The Best Laptops for Seniors in 2023

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July 6, 2022 amie-clark Author: Amie Clark | July 6, 2022
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1
Apple MacBook Air - Best Apple Laptop

Overall Rating:

4.7 / 5
View on Amazon What We Like ↓
2
Asus Chromebook - Best Touch Screen

Overall Rating:

4.4 / 5
View on Amazon What We Like ↓
3
Dell Inspiron 15 - Best Screen

Overall Rating:

4.3 / 5
View on Amazon What We Like ↓
4
Best Performance

Overall Rating:

4.3 / 5
View on Amazon What We Like ↓
5
Best Speakers

Overall Rating:

4.6 / 5
View on Amazon What We Like ↓
The Best Laptop Computers for Seniors How We Chose Our Favorites Our Top Picks Frequently Asked Questions

With the ability to be used all around the home –– or even outside –– laptops are ideal devices for older adults. To choose our favorite laptops for seniors, we paid special attention to how well different devices stacked up to the accessibility needs of seniors without skimping on modern features and intuitive designs.

Did You Know: To learn more about our favorite computers, read our guide to the best computers for seniors.

The Best Laptop Computers for Seniors

How We Chose Our Favorites

In our tests of each laptop, we paid close attention to the following criteria.

  • Battery life: If you plan to take your laptop anywhere beyond your desk, you’ll want a battery life of at least four hours.
  • Portability: While some higher-end laptops can be large and unwieldy, we looked for devices that were easy to carry, even for those with manual dexterity issues.
  • Cost: We tried to find laptops that balanced features and prices at all ranges of the spectrum, so we included high-priced laptops as well as budget picks to give you choices.
  • Accessibility: All of the laptops on this list are easy to set up and use, even for those unfamiliar with the intricacies of computer technology.

Our Top Picks

1. Apple MacBook Air - Best Apple Laptop

Macbook Air
4.7 / 5
View on Amazon
What We Like Most:
  • High-definition screen
  • Easy to pick up and use
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Long-lasting battery life

Overview

Price: $999
Screen Size: 13”
Weight: 2.8 pounds
Battery Life: 15-18 hours

The Macbook Air is a lightweight laptop from Apple that gives you lots of features in a small package. It retails for $999, which means it’s one of the most expensive computers we chose for this list.

The display is beautiful, listed as a 2560 x 1600 screen with True Tone. This is just a fancy way of saying that the screen displays high-definition imagery with accurate colors. This laptop also has upgradable memory, which means that you can choose to have more, or less, storage capacity and processing power if you want to use your laptop for more complex tasks or save money.

Depending on what you use it for, this laptop’s battery life can last up to an impressive 18 hours, especially if you’re watching content on your Apple+ account. The ability to secure your laptop with a fingerprint should also give security-focused users a little peace of mind. Even though the screen is great, the webcam is low quality, making this laptop an awkward pick for users who want to Facetime their family often.

Pros
  • Beautiful screen
  • Considerable battery life
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Upgradable specs
  • Integrated with Apple content
  • Touch-based security features
Cons
  • High price
  • Low-quality webcam

2. Asus Chromebook - Best Touch Screen

Asus Chromebook
4.4 / 5
View on Amazon
What We Like Most:
  • Touch-screen controls
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • High performance
  • Budget price

Overview

Price: $323.03
Screen Size: 12”
Weight: 2.5 pounds
Battery Life: 7 hours

If you’re looking for a 2-in-1 laptop, this is a great choice. “2-in-1” means that the computer can work like a laptop with a keyboard, but you can also flip the screen over and use it with the touch-screen controls like a tablet. Since this computer needed to function as both, weight was a major consideration when we chose the Asus Chromebook because it weighs only 2.5 pounds.

It also features decent performance specs for a Chromebook, though you shouldn’t expect to be able to store a ton of movies and programs on this laptop. It usually comes with around 32 GB of storage space. That’s about a quarter of what you would normally expect, probably less. You may need to buy another storage device if you plan on using this computer for a long time.

At 12 inches, the screen is small but expectedly so for a laptop that doubles as a tablet. We thought the touch screen was responsive, and the keyboard felt spacious despite the laptop’s small size. The battery life is only seven hours on 50 percent screen brightness, so you should expect to be plugged in pretty frequently. For a price of around $323, though, better 2-in-1s are hard to come by.

Pros
  • Vibrant display
  • Efficient 2-in-1 design
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Responsive touch screen
  • Budget price
Cons
  • Awkward touchpad mouse
  • Short battery life
  • Low-storage capacity

3. Dell Inspiron 15 - Best Screen

Dell Inspiron 15
4.3 / 5
View on Amazon
What We Like Most:
  • Full HD display
  • Large, 15-inch screen
  • SSD
  • Windows 11 pre-installed

Overview

Price: $560
Screen Size: 15.6”
Weight: 5.2 pounds
Battery Life: 7-8 hours

At $560, the Dell Inspiron 15 is right down the middle of potential budgets for these high-quality laptops. It comes fully equipped with Windows 11, which means you have all the latest security features and updated compatibility for Windows programs.

