Choosing the right kids’ laptop can feel a little overwhelming! Gone are the days when they were just for homework. Today’s little digital natives need a device that can also handle creativity, entertainment and staying connected.
This guide walks you through everything you need to think about before making your choice - from operating systems and durability to safety features and age‑appropriate picks.
With our advice, you’ll find something that helps them ace their homework and keeps them occupied when school’s out.
Important features to consider when buying a laptop for kids
Children use laptops for everything - schoolwork, creative projects, catching up with mates and gaming. Because if they’re not already on Roblox or Minecraft with their friends, you’ll need a laptop that can handle it when their nudging begins!
So, it’s important to balance performance, portability and safety. Here’s what to look out for when choosing a laptop for kids.
Operating system
Most laptops will support one of three operating systems (OS): Windows, macOS or Chrome. Each has its pluses and helpful features, so you’ll need to decide which will work best for them. Here’s a quick summary of each to get you started:
Windows 11: Some of the best laptops for students operate on the Windows OS. Windows laptops do well for school projects thanks to apps like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. This gives them the tools to take on everything from essays to presentations.
macOS: Creatives love Apple’s operating system, and your kids might too. Apps like Pages and Numbers are good for schoolwork. Latest updates to Apple MacBooks also help your kids create images and keep them safe online. And if you already own iPhones, it’s good to have them on the same ecosystem.
ChromeOS: If your kids are mostly online, Chromebooks are a great Cloud-based pick. ChromeOS devices are fast and generally affordable. They’re known for their quick startups and strong resistance to viruses. Chromebooks are a great choice for students.
Of course, the OS is only part of the story. When comparing kids’ laptops, you’ll want to look at processor speed and how much RAM they’ll need for multitasking. At least 8GB is a good start. Plus, 500GB – 1TB storage is a good shout for all those files. Opt for an SSD over a traditional hard drive to help keep their laptop fast.
Durability & portability
Kids carry laptops to school, clubs and friends’ houses - so weight and durability matter. Look for spill‑resistant keyboards, reinforced hinges and lightweight laptops. A children’s laptop bag can also help protect the device on the go.
Hybrid necessities
With remote learning and video hangouts now part of daily life, a good webcam, clear microphone and decent speakers are essential. Most laptops for kids will have these built-in, but you can also search for laptop accessories if you want to add to their setup .
Lots of modern laptops also feature NPUs – Neural Processing Units. These help power AI features that do everything from helping them write an essay to reducing background noise during online lessons.
And that’s just scratching the surface of what an AI laptop can do for you!
Essential safety measures for a kid’s laptop
Any parent would be naturally wary about handing their child a laptop and letting them do what they want. Fortunately, there are plenty of built-in controls that let you decide when and how they should use their laptop.
Set parental controls
Be sure to set up some parental controls before setting them loose. This lets you decide what your child can look at and prevents them from viewing or downloading inappropriate content.
Depending on your operating system, parental control advice is available on Apple Support, Google Play or Microsoft’s family safety tools.
Set time limits
Yes, they’re going to love their new laptops. But you don’t want their device to take over. Screen breaks are essential for kids’ wellbeing. Look for laptops with low blue‑light modes, TUV‑certified displays or matte screens. These all help reduce eye strain during long study or gaming sessions.
Get antivirus software
If your laptop isn’t protected, visiting the wrong website or innocently opening an email attachment can be all that’s needed for a virus to sneak onto your child’s computer. For the most part, a new laptop should come with competent security. But to beef up security, there are lots of good antivirus software options.
Of course, we can’t leave everything to tech. Once their laptop is secured, it’s worth talking to your child and making them aware of any issues that could crop up when they’re online. It’s the best way of keeping them safe. Try chatting about:
Cyberbullying. The internet and social media have changed the way children experience bullying. Help keep them protected.
Internet reputation. Scary thought - everything we say and post online is recorded forever. So help your child manage their online reputation from day one.
Online gaming. Teach your child to stay safe when playing online games and to recognise what games are appropriate for their age.
Harmful online content. Finally, let your child know how to avoid inappropriate content.
Here’s some more great internet advice by age from Internet Matters.
Best children’s laptop by age group
You don’t need us to tell you that kids change as they get older! So, the right laptop for a 5-year-old is going to be a totally different prospect from what they need when they’re taking their GCSEs. Here are some good recommendations for each age group.
Age 5–9
Your child’s first laptop should be simple, durable and easy to navigate. Look for smaller screens (11–12 inches), solid battery life and designs that can withstand some rough and tumble! Chromebooks are excellent at this stage due to speed and security. They also start from as little as £160.
Age 10–13
As schoolwork becomes more demanding, children need devices with better multitasking performance. Windows laptops and Chromebooks with larger screens (13–14 inches), 8GB RAM and more storage are a great fit. These laptops can also support light gaming, so they’re a good pick for children’s gaming laptops.
Age 14+
Teens need more powerful machines for studying, entertainment and creativity. Likely their schoolwork will be more complex, so look for processors like Intel Core Ultra 3 or 5, 8 - 16GB RAM and SSD storage.
Eye‑care modes and wellbeing features help manage increased screen time. For students, a laptop for homework, research and media editing should be fast, versatile and built to last.
Need more advice about laptops for kids?
If you’re still weighing up options, check out our laptop buying guide or explore models across Windows, Apple and Chromebook ranges to find the best laptop for kids based on their age, interests and learning needs.
FAQs
At what age should a kid get a laptop?
It’s entirely up to you when to get your kid their first laptop. Many pre‑schoolers now learn online, and over half of 3–4‑year‑olds have their own device. Just make sure they’re only seeing age‑appropriate content and having the right conversations with you.
What is the best first laptop for a child?
A durable, lightweight Chromebook or basic Windows laptop with long battery life and simple parental controls makes the best first laptop for young children. At this age, it’s unlikely they’re going to need a processing powerhouse!
What is the best laptop for a GCSE student?
GCSE students need a fast, reliable laptop with good multitasking power. Ideally, they should have 8GB RAM or more, SSD storage and a sharp display for long study sessions.
