A laptop can be an effective tool for increasing the enthusiasm and engagement of your child when homeschooling. It can be difficult, however, to find a good laptop for a reasonable price. We’ve made a list of the best laptops for homeschooling in 2023. We’ve also gone into detail about the criteria a laptop for homeschooling should meet, such as screen resolution, price range, processing power, and more.
Deciding what laptop to buy can be very challenging. There are so many different brands, some cheap and some costly, all of which depend on the technical specifications of each device. Continue reading this guide to learn about the best laptops for homeschooling under $1000 and top tips on finding cheap laptops for homeschooling.
How to Choose the Best Homeschooling Laptop
There is a wide variety of laptops you can buy, whether for work, homeschooling, online courses, or entertainment. You should look at numerous factors before you decide to buy a kid-friendly laptop for your homeschooling needs. Below are five criteria to consider before buying the perfect laptop for your home-based classroom.
Storage Type and Capacity
When considering a laptop for school, you should look for a device with lots of storage. You’ll want a laptop with an internal storage capacity of at least 128GB but more storage will always be better when it comes to homeschooling or remote learning.
Consider whether you want a solid-state drive (SSD) or a traditional hard drive (HDD). If you compare an SSD with an HDD, you’ll notice a big difference. SSDs run much faster but are more expensive. Some laptops also come with cloud storage space packages.
Portability
When buying a laptop for school kids, you should also consider whether it needs to be portable. Do your kids feel comfortable doing schoolwork in one place, or do they move around the house throughout the day?
A 2-in-1 portable laptop will suit your needs better than a conventional laptop if you have active children. If your kids don’t need to move around at all, you could also consider building your own PC, though this can often be overkill for homeschooling.
Operating System
People have debated the best operating system for many years now, and in reality, there isn’t a correct answer. It comes down to personal preference. There are numerous operating systems to select, such as Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, and Linux. Look for a laptop with your preferred operating system. Know that not all programs are compatible with all OSs, so consider what kind of programs you’ll need to run.
Processing Speed and Memory
A laptop’s memory size and processing speed are critical elements to consider if you want a reliable laptop. If your child needs to connect to online classes and use multiple programs simultaneously, you need at least 8GB of random access memory (RAM).
You will also want a fast processor. A processor is the main chip of a computer, without it your computer won’t work. If you want a fast laptop and prefer Windows, consider an Intel Core i5 processor or higher.
Software and Program Needs
When homeschooling your child, there will be specific programs that they need to complete schoolwork. Before purchasing a laptop, you should decide which programs or software you need and what operating system those programs work with.
For example, if you need Microsoft Word or Microsoft Presentation, you should look for a Windows laptop that already comes with these programs. There are thousands of apps out there, so make sure to do your research.
How to Find Cheap Laptops for Homeschooling
- Don’t Buy the Latest Version. If you are looking for a reliable but inexpensive laptop, don’t buy the newest version. You can save money if you buy an older version without needing to compromise on power. Manufacturers also often run discounts on older versions when there is a launch for a new device.
- Look For A Laptop With A Smaller Screen Size. The bigger a laptop’s screen size, the higher its price gets. If you are trying to buy a cheap laptop, look at one with an 11.6-inch display. A laptop with a lower display quality will be cheaper. Then again, a lot of screen time on a poor-quality screen with a dim display and small screen resolution can be more taxing on the eyes than on a higher-quality one.
- Buy A Laptop That Has Less RAM. The standard RAM size of laptops is 8GB, but you get some laptops with 4GB RAM. A computer with 4GB of RAM will be cheaper than 8GB but it will be slower.
- Consider Different Storage Types. An SSD is one of the fastest kinds of storage available on the market, but a higher price tag comes with speed. If you want to purchase a cheap laptop, it is best to find one with an HDD or eMMC storage.
The Best Laptops for Homeschooling in 2023
| Laptop | Manufacturer | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Pro 13” | Apple Inc. | $1,499 | High speed, long battery life |
| Dell XPS 13 Laptop | Dell | $1,399.99 | Light and thin, 80.7% screen-to-body ratio |
| MacBook Air M1 | Apple Inc. | $1,249 | Fast, lightweight, long battery life |
| Acer Chromebook Spin 13 | Acer | $929.99 | Fast, touch screen |
| HP ProBook x360 435 | HP | $859 | 360 degree flexibility, enhanced security and protection. |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3000 | Dell | $738.99 | Fast charge, low blue light software |
| Microsoft Surface Go 3 | Microsoft | $729.99 | All-day battery, fast processor |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 | Lenovo | $719.99 | High-speed processor, touchscreen |
| Acer Aspire 5 | Acer | $499.99 | Long battery life, solid build |
| Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 | Lenovo | $499.99 | Fast, simple, secure |
Top Rated Laptops for Homeschooling: In Detail
MacBook Pro 13”
- Best for: Daily tasks, homework, and high-power applications
- Price: $1,499
The MacBook Pro is a light laptop that runs on the macOS Monterey operating system. It has an 8-core central processing unit (CPU) and graphics processing unit (GPU) inside its M1 chip, making it faster with better graphics quality and more vibrant color displays.
This device has 512GB SSD storage, 8GB RAM, a 20-hour battery, and a comfortable keyboard making it great for continuous usage. Although this laptop has an expensive price, it has many added perks.
