Stop kidding around and find what you're looking for in our guide to the best laptops for kids.
The best laptops for kids
6 min readIf your kid thinks tablets are for toddlers and is ready to graduate to a fully-fledged laptop or desktop PC, there is no shortage of options in the mix. That's mostly a good thing though. Some parents are in the market for a machine that they can keep tabs on, others are happier to let their offspring roam online in the same way they did way back when.
It's easy to buy the cheapest laptop you can find and call it a day, but down that road lies bloatware, sketchy software and hardware that just isn't built to last. There's a lot to be gained from finding the right laptop instead. Even if you're not looking to buy the latest and greatest for your kid, spending a little bit more can go a long way when it comes to getting them something that lasts and that they might learn to appreciate.
In our opinion, the best place to start here is with the operating system. Windows, MacOS and ChromeOS all come with some form of parental controls built into them nowadays. So if you're looking to keep tabs on what your child gets up to on their first laptop, then it might make sense to opt for a machine that matches your own ecosystem of choice. We've also included a pick for the best gaming laptop for kids. That one is a little more expensive but if your child is pushing up against the graphical boundaries of what their Nintendo Switch or iPad can do then it might be a natural next step.
In any case, scroll below for our round-up of the best laptops for kids in 2024.
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Best Mac laptop for kids
Apple MacBook Air (M1)
Even if you prefer Windows-based PCs, this particular MacBook is well worth considering if you're in the market for a first laptop for your child. The device is powered by Apple’s headlining-grabbing M1 processor and is designed to get the most out of the company’s macOS operating system.
Since it is a few years old at this point, the M1 MacBook Air won’t cover all the bases. There’s no touch screen, but there is a reworked magic keyboard, a Touch ID fingerprint sensor and a matching set of Thunderbolt-grade USB Type-C ports. That said, it’ll probably do a great job at almost all of your kid's computing essentials.
Best gaming laptop for kids
Dell G15
If you’re after something that will let your kid jump into the wild and wide world of PC gaming without breaking the bank, then Dell’s G15 gaming laptop is a great option. While those with more expertise and enthusiasm may find the 15.6-inch screen wanting when it comes to resolution, the Intel (or AMD) hardware) inside this budget-friendly machine is more than up to the task of making most modern games playable.
The Dell G15 isn't powerful enough to explore the cityscapes of Cyberpunk 2077 at the highest possible fidelity, but it doesn't need to be. If all you're looking for is a modestly-priced piece of hardware that will let your child dip their toes into the depths of your Steam library, there's plenty of bang for your buck to be found here.
How to set up parental controls for your kids laptop
Windows
- Open the search bar and enter the word 'Family'
- Open the Windows Family Safety application. If it isn't there, you can download it via the Microsoft Store.
- Add as many family members as you need and assign them the relevant role
- Once each family member has accepted their invitation, you should be able to monitor and set up controls for content, screen-time and more.
MacOS
- If you've not already set up for Family Sharing for your MacOS device, do that now.
- Click on the Apple icon in the top right of the screen
- Select 'System Settings'
- Click on 'Screen Time'
- Select the relevant family member
- Configure screen time and content limits as needed.
ChromeOS
- Make sure that your kids laptop or tablet is running onthe latest version of ChromeOS
- Open the settings menu
- Select the 'People' tab
- Click on the set up button next 'Parental Controls' and follow the steps.
- Once this has been done, you should be able to easily set up screen-time and content limits for your child.
Best Windows laptop for kids
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2
Does the idea of spending the big bucks on an Apple device for your child fill you with dread? One of Microsoft's Surface devices might be a better fit. Even if it runs on Windows rather than MacOS, the Surface Laptop Go 2 is hard to beat as far as budget-friendly options go.
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 brings together a tighter 12.4-inch PixelSense display, an 11th-generation Intel Core processor and up to 256 GB of SSD storage. It’s not difficult to find the limits to Microsoft's entry-level laptop, but there’s a lot to to like about the simple aesthetics, humble specs and decent battery life it offers.
