Best laptops for kids 2019: the top laptops for kids in elementary school and beyond
These days, having a good laptop is complete necessary not only for grown-ups, but also for the kids. The best laptops for kids will usually take the form of rugged, cheap tablets, but there will come a time when your child will have to graduate to a proper laptop, especially if they were to use them for schoolwork. Though whether it’s for school or for play, you’ll need to invest in the best laptop for kids.
And, if your kids don’t know their way around a Windows 10 or a macOS environment just yet, the best Chromebooks are extremely easy to use, making them the ideal laptops for kids. They have large, durable displays that are great for getting schoolwork done, and many of them are also able to run Android apps and games, so the kids can squeeze in a bit of downtime between assignments. They’re also affordable – they really are among the best laptops for kids.
So, what’s the best laptops for your kids? How do you decide? Luckily, we’re here to help you answer those questions – we gathered up all the best laptops for kids.
With this list, we’ll go through all the best laptops for kids – affordable devices with rugged frames and even rigid parental controls.
Image Credit: Dell
Chromebooks make for some of the best laptops for kids, because they’re virtually mistake proof, as is the Dell Chromebook 11 2-in-1. Drop it, and it’s fine. Download any malicious software? Well, you can’t! It’s one of the safest environments for your kids to use a computer, especially with its parental controls. So, if your kid needs a cheap laptop to get some schoolwork done, you won’t want to miss out on this excellent device – it even transforms into a tablet for light gaming after homework.
Read the full review: Dell Chromebook Inspiron 11 3181 2-in-1
Image Credit: Lenovo
If you’re more accustomed to Windows 10, or even if your kid likes it, we find the Lenovo IdeaPad 120S to be one of the best laptops for kids – especially at this bargain price. The laptop is mildly ruggedized to survive slips and drops, and even boasts a USB-C port for some future-proofing. You can also trust that this device will be free of bloatware that can distract your child. That’s enough in our book to recommend this laptop to pretty much every parent – especially for families who are Windows 10 fans.
Read the full review of a predecessor: Lenovo IdeaPad 100S
Image Credit: Acer
If your kids are starting to get to the point where they have to write up papers for class, and you want to get them something that won’t break the first time it gets dropped, you may want to consider the Acer Chromebook Spin 11. Not only is it powerful enough to get through the kids’ daily schoolwork, but it’s also 2-in-1 so they can flip its comfy keyboard around to turn it into tablet mode for playing some Android games in their downtime. The display is a bit dim, and it’s not going to blow you away as far as performance, but it’s cheap, durable and functional.
Read the full review: Acer Chromebook Spin 11
Image Credit: Acer
When your kids approach or enter double-digit years, they’re definitely going to need something a bit more robust to support them through larger projects (and sharper streaming). Acer’s latest 15-inch Chromebook will bring serious sophistication to your kid’s computing experience, from its design to features like a full HD display, fast USB 3.0 connections and an HDR webcam. However, this laptop is ideal for adolescents, as you’re swapping its lack of kid-proof features for a larger size and a more luxury experience, which you will be paying a great price for.
Read the full review: Acer Chromebook 15
Image Credit: Asus
If your kid wants a tablet, but you also want them to get familiar with the traditional computer, too, the Asus Transformer Mini is the perfect compromise. This tablet brings plenty of power and ports to the table – not to mention a fingerprint sensor, stylus and keyboard cover – all in the box. This is all topped off with a whopping 11 hours of battery life. If your kids are just too used to tablets to jump to a traditional laptop, this is the one of the best Asus laptops for your kids, especially for the price.
Read the full review: Asus Transformer Mini T102HA
- This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of this writing. Australian readers: check out a fine alternative in the Lenovo IdeaPad 120S
Image Credit: Apple
The 2015 MacBook Air might not be the newest kid on the block, but it’s still one of the best laptops for real kids – unlike the 2018 model. We know that parents aren’t made of cash, but the 2015 MacBook Air has plenty of deals out there – in fact it’s the cheapest Apple laptop out there. Plus, it has great battery life, an operating system that’s smooth and easy to navigate, and a form factor that’s light and thin. The best Macs are famous for outlasting Windows laptops – and this one should last your kid for years.
Read the full review: MacBook Air
- Want more choices? Check out our list of the best laptop 2019
- Got kids? Take a look at our guide to the best free parental control software