As laptops become more ingrained in school curriculums, kids are gaining the computer skills that many adults didn’t have until high school or college. Despite the initial shock of a third grader having their own laptop, they’re a great way to get kids motivated to take notes, work with other students, and check grades. Here’s how to compare the most important specs for kids of all ages.
These are the latest best deals on cheap laptops:
The learning experience is fundamentally different for kids now than it was even for today’s 20-somethings — especially for elementary and middle schools. A lot of that change can be attributed to laptops.
Since pandemic-induced school closures forced both teachers and parents to make online learning work (something that could become a part of education for a very long time) the case for kids to have their own laptop or tablet at home is stronger than ever.
But convenience isn’t the only reason for kids to have a laptop. Near-immediate access to communication outlets, school materials, and other resources can cultivate a sense of autonomy and responsibility in students: According to the Speak Up Research Project for Digital Learning, high schoolers who were assigned a laptop were more likely to take notes in class, do internet research, create documents to share, collaborate with their peers on projects, check their grades, and get reminders about due dates or tests. The importance of access to email and virtual learning platforms like Blackboard while a kid’s not at school can’t be understated (and less intimidating than talking to a teacher IRL.)
Are first graders going to be taking notes or keeping track of their own test scores? Probably not. But as children move from elementary to middle to high school, computers are made a more integral part of the curriculum and assignments. Young kids can stay ahead of the curve by practicing those skills at home — it’s like practicing reading with your preschooler or letting your 15-year-old practice driving in a parking lot. Easing them into the responsibility of keeping a device charged can work as preparation for a cell phone as well.
How to monitor your kid’s behavior without smothering them
Handing a laptop to your kid (and subsequently setting them loose on the internet) naturally comes with safety concerns. The already-huge screen time debate was forced into the spotlight when the coronavirus required schools to close, forcing caregivers to find a way to keep kids entertained and engaged all day, every day. Parents were told to not freak out about their kids staring at a screen while stuck at home, as the evidence connecting screen time and cognitive or behavior development is pretty meager. But if you’re worried that too much freedom will result in kids landing on an inappropriate site or going into technology zombie mode, parental control software steps in to strike a healthy balance.
WATCH: Here are our favorite laptop brands of 2020
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a laptop?
A Chromebook is a laptop that operates almost solely on the internet. These laptops aren’t inherently kids’ laptops, but their low price point, cute and compact designs, and security features do make them a good option for iffy parents and kids who will be doing most of their work on a web browser (like playing on ABCmouse or typing on Google Docs).
Being locked into Chrome OS isn’t as limiting as it sounds. Actually, it provides some freedoms that regular laptops can’t. Because everything is automatically stored on Google Drive, your kid won’t lose all of their work if they forget to save a document or if the Chromebook itself crashes. This also means that kids can access their slideshow or essay on any computer where they can log into their Google account.
SEE ALSO: Why a Chromebook is the best laptop choice for your kids
Kids perusing the internet might sound like a virus waiting to happen. Every web page or Chrome app runs its own sandbox, essentially ensuring that other parts of the computer won’t be compromised even if that page gets hacked or “infected.”
However, malware has nothing on Chrome. Most hackers are aiming at Windows or Mac and ignore Google’s OS (for now), making it highly unlikely for a Chromebook to get a virus. If something sketchy were to happen, the threat can be wiped out by closing the page or reverting to factory settings. Parents and teachers can get some peace of mind without constantly looking over their child’s shoulder, and children can surf the web without feeling like they’re being watched.
Laptops for younger kids versus older kids
Some criteria makes sense for all ages. Young kids need something sturdy that can handle drops or bumps, and older kids need something that can handle being lugged in a backpack alongside heavy books. Long battery life makes everyone’s life easier, too.
Processing power and storage will likely be your main deciding factors, and it all depends on what the kid will be doing on the laptop. Younger kids may do some light schoolwork, play games, or watch a movie, but there’s no reason to pay for RAM over 4 GB to run a few apps for school or a fancy screen to play Overcooked! 2. Faster RAM and increased screen resolution will be important for high school or college students who need a device that can multitask with power-sucking apps like PhotoShop or software for a statistics course. Ample storage space is a must to house things like school work and downloaded textbooks.
Here are seven of the best laptops for kids right now:
Samsung Chromebook 3
Weighing in at 2.5 pounds, this 11-inch Chromebook is easy for little arms to pick up but sturdy enough to withstand drops.-
Battery life:
11 hours -
Weight:
2.54 pounds -
Display:
1366 x 768 -
RAM:
4GB -
Storage:
16GB, 32GB
If a drop does happen, there’s a good chance it won’t incur any permanent damage: Laptop Mag experimented with the durability of 11 popular Chromebooks with a series of drop tests in the fall of 2019, and this model placed in the top two. (Don’t worry about spills, either — its keyboard is water-resistant.)
As far as parental controls go, Samsung lets you set some digital ground rules with its Family Link app. You can use it to choose which websites your kids can access, manage their app usage and screen time, set up purchase approvals, and much more. This laptop also comes pre-equipped with its own virus and malware protection, so it’s ready to use right out of the box (no need to install separate software) — just log into a Google account and go.