It’s probably not going to cut it was the last laptop you'll ever need to buy for your kid, but if you want something that can reliably handle the basics at an affordable price, the Surface Laptop 2 might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Best Google laptop for kids
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook
If you're looking to spend less than what the laptops above are asking for, then it might be time to consider a Chromebook. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook isn't able to play any games or run intensive software, but it can act as a stepping stone between the unstructured world of tablets and smartphones and a more mature computing experience.
Even if it doesn't run on Windows, you can still get a lot of work done on this thing and Chrome OS has been built to deliver a snappy and smooth user experience, even when it's stuck on humble hardware like that found here.
Best kids laptops compared: MacOS vs Windows vs ChromeOS
How do the laptops on this page compare to every other one we've reviewed and recommended?
Product | Availability | Display size | Resolution | Weight | Rating |
| Amazon | 14-inches | 2880 x 1800 | 1.44kg | 
| |
| Microsoft | 13.8-inches | 2304 x 1536 | 1.34kg |
| |
| Lenovo | 14-inches | 3072x1920 | 1.59kg | 
| |
| Lenovo | 16-inches | 2560x1600 | 2.5kg |
| |
| Amazon | 13.6-inches | 2,560 x 1,664 | 1.49kg |
| |
| Acer | 15.6-inches | 3840 x 2160 | 2.98kg |
| |
| Amazon | 16-inches | 2560 x 1600 | 2.5kg |
| |
| Amazon | 14-inches | 3024 x 1964 | 1.6kg | 
| |
| Lenovo | 13.3-inches | 2880 x 1800 | 1.3kg | 
| |
| Mwave | 16-inches | 2560 x 1600 | 2.7kg |
| |
| Mwave | 17-inches | 2560 x 1920 | 1.5kg |
| |
| Acer | 14-inches | 2560 x 1600 | 1.2kg |
| |
| Microsoft Store | 13.5-inches | 2256 x 1504 | 1.56kg |
| |
| Microsoft Store | 13-inches | 2880 X 1920 | 878g | 
| |
| Mwave | 14-inches | 2880x1800 | 1.39kg |
| |
| Amazon | 13.6-inches | 2560 x 1664 | 1.24kg |
| |
| Lenovo | 16-inches | 2560 x 1600 | 2.3kg |
| |
| 12.4-inches | 1536 x 1024 | 1.1kg | 
| ||
| Amazon | 15.6-inches | 1920x1080 | 2.5kg |
| |
| Mwave | 16-inches | 3840 x 2400 | 1.95kg |
| |
| Amazon | 13.3-inches | 2880 x 1800 | 1.2kg |
| |
| Amazon | 13-inches | 2560 × 1600 | 1.29kg |
| |
| 13.4-inches | 1920 x 1200 | 1.2kg |
| ||
| 1.56-inches | 2560x1440 | 1.9kg |
| ||
 Huawei Matebook D14 (2021) | 14-inches | 1920 x 1080 | 1.38kg |
| |
| Amazon | 12.4-inches | 1536 x 1024 | 1.1kg |
| |
| 14-inches | 3840 x 2160 | 1.3kg |
|
How we chose the best cheap laptops for kids
When it comes to picking and choosing the best cheap laptops for kids on the market, the easiest place to start is with the similarities that each brand brings to the table. This helps give us a basis for what the "meta" of laptops looks like at any given time.
The next phase in our analysis specifically looks into the details. Where do the different laptop designs brought to market by hardware manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, HP and ASUS differ, and why? What additions or twists on the formula are novelty versus necessary? How much value do these niche features really provide end consumers?
We then weigh the findings of this process against the price expectations market segment attached to the category involved. While the overall category assumes you're a consumer who isn't looking to cut corners, neither does it act like your budget is unlimited. This helps us determine which laptops are providing the best bang for our buck and value for money.
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