Finding the best Chromebook for kids may sound daunting, but it’s a lot simpler than it seems. Google’s user-friendly laptops are renowned for their affordability, and ChromeOS makes it easy for anyone to use its system — kids included. This translates to a low-cost device that can be used to learn and play efficiently without encountering technical jargon or fretting over accidental spills.
Along with specialized apps for kids of all ages, including educational options, Chromebooks are always a safe bet for little ones. The problem is there are many Chromebooks to choose from, but this list includes the best options that are affordable, durable, and easy to use. And if you’re only looking for a screen, the best kids tablets will do the trick.
The top Chromebooks for kids
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Perfect for study and play
The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers enough processing speed for the day-to-day school grind and casual gaming. While the display won’t blow your mind, it’s capable of doubling as a movie screen when your kid isn’t hitting the books. Overall, it’s a solid pick.
- Large screen and decent visuals for the price
- Good 1080p webcam and noise cancelling mic
- Impressive battery life
- Glossy screen is a bit annoying in direct light
If you already own the last-gen Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, there’s probably no major reason to upgrade. As our review notes, the only “big” changes are found under the hood with a faster processor and a Google Titan C2 security chip. However, that might be enough of an excuse for you to trade up, and it’s certainly a good reason for those on the hunt for a reliable workhorse. With its robust build and $400 price point, the new Flex 5i is suitable for pre-teens and older.
Whether for leisure or school, your child will enjoy the Flex 5i’s multi-touch display. Its 16:10 1080p screen provides impressive visuals for everything from homework to Hulu. We should mention that the glossy screen, while helpful for better contrast levels, is quite reflective in brighter environments. Steer clear from direct sunlight, and you should be good.
The camera performs well, too, featuring a 1080p webcam that’s great for remote learning or chatting with friends. Also, the built-in noise-cancelling microphone filters out background chatter, ensuring clear audio during classes or meetings. Considering that quality mics and cameras feel like afterthoughts for sub $400 Chromebooks, we must give credit where credit is due.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus review: Boring but still the best Chromebook
This is the embodiment of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
You won’t be able to play graphically intensive games or run Pro Tools on here, but the 8GB of RAM handles multiple windows and tabs just fine — an important perk for school projects and research papers. Plus, less demanding Android and browser-based games play smoothly here, so your kids can still unwind after a long day.
Battery life is also great. It lasts about 8 to 9 hours on a typical school day, and the included 45W USB-C charger is pretty fast. In less than two hours, the Flex 5i reaches a full charge.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Almost the best
The Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is a solid contender, boasting military-grade durability and a comfortable, well-spaced keyboard. The display offers functional quality with some brightness and color accuracy limitations, but we found it performs adequately in low-light conditions. With excellent battery life, a large screen, and fast charging, this Chromebook is ready for school and play.
- Large screen
- Responsive trackpad and keyboard
- Long battery life
- Display is hard to see in direct light
- Keyboard isn’t backlit
If it weren’t for the Flex 5i, the Acer Chromebook Plus 515 probably would’ve been our best overall pick. Why? Well, for one, the Plus 515 is housed in military-grade plastic, ready for all the bumps, knocks, and nicks your kids might put it through. Also, it’s incredibly affordable for what it all offers.
First, the keyboard. It’s a key component of any laptop, though often overlooked. We’re pleased to say that the Plus 515 has a comfortable, well-spaced keyboard with a sizable trackpad to boot. Per our review, we were bummed the keys aren’t backlit, but you can’t have everything.
Display quality, while functional, leaves room for improvement. In our review, we found that the brightness settings required frequent adjustments. And while the anti-glare coating is a nice touch, it struggles against direct light. The color representation on darker images can also appear washed out. But if you’re in a low-light environment watching a movie or playing a game, these demerits aren’t as bad as they sound.
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 review: A sturdy device that excels at productivity
A speedy budget laptop that will meet the majority of needs
Battery life is commendable, with around 10 hours of mixed-use on a single charge. Charge times are fast, about an hour and a half to hit 100%. Fast charging capabilities mean less downtime, which is helpful for busy school days.
Asus Chromebook CX1 17
Big screen, low price
The Asus CX17 Chromebook’s military-grade build is designed to withstand the rigors of daily use. Its 17.3-inch 1080p LED-backlit display is perfect for school presentations and entertainment. While it’s not the fastest Chromebook around, its formidable size and durability make up for it.
