Homeschooling has been an option for parents that prefer their kids to stay at home or for kids that need special attention. According to NCES, 34 percent of parents in the US consider homeschooling their kids and they have their own reasons for that.
Whether you are already homeschooling your kids or planning to start it, we can help you in that matter. One of the main tools in homeschooling is a laptop and if you are looking for a reliable laptop that can help you or your kids in homeschooling this guide for the best laptop for homeschooling will definitely help you.
Recommendations for April 2024
- Asus VivoBook Flip 14 – Best Entry-Level Option
- Dell XPS 13 – Best Windows Pick
- Apple MacBook Pro – Best Apple Laptop
- Acer Aspire 5 – Best For High Schooler
- Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 – Practical Chromebook Choice
- Acer Chromebook Spin – Best Pick For Kids
- Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best Touchscreen Option
- Asus VivoBook 15 – Large Screen Under $400
- Dell Inspiron Chromebook – Excellent Build Chromebook
- Asus Chromebook – Cheap But Ruggedized
Best Laptops For Homeschooling In 2024
Asus VivoBook Flip 14 – Best Entry-Level Option
This slim, stylish, and lightweight laptop is perfect for homeschooling kids that doesn’t require much power.
This laptop is only powered by Pentium processor and is just good enough for light usage like browsing, word processing and light games which makes it a good choice for parents who have a tight budget.
The 4GB RAM is not much but it can definitely handle multiple tabs on Google Chrome and several applications running simultaneously.
It has a front camera that is perfect for video calling, the laptop can be turned into a tablet by flipping the keyboard 360 degrees.
With a price tag under $350, this laptop is a good start for a kid that is homeschooling.
Recommended Configuration For Asus VivoBook Flip 14
CPU: Intel Quad-Core Pentium N5000 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 14-inch 1366×768 HD WideView Technology display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 7 hours | Weight: 3.3 lbs
Dell XPS 13 – Best Windows Pick
If you want a laptop for overall use including homeschooling, then the Dell XPS 13 is the recommended laptop for you.
This slim laptop is powered by a Core i7 processor together with 16GB of RAM, with this power you can do any task without compromise.
The 512GB SSD is more than enough if you don’t store big files, but in case you need you can always upgrade the storage for a few more dollars.
This one is quite pricey but in terms of specs and compactness the price is justifiable, the 4K display is perfect for those who like to see every detail in their screen.
If price is not a problem then we recommend getting a laptop that has this specs, so you can use it for anything and also for future-proofness of your device.
Recommended Configuration For Dell XPS 13
CPU: Intel Core i7-8565U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 16GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-inch 3840×2160 2K Multi-touch IPS display | Storage: 512GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 12 hours | Weight: 2.7 lbs
Apple MacBook Pro – Best Apple Laptop
We can’t deny the fact that MacBooks are one of the top choices in terms of reliable laptops, so for Apple lovers and want to jump into the mac ecosystem here is your best choice.
This MacBook is powered by Core i5 processor together with 8GB of RAM which is an overkill for most homeschooling needs but for future-proofness it is definitely worth it.
The Retina display is one of the edges this laptop has, since it is one of the best displays available for laptops.
In terms of user-friendliness nothing beats the operating system of Mac and the efficiency in computing is commendable.
The camera on MacBook Pro is far more superior than Windows counterpart, so if you really need a clear camera for video call then this is simply your choice.
Recommended Configuration For Apple MacBook Pro
CPU: Intel Core i5-8th Gen | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 13-inch Retina with True Tone display | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: mac OS | Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 5.99 lbs
Acer Aspire 5 – Best For High Schooler
This thin and light laptop could be a great companion for homeschooled students, as this model is powered by the latest 10th Gen Core i5 processor that has a base clock of 1.6GHz and boost clock speed of up to 4.2Ghz.
With the clock speed mentioned above, high schoolers can do pretty much anything with this laptop except graphics intensive computing as this laptop doens’t have a dedicated GPU but the embedded Intel Iris Plus graphics which is three times better than Intel HD grahics.
Acer Asppire 5 is fitted with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD to ensure you’ll have a good multitasking experience.
In terms of display, the 15-inches IPS display offers FHD resolutiion with thin bezel making it easy to carry around.
This laptop is enough for any high schooler, but if you want more power then go for our Core i5 or i7 pick above.
Recommended Configuration For Acer Aspire 5
CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-inch 1920×1080 FHD IPS display | Storage: 256GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 9.5 hours | Weight: 5.74 lbs
Lenovo Flex 5 – Practical Chromebook Choice
For those who don’t want to deal with Windows or Mac OS laptops, then the simplest choice is the Chromebook.
Chrome OS consumes fewer resources and offers better battery life than the same specced Windows laptop so you can really rely on Chrome OS.
