Sharon’s Best Laptop For 12 Year Old
With technologies and study methods changing at a parallel pace, you can’t expect your kid to keep up without a proper laptop. When I was a kid we were lucky to have one in the entire classroom of 30 kids to share. Forget about having one at home! No one could afford that. Times have changed.
It’s true that you won’t need a laptop with premium specifications for your kid. However, it’s not wise to spend money on the first cheap laptop you come across either.
This extensive research comparison chart is to walk you through the process of finding the best laptop for your 12 year old. Our motive is to make sure that you spend your hard-earned money on a laptop that’ll bring satisfaction to both you and your child. So, let’s see what we have on our list.
In a hurry? Here’s 3 products we picked out by the average customer review!
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Best SellerWhat Is The Best Laptop For A 12 Year Old?
You can’t expect one laptop to excel at everything, at least if you’re budget-conscious. The following laptops are specifically suitable
Best Battery Life: Apple MacBook Air Laptop
When you don’t want to charge the laptop frequently, Apple MacBook lasts up to 18 hours once fully charged. With the new M1 chip, it’s faster and more efficient than ever.
Best Lightweight: Google Pixel Go M3
If you’re into thin designs, consider the Google Pixel Go M3. It’s 13 mm thin and super lightweight, so your child can carry it with them, anywhere they want.
Best Compact: New Microsoft Surface Go 2
A tablet you can carry anywhere is a perfect option for your kid in elementary school. The New Microsoft Surface Go 2 is convenient for learning, drawing, and getting creative all the time.
Best For Fast Charging: HP Pavilion 15 Laptop
Everyone knows how crucial a fast-charging laptop is. If your kid is always in a hurry to charge their laptop, HP Pavilion will surely win their hearts.
Best Design: ASUS Chromebook
If you want your kid to have the most stylish laptop in their hand, ASUS Chromebook is the one you’re looking for. It’s stunningly attractive, lightweight, and perfect for a 12 year old.
Best For Studying: HP Stream HD Laptop
When you wish your kid to focus more on studies, this laptop from HP can help. It comes with features that highlight the needs of a 12 year to help them learn better.
Best 2-In-1: Lenovo Chromebook
If your kid wants it all, hand him a Lenovo Chromebook. It’s a tablet and a laptop at the same time. Let them study in style and spark their creative soul with a suitable device.
Best Laptop For 12 Year Old Research
You may have heard and seen a lot of heavy advertising that leaves everyone confused. However, you need to look beyond their marketing and see what the laptop is worth. Here are seven excellent laptop suggestions for your 12 year old.
Best Battery Life: Apple MacBook Air Laptop
It’s tough to find a user who doesn’t love apple. If you’re searching for a laptop for a 12 year old kid, this MacBook Air is one of the most suitable choices. Let’s see what features you’re getting with this MacBook laptop.
Key Features
- Noiseless design with no in-built fan
- Stunning battery backup up to 18 hours
- Retina display for a lifelike color experience
- Lightweight and portable
- Excellent speed with the new M1 processor
Specifications
| CPU | M1 chip with 8‑core CPU |
| RAM | 8GB Unified Memory |
| Storage | 256 GB |
| Graphics | 7 or 8-Core GPU |
| Screen | 13.3 Inches Retina Display |
Battery Longevity
As we’ve mentioned, this laptop from Apple is most suitable for people who want excellent battery backup. You can easily use this laptop for about eighteen hours after it’s been fully charged.
You won’t have to charge the laptop in between uses. So, your child can use it without any interruptions. Whether it is computers or video game systems, there is nothing worse than a dead battery when you need it most.
Better Display
The screen measures 13.3 inches. It’s a retina display that offers a more vibrant and colorful image compared to other laptops. If you want a lifelike experience, there can’t be a better choice than this one.
Quiet Application
There’s no in-built fan inside the laptop, so that you can expect a noiseless operation with it. However, don’t assume that the device gets very hot because it doesn’t. What’s better than a cool and quiet laptop?
