Technology has become deeply integrated into education in the 21st century, and middle school is no exception. Having their own laptop empowers students to take control of their learning, work at their own pace, access digital resources, collaborate with peers, and leverage the latest educational software.
With so many options on the market, choosing the right laptop for a middle schooler can be a daunting task. The laptop needs to strike the perfect balance between performance, portability, durability, and cost. This guide will walk you through the key factors to consider and provide recommendations on the top laptops for middle schoolers.
How Middle Schoolers Use Laptops
To select the ideal laptop, it‘s important to understand how middle school students utilize them. Here are some of the most common activities:
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Note taking – During classes and while studying, students need to be able to quickly type up notes, organize them, and access them later.
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Research – Middle school coursework requires students to research topics online, gather multimedia content, and compile bibliographies.
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Content creation – Students frequently need to create presentations, videos, blogs, and more to demonstrate their learning.
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Educational games & apps – There is a vast array of engaging educational software available for middle schoolers today.
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Organization – Keeping track of assignments, schedules, notes, and other materials is essential for student success.
Considering this wide range of usage, the ideal middle school laptop needs to have sufficient power under the hood, have an intuitive interface, and promote flexibility.
Key Factors to Consider
Here are the most important criteria to evaluate when picking a middle school laptop:
Weight & Portability
Students need to be able to easily transport their laptop to and from school on a daily basis. Excess weight leads to shoulder and neck strain. Look for laptops under 4 pounds for optimal portability. Slim, compact designs are also ideal.
Battery Life
The longer the battery life the better. Look for over 8 hours of runtime on a charge so students can make it through the school day without having to plug in.
Durability
Middle school environments can be tough on laptops, so ruggedness is key. Prioritize laptops made of durable ABS plastic or aluminum. Ensure they can withstand small drops, bumps, and spills.
Storage Space
With today‘s digital education resources, insufficient storage can become an issue quickly. Aim for at least 128GB, with 256GB being ideal for storing files, photos, music, videos, and large applications.
RAM
RAM determines how smoothly and efficiently different programs will run. 8GB is recommended as a minimum for middle schoolers to comfortably multitask and have multiple browser tabs open.
Responsiveness
A slow, laggy laptop quickly leads to student frustration. Seek out laptops with the latest CPUs to handle everything students throw at them without slowdown.
Display & Resolution
Students will be staring at their laptop screens for many hours a day. An 11-13 inch screen with a 1080p display provides ample real estate while optimizing portability. Anti-glare coatings reduce eye strain.
Operating System
The choice typically comes down to Windows, MacOS or ChromeOS. Each has pros and cons. Windows provides flexibility while MacOS excels in creativity. ChromeOS is intuitive and low-maintenance but relies on web apps. Evaluate their classroom compatibility.
Cost
How much should you spend? Budget laptops can be had for $300-400. However, they make compromises on power and build quality. For the best blend of features and performance, target $500-800. Premium models go up to $1000+. Remember to account for accessories and potential repair costs.
By keeping these factors front of mind, you‘ll be equipped to select a laptop tailored to middle schoolers‘ needs. Next, let‘s explore some of the top options currently available.
The 7 Best Laptops for Middle School Students
1. Acer Chromebook Spin 713 – Best Overall
The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 strikes the ideal balance of power, portability, usability and value. It outshines rival Chromebooks to take the top spot as the best middle school laptop overall.
Outfitted with a fast Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB RAM and a 128GB solid state drive, it delivers blazing responsiveness. The crisp 13.5” 2K touch display presents content beautifully and has generous screen real estate.
Weighing just 3 pounds, students will have no issues carrying it in their backpack. It also touts military-grade durability and spill resistance up to 330 ml. Battery life is rated for over 10 hours to handle a full day of instruction.
As a Chromebook running ChromeOS, it’s a breeze to set up and virtually maintenance-free. It seamlessly integrates with Google Workspace. Plus, it provides access to Android apps in the Google Play store for further flexibility.
