The best Chromebooks for kids

The rising use of tech at an educational institute and rapidly growing internet accessibility make kids tech literate. Productivity is drastically enhanced when using a laptop, but since kids don’t need to run customizable software or develop software on the Windows interface thus, Chromebooks are the best option. We intend to provide you with an insightful review of the best Chromebook for kids. Based on the Chrome OS, the interface is easy to use and has good parental control options for parents. They mostly consist of basic functionality and a few ports for connectivity. The intent is to provide a robust machine capable of handling daily wear and tear to be called the best rugged laptop. It is in line with the ongoing cloud data storage technique. Usually, the internal storage is low, and cloud storage services like Google One, Google Drive, and OneDrive are the priority. The Chromebook comes with a Google Play Store to download almost all apps available on the smartphone.

Google pre-installs Google Docs, Google Spreadsheet, and Drive PDF Viewers, all these multiple software to make the best Chromebook work in a plug-and-play configuration. A chrome OS-based product with military-grade protection and maximum maneuverability is the best laptop for kids. Since this depends on a fast internet connection, Chromebooks have the latest WiFi adapters optimized to maximize bandwidth. Since the GPU is integrated with the CPU, its capability entirely depends on the processor’s speed. Some processors are high power consuming while others consume lower power, making any Chromebook the best battery life laptop. If you are looking for a gaming Chromebook, it doesn’t exist. However, gaming is possible if the game is available on Google Play Store. Some games require powerful processors, so having a high-frequency, low-power, consuming CPU will never go wrong.

Our top picks

Quick Shopping Tips:

Here are some quick shopping tips to help you purchase the right product

CPU: the central processing unit is the brain of the computer. Keeping all the background applications running and accessing them quickly is dependent on the CPU. Chrome OS is processor intensive. A quad-core processor is essential for stable operation. We have listed every product that has quad-core processors.

Storage: There are mainly two types of storage that you will come across in specs. Internal storage is present for storing pictures, videos, documents, and other data. Another is the volatile storage of the RAM. Higher RAM will allow a higher level of multitasking. Thus, many tabs can be left open in Google Chrome. And you can launch multiple apps and keep them running in the background. RAM and Internal storage both affect the overall speed.

Display: Display is critical when it comes to reading and watching videos. Kids tend to do both. While doing their school assignments, they will watch the screen for hours. It’s better to go for a large or small screen with good resolution to reduce eye strain significantly.

Weight: While carrying the weight on your shoulder, you want it to be as little as possible. For kids, the weight can hinder their physical well-being. A lightweight laptop will last longer as they are less prone to being damaged when dropped. Lower weight also means that the manufacturers make them with lightweight and durable aluminum alloy, which is best for robustness.

The best Chromebooks for kids: First look

The best Chromebooks for kids: In-depth Review

Samsung has created a laptop meant for users that require basic functionality with good implementation. Samsung Chromebook 4 is a starter pack Chromebook with minimum specs to run Chrome OS with stability, and it is the best Chromebook for kids. Kids usually play light games and do not require sophisticated apps to run on the computer. It has a long-lasting battery that can last 10 hours in performance mode with a single full charge through a USB-C connector. Having an Intel Celeron Processor N4000 on a Chromebook has many advantages. It’s a cost-effective processor with power efficiency ideal for small Chromebooks.

The body is of an aluminum frame that is durable and lightweight, making it robust for rugged conditions. It can handle drops that a kids Chromebook might face with the MIL-STD-810G military-grade standard. However, the body is easily scratchable, which could be an aesthetic drawback as a product targeted at kids. It weighs under 3 pounds with a high-quality LED for a visual treatment. It has enough 32GB volatile RAM to cope with the demands of multi-application opening. They have added a Gigabit WiFi 802.11 ac wave2 2X2 and a Bluetooth 4.0 for peripherals for fast internet connectivity.

A detachable keyboard for a laptop is a luxury that comes at a cost, but Lenovo Chromebook Duet comes at a minimal cost. We call this product the best 2-in-1 Chromebook for kids. MediaTek has been leading mobile processors for some time, and their exceptional performance is evident in the MediaTek Helio P60T. Chrome OS is not processor intensive, but gaming will be much smoother than an average Chromebook with a powerful processor and GPU. The Wide Ultra XGA screen embedded into a 10.1” display panel makes the screen look smoother, ideal for reading applications.