- Really big screen for the price
- Durable design is ideal for kids
- Fast enough for casual gaming and schoolwork
- Display isn’t that great compared to more expensive Chromebooks
- Not for serious gamers
According to Asus, the CX17 is military-grade in terms of durability. So, what does that mean? Basically, this Chromebook was tested for panel pressure, drops, and shocks. They even tested the ports, insertion and removal cycles, keystroke durability, hinge durability, and more. We won’t go into all the details, but suffice it to say, the CX17 is up for whatever your kids throw at it — literally.
The CX17’s other top selling point is its 17.3-inch 1080p screen. It’s a nice size for preparing Google Slides for that middle school History class presentation or your high schooler’s English essay on The Great Gatsby. No, it’s not the most brilliant display, but the LED backlight is bright and colorful enough for education and entertainment.
Additionally, the CX17’s includes a built-in HD webcam with a microphone for online classes and virtual play dates. While the webcam is only 720p, it performs well under the right lighting conditions.
Storage is on the low end with 64GB but should provide ample space for assignments and multimedia files. Besides, the built-in cloud support allows for easy file storage via Google Drive.
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
Made for gaming
This Chromebook is built to accommodate gamers’ tastes and needs, but it can still crush homework and other tasks with ease. It has a gorgeous 16-inch display with QHD+ resolution, strong performance from 12th Gen Intel CPUs, and even an RGB keyboard.
- Gorgeous 16-inch QHD+ display with 120Hz refresh rate
- Outstanding audio from quad speakers
- Customizable RGB keyboard
- No Thunderbolt 4
- No touch display
Acer’s Chromebook 516 GE is our top pick for the best gaming Chromebooks out there, and any parents buying a new laptop with gaming at the top of their kid’s priorities will want to check it out. It’s also one of the best Acer Chromebooks in general, capable of tackling just about any task.
It’s built from the start to handle cloud and local gaming best, all thanks to the 12th Gen Intel Core P-series processors, integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, plenty of LPDDR4x RAM, and lots of speedy storage space. There are also four speakers with DTS Audio tuning and a smart amp for impressive sound, and the keyboard has RGB lighting that can be customized.
Perhaps the best feature is the 16-inch display with 2560×1600 (QHD+) resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and 100% sRGB. Wi-Fi 6E and an Ethernet port are also available to handle cloud gaming better. It won’t be easy to find a greater display for gaming than this one, especially at the asking price.
HP Chromebook x360 13
Long battery life, FHD touch display
HP’s Chromebook x360 13b brings a 13.3-inch FHD touch display with inking capabilities in a sleek convertible laptop. It’s powered by an MT1200 eight-core CPU, though it only has 4GB of RAM. Battery life is excellent, it has lots of ports, and it’s easy to carry to school and back.
- FHD touch display with inking capabilities
- Lightweight convertible design
- 128GB SSD for local storage
- 4GB RAM will cramp heavier multitasking
- Relatively expensive at full price
HP’s Chromebook x360 13b is a relatively fresh release that leans on a 13.3-inch touch display with 1920×1080 (FHD) resolution and inking capabilities, modest MediaTek Kompanio 1200 CPU eight-core performance, and lasting 47Wh battery life. It weighs less than three pounds, it’s about the size of most 12-inch laptops, and it should have no problems keeping up with daily use and abuse.
The convertible design is perfect for younger users, and it has plenty of ports (including a microSD card reader and dual USB-C) for connecting accessories. The keyboard is comfortable, the touchpad is enormous, and there’s a 720p camera above the screen for video conferencing. While it usually costs about $390, at the time of writing, it’s down to $270. This is part of HP’s frequent in-house sales on laptops, and with some savvy shopping, you shouldn’t have to pay full price.
Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 360
Touchscreen with QHD+ resolution
Samsung’s Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 comes with a compact 12.4-inch display that boasts an impressive QHD+ resolution. This is a great choice if your kids want a great screen without all the gamer features.
- Gorgeous high-res QHD+ display
- Versatile convertible design
- Compact and lightweight
- Slow eMMC storage
- No 8GB RAM option
Need a high-res display without all the gamer add-ons? The Galaxy Chromebook 2 360 can deliver. Its 12.4-inch size makes it easy for smaller hands to hold onto, yet it packs in a touch display with 2560×1600 (QHD+) resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio. This is great for kids who can’t stand a low-res screen, whether it’s for homework, browsing, or streaming.