Dell XPS 13 Laptop
- Best for: Daily tasks, video streaming, and gaming
- Price: $1,399.99
The XPS 13 Laptop made by Dell is a thin and light laptop with a larger screen area of 13.3 inches that comes with the Windows 11 operating system. This device has a small 2.25mm webcam with a four-element lens and a backlit keyboard design.
Although it is an expensive laptop, it has a high-speed 11th gen Intel Core i7 processor and has plenty of ports such as a USB Type-C port. There is 512GB of internal storage on an SSD and 16GB of memory.
MacBook Air M1
- Best for: Daily tasks, homework, and play
- Price: $1,249
The Macbook air is the slimmest and most lightweight laptop designed by Apple Inc. Despite the light design, it has a small M1 chip inside with an 8-core CPU and GPU, making the processing faster while the graphics are five times better than previous generations.
This device has a silent fan, an 18 hours battery life, and a WiFi 6 for extensive connectivity. This laptop uses the macOS Monterey operating system and has a 512GB SSD with 8GB of RAM.
Acer Chromebook Spin 13
- Best for: Daily tasks, streaming videos, and play
- Price: $929.99
The Chromebook Spin 13 is a touchscreen convertible laptop with 360-degree flexibility. This laptop uses an Intel Core i5 processor and Intel UHD graphics. It uses the Chrome OS and has ten hours of battery life and three USB ports. The RAM capacity is 8GB and 64GB of flash memory. This device has a micro SD card reader enabling additional storage.
HP ProBook x360 435
- Best for: Daily tasks, homework, and play
- Price: $859
The HP ProBook x360 435 is a touchscreen laptop with a convertible screen. It uses Windows 10 with the possibility of a free Windows 11 upgrade. The keyboard is spill-resistant, and the computer has extra security software, making it a great laptop for kids.
This full HD laptop has 8GB of memory and 256GB of internal storage on its SSD. It has an AMD Ryzen 3 Processor and uses Integrated: AMD Radeon Graphics. Although the graphics are average, they will meet all your educational needs.
Best Laptops for Homeschooling Under $1,000
Dell Inspiron 15 3000
- Best for: Daily tasks and light play
- Price: $738.99
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 uses a 10th generation Intel Core i5 processor, Intel UHD graphics, and the Windows 11 operating system. It has 512GB of internal storage and 12GB of memory as well as a 15-inch screen with Full HD display quality. It has a fast charge feature and many connectivity options including WiFi and USB.
Microsoft Surface Go 3
- Best for: Daily tasks, homework, and play
- Price: $729.99
The Microsoft Surface Go 3 is manufactured by Microsoft and uses the Windows 11 operating system. This device is a portable laptop with a 2-in-1 design but does not come with a keyboard. It has an Intel Core i3 LTE processor and an average battery life of 11-hours. The internal storage capacity is 128GB, and it has 8GB RAM. It has two HD cameras and a MicroSD card slot.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
- Best for: Daily tasks, light play, and homework
- Price: $719.99
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 uses the Windows 11 Operating system and 15-inch display size. It has 1TB of storage on an HDD and 256Gb of storage on an SSD. Features of this laptop include high performance, no overheating, and an FHD backlit IPS display. The battery life lasts around 11 hours and uses an AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series dual-core processor.
Acer Aspire 5
- Best for: Daily tasks
- Price: $499.99
The Acer Aspire 5 is an HD laptop that comes with Windows 10 S mode updatable to Windows 11 for free. The processor is an Intel Core i3, and the graphics controller is an Intel Iris Xe Graphics. This device has a 14-inch display, 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and the battery lasts up to 10 hours. Although the storage is not very big, it will be big enough for all your light homeschooling tasks.
Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5
- Best for: Daily tasks
- Price: $499.99
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet 5 is a portable 2-in-1 laptop that doubles a tablet. This device uses the Chrome OS operating system, has a 13-inch screen size, and an OLED display. It has a durable battery that lasts up to 15 hours along and is ultra-portable. It has a 256GB eMMC storage capacity and emits 70 percent less blue light.
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Should I Use a Laptop for Homeschooling?
Yes, you should use a laptop for homeschooling if you are a parent taking care of your child’s education at home. Parents often do homeschooling without a computer, but it can be a more exciting experience when students have a device. Laptops are also an incredible time management tool.
Whether you decide to buy a Dell with an Intel Core i3 processor or an Intel Core i7 processor, a quality laptop will improve your child’s learning experience. Children will be more enthusiastic about participating if they can complete homework on a computer, practice their typing skills, or simply watch a video about what they are learning.
Best Laptops for Homeschooling FAQ
The two most favored operating systems for computers are Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. According to Statista, almost 70 percent of computers use Windows, Microsoft’s user-friendly operating system.
Yes, you can homeschool children without a laptop. While there are many online resources, you can also opt for an offline homeschooling curriculum. You can find homeschooling curricula at a library, book store, and homeschool conventions.
If most of your homeschooling happens in one place, a desktop would be perfect, but a laptop would be better suited for a more active child. Desktops usually cost less than laptops for the same power and can be regularly updated with new hardware.
The best processor on the list above for a windows laptop under $1000 is the Intel core i5 processor. Coming in close behind the Intel processor is the AMD Ryzen 5000 H-Series.
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