Powered by the latest Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM, so you can do multiple things at the same time without compromise.
Though the 64GB SD is pretty low for storage, Chromebooks work with web based applications so you really don’t need much storage space.
The display is pretty decent at 1080p resolution and it only weighs less than 3lbs, making this laptop ideal for those who move a lot at home.
Recommended Configuration For Lenovo Flex 5
CPU: Intel Core i3-10110U | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 13.3-inch 1920×1080 FHD Touch display | Storage: 64GB SSD | Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 2.97 lbs
Acer Chromebook Spin 13 – Best Pick For Kids
The Acer Chromebook Spin is one of the powerful Chrome OS powered laptops that comes with great design and form factor.
Powered by Intel Core i5 processor together with 8GB of RAM, this laptop is capable of handling most of the tasks a homeschooler might do or interested in doing so.
The 128GB internal storage is expandable via a micro SD card slot for those who want more storage space.
This Chromebook can handle basic Android games so your kids can play as they are done with all the school works.
This laptop is compact and the screen is protected by a tempered glass, the 1080p resolution won’t disappoint as it offers great color reproduction. Also the keyboard is great with a built-in trackpad.
The battery life of 10 hours in a single charge is great, so for those who are looking for a great laptop for their kids the Acer Chromebook Spin is a great choice.
Recommended Configuration For Acer Chromebook Spin 13
CPU: Intel Core i5-8250U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 13.5-inch 2256×1504 FHD 2K Touch display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 3.31 lbs
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 – Best Touchscreen Option
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the latest 2-in-1 Windows laptops in the market that offers a balanced power for a reasonable price tag.
Powered by an efficient 10th gen Core i5 processor this laptop is capable of handling any software that a homeschooler might use.
The 8GB RAM makes sure you can do more and be more productive, the metal body design does not warm even with the continuous usage.
The entire 12.3-inch that offers a native resolution of 2736×1824 that gives a clear image is protected by a tempered glass for better protection.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the lightest 2-in-1 laptops that only weighs 1.7lbs with a battery that lasts for 10.5 hours, making it ideal for those you move a lot.
Definitely a great choice for those who want power and not so pricey laptops that could suffice any homeschooling work.
Recommended Configuration For Microsoft Surface Pro 7
CPU: Intel Core i5-10th Gen | Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 12.3-inch 2736×1824 QHD Touch display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 10.5 hours | Weight: 1.7 lbs
Asus VivoBook 15 – Large Screen Under $400
Asus is known for making some of the high-performance laptops in the market like the ROG series that made a name into gaming.
But you don’t need those overkill specs for homeschooling, so the Asus VivoBook 15 is the one we recommend. This thin and light laptop has a power enough for any school needs.
The Asus vivoBook 15 is powered by Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, homeschooling especially for kids and highschoolers doesn’t need much power so this specs is great for them.
This laptop offers a big 15.6 inches display with a good color accuracy and ample amount of brightness, the keyboard is tactile and the trackpad comes with a built-in fingerprint sensor for added security.
It only weighs 3.7lbs which is light enough for a 15.6 inches laptop, while packing good battery life that can last for up to 8 hours.
Recommended Configuration For Asus VivoBook 15
CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1 | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 15.6-inch 1920×1080 NanoEdge bezel display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: up to 8 hours | Weight: 3.75 lbs
Dell Inspiron Chromebook – Excellent Build Chromebook
Dell has a reputation for its durable laptops and great quality build, this Chromebook is one of the most compact laptops around.
The Core i3 processor is just enough for basic homeschooling usage and light gaming, but in terms of web browsing this Chromebook can offer lag-free browsing.
The display is IPS with 1080p resolution so you can have a great display, the 4GB RAM is more than enough to open a lot of tabs in Chrome without delays.
This laptop supports stylus pens for those students who are into arts, you can sketch, take notes or draw digital painting using the stylus.
This thin and light laptop has multiple I/O options including a full-sized USB-A port, USB type C port, and 3.5mm headphone jack.
Recommended Configuration For Asus VivoBook 15
CPU: Intel Core i3-8130U | Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 14-inch 1920×1080 TrueLife LED Touch IPS display | Storage: 128GB SSD | Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: up to 8 hours | Weight: 4 lbs
Asus Chromebook – Cheap But Ruggedized
Asus made an affordable Chromebook that could easily handle most homeschooling tasks, the Asus Chromebook is the laptop you want if you’re tight on budget.
This ruggedized laptop is powered by Intel Celeron processor which is more than enough for every day homeschooling task, while the 4GB RAM is there to ensure you can open multiple applications at the same time.
The 32GB is very low but since Chrome OS doesn’t have many bloatwares, you are fine with that storage and if ever you need some there’s a micro SD slot for storage expansion.
The screen has a bit lower resolution than other Chromebooks on the list but still offers an IPS display, but the difference is not noticeable at all. The keyboard is pretty good so you can take note easily.
