What to Look for When Purchasing a School Laptop for Your Teen

Are you on the hunt for the perfect school laptop for your teen? Are you currently feeling overwhelmed by the options and aren’t sure where to begin? It’s a common issue that shoppers face, as too much choice can make things harder rather than easier. There’s also the fact that your wants and needs don’t necessarily align with what your teen needs in a laptop so you can’t let that cloud your judgement.

Help is on the way as this buying guide will shine a light on what to look for when purchasing a school laptop for your teen.

Portability Needs to Be the Main Factor

If your teen plans on taking their laptop to school with them and moving from class to class, then you need to think about the size and weight of the laptop. It needs to fit into their school bag comfortably and without weighing it down, making it uncomfortable for your teen to lug it around.

Look for laptops that tout a streamlined and lightweight design. These tend to be slimmer and sleeker, making them easy to store in most backpacks. Choose the smallest screen size that is comfortable for them, again, shrinking the size and weight of the laptop. Laptops are available in as small as 11″ designs. If that seems too small, a 13″ will probably be perfect for them.

A Mid-Range Battery Should Be Perfect

While on the topic of carting it around from class to class, teens also need to be able to count on the battery. They won’t necessarily have a place to charge their laptop and they may need it for several classes a day. Today you can find laptops that last as long as 10 hours on a charge, but that’s much longer than a typical school day.

Considering the battery can alter the price significantly, try looking for a mid-range battery that lasts 4-6 hours between charges.

Do They Need a Convertible Laptop?

As you shop for laptops for school you’ll likely come across one of the trends right now which is convertible laptops. These are laptops that can be used in their traditional sense with the screen and keyboard, or you can fold back the screen or even detach it completely and use it as a tablet. While it’s a cool and modern design, it may not be needed for school. Factor in how they will use the device, what programs/applications they will be using and if you intend for the laptop to be used for recreational purposes as well.

Connectivity Features Will Be Essential

Finally, make sure the laptop offers essential connectivity features which are built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to ensure they can use their laptop at home and on the go. Many schools now use productivity suites/platforms like Google Classroom, so Wi-Fi will be needed.

These tips will help you to narrow down the options when it comes to a school laptop for your teen and make sure your money is well spent.