With so many gadgets and electronic toys on the market, you may be surprised to learn that there is a wide range of full-size notebooks available that are appropriate for children.
The best laptops for kids include the HP Chromebook, HP Stream, and HP OMEN. Depending on the age and skill level of your child, you can find the best laptops for the children in your life with this tech guide.
Preschoolers and small children
Today’s tots are already immersed in technology. If you want to get a handle on screen time by offering a balanced approach toward computers, you have several products to choose from that provide versatility and durability. Consider one of these budget kid’s laptops for the budding gadget guru. Each is made for secure browsing, gaming, and more.
HP Chromebook x360 11-inch laptop
These days, little ones are already familiar with smartphones and tablets by the time they are ready to play with a notebook. That’s why having a laptop that can fold into a tablet - and back again - is a natural first choice.
The HP Chromebook x360 11-inch convertible laptop is an affordable, entry-level laptop that converts to a tablet and has a responsive touch screen display. Because it runs on Google’s operating system, it provides an easy way to access the apps and features parents and teachers use every day.
Watch a playlist on YouTube Kids or access a family-friendly learning app from the Google Play store. If you’ve purchased media or an app on another device, it’s easy to access it from your connected Google account through the HP Chromebook’s interface.
Because kids can play all day, the more than 11-hour battery life fits the needs of busy families. It’s a must-have addition to your travel survival kit, giving you almost a full day of videos, apps, and music for wherever the kids need to go.
HP Chromebooks also come with 100GB of Google Drive Cloud storage, so you don’t have to worry about cluttering up your system with files.
Educators have already embraced the idea of the HP Chromebook for kids, so getting smaller children used to it now can help them later on when they use more formal classroom tech.
HP Chromebook x360 14-inch laptop
Looking for a bit more processing speed? Upgrade your experience with the 14-inch HP Chromebook x360 convertible laptop. It offers the 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor, twice the memory, and four times the storage.
Helpful Hint: Kids can be taught to respect technology and given tips for handling products with care. Do your diligence, however, by investing in a screen protector or child-proof case for any tablets or convertible devices, and insist that laptops are used on flat, stable surfaces. Training kids young is the best way to help them develop healthy habits for good posture and prevent tech from being dropped and broken.
Elementary age kids
As kids grow, their desire to learn increases at an astonishing rate. A quality laptop gives them unlimited options for exploring new hobbies and interests. It can provide the tools their teachers require for homework and creative projects as well.
HP Stream 14-inch laptop
When your child is ready to access the internet and all the wonders it has to offer, it’s time to consider a device that’s made specifically for web-based apps, storage, and functionality.
Because the HP Stream laptop is made to connect and sync anywhere with a WiFi connection, it doesn’t need the large and clunky system apps that other Windows-based laptops may require. The result is an easy-to-use and affordable laptop that’s ready to browse, chat, post, and stream.
The brightly-colored HP Stream is perfect for kids who want some independence with their computing but still need some accountability. It’s durable and lightweight, which is why many classrooms recommend it for one-to-one laptop programs.
It also comes preloaded with Windows 10 in S Mode and Office 365 Personal, which includes Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access. This allows kids to use it for entertainment and homework with file formats that are easily recognized by parents and teachers.
With 1TB of OneDrive Storage for one year, it’s easy to keep only the files you need. Plus, the impressive battery life of 14 hours and 15 minutes allows kids to do what they need to do without stopping for a charge.
Need a more portable option? There’s an HP Stream with a smaller 11-inch screen, too. It offers all the same features and more easily tucks into a laptop bag or backpack.
Helpful Hint: Kids these days have big responsibilities and many of them are stored in their backpacks. By switching from heavy textbooks to lightweight laptops, schools aren’t just equipping kids for the future; they’re helping lighten the load of the average school backpack, which is responsible for back pain in many of today’s students. Making the switch is a healthy choice!
Laptops for teens
As kids grow, so do their needs. Giving them a laptop that meets their desire to create and be an individual is very important.
That’s why the best notebooks and tech gadgets balance performance with personalization.
Look for laptops that have better storage and processing speeds than those for younger kids, and check to see that their favorite games and apps will run well on any new device you buy. Choosing the best laptop for teenagers starts with the following picks.
HP Pavilion x360 14t convertible laptop
Touch screen computers are a must for kids. By the time they are teenagers, they are at an age when they will likely trade in their notebook and tablet for a single device that acts as both.
That’s why the HP Pavilion x360 convertible laptop is a fan favorite for tweens and teens, as it offers a flexible solution for work, play, school, and more. The innovative case design features a durable, 360-degree geared hinge so that you can flip it, fold it, and tent it to four different configurations.
Parents can choose to personalize the device with any of a number of processors, graphics cards, memory capabilities, and more. You choose what your teen needs, and what they don’t, while paying for only the most important features.
Order up to Intel Core i5-8250U for the fastest processing speeds, enjoy the graphics of the NVIDIA® GeForce® MX130, and choose up to 12GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM memory alongside 512GB of storage.
The laptop features a vibrant 14-inch screen with full-size keyboard and your choice of three incredible colors: natural silver, pale gold, or sapphire blue. Dual B&O speakers with audio boost make watching movies, editing music, and communicating with friends a truly enjoyable experience.