The device is spacious with 64GB eMMC, suitable for small storage retrieval compared to SSD. Users have reported the laptop booting up to windows in 10 seconds. Students can take notes on the touch screen with their stylus or maybe just practice maths to excel in examinations. It’s the best Chromebook for kids who love to stay trendy with a dual-tone color, 9.13mm bezel, and 400nits brightness. Online classes and meetings have become a norm in this technological age. The 8 MP auto-focus can drastically improve your online presence with a clear and focused video stream.

The 10th generation Intel Processor is fast, and the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook utilizes it entirely for their Chrome OS. We have just entered the mid-range Chromebooks that are fast and reliable for kids as they are not prone to frequent breakdowns or bottlenecks. The Intel UHD graphics keeps all the graphics-oriented applications running smoothly, and with a 1080p display, it is the best speed Chromebook for kids. Lenovo Flex series have one thing in common; Users can rotate their screen 360°. It has 64GB storage that is high enough to store basic information, as all modern laptops prefer cloud storage over internal storage.

Kids usually do not require a highly customizable interface. They need essential functions for which a laptop is overpriced and difficult to use. Aesthetically it is indifferent to any other Lenovo laptop. The body is aluminum and plastic mixed with a durable frame. It won’t be possible if you look for a pink Chromebook for this model; it’s only available in silver. It has high connectivity with two USB-C 3.2 ports, a USB-A port, and an audio jack. All thanks to the powerful mobile Intel processor. It includes the all-new WiFi-6 for rapid data transfer speeds and flawless internet connection.

Released a few years ago, the Intel Core M3-8100Y is a 14nm processor with tremendous potential to power the Asus Chromebook Flip C434. Asus is known for its high-end gaming products. They have used the experience to produce the best premium Chromebook for kids. The prime highlight of the device is the display. With a large 14” collection and 1080p resolution, the pixel density is high enough to provide a smooth font display. The 87% screen-to-body ratio is high compared to other products on our list, drastically improving the device’s aesthetics. Due to its characteristics, it is capable of a 178° viewing angle.

LED with 100% sRGB color gamut means vibrant colors and sharpness that speaks to premium tech. To improve ergonomics, Asus utilizes an ErgoLift technology that slightly lifts the keyboard when the screen is flipped open. The three USB connections with a micro-SD card slot provide connectivity equivalent to a high-end laptop, and as a kids Chromebook, you can connect it to large displays via the USB-C port. Frequent homework and writing assignments on Google Docs are easy with 1.4mm minor travel distance keys. The keyboard’s backlight is a vital spec when typing in the dark.

Nobody likes having to charge the laptop all the time, and Acer Chromebook 714, with its large battery capacity, helps a lot. This item is the most desirable and is the best CPU Chromebook for kids. It lies in the mid-range price category, but the major highlight that makes this Chromebook stand out is the 8GB DDR4 RAM with a long-lasting 15hours battery timing. It comes with an 8th generation Intel processor with a decent CPU mark score of 3642. We have featured the maximum screen size of 14,” and this laptop uses an Intel UHD Graphics 620 to power a multi-touch IPS display. Having an IPS display is the anti-glare technology with a wide viewing angle.

Intel Core i3-8130U is not the most power-efficient processor under loaded conditions. It reaches a 10W TDP, making the laptop hot under loaded conditions. Aesthetically, users have reported converting this into a pink Chromebook using a matte vinyl that you can easily pass on to the laptop’s surface for a customized look. It has a GigaBit WiFi device with MU-MIMO capability suitable for multiple device connections. The touchpad of premium Corning Gorilla glass material and the backlit keyboard works well in low-light conditions. Its 100% aluminum frame comprises military-grade standard MIL-STD 810G.

Acer has gained a reputation for producing slick designs, and their Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is no different. It comes with an 11.6” display with 1366x768 px resolution. They have supplied the screen with an Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU integrated into the energy-saving Intel Celeron N4020. The battery lasts as long as 15 hours, even under loaded conditions making it the best battery-life Chromebook for kids. A kid will not use highly complex software like Ansys or Gambit for analysis. The light software frequently accessed by kids will be fully supported and loaded at high speeds.

