There are tons of different laptops to choose from, so consider the operating system, storage capacity, and processing power to ensure your child can work efficiently. “The key to selecting tech for kids is to remember that it’s for kids. I always recommend that people look for tech that reduces frustration and boosts learning,” says Madeleine Mortimore, MEd. “If you ask them, kids will often have specific things they want their tech to do. They may want to be able to annotate their digital assignments, type reports, or play on their friend’s Minecraft server.” We carefully considered design, processing power, ease of use, operating system, storage, and value when reviewing products. Here are the best laptops for kids for any budget, needs, and family lifestyle. The Lenovo Chromebook earns our top spot because it’s sleek, simple to use, and lightweight, making it a great choice for families. The Chromebook rotates 360 degrees, so your kiddo can use it in tent, tablet, stand, or laptop mode. For younger kids who are used to tablets, this computer has a touchscreen, so there’s a smooth transition from one device to the next. The built-in webcam is perfect for Zoom calls or remote learning, and the Chrome operating system is easy to use with Google Classroom. Price at time of publication: $185 With a focus on privacy, the Google Family Link app is also preloaded, and there’s a sliding webcam cover for additional safety. Price at time of publication: $300 Ideal for homework or entertainment, the Lenovo 300e Flagship features an 11.6-inch touchscreen on which your kiddo will love watching their favorite streaming service. The laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 10 in S mode, so you’ll benefit from increased security and performance. However, you can switch to Windows 10 Professional via settings on the laptop if you change your mind. Plus, the lightweight netbook can be used in a variety of viewing modes, like tablet or laptop, on up to eight hours of battery life. Price at time of publication: $179 When homework gets harder, there’s a backlit keyboard and an innovative 6-inch number pad. Reviewers praise this choice as affordable, easy to use, and able to handle whatever task a modern tween can throw at it. Price at time of publication: $240 Light and portable, the high resolution and bright display stand out among other options. Since MacBooks last a long time and tend to hold their value, this could be a wise investment for teens. Price at time of publication: $1,199 The ASUS VivoBook Flip also has a full 14-inch HD touchscreen and 128GB of storage, so there’s plenty of space for important documents and homework. While the laptop comes with Windows 10 in S mode, a free upgrade to Windows 11 is included, so you’ll get faster system performance, new designs, and more. And a fun bonus: The “enter” button on the keyboard is yellow for easier navigation. Price at time of publication: $480 This is a helpful option for families who may want the versatility of a tablet for streaming and the functionality of a laptop. Price at time of publication: $526 While it doesn’t support high-tech computing needs, it is perfect for younger kids who don’t need extra frills and features. Price at time of publication: $180 Lightweight with moderate battery life, the family-friendly machine has an embedded fingerprint reader for additional security. The laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 10, and holds up to eight hours of battery life. Price at time of publication: $760 This product is customizable, allowing parents to program the LeapFrog with your child’s name so it’s easy to master spelling. Choose between two color options, green or pink, and your toddler will stay busy for hours. Price at time of publication: $28 Price at time of publication: $480 This mini laptop is as durable as they get: water-resistant to spills and dustproof. Plus, the laptop features an anti-drop material on the outside to help protect it from falls from heights of up to 27 inches. It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 and has 128GB of storage for homework and more. Price at time of publication: $248
What to Look for in Laptops for Kids
Operating System
The difference between a Chromebook and other laptops is the operating system. Chromebooks are laptops running on Google’s Chrome operating system. A Google email is preferred, but if your child doesn’t have one, they can use any email to log in through Google. Chromebooks tend to be lightweight, less expensive, and easy to use but will need workarounds or web-based versions of Microsoft Office programs. “While many schools have gravitated toward Chromebooks due to their relatively low cost, I’ve found much more success with Windows PCs. A PC laptop will run just about any software, from educational and productivity applications to the most demanding games,” says Coxon. “It’s also a benefit that most PC laptops have headphone jacks, USB ports, and HDMI, allowing students to connect easily to just about anything. And trust me, you never want to be in charge of a class of 8-year-olds pairing wireless headphones!” Other laptops run on a variety of operating systems, including the Microsoft Office Suite or Apple’s OS (for MacBooks). These are typically costlier and have more memory and programming capability than Chromebooks. Programs must be downloaded from the internet or purchased separately. “Apple also presents some great options, especially for students focused on video and graphic design; however, costly adaptors are needed to connect to many non-Apple devices such as projectors and robotics,” Coxon explains.
Processing Power
Most kids won’t need a ton of processing power to do their everyday work. So, nearly all new computers will be able to hold up to the demands of modern schoolkids. For a new laptop, look for processor speeds to be between 3.50 to 4.2 GHz. For older kids, gamers, or those with lots of demands, the higher end will be more desirable and suitable. “It’s vital to consider what your child will use the laptop for: using the internet or doing most school work requires a lot less power than gaming or video editing,” says Coxon. Keep in mind how their usage may evolve over the years, as well.
