The best laptops for kids, teens and students

Who it's for: Young learners who need a sturdy and easy-to-use laptop will get on well with this model. It has a 14-inch HD display, simple design and decent performance for studying.

Why we like it: This is a relatively slim and compact model, with a 2-in-1 laptop/tablet design, a touchscreen, a robust build and good keyboard, and lots of ports for connectivity. As long as it’s used for online work, ChromeOS is simple and secure, and the battery can easily last a full school day.

Take note: This only uses an entry-level Intel chip, so it’s best for browsing, videos and basic work. And while it is very portable, smaller kids may be better off with an even more compact screen, like the 12.2-inch display of the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 or the small Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet.

Who it's for: This one’s a 2-in-1 style Chromebook, but with a fully detachable keyboard and a very small design. It only has an 11-inch display, making it a tiny laptop that’s going to feel a bit cramped for adults, but potentially ideal for younger users, especially if it’s mainly for online lessons or media.

Why we like it: The small keyboard is an ideal size for young kids, and it comes with a stylus for sketching and writing. It has a lot of battery life, a super lightweight design, and a crisp Full HD screen. While its performance is basic, it shouldn’t let you down for web apps, streaming videos and browsing.

Take note: This is not for demanding computing and, beyond performance, it also doesn’t have much storage or that many ports available for connectivity.

Who it's for: Okay it's not a laptop, but an iPad can be ideal for kids who mostly do app-based learning or want to watch videos and play mobile games. Apple has an extensive selection of apps and capabilities, but it’s worth remembering that additions like the keyboard attachment will cost extra.

Why we like it: We’re big fans of the entry-level iPad and recommend it to everyone new to tablets. It’s powerful, slim and light, with a chip that can handle productivity tasks, browsing and even some multitasking without trouble. It’s not going to come close to the most capable models Apple makes, but kids shouldn’t notice any difference in use (read our iPad 11th gen review for more information).

Take note: For full laptop functionality, you’ll want to add a keyboard that’s sold separately and while Apple’s software has robust parental controls, you’ll need to take the time to set up child accounts and limits. And, remember that it’s not a laptop per se – it will be good for some tasks but may not fully replace a laptop for everything.

Who it's for: If you're after a low-cost Windows option, the Acer Aspire 3 is one of the best budget laptops you can buy, with speedy performance for everyday productivity. It has a good build, solid specs, a big screen, and lots of ports for connectivity.

Why we like it: In addition to its decent keyboard and screen, the Aspire 3 has a mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 processor, lots of storage and enough RAM that it won't struggle with multitasking. It's more than powerful enough for word processing and web browsing, and delivers all day-long battery life.

Take note: While it's great value and very competent, it’s worth remembering that it’s not designed for gaming or intense workloads, and there are quite a few rivals that will deliver better battery life.

Who it's for: If your top priority is an easy-to-carry laptop, there aren’t many models as light as this. It’s just 1.13kg for a laptop with a 12.4-inch screen, ideal for on-the-go use. It could be a great choice for older kids and teens who need a stylish, lightweight Windows laptop for schoolwork, browsing and everyday tasks.

Why we like it: With this laptop, you’re getting a sleek and premium build quality that feels much more high-end than most in its price range. It compares well to key rivals, like a MacBook Air, offering a reliable battery life, vibrant touchscreen and enough computing power to handle school projects, video calls and light multitasking.

Take note: While it’s good for those after a lightweight and premium design, it’s not for art students who might need heavy-duty performance for gaming or creative software. The webcam is also sub-par, it has limited ports for connectivity, and costs more than some comparable Windows laptops.

Who it's for: There are a couple of different configurations of the Vivobook 14, but the one we’re recommending has a good number of ports, a lightweight design, a lay-flat hinge, “military-grade” durability and a capable Intel processor. If you can find the specs you want at a good price, this is a great affordable option.

Why we like it: For a decent and reliable laptop that doesn’t weigh or cost too much, this is a good pick. It’s a solid option with Windows 11, a decent amount of storage and a capable processor for productivity. It’s good for multitasking, too, and will work well for those doing some graphics tasks, such as basic video editing or working with images in Photoshop.

Take note: The model linked to here runs Windows 11 in S-mode, which is a secure and “streamlined” version of Windows 11 that’s designed to restrict app installations to those from the Microsoft Store. Switching out of S-mode is possible, but it’s one-way. Once you switch, you can’t go back to S-mode.

Who it's for: Anyone wanting a reliable, long-lasting laptop for school and personal use should consider the latest MacBook Air M4. Apple computers are built to last, with excellent batteries, screens and build quality. It's a great pick for a teenager at school or anyone heading off to university.

Why we like it: The Air is not only highly portable, it’s also incredibly capable. Apple’s M4 chip is great for speed and efficiency, and this would be great for anyone getting into creative projects like photo and video editing. It also has a sharp and vibrant display, and a fantastic battery that easily lasts all day long – read our full MacBook Air M4 review.

Take note: Compared to the rest of the laptop market, MacBooks are premium devices and come at a higher cost. If you’re buying a new one, you should expect to spend almost £1,000 or more. They’re a better fit for responsible older children, and they should last for several years.

Who it's for: If you’re after an ultra-thin and super-lightweight laptop for university, the Zenbook A14 weighs under a kilogram and gives you a huge battery life, a great OLED screen, a big trackpad and a capable Snapdragon processor.

Why we like it: This is an excellent pick if you need something to carry around all day, with a battery that will keep up with long days away from a charger. It’s a premium design, with an excellent display, and it offers great performance and efficiency for productivity tasks.

Take note: Some Windows laptops with similar specs can cost less, so it’s worth being sure that the perks of the lightweight design, screen and battery matter most to you. This one also runs on an ARM chip, and you’ll need to check that key apps will still run on it. Also, Snapdragon-powered PCs aren’t made for gaming, so keep that in mind, too.

Who it's for: Teenagers who love gaming will like the Asus TUF Gaming A15. It has plenty of ports and enough power for competitive games, at a more affordable price than many of the gaming laptops on the market. It’s also going to be more than enough for web browsing, working, photo editing and multitasking.

Why we like it: While you’ll want to make sure you pick the right processor for the kind of games the laptop's going to be used for, most configurations should be able to handle the majority of modern games well. It also has a sturdy build, lots of connectivity and a reliable keyboard with RGB LED lighting.

Take note: As a mid-range performer, it’s not going to deliver the absolute best gaming performance you can get, and you might notice that the fans will get loud under load. It’s also a heavy option – at 2.3kg, it’s going to be a noticeable weight to carry around!

Who it's for: We’re aware this one’s a bit more of an investment, but it could be worth it if you’re buying for an avid gamer! This offers a lot of power for its price, a great selection of ports, a comfortable typing experience and a big display. It’s made to deliver strong gaming performance, but will be good for productivity or as a desktop replacement, too.

Why we like it: The 16-inch screen is a big part of the appeal – it’s a stunning high-resolution panel supporting higher frame rates for competitive games. This beefy laptop is also great for its extensive port selection for connectivity, impressive thermal management, and its responsive keyboard and touchpad.

Take note: Like a lot of gaming laptops, you have to be prepared to handle a similar set of issues. When gaming, the battery life won’t impress at all, and the fans will get noisy. And, compared to the laptops we recommend for productivity, this is a seriously heavy option.