For its potent blend of mobility, versatility and capability, the Spin 713 warrants the top spot as best laptop for middle school.
Pro
- Ideal power for multitasking
- Fast NVMe SSD
- Superb 2K touch display
- Military-grade durability
- 10+ hours battery life
- Great value
Con
- ChromeOS limits software options
Buy the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 on Amazon
2. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 – Best Windows Laptop
If you prefer a Windows environment for your middle schooler, the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is a top contender. As a value-focused notebook, you’re still getting capable hardware, a large screen and excellent build quality.
It comes equipped with a current-generation Intel Core i3 chip as well an integrated Intel UHD graphics card. Combined with 8GB of RAM, it adeptly handles Chrome tabs, MS Office apps, streaming video and more. You also get speedy 128GB NVMe solid state storage.
The 15.6-inch full HD LED backlit screen provides expansive workspace. An anti-glare finish helps reduce eye fatigue. Dell built this Inspiron to last with a durable hinge design that has undergone over 20,000 open/close cycles.
Impressively, battery life reaches up to 11 hours on a charge. That’s sufficient for continuous lessons, study sessions and entertainment after school. Multiple ports allow students to easily connect peripherals and external displays.
For those who prefer a Windows 10 laptop for their middle school child, the Inspiron 15 3000 brings tremendous value. Between fast responsiveness, an expansive display and long battery life, it nicely serves students’ needs for under $500.
Pro
- Excellent value
- Lots of power for the price
- Good build quality
- Huge screen with 1080p resolution
- 11 hour battery life
Con
- On the heavier side at 4 lbs
Buy the Dell Inspiron 15 3000 on Amazon
3. Acer Swift 3 – Best Portability
Maximizing portability for students constantly on the move, the Acer Swift 3 tips the scales at just 2.65 pounds. It still packs quite a punch, however. Outfitted with new 12th generation Intel processors and plenty of speedy SSD storage, performance is peppy.
Students can choose from Intel Core i5 or i7 CPUs paired with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics. This enables smooth everyday multitasking along with light gaming and content creation capabilities. With a bright 14” full HD touch or non-touch screen available, visuals really pop.
The Swift 3 feels solidly built featuring an aluminum chassis. Battery life is rated for up to 17 hours so low battery anxiety needn’t be a concern. Dual USB ports allow students to easily plug in flash drives and other peripherals to transfer files.
As one of the most portable notebooks equipped with powerful modern components, the Acer Swift 3 lets middle schoolers work productively anywhere their day takes them.
Pro
- Featherlight at under 3 pounds
- Cutting edge 12th gen Intel processors
- 17 hours of battery life
- Good selection of ports
- Costs under $700
Con
- 14” screen limits workspace
Buy the Acer Swift 3 on Amazon
4. Asus Chromebook Flip C536 – Best Convertible Chromebook
The Asus Chromebook Flip C536 brings a clever reversible design to the table. As a 2-in-1 convertible, students can orient it as either a standard notebook or tablet. This versatility allows them to adapt on the fly to classroom activities and learning modes.
The touch display can tilt all the back around the 360-degree hinge to enter tablet configuration. Students can then read ebooks, annotate documents with a stylus, play learning games, fill out quizzes and more.
Tablet mode is ideal for collaborating in groups. Switching orientations is also great for shared viewing when learning partners want to watch an educational video together.
In terms of power, the C536 comes configured with up to a 10th generation Intel Core i3 chip as well as 128GB of fast NVMe solid state storage. It weighs 3.31 pounds making it highly totable.
For middle schoolers who want a hybrid device with laptop horsepower and tablet flexibility, the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 is a compelling choice.
Pro
- Reversible 2-in-1 form factor
- Light and portable
- Modern Intel processor
- Gorilla Glass touch display
Con
- Smaller storage capacity
Buy the Asus Chromebook Flip C536 on Amazon
5. Apple MacBook Air M2 – Best MacOS Laptop
If going all-in on the Apple ecosystem for your middle school student, the latest M2 MacBook Air brings fun colors and blistering speed. Apple’s new second-generation silicon maintains stellar benchmark performance and energy efficiency.