Performance
Needless to say, Apple never disappoints when it comes to performance. The MacBook Air laptop is no exception either. Besides, the new M1 processor allows the applications to run more swiftly and makes your experience more enjoyable.
Pros
- The laptop is convenient to carry because of its lightweight feature
- MacBook Air’s display is bright and vibrant for a more pleasant experience
- You can use this laptop for up to 18 hours once it’s fully charged
- Its fanless design keeps the laptop quiet and cool at the same time
- Fast M1 processor helps you get a swift experience
Cons
- The keyboard could have been better on this laptop
- Some applications aren’t compatible with this new M1 processor
Best Lightweight: Google Pixel Go M3
There are multiple models of Google Pixel Go- starting with the m3 and ending with the i7. We’ll be reviewing the m3 here today, which is comparatively more suitable for a 12 year old since you don’t need many high configurations.
Key Features
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Battery life up to 12 hours once fully charged
- Spacious touchpad
- Backlit keyboard
- Quiet operation
Specifications
| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Core Processor |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
| Screen | 13.3-inch Full HD |
On-The-Go Laptop
With a thin and lightweight structure, Google Pixel Go is the device you want in your backpack. Since you’re getting this for your 12 year old, it’s a better option because they can easily accompany it anywhere they wish.
Charge Backup
Keeping the convenient portability in mind, Google ensured that the Chromebook comes with sufficient battery backup. So, you won’t have to carry the charger unless you’re going somewhere for more than a day.
Better Keyboard And Touchpad
A backlit keyboard is already an attractive feature in a Chromebook like this one. In addition, you’re getting a swift touchpad that requires a light touch to operate. And if you want, you can also run the laptop using the touch screen.
Fan-less Design
The laptop doesn’t have an in-built fan to keep it cool. However, that doesn’t mean that the device will get hot after extended use. You can keep it on your lap without worrying about increasing the device’s temperature.
Pros
- Runs a long time without charging, so you won’t have to carry a charger while carrying the laptop
- No in-built fan to ensure a quiet operation
- The touchpad is spacious and only requires a light touch to operate the laptop swiftly
- 13.3 inches HD display allows your kid to have a more realistic experience with the laptop
- Swift performance without any waiting time
Cons
- This Chromebook does not come with biometric access
Best Compact: New Microsoft Surface Go 2
If you prefer a tablet for your kid, this Surface Go 2 from Microsoft is a suitable choice for you. It weighs only 1.2 pounds, so it’s super portable. In addition, the tablet comes with some stunning features you shouldn’t miss.
Key Features
- Conveniently transportable due to the compact design
- Versatile in application
- 10 hours battery backup
- Kickstand for angling the tablet
- lightweight
Specifications
| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Core m3 |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 615 |
| Screen | 10.51 Inches |
Smart Design
The initial feature that catches the eye is how compact yet versatile the tablet is. If you want to use this as a laptop, you will have to integrate the tablet with the type cover. However, the type cover comes separately and not with the device.
The kickstand is perfect for using the device at your kid’s preferred angle.
Versatile
Your child can learn, sketch, write, and read on this device to spark creativity. It surely will make studying a lot more fun than it was. Besides, the battery backup is pretty solid.
You can expect to operate the device for about 10 hours once fully charged.
Multi-Purpose
This laptop/ tablet will assist your child, but you can use it for your web browsing or other works too. Even though it’s an affordable and lightweight device, the things it can do are astonishing.
So, if you’re looking for something you can use too, there’s no reason for you not to go for this one from Microsoft. Besides, you’re getting the familiar windows 10 as an operating system on this one.
Pros
- Offers you perfect portability with a compact size and lightweight feature
- Perfect for your kid to learn, draw, sketch, write, and read
- Up to 10 hours of battery life
- Built-in kickstand to create the ideal angle
- Adding the type cover will turn it into a laptop
Cons
- The type cover isn’t included with the tablet. You’ll have to buy that separately
Best For Fast Charging: HP Pavilion 15 Laptop
It’s not possible to skip the name HP while talking about laptops. If you want a portable yet comparatively large screen, the HP Pavilion 15 is a viable option for you. Let’s look at the features you’ll be getting with this laptop.
