If we were to pick one word to describe the 2020 back-to-school season, it would probably be chaotic (stressful would be a close second though). Parents, students and educators are all trying to figure out how to navigate through this new normal together, but just about every school in the nation will be implementing some sort of remote-based learning to supplement (or replace) in-person classes and keep kids as safe as possible. This new model of homeschooling poses several problems for parents. Affordable childcare is probably the biggest hurdle for parents to overcome as they try to juggle going back to work themselves while still teaching their kids at home, but even after you’ve sorted out the childcare situation, you’re still faced with the technical difficulties of remote learning. Families are now finding themselves needing to invest in multiple tech devices to ensure everyone is able to stay connected because one computer per household is no longer going to cut it. Of course, if you’re purchasing several laptops or tablets for your kids to complete their schoolwork on, the budget becomes an all-important factor.
There are so many things to consider when choosing the best laptop or tablet for kids that finding the best deal can seem like an impossible task. To make things a little easier for you during these already stressful times, we found the laptops and tablets that are best suited for at-home learning and come with affordable price tags. Depending on your budget and tech needs, we’ve got the perfect laptop or tablet for you.
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Chromebook
A Chromebook is probably the most affordable way to meet all of the needs of distance learning. You’ll be able to join Zooms, complete online classwork and use Google’s most popular programs like Sheets, Slides, Docs and Forms.
HP
This HP laptop comes with Windows 10 so you’ll be able to install Microsoft’s Office programs for an additional fee. It has one terabyte of storage which should be plenty of room to store all of your children’s school documents and files.
Apple
Apple iPads are pretty standard at this point, but they do come with some limitations. First, you won’t be able to do any serious writing or working on them. If you only need a super portable device for streaming and video calls, then it has everything you need at an affordable pric. But if you need something to do a bit more heavy lifting, we’ve got some better options for you.
Lenovo
While this does cost considerably more than the Apple iPad, you do get a lot more out of this flexible tablet as well. This device can be used like a traditional laptop or folded into a touch-screen tablet.
Dell
This is a great middle-of-the-road option. It’s still affordably priced but offers more than some of the cheaper tablet options and less bells and whistles that come with the pricier laptops.
Refurbished Apple MacBook Air
Refurbished computers are a great way to save money without sacrificing quality. An Apple MacBook Air has everything your kids will need for remote learning but they can easily cost well over a thousand dollars. This refurbished version, however, is just over $500.
Lenovo Ideapad
This Lenovo ideapad has every feature your kids need but the best part is, you can finance it through Walmart and their partner affirm for as little as $54 per month! There’s no credit check involved or anything, simply sign up to pay for the device in installments and it will be shipped right out to you.
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