Computer shopping isn’t fun. That’s where I said it. There are so many options, configurations, jargon and a constant stream of promotions. Shopping dynamics get even more muddy when you’re looking for a computer for a kid that may or may not have a specific task in mind.
For example, my daughter wants a computer for school work. My two sons are gamers who also want to stream on Twitch of a living. Two completely different use cases with two completely different needs.
Below I’ve rounded up some of the most common requests from kids and why they need a computer, be it for gaming, schoolwork, or becoming the next big YouTuber. I’ve also added different options for different budgets.
Also: The 4 best desktop PC deals right now
Buy this computer if…
Your child wants to play video games
My anecdotal experience, courtesy of my own children, is that one of the most sought-after types of computers has to be a gaming PC. That means a computer powerful enough to play everything from Fall Guys or Minecraft to Fortnite and Call of Duty.
What makes a game console, well, a game console? There’s a lot to it, but the gist of it is that you’ll ideally want some dedicated graphics card (GPU). A standalone GPU is what gives gaming computers better graphics and performance. The downside of adding a dedicated GPU to a computer also increases the price – graphics cards don’t come cheap.
If your child wants a gaming PC but doesn’t play resource-intensive games (like Call of Duty or Red Dead Redemption 2), you can get by with a computer with integrated graphics (a graphics processor built into the PROCESSOR). Heck, I’ve had some success playing Fortnite on a PC I built with the integrated graphics processor built into AMD’s very affordable Ryzen 3 3200G processor.
What to look for: In addition to the graphics, you’ll also want to make sure that a gaming PC has plenty of storage – 512GB is a good starting point – and at least 8GB of memory, but preferably 16GB. Below are a few recommendations for a gaming PC.
- Processor: Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 3 5300G or newer.
- Memory: Minimum 8GB, but preferably 16GB.
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650/AMD Radeon RX 5500 for low-resolution gaming. Nvidia RTX 30 Series/AMD Radeon RX 6800 for high-resolution gaming.
- Storage: Minimum 512GB SSD. 1TB SSD or more is preferred.
Our choice for gaming for children
Budget option
The HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop starts at $639 for a system that comes with an AMD Ryzen 3 5300G processor and an AMD Radeon RX 5500 GPU, both of which are more than enough for 1080p gameplay for big titles. HP took a few shortcuts to get the price under $650 which is that the Pavilion comes with 8GB of memory and 512GB of storage. This pick was originally an HP Pavilion Gaming Desktop that cost $599, but it was limited to just 256GB of storage. The current pick has recently come down in price and is a better deal for just $40 more. Not bad. Not bad at all.
Mid-range option
Aegis RS 11TC-405US Gaming Desktop: MSI’s Aegis line of desktop gaming PCs looks great and offers a lot of performance for the price. With this particular option, you get a well-rounded build with Intel’s 11th Gen i5 11400F processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, 16GB of storage, and 1TB of SSD storage. Better yet? It comes with all the RGB lighting that makes a gaming computer look so cool.
High quality choice
Streaming Pro BLD Kit: The best thing about a gaming PC is that you’re not locked into everything in it the day you bought it. At any time, assuming compatibility is not an issue, you can upgrade the CPU, GPU, memory or add more storage. If you want to know which parts go where, it’s a good idea to build your first gaming PC. But instead of buying the parts yourself, buying something like the NZXT Streaming Pro BLD Kit is a convenient and fun way to go.
You get a small discount compared to a pre-built gaming PC, a toolkit and step-by-step instructions that walk you through the build. The Streaming Pro build is the most expensive and most capable of the three gaming PCs highlighted here. It comes with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080Ti GPU, 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage. (There are more affordable BLD kits out there if this is the way you want to go, but you don’t want a high-end system. Check those out here.)
Your child only has to do schoolwork
For everyday computing tasks, such as schoolwork, you have a wider range of options and operating systems. For example, a Chromebook is more than capable of giving a student the tools to get schoolwork done, whether it’s on a special school website or typing out a report in Google Docs. Windows PCs and Macs, of course, also offer a wide variety of configurations and models (that’s more true of Windows than Mac).
What to look for: For a Mac or Windows system, try to find something within your specific budget with at least 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. You can get by with 128 GB and the combination of a cloud storage service like iCloud Drive, Google Drive or One Drive. For a Chromebook, you can still have a good experience with 4GB of memory. The amount of storage doesn’t matter as much as the speed of the storage on a Chromebook because of Google Drive integration. You should try to avoid anything with eMMC storage as it is slower than an SSD and you will see a performance impact.
