Table of Contents
Chromebooks are laptops famous for their low cost and simple operation, which makes them ideal for kids. But because models vary plenty—different screens, processors, and ports make them all different—how to land the best Chromebook for your child? That's where PCMag comes in. Since the founding of PC Labs, we've tested and reviewed thousands of laptops, including hundreds of Chromebooks, since the first ones arrived more than a decade ago. Our analysts and editors test Chromebooks for CPU and graphics performance and assess all models on design, connectivity, display quality, and overall value to produce trustworthy, comprehensive Chromebook reviews. Our current best overall Chromebook for kids is Acer's 2023 Chromebook Spin 514, packing category-leading performance and a full HD webcam for an approachable price. Read on for more kid-ready Chromebooks we recommend for additional scenarios, detailed buying advice, and a helpful spec comparison of all our picks.
Our Top Tested Picks
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (2023)
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
HP Chromebook x360 13b (2023)
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition
The Best Chromebook Deals This Week*
- Asus Chromebook Flip CX5 Intel i3 128GB SSD 16" 2-in-1 Laptop — $479.00 (List Price $599)
- Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE Intel 5 256GB SSD 16" Laptop — $549.00 (List Price $649)
- Acer Chromebook Plus 514 Ryzen 3 128GB 14" Touch Laptop — $332.00 (List Price $399.99)
- HP Chromebook Plus x360 Intel i3 128GB UFS 8GB RAM 14" Laptop — $399.99 (List Price $639.99)
- Acer Chromebook Vero 514 Intel i3 128GB SSD 14" Laptop — $295.99 (List Price $349.99)
*Deals are selected by our commerce team
- RELATED:
- Best Chromebooks
- Best Cheap Gaming Laptops
- Best Budget Laptops
- Best Laptops for College Students
Best Overall Chromebook for Kids
Acer Chromebook Spin 514 (2023)
- Category-leading performance with AMD Ryzen 5 processor
- Excellent full HD webcam
- Rugged MIL-STD 810H construction with sturdy aluminum
- Decent connectivity with Wi-Fi 6, USB-C, and HDMI out
- Uses cheaper eMMC storage
- 16:9 aspect ratio feels like a throwback
- No Thunderbolt 4 port
- No stylus included
Hands down, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is the best Chromebook for kids, thanks to its category-leading performance and durable 2-in-1 build. The AMD Ryzen 5 processor is powerful enough to tackle the most demanding tasks, whether it's school projects or an Android game. Plus, the sturdy aluminum chassis is MIL-STD 810H rated, so it should survive whatever drops, spills, or bumps come in the course of a school day. Throw in the Spin 514's full HD webcam and excellent connectivity with Wi-Fi 6, USB-C, and HDMI, and it's a winner for any kid.
If you're a parent or kid who wants a reliable and powerful Chromebook for school work and productivity, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is the best around. The Spin 514 comes in a helpful 2-in-1 design that works as a laptop or tablet with the durability necessary to handle the rowdiest kids, and it has the performance and features to handle any workload, in every grade. Parents: This should be your first stop in your Chromebook search.
Best Chromebook for Older Kids
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
- Affordable price even with improved specs
- Leading performance in every test
- High-quality FHD display
- Decent port array, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2
- Durable MIL-SPEC-certified design and antimicrobial coating
- Average battery life
- No touch capability (at this price)
- Limited UFS storage is just adequate
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is one of the faster Chromebooks we've tested, making it a smart match for older kids who need to get work done. This is a sleek, portability-focused 14-incher in a flashy all-white design, but it also passes MIL-SPEC standards to withstand some wear and tear. The Chromebook Plus tag brings additional features for productivity, and its full HD screen, Wi-Fi 6, and overall pleasing build will support efficiency on the road.
Older students who need to shuttle between classes quickly will appreciate the portable design and above-average Chromebook performance. However, like with all Chromebooks, make sure that ChromeOS will suffice for the recipient's workload.