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Microsoft’s 2-in-1 laptop is a slick studying sidekick that comes with a stylus and an app for scanning whiteboards.-
Battery life:
10 hours -
Weight:
1.2 pounds -
Display:
1920 x 1280 -
RAM:
4GB, 8GB -
Storage:
64GB, 128GB
Its path to the top was clear: Keep the flexibility and versatility of the first Surface Go, but fix the issues under the hood that stopped it from being a true work laptop. The Surface Go 2 is now a whole 64 percent faster than the original model if you opt for the priciest Intel Core M3 configuration, although its base model’s Intel Pentium Gold processor is pretty zippy for its part. That performance boost is essential for schoolwork involving special statistics or creative software, ideally preventing any system restarts due to overheating (and resulting file loss). Even with a bigger, brighter touchscreen and a more diligent processor, the 10.5-inch Surface Go 2 somehow manages to outrun the first Surface Go’s battery life by an hour.
Its lightweight design and dual high-def webcams are checkmarks for any student, but Microsoft went above and beyond to make the Surface Go 2 a true learning sidekick. Kids can use a special camera app (built into the rear-facing camera) to scan documents and whiteboards for quicker note-taking or studying. The included Surface Pen is also clutch for jotting things down, doodling, sketching, and tracing.
Acer Chromebook Spin 15
A slick, under-$500 Chromebook that’s ace for streaming and multitasking.-
Battery life:
13 hours -
Weight:
4.63 pounds -
Display:
1920 x 1080 -
RAM:
4GB -
Storage:
32GB
As a Chromebook, this streaming-ready laptop offers a few ways to implement parental controls via the aforementioned Family Link app. Both the device itself and Chrome OS are also armed with security features, so the chance of your kid infecting the device with a virus from a sketchy pop-up is pretty minuscule.
Now, is a four-pound, 15.6-inch laptop the most sensible laptop for a child to haul to school? Probably not. Will it work as a home laptop that mostly sits on your dining room table, or as a personal entertainment device that allows them to watch movies and play Android games in bed? Totally. Its 360-degree hinges make it a breeze to switch between tent, tablet, notebook, and display modes depending on their needs, and its two upward-facing speakers (along with the large Full HD touchscreen display) make for an immersive user experience.
Google Pixelbook Go
A lot of Chromebooks are sluggish and heavy, but the newest Pixelbook is a lightweight powerhouse.-
Battery life:
12 hours -
Weight:
2.33 pounds -
Display:
1920 x 1280 -
RAM:
8GB, 16GB -
Storage:
64GB, 128GB, 256GB
Google opted out of the 360-degree hinge for this one (i.e., it can’t fold into a tablet), but tech bloggers agree that the traditional notebook design feels sturdier and more professional. The rounded corners and muted colors scream maturity, which high schoolers will appreciate. At any rate, the touchscreen and extra comfortable, essay-ready keyboard make up for it.
The 2020 Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is the Pixelbook Go’s only real competition in this category. But let’s be real: older kids (and most adults who aren’t editing videos or designing) don’t need that 4K screen or that much power, especially for Samsung’s $1,000 price tag. The Pixelbook Go is undoubtedly beastly enough for school projects, streaming, and running multiple apps at once. The 12-hour battery life is a selling point in itself.
Apple MacBook Air
The 2020 Air is a beefed-up MacBook with a Retina display and a 10th-gen Intel Core processor.-
Battery life:
12 hours -
Weight:
2.8 pounds -
Display:
2560 x 1600 -
RAM:
8GB (configurable up to 16GB) -
Storage:
256GB, 512GB (configurable up to 2TB)
Five years ago, this probably wasn’t the case. But with the additions of a True Tone Retina display, a Touch ID sensor, a 10th-gen Intel Core processor, and more minimum storage, the new 13-inch Air feels more “Pro” than most other high-end laptops on the market. And get this: Along with Apple’s standard space gray and silver finishes, it also comes in rose gold. (Aesthetics may not be a huge deciding factor in your laptop purchase, but that’ll certainly be a plus for stylish teenagers.)
MacOS has a completely different layout and navigation style than Windows, Chrome, and Google systems, all the way down to the trackpad and key commands. This “Apple’s way or the highway” energy also applies to the kinds of apps and software MacBooks can download, so you may come to find that a good number of popular antivirus programs aren’t compatible with your kid’s new Air. Fortunately, Apple devices come with their own built-in defenses that are actually pretty reliable.
HP Laptop 14-DK1003DX
One of the few budget laptops that’s large and lag-free.-
Battery life:
7 hours -
Weight:
3.33 pounds -
Display:
1366 x 768 -
RAM:
4GB -
Storage:
128GB
For what it’s worth, this 14-inch notebook’s plastic build certainly isn’t winning HP any style points here. But will your kid really care? The fact that there’s no chic (read: expensive) aluminum to ruin might actually make parents feel better about scuffs and stickers — and for how clunky it looks, it’s relatively lightweight for a device of its size. Also, the backlit keyboard is a nice touch.
Overall, this is a great option for parents who really like Chromebook prices but would prefer more oomph in a laptop.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet
At under $300, the 2-in-1 Chromebook Duet has some impressive specs for its price point — and you don’t need to buy a separate keyboard.-
Battery life:
10 hours -
Weight:
2.03 pounds altogether (0.99 pounds without keyboard) -
Display:
1920 x 1200 -
RAM:
4GB -
Storage:
128GB
The really great thing about the Chromebook Duet is that it comes with a free one-year trial of Google One on top of 128GB of internal memory. (That alone is a ton of storage for a Chromebook.) That’ll get you an additional 100GB of cloud storage for assignments, essays, study guides, and notes.
As far as we can tell, the Chromebook Duet’s biggest weakness lies in the fact that it only has one USB port (a Type-C); there’s also no headphone jack. But to its credit, Lenovo’s included an audio adapter so little Timmy doesn’t have to rely on its built-in speakers all the time.