The M2 chip utilizes cutting edge 5-nanometer transistor technology with an 8-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU. Combined with 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, productivity flies. Both single and multi-threaded operations see a nice kick in speed over older models.
The 2560×1664 Liquid Retina display renders content beautifully. At just 2.7 pounds for the 13.6” model, it’s ideal for carting around in a backpack. It retains the tapered thin profile MacBooks are known for.
While more expensive than most Windows rivals, apply education discounts where possible. For families already embedded in Apple’s SaaS offerings, the exceptional craftsmanship, premium power and tight platform integration make the latest MacBook Air a sensible choice.
Pro
- Cutting-edge Apple silicon
- Gorgeous Retina display
- macOS environment
- All-day 18-hour battery
Con
- High sticker price
Buy the Apple MacBook Air M2 on Amazon
6. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 – Best Touchscreen Laptop
Microsoft‘s Surface Laptop Go 2 brings premium hardware together with Windows 11 to deliver excellent value. Power comes courtesy of Intel’s Evo platform Core i5 processors packing plenty of multitasking muscle.
The 3:2 aspect ratio PixelSense touch display makes interacting with apps and content intuitive. It also provides more vertical real estate compared to wider 16:9 screens. Sharp visuals combined with support for the Surface Pen enables creativity.
With the Alcantara fabric covered keyboard deck and choice of sleek colors, style oozes from the Surface Laptop Go 2. Yet its lightweight magnesium build encases military-grade durability. Both USB-C and USB-A ports allow students to easily plug into projectors and accessories.
Battery life reaches 13.5 hours letting students work unplugged all day. If prioritizing premium features like a gorgeous PixelSense touch display and versatile form factor, the Surface Laptop Go 2 warrants consideration for your middle schooler.
Pro
- Touch optimized 3:2 display
- Classy, durable hardware
- Works beautifully with Surface Pen
- 13.5 hours of battery life
Con
- Can get pricey with added accessories
Buy the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 2 on Amazon
7. Asus VivoBook Flip 14 – Best Budget 2-in-1
Slotting in at under $500, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 brings tremendous value for budget-focused shoppers wanting a convertible. Students get flexibility to use it as both a traditional laptop and tablet. This allows them to adapt on the fly based on learning activities.
It comes equipped with peppy AMD Ryzen 5 processors with Radeon graphics. The fast SSD ensures quick boot ups and app launches. 14 inches of real estate on the full HD touch display provide a sizable workspace that renders clearly.
At 3.3 pounds students can easily transport the VivoBook Flip in a backpack. Aluminum topside construction imparts durability while an ErgoLift hinge tilts the keyboard for comfortable typing. Battery life reaches up to 10 hours on a charge.
For parents seeking lots of versatility at a reasonable spend, the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 checks the boxes. It empowers middle school students with a reversible 2-in-1 design great for learning in different modes.
Pro
- Costs just over $400
- Sleek, premium design
- Full HD touchscreen display
- Up to 10 hours battery life
Con
- 14” screen somewhat small
Buy the Asus VivoBook Flip 14 on Amazon
Final Thoughts
Selecting just the right laptop to empower a middle school student represents an important decision. Considering their evolving needs and continuous use of technology in today’s classrooms, the laptop plays a pivotal role in their success. It serves as both an educational portal and a creativity enabler.
Focus your search on options balancing capable core computing components, nimble designs optimized for portability, and interfaces promoting engagement. Ensure durability measures allow the laptop to withstand daily use and accidental bumps or spills.
Model options run the gamut from economical Chromebooks to premium 2-in-1 convertible notebooks and MacBooks. Take into account your child‘s specific learning needs and curriculum when narrowing down the choices.
By investing some time upfront determining the ideal blend of performance, capability and mobility, you can give your middle schooler technology that unlocks their potential. With a little luck, it just may kindle an enduring passion as well.