Battery Life
No matter how your child will be using the laptop, battery life is an important feature you’ll want to consider. Depending on the device, the battery life of a laptop lasts anywhere from a few hours to a full day. “A lot of the mobile benefits of a laptop go away when students need to plug into a socket,” Coxon says. “With a large number of free and low-cost cloud services and ever-improving Wi-Fi speeds, a large and battery-draining hard drive is becoming less necessary unless students are working with large video files or gaming (which I recommend is limited to zero to two hours per day). A 1-terabyte (1,000GB) solid state drive (SSD) is more than sufficient for most kids and teens.”
Storage
With so much of your kids’ work in the cloud, laptop storage has become less of an issue. Typically, for most kids and families, 256GB of storage will be plenty, especially if you don’t have a ton of saved videos, photos, games, and music. Most of this material can be uploaded to the cloud or a backup drive if needed. For a good gauge, check how much storage and usage your child has on their current laptop to guide your needs for a new one.
Cost
Laptops are available at a variety of price points, but only you know your family’s budget. “Price is obviously a paramount consideration for most of us, and parents should consider that the laptop lifespan is likely only about three years,” explains Coxon. “Thus, I largely consider laptops that cost around $400 to $800. My experience suggests that you can get a quality laptop at this level, but at lower prices you are likely skimping on quality and speed that will lead to headaches later. Of course, the sky is the limit and you can easily spend around $4,000 on a top-of-the-line gaming laptop, but solid gaming laptops can be found for around $800.”
Features
From touchscreens to detachable keyboards, laptops are made with several useful features. While not every feature is a necessity, there are a few that can make using a laptop easier for kids. “At young ages, more than for older kids, a touchscreen is very handy on a laptop. Young children naturally want to touch and manipulate programs directly on the screen and most come to educational settings with experience with touchscreens,” Coxon tells Verywell Family. “However, it’s important for them to get some practice with trackpads and a mouse. Although a touchscreen remains a nice feature, it may be an unnecessary extra expense for students at about age 9 years and older.” “For early childhood and elementary-age students, it’s key to provide children not only with a laptop or tablet that is easy to use, but tools that enhance their learning experience,” says Mortimore. “A finger on a touchscreen works fine for pre-K children, but it’s a rather blunt instrument with limitations for growth. A stylus can help young kids express themselves more easily and accurately, while also developing skills that set students up for future success. Everyone must learn to write as a lifelong skill, and providing a stylus can also help kids practice their handwriting skills. It’s helpful for kids in middle and high school, too. Research shows that when it comes to students retaining what they learn, the act of physically annotating during lessons can make a significant difference.”
Why Trust Verywell Family
Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of an 11-year-old son, an 8-year-old son, and a 4-year old daughter. With two parents working from home and two out of three kids attending virtual school for most of the school year, Maya’s become an unofficial expert in computers, Zoom, Google Classroom, Seesaw, and more. Her two boys love their Chromebooks (although in an ordering snafu only one has a touchscreen—oops). She and her husband appreciate their MacBook computers for work. If you do need to buy a laptop for your student, Mortimore recommends looking for a few features in the tech devices, such as USI (universal stylus initiative) technology. Laptops with USI allow for a stylus to work across multiple devices. “USI-enabled laptops ensure kids are able to interact with the device beyond only keyboarding and passive interaction,” she explains. “Similarly, tablets such as iPads can be enhanced with an additional keyboard to extend the capabilities of the device.” In addition, Mortimore says using an external mouse over a trackpad can enhance a student’s learning experience. “Students aged 12-14 have been found to make more errors with the trackpad than with a mouse. If you’re setting kids up to work at a desk, it’s critical to also provide a mouse rather than a trackpad. Our Ergonomics Lab found that adults are 50 percent more productive with a mouse—and we’re fully developed. Children under age 10 are still developing their fine motor control, so using a mouse can make the experience more comfortable and less frustrating for everyone.” To find a laptop your child loves, consider having them help pick it out. “Over half of parents in one of our recent research projects already have their kids help choose the tech they purchase. This can look like: letting kids explain what need the tech device [is] for and how they’ll be using it, allowing kids to choose the color/design, and getting their input on features and capabilities,” Mortimore says. “This process builds trust between parents and kids, and also helps kids have a sense of ownership over their tech and their learning.” Additional reporting by Katrina Cossey Katrina Cossey is a commerce writer for Verywell Family with nearly eight years of experience under her belt. Katrina’s background in journalism began at an Emmy Award-winning news station in Oklahoma before she obtained her BA in professional media. Her love for service journalism and helping others led to her commerce writing role, which allows her to research and recommend the best products for families, pregnant people, and kids of all ages. When she’s not writing and researching, you’ll likely find her outdoors with her husband and their thrill-seeking toddler son.