An Intel Celeron N4500 CPU delivers OK performance with long battery life (Samsung says up to 10 hours on a charge), and it’s joined by 4GB of RAM and up to 128GB of eMMC storage. This isn’t going to win any races, but it will still handle productivity work while making it through most of the day without needing a charge. By way of ports, the laptop offers two USB-C (with one used part-time for charging), one USB-A, a microSD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Be sure to check out more of the best Samsung Chromebooks for more selections.
Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Compact and versatile
The Spin 311 offers responsive performance and portability. It has an 8-core MediaTek processor, which handles everyday tasks efficiently. The Spin 311 is pretty durable, too, thanks to its antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass. And what it lacks in speed, it makes up for in affordability. It’s more than capable of scholastic tasks and casual entertainment.
- Durable and a great size for backpacks
- Handles multiple tabs with ease
- Responsive touch controls
- Screen is only 720p
Ten years ago you would’ve had a difficult time finding a high-performing and affordable convertible. But time has been good for convertibles, and Acer’s Spin 311 proves it. The computer is responsive, easy to use, and super portable.
Specs-wise, there is not much going on here. The 4GB of RAM is enough to handle multiple apps and browser tabs, so long as you’re not overdoing it. We wouldn’t recommend opening 12 tabs at once, for example. Powering the Acer Spin 311 is the 8-Core MediaTek Processor, which should provide balanced performance.
It also features 64GB of storage, more than enough for a handful of games and school assignments. But if you need more storage, buy this Chromebook through Amazon. For whatever reason, Asus is selling a nice little bundle of add-ons, which includes a 128GB SD card and a 6-in-1 USB-C docking station. Speaking of add-ons, you’ll also get a wireless mouse (and pad).
The 11.6-inch HD Multi-Touch Display only delivers 720 HD, though we can’t complain at this price. And the decade-old but ever-reliable Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass touchscreen is built to withstand daily wear and tear.
Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip
Compact and versatile
If you’re after a more advanced Chromebook that your kids can handle, consider the Asus Chromebook Flip CM34. Its 2-in-1 design is flexible, packed with AMD power, and offers access to Chromebook Plus, which gives kids a few new features to mess around with. It’s a solid machine for getting tasks done and streaming content.
- Lightweight 2-in-1 design
- Strong AMD performance
- Access to Chromebook Plus perks
- Wide, thin aspect ratio
- Relatively pricey
If you’re after the latest Chromebooks have to offer, namely the “Plus” perks, then the Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip will give kids plenty to check out. Along with access to Magic Eraser, free months for Adobe Photoshop, and Pixlr Premium, this Chromebook also has plenty of power to handle any task kids throw at it – whether it be doing homework, streaming shows, or learning about different apps. That’s thanks to the Ryzen 3 7320C processor under the hood, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD for plenty of storage.
While its 14-inch touch display with 300 nits of brightness is a solid screen, it could do better with a 16:10 aspect ratio rather than 16:19. Still, as a laptop primed for studying and streaming, the Asus Chromebook Plus CM34 Flip is made to last.
Getting the best Chromebook for your kids
The right Chromebook for your kids should be durable enough to withstand accidents, light enough to carry around with little effort, and have a long enough battery life to last a full day at school. Moreover, it shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg, especially if your little one is prone to breaking things.
That’s why the Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is the best choice. It sports a flexible convertible design, a solid multi-touch FHD display, and fair specs. If you’re after an even more affordable laptop with durability to boot, the Asus CX17 will do you no wrong. While basic, it offers the essential specs that will allow kids to browse the web and work on school projects without the hassle. The 17.3-inch screen size doesn’t hurt either.
But if money is no object and gaming is at the top of the priority list, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is worth a look. It has enough processing power and storage space for work and play — and the 16-inch 2560×1600 (QHD+) resolution display more than seals the deal.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
The Flex 5i Chromebook Plus offers enough processing speed for the day-to-day school grind and casual gaming. While the display won’t blow your mind, it’s more than capable of doubling as a movie screen when your kid isn’t hitting the books. Overall, it’s a solid pick.
