Best kids Chromebook Android Central 2021When buying the best Chromebook for kids, you will have different priorities than you would with an adult. For younger children, lighter laptops may be more appealing. However, older children might prefer a bigger screen or require better components for homework and gaming. There's a lot to be said for durability, reliability, and battery life. We need to get through school on one charge. ASUS Chromebook Flip is the best Chromebook for children. It offers portability, durability, and adaptability that will last your child for many years.Source: Ara Wagoner / Android CentralSince its debut, the ASUS Chromebook Flip C214 11.6 inch has been our favorite Chromebook for students. It has everything parents could need in a Chromebook for their children. The anti-scratch coating makes it easy to transport for smaller children. It has been tested in 20 different ways to withstand the chaos and whims of children. The C214 is a touchscreen 2-in-1 so that your child can use it as a tablet, laptop, or drawing tool with the built-in stylus. Although the stylus is not available on all models, I recommend that you get it for any model ending with -S. The stylus is very useful for art but, more importantly, it can help your child if they tend to touch the screen incorrectly while tapping.Source: Ara Wagoner / Android CentralIt's my belief that all Chromebooks should have a 2-in-1 design, but this is especially important for children for two reasons. First, a 2-in-1 Chromebook will almost always have a touchscreen. Touchscreens are great for children who want to touch the screen with their fingers instead of using a trackpad or mouse. A 2-in-1 laptop allows your child to flip the screen into tablet mode without the need for a keyboard. It can fold up into a tent or stand mode, which is handy for kids who don't want to hold a tablet. The C214 has 4GB RAM and 32GB storage, regardless of which model you choose. Although microSD cards are able to add additional space to download files, they can't be used for apps storage like a phone. A single-use battery for the ASUS C214 lasts between 10 and 12 hours. This is enough to complete school work, homework, and to charge your laptop when you need it. Even if your child breaks one of the reinforced ports, there are two to keep it running. The keyboard and edges of the laptop have been rubberized. Pros Durable, drop-resistant buildKeyboard that is spill-resistantBuilt-in stylus (on some models)360-degree hingeLimited storage options Great battery ConsLenovo Chromebook Duet Most versatile kids Chromebook right nowSource: Ara Wagoner / Android CentralAlthough there have been many Chromebook tablets in the past five years, including several educational models that are specifically designed for classrooms, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet feels the best. It looks great, whether you're viewing science videos on YouTube or reading ebooks for class. The battery lasts for a long time and you can use the keyboard and kickstand right out of the box if you want to use it as a laptop. The keyboard included in the Duet is a 10-inch tablet with an 10-inch keyboard. This might make it difficult for older children to type long sentences. The Duet is small enough to be used as a tablet and can sometimes double as a laptop for children younger than 10. The Duet isn’t as durable than other laptops on this list so make sure your child is responsible enough to not drop or throw it. The Duet has 4GB RAM and 64GB, 128GB or 128GB internal storage. This is crucial because it lacks the standard microSD slot on Chromebooks. You're correct, folks. The Duet only has one USB-C port. This means that you will need to purchase Bluetooth headphones. Duet's speaker can be a little quiet. You should also note that the included charger is a 10W USB A charger. This means that you will need to replace it with an 18W Power Delivery charger. The battery will last 12 hours on a single charge. However, a PD charger will charge your device much faster. Pros Bright 1080p display for comics and videosKeyboard and kickstand includedBattery life all dayThe storage is great for a Chromebook Pros Keyboard, but it can sometimes feel cramped.Not durableIn-box slow chargerThere is no microSD slotOnly one port Auto Updating Expiration Date: June 20,28Best for versatility Lenovo Chromebook Duet-10.1" A tablet that is both great and compact, the Duet is great choice for children who don't need a heavy laptop. $299 at Best Buy (128GB).$249 at Walmart (64GB).Acer Chromebook 512 Bigger screen, lower budgetSource: AcerThe Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is one of the most sought-after premium Chromebooks available today. A large part of its popularity can be attributed to the screen. The Spin 713 Chromebook is the only one that has a 3 to 2 aspect ratio. This allows users to view more pages at once. Acer Chromebook 512 joined the 3:2 club. While it's far from a premium ultrabook, the Acer Chromebook 512 is a Chromebook that stands out amongst a sea of 11.6-inch student-oriented Chromebooks. Although the Acer Chromebook512 isn’t a touchscreen 2-in-1 as our ASUS C214 but it is still robustly built and powerful enough to handle homework and other educational tasks for your child, The Celeron N4020 chip isn't the fastest, but it's fast enough for casual computing. It also sips battery so this laptop can run from your morning alarm through to dinnertime without the need to be connected to a wall charger. Although it is not a 2-in-1 Chromebook like the others, the hinge of the Acer Chromebook512 can fold flat so that you can read while lying down in bed (like me). Although the lack of a touchscreen is a bummer, it allows Acer to keep costs down and offer a price that's affordable for parents. Pros: Ruggedized designDisplay slightly largerThere are many ports.Auto Update Expiration Date