Best Durable Chromebook for Smaller Kids
Acer Chromebook Plus 514
- Ultra-affordable
- Excellent battery life
- Chromebook Plus features enhanced with AI
- Sturdy design with plenty of ports
- Capable touch display
- Small storage capacity in most models
- Underwhelming performance
- Keyboard isn't backlit
The Acer Chromebook Plus 514 stands out not just as a top value but as a sturdy and versatile laptop that can withstand the rigors of the classroom. It's rated with MIL-STD 810H durability, and as a Chromebook Plus laptop, it includes some useful AI-enhanced features. Our Core i3 loadout won't set speed records, but other configurations are available, and the core laptop here features a touch screen, long battery life, durability, and plenty of ports—all essential for kids.
With its versatile feature set and durable design, the Acer Chromebook Plus 514 is ideal for small kids who need a tougher-than-average Chromebook. If you're a parent who doesn't want to replace yet another broken system, this is a solid Chromebook to get.
Best Chromebook for Long Battery Life
HP Chromebook x360 13b (2023)
- Impressive battery life
- Bargain price
- Three USB ports and microSD card slot
- Light, compact convertible design
- Backlit keyboard is $30 extra
- No HDMI port
- No stylus pen
- Screen could be brighter
- Wi-Fi 6, not 6E
You'll find plenty to like about the HP Chromebook x360 13b (2023), from its convertible design and ample ports to the bargain price it sells for. But what we really love about it is the battery life, which stretches nearly 15 hours, giving you the power to get through a full day of classes and still get your homework done before you have to plug it in. As a budget-friendly model, it didn't wow us with fancy features—we honestly wish this machine had an HDMI port, for example—but it's hard to argue against the usefulness of a basic ChromeOS laptop that goes and goes. It's one of the longest-lasting batteries we've seen in a Chromebook, and an excellent choice for students who want to leave the charger at home.
Whether you're on a tight budget or just want to skip being tethered to a wall outlet, the HP Chromebook x360 13b (2023) is a smart choice, with all-day battery life and a sub-$500 price tag.
Best Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook for Kids
Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714
- New AI features supercharge ChromeOS
- 12 months free Google One with Gemini Advanced
- Versatile, durable 2-in-1 design
- Intel Core Ultra processing and on-device AI
- Excellent battery life
- Clear, colorful touch screen
- Pen not included
- ChromeOS still has quirks
If you've got an older or more careful child, a more capable 2-in-1 might be in order. The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a perfect example of a top-end Chromebook, and why spending a little more for a better machine is not a bad idea. It may be a Chromebook, but the 2-in-1 design matches any Windows machine for style, with an appealing all-aluminum chassis and a sharp 14-inch touch screen. Powered by an Intel Core Ultra 5 CPU backed with 256GB of SSD storage, the Spin 714 also includes Thunderbolt 4, USB, HDMI, and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. In short, this is one of the better-equipped Chromebooks you'll find.
The Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is a fantastic choice for parents who want to outfit their kid with a capable Chromebook with convertible versatility and top build quality. With reliable performance, all-day battery life, and ample connectivity, it's a superb balance of value and features, all wrapped up in a slick and sturdy package.
Best Budget Convertible 2-in-1 Chromebook for Kids
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
- Sturdy 2-in-1 design mixes durability, flexibility
- Above-average ChromeOS performance
- Crisp display with touch and pen support
- Backlit keyboard
- Decent variety of ports
- Budget-feeling plastic construction
- Merely average battery life
- Stylus pen not included
If you want a genuinely affordable 2-in-1 Chrome convertible for your kids, it's hard to find a better deal than the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus. This budget favorite is compact and lightweight, with a 14-inch screen, a slim 2-in-1 design, and above-average performance for the internet-focused ChromeOS ecosystem. Longer battery life would be welcome, but it'll still last long enough to get your child through a school day, making it ideal for kids and teens who want something portable that's effective for web browsing and basic apps.
For a 2-in-1 Chromebook that's easy to carry and just as easy on your wallet, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a fine choice. While its plastic construction and raw performance are no match for more expensive laptops, it's still a satisfying portable companion for casual users at a price that's hard to beat.