Its screen comes fitted with an HD cam that is HDR-ready for high-quality face-to-face chat and video conferences. The 360° can make the laptop sit in a notebook, stand up, tent, or tablet configuration. The maneuverability of this best Chromebook for kids helps with difficulty sitting in a single posture. The mousepad is the most used component on the laptop, and Acer utilizes the Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass. With the MU-MIMO technology tethering the internet to other devices is smoother as the WiFi-5 is good enough to handle multiple device connections simultaneously and manage them.

HP Chromebook x360 14a is targeted at the audience looking for a laptop with an entry-level specification. Its four gigabyte RAM with DDR4 technology is fast, and with a 64GB space, there is no cap on installing applications on the Chromebook. Its HD display is convertible into tablet mode with a 178° wide-viewing angle making it the best convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook for kids. For a decent viewing experience in a well-lit room, the laptop can reach up to 220 nits with a 45% NTSC color gamut. The processor can stream 4K videos and play games at a 720p resolution with an easy installation through the app store.

The CPU may seem slower for a Windows PC, but it’s rapid for the Google OS. Despite being released recently, N5000 is energy efficient and only uses 4.8W during moderate loads. At peak loads, its TDP goes to 6W, an idea for Chromebook laptops with tablet convertibility. Its 2-cell, 47 Wh Li-ion can provide 12 hours and 15 minutes of battery backup as kids Chromebook requires better battery endurance. The ability to fast charge takes battery charging to 50% in 45 minutes. HP has included an accelerometer and a Gyroscope. These features are usually present in a tablet or smartphone, but the company has provided them.

Acer Chromebook 317 is a Chrome OS-based device with a display equivalent to a medium-sized laptop. These features make it the best giant-screen Chromebook for kids. A large display size is best for kids as that will put less strain on their eyes to focus on the letters, and with a 1080p resolution, sharpness would remain intact. Intel Celeron N4500 is a processor launched recently and slays with 10nm technology. A large display typically takes the most power for operation, but the battery life sustains above 9 hours of backup despite its dimensions. Owing to the CPU, it comes fitted with a DDR4 RAM.

When it comes to the weight of the laptop, it’s a bit heavier than the others on the list. Size and build quality usually lead to laptops being bulky. However, it still manages to keep the weight at 6lbs. Users can buy a colored silicon cover to make their custom pink Chromebook. The Chromebook comes fitted with the latest generation of WiFi-6, the fastest available adapter. The idea behind having a 64GB storage space and not a massive GBs on board is that users now store most of the data on the cloud servers.

Final Words

It is a difficult task within a single unit as durability and handiness make the best Chromebook for kids. Our list included Chromebooks from different brands with different capabilities. In a nutshell, we made the products diverse by having other processors for the Chromebook. Mobile processors from the Intel Celeron series are a hit due to their low power consumption and high multi-core performance with meager power consumption, making the product last for longer hours. The rising capabilities of the MediaTek processor also led us to include a Chromebook with MediaTek Helio P60T processor, which we have tested in smartphones with Android-based OS. We also added dedicated 10th Gen Intel processors for laptops in our list meant for performance. Still, due to their high power consumption, they reduce the battery life of the Chromebook and also affect its cost due to the supply and demand.

It is better to go for a device with military-grade certification. The Chromebook will face drops, shakes, dust, and liquid spills in the long run. So it’s better to give more weightage to durability. Kids tend to be harsh on their devices. There are many sharp objects inside the backpack, which will damage the surface. We recommend using matte, gloss, or pearlescent-based vinyl for better surface damage protection. If specs bind you to use a relatively damage-prone laptop, then go for rugged rubber cases that are now common for similar model types. Besides being robust, the book should have high-speed connectivity to the internet as users store most of the data on the cloud services like Google Drive, Google One, and Microsoft OneDrive. The faster internet connectivity with adapters like WiFi-6 can significantly reduce data retrieval time and improve 4K streaming of videos.

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