When we think of buying laptops for kids, or any other devices for that matter, we tend to turn to cheap alternatives of what we would normally choose for ourselves. But it is a tad bit different when it comes to gaming laptops.
If the kid is old enough to be able to play games on a laptop in the first place, they deserve a good and hardy device that they can use all through middle school at the least. And for this, you do need to make it an investment.
Gaming laptops require good graphics units, and even though you might not go for discrete GPUs in this case you still need to look out for a good processor, memory, and storage space so kids do not run into lagging troubles while playing.
For detailed reviews, keep on reading to check out what makes the best gaming laptop for kids.
Contents
| IMAGE | Name | Display Size (Inches) | Processor | GPU | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 | 15.6 | AMD Ryzen 3 3250U | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | |
 | HP 15 | 15.6 | Intel Core i5 10th gen | Intel UHD Graphics | |
| | Asus Vivobook 15 | 15.6 | Intel i3-1005G1 | Intel UHD Graphics | |
| Dell Inspiron 15 | 15.6 | Intel Core i7 1065G7 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics | ||
 | ASUS Chromebook C223 | 11.6 | Intel Dual-Core Celeron N3350 | Intel HD Graphics 500 | |
 | HP Pavilion X360 | 14.0 | Intel Core i3-1005G1 10th Gen | Intel UHD Graphics | |
 | Apple MacBook Air | 13.3 | Apple M1 chip | Apple 8-core GPU | |
 | Acer Aspire 5 | 15.6 | AMD Ryzen 3 3200U | AMD Radeon Vega 3 | |
 | Lenovo Chromebook S330 | 14.0 | MediaTek MT8173C | Intel UHD Graphics | |
 | Samsung Chromebook 3 | 11.6 | Intel Celeron N3060 | Intel HD Graphics |
The Acer Chromebook Spin 11 is good for kids because the Chrome OS has its own built-in virus protection and can update on its own. It also makes it easier to access all the Google apps without having to start from scratch which would be harder for kids.
With the Google play store installed, kids have complete access to all sorts of games available.
You've got an additional storage of 100 GB. This Google Drive space serves as the perfect backup where all the files are stored automatically. Kids can sometimes forget to back up files and other necessary items, so this auto-backup feature really helps.
The touch screen has a 10-point multitouch feature which makes it easy for kids to access the applications they want with a direct touch instead of using the keys.
Since the Chromebook allows multiple users, it is also safe since the parents or guardian can monitor and look over the usage because online security is something that needs to be taken seriously today.
The HP Chromebook comes with a dual-core Intel Pentium gold processor which is one of the finest when it comes to basic processors that are aimed towards children. Therefore, even with an integrated graphics unit, the processor makes sure that the laptop runs smoothly and fast so that the child does not become impatient.
When handing a laptop to kids, you need to consider the ruggedness of the device as well since you can expect a few bumps here and there. Here you get a ceramic-like finish on a 3-D metal design that gives it a lot of strength and durability, something that is highly required in this context.
Moreover, it has a touch screen display with an HD resolution. This helps to make the graphics and display clear and precise so kids can enjoy it to the fullest. Not to mention the touchscreen makes it a more interactive experience that kids tend to love.
The HD camera provides an 88° wide-angle field of view. This can be very useful if the child decides to use the same laptop for online classes where a proper Webcam is crucial to performance
The ASUS VivoBook is suitable for kids who are used to gaming and want a heavy-duty laptop as they upgrade their games and step into harder and more power demanding games.
It has a wide 15.6-inch screen with NanoEdge display that helps to provide better visuals.
The laptop also boasts a lot of impressive specifications. For example, the 8 GB memory is highly suitable for people who love to multitask, or in this case play games while they download more in the background.
Alongside that, you get the 512 GB SSD storage. This provides a lot of speed so you do not face any sort of lag, and a lot of storage space as well so you don't have to look to third-party devices for external storage.
Like most gaming laptops, you get a backlit keyboard which makes it easy to find the right keys even if kids decide to play in the dark.
Another important point is that the chassis is made of metal which helps to provide a lot of strength. This does not have much to do with the performance itself, but it does have a lot to do with how the child can handle the laptop. Having a metal chassis simply ensures that it can take a lot of load and not break down in the process.
This is the perfect gaming laptop for kids who want to get more on their devices. Being a convertible Chromebook, this gives you ultimate portability which can come in handy if the kid goes to school and needs a tab to take notes, while they can use the entire setup at home for gaming.
It might be small and compact but it actually comes with a high battery life of 10 hours. With this, the child can take the tablet to school, use it for their projects, and come back with charge still left for gaming afterward.
While the MediaTek Helio P60T processor provides good speed for all the basic games that kids usually play, the ARM G72 MP3 graphics card makes sure the display is meeting proper standards.
You can also be assured about the display thanks to the 400 nits of brightness with a full HD screen. This along with the GPU allows the child to experience the brightest and most vibrant colors on screen.