for 8GB Option: June 2026Acer Chromebook512 512 has a larger screen and a lower price. Do you need more space? Pros swear by the 3:2 aspect ratio for productivity and it's now available on a Chromebook for kids. Best Buy: $279Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook Great Chromebook for Senior ChildrenSource: Ara Wagoner / Android CentralA 2-in-1 Chromebook is a Chromebook that your child can use to care for their computer. It costs about the same price as the ASUS C214. The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is our best Chromebook. It's a Chromebook that ticks all the boxes, without overcrowding the laptop nor putting too much on the budget. Although it may not appear like much, this Chromebook is a great choice. The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is less than an inch larger than the C214. However, it has a 13.3-inch 1080p touchscreen underneath its plain gray lid. Although the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook isn't as ruggedized or life-proofed as the C214, it is just as suitable for older kids as for adults. The laptop has a large, front-facing speaker and a comfortable keyboard that is well-lit for those late-night projects. The model can be purchased with either a Celeron, or a 10th Gen Intel Core i3 processor. There is no 8GB RAM option (only 4GB), but you can choose from 64GB or 128GB internal storage if your budget allows. There are two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. This allows you to plug in older USB peripherals or flash drives. The model also has a headphone jack to allow you to use Bluetooth headphones when it is not convenient to. The majority of schools won't allow Wi-Fi 6 to be upgraded until your child has graduated. However, the Flex 5 can support it if necessary. Bluetooth 5.0 will provide stability for Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth mice. Although the battery should last for the entire school day, it will need to be charged once your child returns home. Pros Crisp 1080p touchscreenLoud upward-facing speakersBacklit keyboardHeadphone jackMultiple storage options Cons Not as durableOnly a few 8GB RAM models. Auto Update Expiration Date June 2028For older children, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is best. This Chromebook is perfect for teens. It has a larger screen and backlit keyboard that makes it ideal for middle schoolers or high schoolers. Amazon: $310Acer Chromebook Spin 713 When performance is most importantSource: Ara Wagoner / Android CentralThe Project Athena certified Chromebook, Acer Chromebook spin, is the perfect choice for middle/high school students who are obsessed about having the best specs possible on their laptop. Project Athena, a partnership between Intel and manufacturers, is an initiative to create laptops that are reliable, fast, and powerful. This model has a 10th-generation Intel Core processor and at least 8GB RAM. It also features SSD storage, rather than the eMMC that most Chromebooks use. It's a powerful machine, and is available at a fraction of the cost of other Project Athena Chromebooks. The Chromebook has a great selection of ports. There are two USB-C ports and an HDMI port. You can also add more space with the microSD card slot. The trackpad is large and backlit. A 2K screen is also available for crisper videos and smaller text when reading digital textbooks. Although this Chromebook is more expensive, it will provide Chrome OS updates up to June 2028. This laptop could last your child through highschool and college. The 713 is still relatively new and not widely available. It is not yet available for sale or discounts. Pros: Powerful futureproof specificationsBright 3:2 screen to increase productivityA good selection of ports, including HDMIMany updates are not as durableMore expensiveLimited availability Auto Update Expiration Date June 2028Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is the best Chromebook powerhouse. Although power comes with a cost, Acer will not empty your bank account just to get a laptop with a 2K touch screen and an Intel i5. Best Buy: $529HP Chromebook 11a (11a-na0060nr) Best value kids ChromebookSource: HPThe HP Chromebook 11a is a great choice if you don't want your child to break your Chromebook. It costs less than $220. The 11a is the spiritual successor to my favorite Chromebook, the Lenovo C330. The MediaTek 8183 processor lasts all day and is ideal for casual computing as well as educational Android games. It also has a touchscreen which makes it easier to interact with those games. This Chromebook is still affordable, and has an expiration date of June 2028. It can be used as a spare computer for your family, or to replace the Chromebooks that your school issues. It stands out from the sea of chromebooks in budget black or silver. The Indigo Blue's texture makes it easy to carry around, whether you are playing Tetris or looking over class notes for tomorrow's test. Although the Hp Chromebook 11a hasn't been certified for military-spec durability like its EE (Education Edition), it is still a sturdy Chromebook that can withstand the daily wear and tear of being used regularly by a younger child. It only has one USB-C port, which is unfortunate as Chromebooks for children usually need a spare. This way, even if the kid breaks the port on one end, the Chromebook won't be dead. But I like the cost-savings of restricting ports and limiting what the kid can do to the Chromebook. Auto Update Expiration Date June 2028. Pros: Affordable, durableIt still has a touchscreenDependable keyboardJune 2028 AUE Date Cons: No additional storage/RAM optionsOnly one USB-C portThe best value HP Chromebook 11a (11a0060nr). If you only need the basics, don't trust your child to use a Chromebook. This blue model is a great way to teach your child how to care for a laptop. Amazon: $215HP - $210Best Buy: $159
