The 8 Best Laptops for Distance Learning

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Kids are spending more time than ever plugged in and online. With many schools closed for in-person learning due to COVID-19, families have had to pivot to make virtual learning the new normal. You may have gotten through 2020 with a tablet and a hand-me-down laptop, but as we head into another year of at-home and blended learning, now is the perfect time to invest in a laptop for your child.

Laptops make it easy to connect to online classes at home and do homework and assignments remotely. Kids can even take the laptop to school on in-person days. Hybrid learning is challenging enough for kids as it is, but having a dedicated laptop for school will set them up for successful learning through tough circumstances.

So what is the best laptop for distance learning? For many kids, that may be a Chromebook, which syncs to Google via their school email address (if their school uses Gmail) and provides the same access to important apps and documents no matter where they log in from.

Another option is a touchscreen laptop like the Microsoft Surface or the HP Pavilion. Since kids are already so used to tablets and smartphones, combining their signature feature with the benefits of a laptop will help even the youngest kids navigate the device on their own with their fingers and a keyboard.

You can also consider investing in a MacBook or another fully loaded laptop for older kids. These devices will give them access to more advanced tools, like video and photography, and have extra-long battery life.

In short, there are a lot of great options out there with many different features and capabilities. If you're not sure how to find the best laptop for your child's remote learning, we've got you covered. Check out our list of the eight best laptops for kids below. They're all available on Amazon.

Best Overall: Microsoft Surface
Best Chromebook: Google Pixelbook
Best for Teens: Apple MacBook Air
Best Budget: HP Stream 11.6-inch HD Laptop
Best Tablet/Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga
Best for Blended Learning: ASUS Chromebook
Best Lightweight: Acer Swift 3
Best Touchscreen: HP Pavilion Notebook

Best Overall: Microsoft Surface Laptop

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This laptop is lightweight and compact, and it has an HD display touchscreen and a 720p HD camera, so Zoom chats are crystal clear. It also has a fingerprint scanner that kids will find easy to use and "really cool" according to reviewers. It comes in three colors: sandstone, platinum, and ice blue.

You'll also want to check out the Microsoft student discounts.

Best Chromebook: Google Pixelbook

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This laptop has 12 hours of continuous battery life and grips on one side to ensure it won't slip off tables or desks. It starts up quickly, so kids can log on to classes with ease. Reviewers on Amazon note its "excellent keyboard, speakers, and battery life."

Google offers a limited time education discount on some Chromebook models.

Best for Teens: Apple MacBook Air

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A MacBook Air has all the capabilities of your teen's iPhone in computer form: Kids will have access to iOS apps and high-speed internet access, as well as up to 18 hours of battery life.

Apple offers to supercharge savings with their back-to-school discount.

Best Budget: HP Stream 11.6-inch HD Laptop

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This affordable laptop is great for younger kids who need participate in class via video. It comes with a free year of Office 365, so older kids who need access to PowerPoint, Word, and Excel will also benefit from this laptop.

HP also offers discounts on some models used for education.

Best Tablet/Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad L13 Yoga

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This laptop/tablet has a wide, anti-glare screen, allowing kids to read on it comfortably. It's made from durable aluminum that can withstand a few drops and bangs. There's also a slot for a stylus and a webcam cover, which are great features for kids.

Student, teachers, and parents can receive discounts on Lenovo products.

Best for Blended Learning: ASUS Chromebook

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This laptop has a 14-inch screen and ample storage capacity. It weighs just 3.2 pounds making it easy to carry to and from school. Plus, the screen is on a 360-degree hinge, letting kids adjust it to fit their particular needs.

ASUS has discounts on laptops for students.

Best Lightweight: Acer Swift 3

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This laptop is thin and lightweight at just 2.65 pounds. It has up to 11.5 hours of battery life, and reviewers say that it's "excellent for students, especially for this price." The backlit keyboard makes it ideal for a teen's late-night cram sessions.

Check out student discounts at the Acer Student discount page.

Best Touchscreen: HP Pavilion Notebook

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Kids can navigate between apps, lessons, and video chats thanks to this easy-to-use touchscreen laptop. It has a 15-inch screen and a 512GB hard drive that can hold a ton of files and downloads.

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