What is really good about this laptop is that it is ruggedized and spill resistant. It is ready for unprecedented drops and spills while homeschooling.
Recommended Configuration For Asus Chromebook
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics | RAM: 4GB RAM | Screen: 11.6-inch 1366×768 Anti-glare HD IPS display | Storage: 32GB SSD | Operating System: Chrome OS | Battery Life: up to 10 hours | Weight: 2.6 lbs
Picking The Best Laptop For Homeschooling In 2024
Overall Performance
Homeschooling doesn’t require too much power as almost everything you do is lightweight computing but we still need to evaluate the overall performance of the laptop so you can be aware if it is capable of doing something rather than for homeschooling alone.
Core i3 is the ideal processor for high schoolers while for kids anything lower than Core i3 should be fine, 4GB is the minimum required for RAM as it ensures you can multitask with this laptop and this specs are ideal for your budget too.
Core i5 and above that has a dedicated GPU is only ideal for high schoolers that have specialization that uses CAD software and we have a guide for that also. But since homeschooling in general only requires basic computing, all the listing above could definitely suffice.
Screen Size & Display
When studying online, some prefer smaller screen sizes while others want to have a bigger one, we picked everything from 11 inches to 15 inches screen sizes so you can pick something on your preference. The size of the screen is important if you want to get the best laptop for homeschooling.
Aside from the size of the screen, the quality of the display should be taken into account too. We gathered some laptops that have at least 1080p resolution so that we can make sure you got an immersive viewing experience. Most of the picks are IPS displays that help enhance colors for you to see a quality image, anything above 1080 is desirable resolution though 768p is still acceptable.
Overall, Screen size and display quality should never be neglected as it affects your homeschooling productivity, having a mediocre display could result in dissatisfaction while having a screen that is too small or too large affects the concentration of kids.
Internal Storage
You really don’t need a massive storage space when homeschooling as most of your activities are web-based but still the type of internal storage that is embedded in a laptop affects the overall performance.
There are SSD and HDD types of storage, for homeschoolers laptops with SSD is ideal as SSD loads data faster than HDD and since most of homeschooling activities deals with docs, and other word processing applications. Also having an SSD means your laptop boots faster than those with HDD, that’s why we picked only those who are embedded with SSD for you to have a great user-experience.
The ideal storage size for homeschooling is at least 64GB SSD while 32GB is still acceptable for those in budget make sure you buy a laptop with micro SD card slot so that you can expand the storage capacity when needed.
Battery Life
Since homeschooling takes place at home, there are plugs available everywhere but you should still consider getting the best battery life for your laptop as you’ll never know when you need it. Most of the laptops on the list have at least 5+ hours battery life so you’ll never have to worry about that.
For homeschoolers who always moved from places to places at their house, a 10+ hours battery life is great for you so you don’t need to stay near an outlet. But aside from that a 4-5 hour battery life is perfect for studying at home.
Also since most of our picks are not that powerful, these laptops have higher battery life which makes them perfect for homeschooling.
Connectivity & Budget
Homeschooling may need some external peripherals, so make sure you got this right. Every course or study has some activities that may involve connecting your laptop to external peripherals such as HDMI, USB, Card Reader, and sometimes may require Thunderbolt 3 ports.
It is by default that Wi-Fi is already there, so make sure you know everything about your child’s basic requirements before buying a laptop for homeschooling. Others may need type-C USB while others just need an HDMI for external output.
To get the best homeschooling laptop it must be with-in your budget, while homeschooling laptops aren’t necessarily expensive, picking the most economical laptop means having a great value for money. You really don’t need to buy those expensive laptops for homeschool but if money is not a problem then you can opt for the best laptops in the market.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Chromebooks Good For Homeschooling My Kids?
Also, Chromebooks are fast, secure, and very easy to use making it an ideal choice for students of any age.
Are MacBooks An Overkill For Homeschooling?
We can only say that it is overkill if you only use it solely for the purpose of homeschooling as it doesn’t require that much power but if you use it for other things too then Macs are a great option.
Which Is Best For Homeschool, A Desktop Or Laptop?
But if you mainly homeschool or use a computer in one spot, then a desktop is a viable option as they are more faster and affordable than laptop computers.
Final thoughts
In today’s fast-growing technology, homeschooling has become widespread and choosing the best laptop for homeschooling has never been easy. Now that we have listed the best homeschooling laptops, it is up for you to decide whether you need something powerful or a balanced computer, happy shopping!
If you found the best laptop for homeschooling in this guide feel free to share it with your friends and families! If you think we missed some best laptops for homeschooling let us know.
Dario is a writer at NetbookNews.com. He is at the same time an avid technology addict that loves reviewing gadgets & devices, and then writing useful reviews.