Since this is a convertible Chromebook, you can detach the keyboard to have a tablet that has a 10-point multitouch screen. The child can also use a stylus if they want to for taking notes or sketching when they're not playing games.
The Dell Inspiron is another choice for kids who are used to gaming and are looking for a more powerful laptop that can be used for their improvements as they jump onto newer games.
You get the Intel Quad-Core i5 1035G4 processor from the 10th generation, which is the latest one we have today. This ensures that the laptop can be used for long times in the future as it can easily make updates, and will be compatible with all the latest games and applications.
Besides that, you get the 128GB PCIe SSD storage that provides a lot of speed, which is highly required for gaming. But not just that, the storage space is also pretty decent that allows you to store a good number of games before requiring any third-party device to back them up.
For the GPU, you have for the Intel Iris Plus graphics. While this won't match up to discrete graphics cards, we assume that won't be required since this is targeted towards kids.
The battery lasts a good eight hours from mixed usage. So the kids can play games, watch videos, or even browse online for a good while before needing to connect it to a charger.
On the display, you get an antiglare screen. This specifically makes it even more suitable for kids because now they won't have to squint through the excessively bright screens.
For gaming, the larger the screen size, the better the experience will be. But how big do you go, and how big can the child handle is what you need to look at.
If they are very young, we suggest going for screens between 10 and 11 inches. These are small enough so they can carry the devices in a fairly easy manner. It also means the child is not exposed to a large and bright screen which can seem overwhelming.
If the kid is a bit older, say over 10 years of age, they should be able to use a larger screen and would prefer it too. 15 inches should be the perfect and maximum size handed to them. These are large and hence are more entertaining. And they would easily fit into a schoolbag if and when required.
The best kids gaming laptop requires a good processor to keep it going even without a discrete graphics unit. If you are on a budget, you should look at the Intel Core i5 processors. These give the perfect balance of cost and performance and provide more than enough power for basic gaming.
Older kids who have gotten the hang of gaming already and want to try out new and more powerful games should go for the Intel Core i7 instead. Of course, these will come at a steeper price too, but the difference will not be astronomical. In fact, think of it as an investment where the child can use the laptop for future school work as well.
As for generations, it is advised to stick to the latest, or one of the latest generations if you want to be able to use the laptop for a good while in the future. Going for an older generation processor can save a few bucks, but will not be beneficial in the long run.
Since this is targeted towards kids, you might lean towards lower RAMs. The least memory of 4GB is enough for basic games like Minecraft. But the child will not want to play these constantly and will want upgrades very fast. And once they do, the 4 GB RAM simply won't cut it for the speed required.
This is why we recommend that even if the child is a complete beginner, go for at least an 8GB RAM to start with because they will not be beginners for long. If they are used to gaming and would want to jump to more power demanding games in the future, than look for 16GB RAMs instead.
An SSD storage provides good speed, but not as much space, and can be expensive too. HDD on the other hand has more storage space, is cheaper, but does not provide the best speed.
The ideal storage to have is a combination of both an SSD and HDD. These are expensive as well since you get the benefits of both, but is recommended for a fluid gaming experience. You get good speed as well as enough space to store games.
The Dell Chromebook 3189 is a top choice for kids. It comes with an Intel Celeron processor, a good 4GB RAM, a handy 32 eMMC storage. The display is also fine at 11.6 inches, and the laptop is lightweight enough for kids to carry around as well. Speakers are of excellent quality for watching videos, which is something kids love!
For school and studying purposes, having a laptop is completely fine for 9-year-olds. Since the internet has various educational materials showcased in a fun way that makes it easier for kids to learn, having a laptop can help kids learn faster. It will help boost their productivity as well as they learn new study materials and ways of communicating with friends and family.
For kids, Chromebooks will work just fine since they do not have to handle any heavy-duty work. For school, entertainment, and social media, Chromebooks will be an affordable option. Not to mention, they are usually lighter and more compact as well. Should I Get My Child A Chromebook Or Laptop?
If you're scared the child will outgrow it, then you can always get one with advanced features, since a lot of Chromebooks on the market can compete well with laptops.
A parent or guardian needs to consider a lot of factors before handing a laptop to their kids. Not only should the laptop come with proper features that are well suited to gaming, but it should also consider safety and parental control if the kids are too young.
We hope this guide to find the best gaming laptop for kids has been of help. It aims to breakdown all the details so you can take one quick look and get an idea of what you need and which laptops offer the required qualities.
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About Dror Wettenstein
Dror Wettenstein is a software engineer and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in the industry. He is the founder of TechTreeRepeat, a company that enables technical writers to publish their work faster and share it with readers across the globe. Dror has a master’s degree in computer science from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Irvine.
When he’s not working on software projects, Dror enjoys writing articles and essays on various topics. He also likes playing guitar and spending time with his wife and two young children.
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