Best Detachable 2-in-1 Chromebook for Kids
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook
- Compact, totable design
- Keyboard cover offers good typing feel
- Handy kickstand
- Great flexibility for Chrome and Android apps
- Solid performance from Qualcomm CPU
- No headphone jack
- Pen sold separately
- Short battery life
The 2020 Lenovo Chromebook Duet, a 10.1-inch tablet with a detachable keyboard cover, was one of our favorite 2-in-1 bargains. It's no longer for sale, but its spirit lives on in the company's IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook, a slightly larger (11-inch) tablet with a snap-on keyboard that enables comfortable typing (as well as a rear cover with kickstand). Slotting in nicely under the 13.3-inch Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5, the Duet 3 includes 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras; a bright and colorful 2,000-by-1,200-pixel touch screen; and a snappy Qualcomm CPU.
We can't say it better than our reviewer did: The IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook is "a great option to consider if you're in the market for a smart little tablet that doubles as a laptop." Students especially should find it a handy grab-and-go accessory.
Best Kid Chromebook for Pen Note-Taking
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
- Includes a stylus
- Includes multiple USB-C ports
- Lightweight
- Excellent performance
- Clumsy touchpad
- Glossy display is prone to glare
- Disappointing battery life
The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 proves that you can get an excellent ChromeOS 2-in-1 for less than $500. With a flexible 2-in-1 design and included stylus, it's also one of the most versatile Chromebooks we've seen, making it just as decent for note-taking and drawing as it is for web browsing and typing up documents. Powered by a punchy MediaTek Kompanio 820 processor and weighing just 2.5 pounds, the Chromebook Flip CM3 is a capable little convertible that can go from the classroom to the library and home for fun and games.
If you're on a budget for your back-to-school shopping, the Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 should be at the top of your list. Not only is it one of the most affordable Chromebooks we've seen in years, but it's also the best 2-in-1 Chromebook to allow for handwritten note-taking and drawing with the included stylus.
Best Chromebook for Future Upgrades
Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition
- Repairable, upgradable, and customizable design
- Excellent ChromeOS performance
- Highly accessible components and internals
- Sustainable materials and packaging
- Shorter battery life than top competitors
- Pricey for a Chromebook
Customizable, repairable, and upgradable: The Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition takes everything we love about the Framework's modular design and remixes it into a shiny ChromeOS version. You can swap ports in and out for exactly your desired connectivity, and you can even upgrade it to a full Windows laptop if your student outgrows the browser-based Chrome environment. With excellent performance and features, it's a leading Chromebook in its own right, even if it's a little pricey. But the real draw is the option to upgrade year after year without paying for a full laptop replacement. That makes it our top pick for both saving the planet and saving some cash long-term.
Whether you're looking to reduce your e-waste, save money on future upgrades, or just want a Chromebook that can be customized, the Framework Laptop Chromebook Edition is hard to match. It's the only Chromebook we've seen with any sort of repairability, and it's the best choice for a system that can grow with your child as their needs change from grade to grade.
Best Gaming Chromebook
Acer Chromebook 516 GE
- Superb performance in gaming (and everything else)
- Powerful hardware for a Chromebook, from processing to storage
- Rich port selection
- RGB keyboard with anti-ghosting tech
- Gorgeous 120Hz display
- No touch screen
- USB-C ports aren't Thunderbolt 4
Gaming Chromebooks are still relatively new, but that may not stop your kids from wanting one. Though very different from a traditional gaming laptop, gaming models like the Acer Chromebook 516 GE still owe their gaming chops to better-than-average hardware and a reliable internet connection. Out of the gate, Acer crafted one of the best gaming Chromebooks yet, adding cool features like an RGB keyboard and a free trial of popular cloud game streaming services from Nvidia and Amazon. The design is excellent, the performance is among the best we've seen, and the feature set is surprisingly premium given the price. And it does all the Chromebook stuff that a non-gaming-oriented model does, too.
If your kids want a gaming laptop rather than a lightweight Chromebook, this may be a decent compromise. You'll still need to buy the games, along with a subscription for a cloud gaming service. Regardless, the Acer Chromebook 516 GE is a high-end Chromebook that's not astronomically expensive, which could make it ideal for more than just gamers.
