, but you can find a few high-quality models for less than $500, in lines such as Microsoft’s Surface and Asus’ VivoBook. These are best for middle-school-age children or older, since these machines are by nature less durable than a conventional laptop.
As for memory and storage, a common minimal configuration is 4GB of RAM and 64GB of flash memory. The former (memory) amount is adequate in a budget Chromebook but skimpy in a Windows 10 machine; 8GB is really the best baseline there. You’ll definitely want to consider bumping up the storage capacity to 128GB, since the operating system files on a Windows 10 PC can take up more than 20GB, leaving your kid with a paltry 40GB or so of built-in storage. The exception is if you choose a laptop that has a roomier but slower (and more easily breakable) spinning hard drive, or one with a built-in SD card reader. In the latter case, you could stick with the base configuration and ask your kids to store their bulkier files on SD cards if needed, which you can buy in 32GB capacities for about $20 each.
Time for Fun: What About Graphics and Games?
Just because you’re selecting from among relatively slow processors and limited memory capacities doesn’t mean that gaming is out of the question when your kid is done with his or her schoolwork. Some games are, of course, even educational. For instance, Microsoft has an education version of its immensely popular open-world construction game Minecraft. Students can use it to explore real-world history like the Oregon Trail, solving math problems as they begin to understand how long and challenging the trail was, researching fur-trading companies to learn about the economic concepts of monopolies and supply and demand, and more.
Minecraft and other similar games will run on Core i3 systems with as little as 4GB of RAM, but if your kid is looking forward to playing them, you’ll make the experience much more enjoyable by selecting a laptop with 6GB or 8GB. If your child is planning on doing more intense gaming, you’ll need to step up the power and the price to a full-fledged gaming laptop or gaming desktop. You won’t find current-generation gaming laptops for less than $700; $750 to $800 is really the on-ramp for machines with game-worthy GeForce GTX dedicated graphics chips. (See our guide to budget gaming machines.)
So, Which Laptop Should I Buy for My Child?
Giving your son or daughter a laptop endows them with a portal into the immensely powerful internet, even if the laptop itself may not be all that potent. It’s up to you (and your kids’ teachers) to make sure that tool isn’t harmful. Fortunately, both Chromebooks and Windows laptops have parental control features, and a laptop’s size relative to a smartphone makes it easier to both monitor activity and set ground rules like disallowing computer use after homework is finished.
Check out our top picks for laptops designed for school-age kids below. You can also check out our roundup of our favorite tablets for kids, as well as our top phones for kids.
Where To Buy
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![Asus VivoBook S15 (S533)]()
Asus VivoBook S15 (S533)
Pros: Great value for feature set
Snappy performance for the price
Stylish, slim design with multiple color options
Long battery life
Strong port selection and useful extras (fingerprint reader, microSD slot)Cons: One component configuration only
Bottom Line: The Asus VivoBook S15 is not only an excellent value for the price, but an excellent laptop all around. We found lots to love about this sleek, affordable notebook for everyday users.
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![Acer Chromebook 514]()
Acer Chromebook 514
Pros: Sharp-looking aluminum design for a budget machine.
Excellent battery life.
Touch display (as tested) looks great.
Comfortable backlit keyboard.
Big touchpad.Cons: Processor could use a pick-me-up.
Ho-hum speakers.Bottom Line: Aluminum-clad and ready for all day off the plug, the Acer Chromebook 514 is a reasonably-priced standout on the premium Chromebook stage that’s right-priced for students and budget buyers.
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![HP Chromebook 15 (2019)]()
HP Chromebook 15 (2019)
Pros: Sleek solid-metal chassis. Big, bright display. More-than-adequate audio. Core i3 CPU delivers strong performance for a Chromebook. Roomy, responsive keyboard with number pad.
Cons: Too-short battery life.
Bottom Line: With its big screen but modest battery life, HP’s Chromebook 15 is a snappy model that’s best suited as a stay-at-home entertainment system.
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![Lenovo Chromebook Duet]()
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
Pros: Low price includes keyboard
Handy tablet gestures and Android phone integration
Decent cameras
Good battery lifeCons: Tepid performance
Only one USB port and no headphone jack
Cramped keyboard
No memory card slotBottom Line: Budget-strapped consumers and students with light computing needs will be captivated by Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet, a detachable 2-in-1 that tops better-known 2-in-1 tablets on value.
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![Microsoft Surface Go 2]()
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Pros: Thin, light design with excellent build quality
Nifty built-in kickstand
Impressive audio volume
Face-recognition camera with 1080p quality
Fanless, silent operationCons: Keyboard cover not included
Pricey once kitted up with accessories and ideal componentsBottom Line: The markedly improved Microsoft Surface Go 2 offers better computing performance, a larger display, and longer battery life than the original, making it a solid work-from-home (and idle-time) companion among Windows tablets.
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![MSI GL65 9SC]()
MSI GL65 9SC
Pros: Impressive hardware mix for the money. Bright full-HD (1080p) screen. Solid, not-all-plastic build. Comfortable keyboard.
Cons: Touchpad button clicks are too loud. Some ports located too near the user. Tinny speakers.
Bottom Line: MSI’s 15.6-inch GL65 levels up the entry-level with its bright screen, 512GB SSD, and GeForce GTX 1650 GPU. Packing solid 1080p gaming pep, for the money it’s hard to top.
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![Dell Inspiron 13 5000]()
Dell Inspiron 13 5000
Pros: Smart partial aluminum construction.
Skinny display bezels help create a modern, compact look.
Solid application performance.
Comfortable keyboard.
Has both USB-A and USB-C ports.Cons: No more than 256GB of SSD storage available.
Display on the dull side.Bottom Line: With its stylish, mostly aluminum design and peppy everyday performance, the Dell Inspiron 13 5000 offers solid-enough ultraportable value. We’d just like a sunnier screen and roomier storage options.
![HP Chromebook x360 12b]()
HP Chromebook x360 12b
Pros: Appealingly petite convertible design.
Welcoming 3:2 aspect-ratio touch screen.
Comfortable keyboard.
Good battery life.
Convenient ports and optional stylus.Cons: A tad pricey given the CPU and screen size.
Dim display.
Marginal processing performance and skimpy storage.Bottom Line: HP’s Chromebook x360 12b is a handsome compact convertible that falls short of excellence due to a murky screen and leisurely CPU.
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![Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 (2019)]()
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 14 (2019)
Pros: Aggressively priced.
Good battery life.
Webcam slider shutter.
Fingerprint reader in keyboard deck.Cons: Slightly dim screen.
A few ounces overweight.
Pen not included.Bottom Line: If you don’t mind cranking up the screen brightness, you’ll find Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 14 an attractive convertible laptop for $899.99—a Core i5 2-in-1 that competes well with more costly Core i7s.
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![Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630]()
Lenovo Yoga Chromebook C630
Pros: 4K screen available as an option.
Impressive performance and battery life.Cons: Big and heavy.
Display could be brighter.
No video-out port.
No stylus.
Base model lacks backlit keyboard.Bottom Line: In the Yoga Chromebook C630, Lenovo adds a plus-size convertible with the unusual option for a 4K display to its Chrome OS laptop line.
It’s speedy and packs a long-lasting battery, but it could be lighter and a bit cheaper.
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