- Processor: Intel Core i3/AMD Ryzen 3 or newer
- Memory: 8 GB or more
- GPU: N/A
- Storage: 256GB or more
Our Schoolwork Picks for Kids
Budget option
Lenovo Chromebook Duet: A Chromebook is a reliable and convenient way to start a child’s computing journey. They are relatively affordable, receive routine software updates, and have a strong track record of security. And they’re often used in education, so the apps or websites kids use for classes will work on a Chromebook. Plus, you get access to Google’s suite of Docs, Sheets, and Slides. The Lenovo Chromebook Duet has long been one of my favorite Chromebooks because it’s a 2-in-1 that comes with a detachable keyboard for under $300. And since everything on a Chromebook is stored in your Google Drive account, you have you don’t need something with a whole lot of storage space.
Mid-range option
Surface Pro 8 with keyboard bundle: Microsoft is currently running a back-to-school promotion for the Surface Pro 8 that will give you the base model Pro 8 with an Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of memory and a 128 GB SSD. That’s over $300 off the regular price for that combination. Any of Microsoft’s Surface options are a worthy option, and a Surface Pro 8 at this price is no exception.
High-quality option
MacBook Air: Apple recently announced and released a completely redesigned MacBook Air. It’s the first major redesign in many years, combining an impressively thin body with a larger 13.6-inch display and Apple’s latest M2 processor. The M2 in the basic MacBook Air model has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The performance of the MacBook Air with an M2 processor is over the top for elementary school work, but it’s something your child can grow into for years to come. It’s even a good choice for someone doing light photo and video editing.
Your child wants to become a YouTuber
I have yet to meet a kid over 5 who doesn’t want to be a YouTube personality. Whether it’s someone unpacking and playing with toys, taking trick shots or playing video games – YouTube is life for most kids. However, to be a YouTuber you need to have a computer powerful enough to edit hours and hours of video.
What to look for: There is a lot of overlap between a gaming PC and a computer built to edit video efficiently. If you’re using a Windows PC, you’ll even want something with a dedicated GPU to speed up the editing process. But unlike a gaming PC, video editing gives you the flexibility to choose Windows or Mac. Apple’s Mac range is commonly used for video editing, with the latest Apple Silicon processors having enough processing and graphics power to get the job done.
- Processor: Intel Core i5/AMD Ryzen 3 5300G or newer.
- Memory: At least 8GB, but preferably 16GB or even 32GB for video editing.
- GPU: Nvidia GTX 1650/AMD Radeon RX 5500 or newer.
- Storage: Minimum 512GB SSD. 1TB SSD or more is preferred.
Our YouTuber Picks for Kids
Budget option
The Acer Nitro 5 makes for a respectable entry-level gaming laptop, meaning it can handle video and photo editing with the same enthusiasm. This under-$800 build gets you a 15.6-inch display, an Intel Core i5 processor, an Nvidia RTX 3050, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. It’s a basic build good enough to get anyone started with video editing, while also maybe playing a game or three in their spare time.
Mid-range option
The 13-inch MacBook Pro was recently updated with Apple’s M2 Apple Silicon processor. That new processor adds faster performance to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, while leaving the exterior of the laptop unchanged. The standard configuration of the 13-inch MacBook Pro comes with an 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage. I suggest upgrading the memory on this build to 16GB and possibly doubling the storage to 512GB, so there’s plenty of room to store and edit footage. However, you can always use an external SSD to make up for the storage space.
High-quality option
apples 14-inch MacBook Pro was the first Mac to feature the company’s revamped design, featuring a larger screen, complete with a notch at the top. The MacBook Pro also has an SD card reader, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a MagSafe 3 port for charging. In addition to a new design, the 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with Apple’s M1 Pro Apple Silicon processor that lives up to its name in terms of performance. For those who care about specs, the base model gets you an 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD.
Please note that there is a lot of overlap between options
Just because a computer is listed as a gaming or video editing option for your budding YouTube star doesn’t mean they can’t perform other tasks as well.
For example, all gaming PCs would be fully capable of editing video. For parents with a child learning 3D or CAD video game design or 3D printing, you really do have several options – both Windows and Mac. Each of the MacBooks will get the job done, just like the game consoles.
Macs are getting more powerful and developers are starting to notice, but they’re still not real gaming options. That’s really the only scenario where you’re limited to a specific operating system.
0 Comments