Even if your child's school doesn't deploy Chromebooks, the recent demand for remote learning and virtual get-togethers may well be tempting you to buy one (or one per child). In addition to web surfing with the Chrome browser and keeping in touch with Gmail, Chromebooks are capable productivity platforms with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides (or the online or Android versions of Microsoft Office) and ready for relaxation with YouTube, Netflix, or online or Android games.
Here's what to look for before you buy your child's (OK, we won't tell if it's your) next Chromebook.
What Is a Chromebook?
You and your kids might have never used a Chromebook before, but you’re almost certainly familiar with how one works. That’s because the Chrome operating system (ChromeOS) is based on the same Chrome web browser that your kids might already use when you let them borrow your existing Windows laptop, smartphone, or tablet. If all your child needs is a portal to the internet, you don’t need to install anything—just launch a browser window.
You can install apps on Chromebooks if you want to, however. The process is much like installing apps on your smartphone, involving little more than a visit to the Google Play Store or the Chrome Web Store. Even apps designed for Android phones will work on late-model Chromebooks. You will also find a considerable library of kid-friendly apps designed for Chromebooks, and not just games: tools for note-taking, podcasting, book publishing, drawing, screencasting, and other 21st-century schoolwork.
The simplicity of ChromeOS means that it allows fewer openings for bugs and security risks. You'll find no drivers to update and no sluggish antivirus software suites to buy and maintain. Kids won’t keep up with these tedious computing chores, and you probably don’t want to, either. Assuming it’s got an internet connection, a Chromebook will keep itself secure and updated.
The disadvantages of this simplicity? They include less flexibility and the occasional frustrating compatibility issue. Now and then, Chromebooks can trip you up with minor hurdles, like incompatibilities with in-flight streaming entertainment systems that use digital rights management (DRM) software, whereas these systems work just fine with iOS or Android devices. Larger issues include missing capabilities that have been a staple of modern computing for years. ChromeOS, for example, provides nothing in the way of out-of-the-box video editing, unlike the simple but powerful tools built into Windows and macOS.
Most kids won't care about these particular issues, of course. In short, the advantages and drawbacks of ChromeOS mean that a Chromebook is as well-suited to child-friendly computing as it is ill-suited to the needs of power users.
What Chromebook Features Do Your Kids Need?
As a result, your main consideration when buying a Chromebook for a child is not how powerful the machine is but what kind of physical features it has. Somewhat ironically, the younger your child is, the more features he or she might need. That’s because younger students are typically the target audience for augmented reality (AR) or drawing apps that require multiple cameras, touch screens, and digital pens. Older students who are primarily taking notes and writing term papers may not need these features as often.
Some of the most innovative Chromebook designs we’ve seen recently are actually tablets, not laptops. They’ve been slow to catch on among mainstream buyers, but they have high potential as a classroom learning tool. They’re much smaller and lighter than laptops, so they’re easier for younger kids to hold. They also typically have front-facing cameras, which are required for some AR apps and excellent for capturing a picture of the blackboard before the teacher erases it.
A few inexpensive Chromebook detachable tablets exist, but more common in the 2-in-1 Chromebook vein are convertible Chromebooks with 360-degree hinges. These are decent alternatives to the classic clamshell laptop design since they include a physical keyboard but can still be used as tablets if needed.
A Chromebook tablet or 2-in-1 convertible will have a touch-enabled screen by necessity since the keyboard won’t always be at hand. But most conventional laptop Chromebooks have non-touch displays, at least in their default configurations. Now that Google has deeply improved the touch capabilities of ChromeOS versus its early versions, touch screens are at least worth considering.
Another consideration for your kid’s Chromebook display is its resolution. As with any laptop screen, you’ll want to avoid displays with resolutions below full HD (typically 1,920 by 1,080 pixels or 1080p) if you can. You'll find inexpensive full-HD Chromebooks out there, but they’re sometimes hard to find among the sea of others with lower-resolution displays. (Lower resolution usually manifests itself as a screen with a 1,366 by 768 resolution.) Your kids’ eyes will thank you for going with full HD, especially if the Chromebook has a screen 13 inches or larger. A 1,366-by-768-pixel resolution is only acceptable nowadays in an extremely budget Chromebook with a screen in the 10-to-12-inch range.