Key Features
- Up to 8 hours of battery backup with per charge
- 15.6 inches large screen
- Fast performance with premium processor
- 16 GB RAM and 512 GB Storage for swift operation
- Satisfactory visual impressions
Specifications
| CPU | 11th-Generation Intel Core i7 |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe |
| Screen | 15.6 Inches |
Fast Charging
Fast charging falls on one of the essential features of electronic devices. If you’re searching for something like that, The HP Pavilion will leave you delighted with your purchase. Imagine getting as much as 50 percent of the charge by only plugging it for 45 minutes.
More Entertainment On A Compact Device
You can enjoy all the features you expect from a full-sized PC on this laptop. It’s compact for additional convenience. When you only want the best for your kid at an affordable price, you can’t get a better deal than this one.
Perfect For On-The-Go
Even though it’s comparatively larger than the other options on our list, it’s surprisingly lightweight. You won’t have any difficulties while carrying this laptop.
Besides, the charge backup is enough to have your back throughout the day. So, if your kid needs to carry a laptop for studies, it’s one of the most suitable options you can get.
Pros
- Convenient portability with a comparatively large screen
- Swift performance with an 11-generation processor
- Stunning visual with up-to-date graphics
- Windows 10 operating system
- Backed by a one-year limited hardware warranty
Cons
- The laptop does not feature a touch screen
Best Design: ASUS Chromebook
The ASUS Chromebook has to be the one with the best design on this list. The keyboard rotates, which is the first thing to notice. This laptop’s several other attributes will only leave you wanting more. Let’s see what makes it the best laptop for a kid.
Key Features
- Aesthetically stunning structure
- A 360-degree hinge for multiple positions
- Superfast and efficient with an advanced processor
- 4-way NanoEdge display for a better experience
- Thin, lightweight, and portable
Specifications
| CPU | Intel Core m3-8100Y |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 615 |
| Screen | 14-inch Touch Screen |
Stylish And Attractive
There can’t be a match to this ASUS Chromebook if you’re considering the outlook. It’s incredibly lightweight yet comes with a 14-inch display. Because of its portability, they market the product saying, ‘4-inch display in a 13-inch body.
If outlook is an essential feature for your kid, you won’t have to rethink your choice. ASUS Chromebook will be a perfect option for them.
Fast And Efficient
Just because you’re getting an attractive Chromebook doesn’t mean it’s not efficient in its performance. The laptop had proven to be fast, effective, and efficient when it came to usage.
So, use multiple tabs and forget about slowing down your device. The ASUS Chromebook has your back.
360-Degree Hinge
Another significant benefit you’re getting with this laptop is the 360-degree hinge. You can angle the keyboard as you like. In addition, you can turn it into a tablet if you want.
So, it’s undoubtedly one of the most versatile laptops you’ll ever find.
Pros
- Expect to run multiple tasks at the same time without affecting its performance
- Easy to carry with you
- Use it as a tablet or laptop thanks to the 360-degree hinge on the display
- Touchscreen facility
- Backlit keyboard
Cons
- Some users complained about the keyboard’s brightness
Best For Studying: HP Stream HD Laptop
The reason for selecting this laptop specifically for studies is primarily that it comes with a few additional benefits. It’s an excellent laptop for kids age 7 too, due to its educational features. Let’s look at its best attributes first.
Key Features
- Up to 12 hours battery backup
- 60 Hz refresh rate
- Portable and stylish to look at
- Office 365 for one year
- Imagepad with gesture capabilities
Specifications
| CPU | Intel Celeron N4000 Processor |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics |
| Screen | 11.6 Inches Diagonal Display |
Suitable For Students
When you’re getting office 365 personal for a whole year, you’re all ready to keep your kid going with this excellent laptop. It’s made explicitly for students, so all the features are suitable for kids in elementary school.
Compact
The laptop features 11.6 inches display and a built-in camera. These things make the device most suitable for video calling with peers.