HP Pavilion 15z laptop
Another HP Pavilion that kids will enjoy is the HP Pavilion 15z laptop. While not of the same convertible design as the HP Pavilion x360, it boasts the five-core AMD Ryzen™ 5 processor and incredible graphics. This laptop comes in three bold color choices. Pick from mineral silver, sapphire blue, or pale gold.
Whichever finish you desire, the HP Pavilion gives a grownup look with a smooth design and beveled edges that will help your child stand out in the crowd. The webcam is included for social chats and school video projects, too. The 15-inch display comes with touch capability, offering gesture controls and so much more.
HP ENVY x360 13z convertible laptop
Another convertible option for teens is the slightly smaller HP ENVY x360 13z touch screen laptop. This all-in-one laptop gives kids incredible freedom to use the device like a laptop workstation or flip it over for tablet features that include stylus control and finger gestures.
The HP ENVY is popular for its battery life, which varies by screen choice. It offers 10 hours with a Full High Definition (FHD) display or more than 8 hours with the Ultra High Definition (UHD) panel. Both offer brilliant color, definition, and lighting for videos, photo projects, and art.
When it comes to speed and performance, the HP ENVY has AMD to thank. Featuring an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and AMD Radeon™ Vega 3 graphics, it gives a perfect blend of performance, while still being a reasonably-priced option for families on a budget.
This HP ENVY laptop also features 8GB of RAM with 256GB of SSD storage, so the most important files are always available while larger games and apps can be accessed via cloud storage. At a little less than 3 lbs, this is a small laptop that offers big opportunities for kids to stay on top of school and entertainment with one simple device.
Helpful Hint: Graduating from high school is the perfect time to gift your older child a new laptop, but it’s best not to wait until the moment they leave the nest. Adjusting to a new dorm and classroom is daunting enough, and throwing in the learning curve of a new laptop may cause unnecessary stress.
Instead, gift a new gadget a few months before they leave, ensuring that they have time to get to know the product and how it can be configured for life at college. And make sure to check out the HP student discount program to get the best laptop for your student at the best possible price.
Kids who game
Choosing the best gaming laptop for kids is a challenge for many parents, especially because adults often don’t enjoy the same games as their kids. It’s important to ask your kids what games they like, how they would use a gaming laptop, and what features are essential. You should start with these picks.
HP OMEN 15t gaming laptop
Recognized as a leading brand of gaming computer and used by many professional gamers, the HP OMEN gaming laptop series blends performance with value. For the teen who wants to take their game to the next level, the HP OMEN 15t laptop offers serious features with the 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (4GB) graphics.
They can easily store all of their games thanks to the 1TB HDD storage capacity. While the price is nice as one of the lowest-priced gaming laptops HP® offers, the view is even better. The 15.6-inch diagonal FHD display shows off all your best skills and is housed in an innovatively designed case with full-sized backlit keyboard.
HP OMEN 17t gaming laptop
If your gamer is ready for a bigger investment, there’s no denying that the HP OMEN 17t gives a more powerful playing experience. With the larger 17.3-inch diagonal FHD 144 Hz display and a more dynamic 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, this model is a good choice for teens who are considering taking their gaming on the road or into a professional arena.
eSports enthusiasts can get an additional 2GB dedicated graphics memory, too. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is a good match for the included 16GB Intel Optane™ Memory that makes accessing stored files and software a seamless process.
Helpful Hint: Games aren’t just for fun these days. With professional gaming being offered through scholarships at major colleges and universities, it has its benefits. Talk to your teen about any interest in eSports before investing in a gaming laptop. Various game titles have specific requirements, and both HP OMEN laptop models can be customized to meet them.
The newest for teachers and classrooms
In addition to those mentioned above, HP®’s latest Chromebook Education Edition line is part of an innovative new approach toward educating tech-focused kids. These devices are geared to give kids more latitude with their creative pursuits, while helping teachers tie learning fundamentals into everyday play and exploration.
The HP Chromebook 11 G7 Education Edition, for example, shines with MIMO technology that helps students stay connected at faster speeds with their teachers.
They can now access lectures, turn in homework, and test for understanding in a more adaptive digital environment than ever before.
These devices still feature the same perks as the original HP Chromebooks, such as spill-proof protections and lightweight design but are now more integrated into the technologies kids know and love, such as an optional HP Wacom EMR pen, dual cameras, and hundreds of popular Android apps.
The updated HP Chromebook Education Edition laptops are ready to meet the next generation of engineers, designers, artist, and scientists where they live and work every day.
Best buying tips for kid-friendly laptops
For parents and educators, it’s important to pick the right notebook or laptop. But beyond that, installing essential software is key.
Make sure that you take advantage of the discounts and pre-installed bundles that come with many new HP kid’s laptop models, including anti-virus software, Microsoft Office tools, and the best in family-friendly internet monitoring. If you’re unsure how to optimize your choice, experienced HP representatives are available to answer your questions and make sure you get it right.
Kids are truly unique, and what makes one excited about computing may not interest another. The best children’s laptop is the one that your child loves, will use responsibly, and inspires a love of technology and learning.
The right tech can open their world to new perspectives and opportunities, eventually preparing them for life as a capable adult who can take on any challenge.
Related HP budget laptop articles:
- Best HP Budget Laptops
- Best HP Laptops for Students
- Best HP Laptops for College Students
About the Author: Linsey Knerl is a contributing writer for HP® Tech Takes. Linsey is a Midwest-based author, public speaker, and member of the ASJA. She has a passion for helping consumers and small business owners do more with their resources via the latest tech solutions.