And, while your schoolkids may not need it, gaming on a Chromebook is a possibility they'll want—though one most schools disable, for obvious reasons. Whether it's an educational game, like Minecraft, or a popular Android game, you can do some basic gaming on most Chromebooks. A new breed of gaming Chromebooks has arrived that is built specifically for use with game-streaming services, like Nvidia GeForce Now and Valve's Steam. We've reviewed a few, and we recommend checking out our guide to the best Chromebooks for gaming since the hardware requirements are a bit more stringent than what your child will need for schoolwork.
Should You Buy a Rugged Chromebook for Kids?
It’s always a smart idea to choose a Chromebook that’s designed to withstand bumps, bruises, and the occasional liquid spill. And it’s a requirement if your child will be lugging his or her Chromebook to school every day. You might not be able to find a Chromebook in your budget that passes true MIL-SPEC testing, but you can find other rugged options. Look for water-resistant keyboards, keys with anti-wear tops, and non-slip chassis textures or coatings.
In addition to being sturdy, a kid-friendly Chromebook should also be made of materials that are easy to clean. Look for darker colors, and choose a metal finish over a plastic one if you can. A few past Chromebooks have even included innovative materials like display lids that double as scrawl-on whiteboards, giving kids additional creative leeway to customize their Chromebooks without leaving permanent damage.
Since your kid will mostly use a Chromebook to connect to the internet wirelessly, it doesn’t require a lot of ports for peripherals or Ethernet connections. The most important connectivity consideration is Wi-Fi. Look for the 802.11ac or 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standards, and avoid the older 802.11n standard. Bluetooth is also welcome to have for connecting a wireless mouse or streaming audio to external speakers.
Some inexpensive Chromebooks have proprietary charging cables, which could be difficult to replace if they’re lost. A USB Type-C charging cable is better, especially if you have other USB Type-C devices, since you can usually swap charging cables among them in case your kid loses one.
What CPU Should a Chromebook for Kids Have?
Simple software needs only simple hardware to run. It’s a key reason why most Chromebooks are less expensive than Macs and Windows PCs—you don’t need tons of CPU cores or a powerful graphics processor to write essays and browse the web. Nor do you need capacious hard drives to house tons of video files when you’re using Google Docs and streaming multimedia content from the internet.
If you want them, you can find a tier of "prestige" Chromebooks with Intel Core i-series or Core Ultra processors and 256GB solid-state drives (SSDs), including models from Acer, Asus, HP, and Samsung. But these machines, which hover in the $700-and-up range, are overkill for most users, especially children.
Instead, we recommend spending $400 or less on most kids' Chromebooks. That amount should get you at least 4GB of memory and at least 32GB of storage space. It will also get you a Chromebook with an Intel Core (no Ultra), an Intel N-series, a low-end AMD Ryzen, or an Arm processor. The only real exception to this advice would be gaming Chromebooks, which have higher hardware requirements to meet the demands of cloud gaming.
If you’re used to buying Macs or Windows laptops, you might balk at those specs, but they really are all your kid needs, and you should resist the urge to upgrade. A $300-to-$400 Windows laptop with a Celeron processor and 4GB of memory might be unpleasantly sluggish in everyday use, but a Chromebook with those same specs should provide an adequate experience for kids who are generally doing just one thing at a time on the machine. Even demanding apps that use ARCore, Google’s platform for building AR experiences, work on devices with as little as 4GB of memory and a dual-core processor.
Ready to Buy the Right Chromebook for Your Kid?
We’ve outlined our favorite kid-friendly Chromebooks we've tested in this guide; click through for deep-dive reviews of each. Thinking about buying one for yourself, too? Check out our guide to the best Chromebooks overall. If you’d like to consider Windows laptops, as well, check out our complete list of best laptops for kids (incorporating both ChromeOS and Windows models), as well as our top laptop picks for college students.
Want even more choices? Other shopping and advice resources to check out include our roundup of budget laptops and our roundup of Android, Apple iOS, and Amazon Fire OS tablets for kids.