Your kid can easily carry it in their backpack whenever they need it with them. Besides, the battery can back you up to 12 hours with one full charge.
Affordable
For a budget-friendly option, you can trust HP with your eyes closed. Even though you’ll be deprived of some advanced features, you can’t expect a laptop to be cheap and advance at the same time.
Besides, you don’t need that many features if you’re considering it for a 12 year old.
Pros
- Comparatively affordable
- Stylish outlook
- Portable
- 12 hours charge backup
- Suitable for students
Cons
- Lacks some features like a backlit keyboard, touchscreen, etc.
Best 2 In 1: Lenovo Chromebook
If you ask anyone to suggest the best starter computer for a kid, they’ll likely suggest the Lenovo Chromebook. Let’s check out some more exciting features of this Chromebook.
Key Features
- Detachable keyboard
- 2-in1 device- tablet/ laptop
- Fabric cover on the back that works as a stand
- 10-point multi-touch touchscreen
- Affordable
Specifications
| CPU | MediaTek Helio P60T Processor |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 64GB |
| Graphics | ARM G72 MP3 800GHz |
| Screen | 10.1 Inches FHD Display |
2-In-1 Duet Chromebook
The first lovable thing about this Chromebook is how versatile it is. You can either use it as a tablet or a laptop. So, you can expect your kids to be as interactive and creative as they want.
The cover with fabric creates a smooth touch. It’s also a stable stand when you’re not using the keyboard.
Detachable Keyboard
As you can guess, you can remove the keyboard and turn it into a tablet. That ensures smooth portability and easy conversion from laptop to tablet.
The laptop’s keyboard has 5-point pongo pins and features a magnetic design to keep the outlook intact.
Affordable
Considering the features you’re getting, Lenovo Chromebook is comparatively a lot more affordable than other options. It’s stylish, efficient, and perfect for a 12-year kid.
So, if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a laptop for your 12 year old kid, try this one out for a starter.
Pros
- Comparatively affordable
- Easily portable from place to place
- 2-in-1 device
- Smooth fabric on the cover
- Perfect for students
Cons
- The keyboard is small
How To Choose The Best Laptop For 12 Year Old?
You may come across a laptop and think, ‘wow, my kid will love that.’ However, a laptop is not something you can buy impulsively. Consider the following aspects if you wish to get the best laptop for 12 year old.
The User’s Age
If you hand over a super complex laptop to your 12 year old, the result may not be so positive. You need to get something that’s simple, easy, and performs limited tasks.
Purpose
A laptop for entertainment purposes will not serve adequately as a laptop for study purposes. If you want to keep your kid entertained, you’ll need a device with a high refresh rate, better visual, and comparatively a higher RAM.
However, if you want it for their studies, you’ll need features like educational software’s compatibility.
Budget
Remember that a pricier device is not always better. If you’re a budget-conscious person, always look for an affordable option. There are plenty of laptops that offer good features at an affordable price.
Portability
Your kid may need to accompany the device to places. So, avoid buying a bulky laptop. Nowadays, manufacturers are introducing efficient laptops with thinner sizes to reduce weight. Find one that’s stylish and lightweight.
Battery Backup
If using the device plug-free sounds vital to you, consider a laptop with more battery backup. Charge backup also contributes to convenient portability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my kid need an advanced laptop?
That depends on your kid’s age and purpose. For a twelve-year-old, you want something simple and easy to use. However, you should look for laptops that are compatible with essential educational applications and go from there. Entertainment should be secondary to learning.
How long can my kid use a laptop without plugging it?
It depends on which device you’re selecting. The charge backup varies a lot. Some laptops offer 8 hours backup once fully charged, whereas others may offer up to 16 hours.
Final Words
We’ve included everything you need to know about the best laptop for 12 year old. Now, it’s your turn to select the one you intend to spend your money on. If it’s your kid’s first laptop, try not to spend a fortune on experimenting.
The functions a kid needs to learn and entertain aren’t many. So, keep it simple. Use our buying guide to determine a laptop’s suitability for your kid. Hopefully, you won’t be disappointed.
