The best desktop and laptop computers for your kids
Source: Windows Central
Best Computer for Kids Windows Central 2020
Computers are now an integral part of daily life for work, for leisure, and for education. So you’re probably thinking it’s a good idea that your kids have their own computer to learn with, do homework on or even relax and enjoy some home entertainment or games. There are so many good PCs out there suitable for kids that don’t cost a lot, and our favorite is the Microsoft Surface Go.
Best Overall: Microsoft Surface Go
Source: Windows Central
You get a great looking display, as well as 4GB of RAM on the entry spec model, but also higher-end versions with 8GB of RAM and SSD storage. With a USB-C dock or the Surface Dock attached, too, this compact 2-in-1 can transform into a home desktop PC with ease, making it an ideal machine for at home or at school.
It also looks stunning, as all Surface hardware from Microsoft does. It’s well made, sturdy as can be, and has enough battery life to get through a day and beyond. It’s a shame, though, that the keyboard is still an additional purchase.
Pros
- Proper Surface experience
- Compact
- Versatile kickstand
- USB-C
- Touch display also supports pen
Cons
- Pen and keyboard not included
- SSD models get expensive
Best Overall
Surface Go
A Surface suitable for the young ones
The Surface Go’s portability, performance, and price make it an outstanding computer for kids, ticking all of the boxes.
Best Desktop: Dell Inspiron Small Desktop
Source: Dell
The entry model is really well priced but hampered by slow storage. A little further up the tree, though you can get an Intel Core i3 or i5, 8GB of RAM, and importantly, SSD storage. All come with an optical drive, too, which makes it great to double up as a home entertainment PC.
There’s only one HDMI output so that multi-monitor setups might require adapters, but it’s got tons of USB ports and even an SD card reader on the front for easy access. It’s ready to go out of the box with a mouse and keyboard included, and the power supply is internal despite its small size, so no worrying about a massive power brick.
Pros
- Compact
- Good CPU options
- Tons of USB ports
- Keyboard and mouse included
- Affordable
Cons
- Only one HDMI output
- Entry models hampered by slow storage
Best Desktop
Dell Inspiron Small Desktop
Compact, no-fuss desktop for home use
This compact setup comes with everything you need to get going and is a perfect companion to homework or home entertainment.
Best Gaming Laptop: Acer Nitro 5
Source: Windows Central
This is a laptop cut out for 1080p gaming thanks to an AMD Ryzen 5 2500U CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and AMD Radeon RX 560X GPU with 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM, and while the display won’t win any awards for color accuracy or viewing angles, it’s fine to play games on, or more importantly, get the homework done before playing games.
It’s also effortless to upgrade, so even though it’s affordable now, you’re easily able to add some more RAM or storage down the road to prolong its life, even further offering a real value package.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Easy-access RAM and storage upgrades
- Generous port selection
- Performance for 1080p gaming
Cons
- Slow HDD
- Maximum 60Hz refresh rate
- Average viewing angles
Best Gaming Laptop
Acer Nitro 5
Some flaws but a great price
This is a great budget gaming laptop that’s well-equipped to keep young gamers happy when they’re done with work.
Best Gaming Desktop: HP Pavilion Gaming
Source: HP
It’s a fairly nondescript black box but with flashes of green accents to give it just enough to stand out from the boring box that the parents might have at the office. There are a bunch of different specs, but our favorite right now is the Core i5-9400F and NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti combination with 8GB of RAM. This is a 6-core CPU and a strong mid-range GPU that will certainly last the course as the kids grow.
Storage is fairly limited out of the box at only 256GB, but desktop PCs are super simple to add to, so you’ll be able to toss another SSD or a cheaper HDD in with ease, likewise adding more RAM as and when is necessary. There’s even an optical drive when they want to relax and watch a movie.
Pros
- Affordable price
- Great GPU
- 6-core CPU
- Compact size
Cons
- Limited storage as standard
- Lower spec models worth ignoring
Best Gaming Desktop
HP Pavilion Gaming
A well-equipped but still affordable desktop for gaming
Younger gamers will love the 6-core CPU and the GTX 1660 Ti GPU; the parents will enjoy the affordable price and ease of upgrade down the line.
Best Budget Laptop: ASUS VivoBook L203
Source: ASUS
Inside, you’ll find an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage, paired to an 11.6-inch 1366×768 resolution display. The display is small, but it still looks perfectly fine, though viewing angles could be better.
Despite the size, there’s still a full-size keyboard, a MicroSD slot, HDMI out, USB-C, and full-size USB ports. And with up to 13 hours of battery life, you’ll be able to head out for the day and leave the charger at home. To make the deal even better, you’re getting a free year of Office 365 tossed in as well.
Pros
- Great price
- Full-sized keyboard
- Generous port selection
- Small form factor
- Free year of Office 365
Cons
- Slow storage
- CPU only good for lighter tasks
Best Budget Laptop
ASUS VivoBook L203
Small, well-designed, and tough enough for kids
Taking styling cues from more expensive ASUS laptops, this compact notebook is perfect for kids.
Best for Learning: Kano Computer Kit
Source: Kano
The heart of the Kano is a Raspberry Pi 3 with a custom OS, so you put this computer together yourself, and from there on out, there’s a whole world of possibilities. There’s even a dedicated version of Minecraft, not only to play but to code with.
It comes with lifetime care, a heap of apps and coding challenges to tackle, and a massive community in the wider world making this a kit that your children can enjoy learning something new with every single day.
Pros
- Affordable
- Massive community
- Child-friendly approach to making and coding
- Simple to put together
- Fun!
Cons
- Doesn’t run Windows
Best for Learning
Kano Computer Kit
Child-friendly education on coding
Designed for kids to learn about making and coding, the Raspberry Pi-based Kano is heaps of fun for kids of all ages.
Conclusion
A computer is going to be an integral part of your child’s life as they grow up; the modern world virtually demands it. But, getting the right machine is key, and you really can’t go wrong with a Surface Go.
It’s a true go-anywhere PC and has so much flexibility. It can be used as a tablet for entertainment or games, or for handwriting or drawing on. But attach a keyboard, and it’s a full, but incredibly compact, Windows laptop. Over Surface Connect or USB-C, it becomes a home desktop machine with a single cable.
For the older kids, it’s small enough to fit inside a school bag while being durable enough not to fall apart when the inevitable happens, and it takes a bump or three. It truly is a remarkable little PC.
Credits — The team that worked on this guide
Richard Devine is an Editor at Windows Central. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him covering all manner of PC hardware and gaming, and you can follow him on Twitter and Instagram.
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