This laptop is solid, meaning it’s sturdy but also has a high weight compared to some other models (it weighs about 5.2 pounds). Additionally, the screen brightness is not as high as other laptops and the speakers are not as strong either, which can be an issue for people with hearing and vision problems.

However, the screen is a nice size at 15 inches and in full HD with an anti-glare coating. It’s probably the nicest-looking screen we reviewed here. The keyboard is also really comfortable, giving you just enough feedback as well as a spill-resistant guard around the edges. We also found the touch pad comfortable to use, with enough space to spread both hands comfortably on the deck while typing.

Pros
  • Large HD screen
  • Sturdy construction
  • Pre-installed Windows 11
  • Comfortable keyboard
  • Precise touch pad
Cons
  • Quiet speakers
  • Heavyweight

4. Toshiba Tecra A50-E - Best Performance

Toshiba Tecra A50-E
4.3 / 5
View on Amazon
What We Like Most:
  • Decent storage capacity
  • Stellar processing power
  • Removable battery
  • Large, vibrant display

Overview

Price: $1,221
Screen Size: 15.6”
Weight: 4.41 pounds
Battery Life: 5 hours

The Toshiba Tecra A50-E relies on internal storage to store all your programs. It comes with 256 GB, which is a decent amount for a laptop like this and should satisfy the average user’s needs. It’s powered by a good processor that will let you run multiple applications at once with ease.

The battery on this laptop holds a pretty low charge at five hours of constant use. However, the battery is removable, which is a rare feature in a laptop. This allows you to easily replace the battery when you need to and charge it efficiently.

The audio on this Toshiba Tecra laptop is not as loud as we would have liked for users that are hard of hearing. The price is also a considerable investment at $1,200 or more. But you’re buying performance with this laptop, which is best for users who want to run multiple tasks and take advantage of a higher-performing machine.

Pros
  • High-performance processor
  • Removable battery
  • Responsive keyboard
  • Decent storage space
  • Large display
Cons
  • Weak speakers
  • High price

5. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook - Best Speakers

Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
4.6 / 5
View on Amazon
What We Like Most:
  • Affordable price
  • Touchscreen controls
  • Vibrant display
  • Loud and clear speakers

Overview

Price: $386.99
Screen Size: 13.3”
Weight: 2.97 pounds
Battery Life: 10 hours

The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook is a featherweight laptop at 2.97 pounds. Its 2-in-1 design offers the functionality of a tablet with the sturdiness of a laptop. The screen is 13.3 inches and full HD, which looks great when you’re video chatting or watching movies. Unfortunately, the laptop felt flimsy in general, and some online users reported they needed to use their warranty after the screen cracked. However, for this price, a 2-in-1 is likely going to cut corners somewhere.

Happily, one of the features that didn’t feel like they cut corners on were the speakers. Instead of sticking up on the surface, the speakers face the user for a crisp audio experience that beats out a lot of laptops that are more expensive than this affordable $386.99 computer. A built-in webcam and a good diversity of ports gives you a lot of options. You can use Bluetooth to connect this tablet to your television pretty easily.

The battery life on this laptop is also stellar, with around 10 hours of operation on a full charge. The touch screen is so good that you can buy a digital pen and draw, play games, or use the Lenovo Flex 5 as a tablet. For people who care a lot about cybersecurity, the Flex 5 updates every six weeks with the latest anti-theft software.

Pros
  • 10-hour battery life
  • Lightweight construction
  • Exceptional speakers
  • Low price
  • Extra connectivity features
  • Cybersecurity updates
Cons
  • Flimsy screen

Bottom Line

Many modern laptops come with exciting features like 2-in-1 designs that allow you to use them as tablets, modern security features, touch screens, and the latest Windows 11 apps. The prices on these laptops vary according to the features you get. However, all the computers on this list feature quality performance backed up by varying degrees of accessibility.

Figure out what you plan on using your new laptop for to compare the listed features to your needs. For example, if you want a laptop that doubles as a tablet, you’ll probably want to prioritize a low weight and long battery life. But if you want to park the computer on a desk and keep it plugged in, you may want to prioritize performance.

To learn more about computers and the internet, check out our helpful guides:

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which laptop is best for seniors?

    For those unafraid of a new operating system, we think Apple’s Macbook Air is the ideal computer for seniors due to its high-definition screen and intuitive menus.

  • Which laptop is easiest to use for seniors?

    At 2.5 pounds, the Asus Chromebook 2-in-1 is light, bringing the simplicity of a tablet to the features of a laptop.

  • Should seniors go with a PC or Mac?

    In our experience, seniors have little trouble picking up the nuances of Mac operating systems. However, most people who have never used a computer will already be familiar with PC operation.