The best laptop for kids in 2024: our favorite kid-friendly picks

These are our best laptop for kids picks on the market right now

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Finding the best laptop for kids involves looking for a device that is easy to use, highly portable, durable, and equipped with solid battery life.

WithBlack Friday dealsjust around the corner, now is a fantastic time to secure a kid-friendly laptop at a great price. One top recommendation is theAcerChromebook Spin 311. Like many of the best Chromebooks, this 2-in-1 model offers both laptop and tablet modes, allowing kids to switch between tasks with ease.

For those on a tighter budget, theLenovoIdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook is an excellent option. It may have a more understated design, but it boasts strong performance, decent battery life, and durable construction, making it one of the best laptops for kids who need an affordable, dependable device. This model also includes 2-in-1 functionality, adding flexibility to their experience.

Our team has tested and reviewed a wide selection of laptops designed for young users, and we’ve compiled a list of the top models to make your decision easier. WithBlack Friday laptop dealsalready rolling out, now is the perfect opportunity to find thebest laptopfor kids at a competitive price, so you can ensure they have a device that meets their needs and keeps them engaged.

The best laptops for kids: our top picks

The best laptops for kids in 2024

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1. Acer Chromebook Spin 311

Our expert review:

The Acer Chromebook Spin 311 opts for anAMDAPU, which utilizes the well-known Radeon graphics technology for better 3D capabilities - if you have time out of your studies to play some games from theGoogle Play Store! The dual-core AMD processor does offerIntel-Celeron-beating abilities, by a little at least, and so Chrome OS is going to remain more responsive.

More importantly, the Acer Spin 311 feels durable and well-made, meaning it can handle being dropped in a school backpack or thrown onto the back seat of your car. It’s highly portable and, although the screen disappoints a little by being a touch dull, perfectly usable. At just over eight hours the battery is good though not spectacular for a Chromebook, but balancing that against the great price makes this a strong choice.

Read our fullAcer Chromebook Spin 311 review

2. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 Chromebook

Our expert review:

If you’re on the hunt for something super-affordable, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Flex Chromebook is an excellent choice. You can pick this model up for a little over $200 in the US now, and it’s similarly cheap in most other territories. Even at its original launch price of $339, we still gave it four stars.

No, it’s not going to measure up to more expensive laptops when it comes to performance, but the sturdy chassis, long battery life, and touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge for swapping into tablet mode make this the perfect first laptop for a younger child. It should survive whatever your kid throws at it - and thanks to Chrome OS’s parent mode, you can rest assured that your child’s digital safety is secure.

Read the fullLenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 review

Find the best deals on Lenovo products with ourLenovo coupon codes.

3. Google Pixelbook Go

Our expert review:

Google might’ve sadly shuttered its own laptop division so we won’t be getting a new model, but you can still pick up a Pixelbook Go for a reasonable price - and it’s basically the best Chromebook ever made.

When we tested it, we marveled at the super-long battery life and excellent ‘Hush’ keyboard, with the entire construction of the laptop feeling sturdy yet sleek. It’s got a sharp 1080p webcam - perfect for virtual classes or video calls with friends - and naturally runs Chrome OS smooth as butter; the perfect union of Google’s hardware and software.

Bear in mind that it’s at the premium end when it comes to Chromebook pricing, so if you’re on a budget, you might be better served elsewhere. That’s just about our only real criticism, though: you get a lot for your money here, and Google is committed to ensuring Chrome OS remains a stable, secure, and child-friendly virtual environment for years to come.

Read our fullGoogle Pixelbook Go review

4. Acer Aspire 5 (2022)

Our expert review:

Chromebooks can be super-cheap, but the downside of Chrome OS is that it lacks the versatility and widespread support of Windows. If you’re looking for a more conventional laptop without a high price tag, the Acer Aspire 5 is the way to go.

The Intel Core i5 processor will smoke the majority of Chromebooks around the same price point, even if it’s nothing particularly impressive for a Windows laptop. With the Aspire 5’s aggressive pricing though, it’s great value - and you’re getting plenty more, too.

The battery life is solid, and the full HD display is good for both homework and watching videos after school. There’s a 720p webcam for video calls and distance learning too, and the whole design is pleasingly robust without being incredibly heavy. There aren’t quite as many ports as we’d like (only one USB-C is a shame) but at this price point, it’s honestly hard to argue.

Read our fullAcer Aspire 5 review

5. Acer Chromebook 516 GE

Our expert review:

If your kid wants a machine for both schoolwork and gaming, you may want to consider a gaming Chromebook. The Acer Chromebook 516 GE is our current favorite of this rare breed of laptops, providing great performance in a sleek and sturdy chassis with a truly excellent screen. You’ll pay a bit more than some of the cheapest laptops on this list, but the build quality justifies the price tag - this is a machine for a slightly older kid.

Bear in mind that these ‘gaming Chromebooks’ still use Chrome OS, so they can’t directly run games from platforms such asSteamor theEpic GamesStore. Instead, you can download and play games from the Google Play Store, and use cloud gaming services such asXbox Game PassandNvidiaGeForce Now. These require a subscription and a good internet connection, but grant you access to a wide library of games to stream on-demand - great for indecisive kids who are always looking to play something new!

Read our fullAcer Chromebook 516 GE review

6. MacBook Air (M1, 2020)

Our expert review:

Although it might’ve been replaced by the faster, sleekerM2 MacBook Air (2022), the 2020 model - equipped with Apple’s first-generation M1 chip - is still no slouch. A powerhouse productivity machine, the M1 MacBook Air is perfect for students no matter what level of education they’re at.

Not only is it still capable of going toe-to-toe with many newer laptops in terms of performance, but the M1 model offers phenomenal battery life and the passive cooling design means that you’ll never have to listen to noisy laptop fans. Back when we reviewed it, we praised the speedy performance, bright display, and comfortable keyboard - all things that hold true to this day. Oh, and it’s quite a bit cheaper than the newer M2 model, too!

Read our fullMacBook Air (M1, 2020) review

7. HP Pavilion 15

Our expert review:

It’s hardly the most exciting laptop around, but the HP Pavilion 15 is a reliable workhorse - and that’s what makes it one of the best laptops for kids. It touts impressive specs (the kind you might expect from a pricier laptop) and an optional touchscreen display model, potentially a boon for kids who prefer a more tactile laptop experience.

HP Fast Charge is also a nifty inclusion, and a valuable one since in our review we did note that the battery life was a bit unimpressive. There wasn’t much else to complain about though, and there’s a variety of configurations available to suit your budget, though, so you won’t have to spend the world to pick one of these up.

Read our fullHP Pavilion 15 review

Get your next laptop for less withour HP coupon codes.

8. Asus TUF Dash F15 (2022)

Our expert review:

If your kid is a die-hard gamer but also needs a laptop for work as well as play, the Asus TUF Dash F15 is a sound pick. Unlike many gaming laptops, the Dash F15 doesn’t bring with it an ostentatious design covered in gaudy LED lighting; just solid performance, good battery life (for a gaming laptop, anyway - it’s not going to beat a MacBook), and a robust, straightforward chassis.

We only found minor niggles with it in our review, noting that the bundled Asus software was a bit finicky and that some of the ports were awkwardly positioned. It’s surprisingly lightweight as gaming laptops go, not the huge powerhouse clunkers we’ve become accustomed to. It’s also relatively affordable for the performance you’re getting - though if you’re hunting for something extra-cheap, you could check out the2021 Asus TUF Dash F15too.

To save money on Asus products, check out ourAsus promo codes.

Read our fullAsus TUF Dash F15 (2022) review

The best laptop for kids: FAQs

What is a good first laptop for kids?

There’s a wealth of choices when it comes to laptops for kids, with some great options from manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer. And although there’s no definitive answer here, we were impressed by theAcer Chromebook Spin 311.

This 2-in-1 Chromebook is versatile, lightweight, portable, and has a reasonable battery life. It’s not too expensive and is powerful enough to comfortably cover any kind of junior homework assignment.Plus, if the worst comes to the worst and it gets unceremoniously dropped, it’s durable enough that it shouldn’t cause any lasting damage.

What is a good laptop for an 8-year-old?

As with the above, a suitable laptop for an eight-year-old should cover the same bases, while offering reliable security measures to protect your child while they’re web browsing.

Before buying, it’s worth checking whether your child needs access to certain software for their school work, as this will determine what type of laptop might be suitable (e.g. some software that runs on Windows won’t be supported by a laptop that runs on Chrome OS).

Beyond this, it’s a good idea to stick to more household brands that you know can be trusted, and pick a laptop capable of providing what your child needs it to do.

Should I get a Chromebook for my kid?

Chromebooks are great - they run on the super-lightweight operating system Chrome OS, which isn’t as demanding on your hardware and can be set up in child safety mode to give you more control over your kid’s browsing, perfect for younger users.

Chrome OS supports Android apps from the Google Play Store too, which means that if you get a Chromebook with a touchscreen it can be effectively used like a large phone or tablet.

However, it’s important to note that Chromebooks aren’t really for gaming (unless you get a game-streaming subscription) and Chrome OS doesn’t support a lot of software that runs on Windows - of particular note here is that if your kid needs to use specific software for school, it’s vital to check what operating systems it can run on.

How we test the best laptops for kids

Here at TechRadar, we believe in rigorously testing every piece of hardware that passes through our hands. If it fails to impress during testing, we’ll always let you know; we won’t recommend you buy any product that falls short of the performance median for its price range.

Our testing process varies from product to product, but we’re always sure to run the most appropriate tests considering the target purpose of whatever we’re reviewing. This means we’re always sure to run plenty of gaming tests on a gaming laptop, or editing benchmarks for a desktop workstation PC. We also always examine the build quality of a product to see whether it aligns with the attached price tag.

If you want to know more about how we test and rate the computers in this guide, check out our explainer onhow we test laptops and desktopsto learn more.

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Christian is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing Editor. He came to us from Maximum PC magazine, where he fell in love with computer hardware and building PCs. He was a regular fixture amongst our freelance review team before making the jump to TechRadar, and can usually be found drooling over the latest high-end graphics card or gaming laptop before looking at his bank account balance and crying.

Christian is a keen campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights and the owner of a charming rescue dog named Lucy, having adopted her after he beat cancer in 2021. She keeps him fit and healthy through a combination of face-licking and long walks, and only occasionally barks at him to demand treats when he’s trying to work from home.

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