The Best Laptops For Seniors In 2023

Top 5 Best Laptops For Seniors 2023:

1. ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 Ultra-Slim Convertible Laptop
2. ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop
3. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display
4. Apple 13″ MacBook Air Core
5. HP (17-BY1053DX) 17.3 Laptop

Are you buying a laptop for your parents or grandparents? When you choose the correct model, helping them get rid of another virus or deal with functions that confused them will be a thing of the past.

Or perhaps you are a senior buying a laptop for yourself – in that case, you are already familiar with the technology, and just need someone to steer you toward the right model.

Whatever the case may be, our list of the best laptops for seniors and the buyer’s guide will give you any info you need.

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5 Best Laptops For Seniors In 2023: Detailed Reviews

1. ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 Ultra-Slim Convertible Laptop – Best Overall

The reason why the latest version of ASUS ZenBook vaulted past all the other laptops is that it offers the most functionality for the buck.

And we’re not talking about gaming or graphic design functionalities that (presumably) aren’t of seniors’ interest, but precisely about the ones that they use the most.

What are those?

Let’s start with the basics.

Firstly, this laptop has a 14-inch wide-view Full HD display, which is excellent in case your dearest senior has any problems with their eyesight. The screen is big enough so that everyone can see letters, numbers, etc.

But the functionality of the screen does not add there! 

This is a NanoEdge bezel touchscreen. Now, some may argue that seniors are not often familiar with touchscreen technology, but many of them who use smartphones are. Even if they aren’t, it cannot hurt to have the possibility to zoom in just using their fingers!

Also, this is a convertible laptop, which means that the screen can be completely flipped behind the keyboard and used as a tablet. 

Again, some people say that seniors do not use this option – but believe us, they love to lay back in their armchair and scroll around the web as much as you do!

This slim version weights two and a half pounds less than its rivals, which makes it extremely portable.

Finally, the last thing that pumped this laptop above some others is its speed. With the combination of 256GB SSD and Intel Core i5 Processor, it will boot in a blink of an eye.

2. ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop – Runner-up

ASUS has been a leader in the tech market for many years, so it’s no wonder that two of their laptops found their way to the very top of our list.

There are two main reasons why the previous laptop usurped the throne instead of this one: the screen and the operating system.

If you have been dealing with Windows OS, there’s a bit of a learning curve when switching to Chrome OS of Chromebooks.

But it’s a change to a simpler and more effective OS – so why not go for it?

Chromebooks tend to boot more quickly and are less prone to viruses, while being less expensive. Also, voice commands with Google’s assistant are on point – and that’s something seniors love to use.

Besides, if they are using GSuit and other Google products (e.g., Gmail, Docs, etc.), there’s no better device than the Chromebook.

The only downside of Chromebooks, in our opinion, is printing, because this OS does not support that many printers. So, if you’re using your laptop for a lot of printing, this isn’t the best option.

Second, the screen is smaller – 12.5-inch Full HD flip screen – so it might not fit the needs of those who prefer larger ones, though the picture is very sharp.

On a bright note, it’s a touch flip screen, which means it can also be used in tablet mode.

Generally, Chromebooks have an outstanding build quality and will serve you for many years to come, if you don’t mind these two things. Plus, their battery life is unrivaled!

3. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display – Budget-Friendly Option

Acer has managed to pack a perfectly optimized laptop for seniors into a budget-friendly deal.

Technically, this is a notebook, as it’s a bit more compact than your standard laptop, but it still has a large display of 15.6 inches. Also, Acer has a handy feature nicknamed BlueLightShield that reduces the eyestrain.

AMD Ryzen 3 Dual-Core Processor that can run on up to 3.5GHz is more than enough for web browsing, videos, and even multitasking. Of course, if you want to make the laptop faster, you can choose the same model that comes with Ryzen 5.

Due to the lower price tag, some other characteristics are a bit toned down. For example, the battery will only last around 6 hours, and the storage space is limited, but overall, it should be enough.

The OS is Windows 10 in S mode. This is basically a simplified version of regular Windows 10 that allows only apps from the Microsoft Store, which is excellent for the elderly who prefer to keep it simple.

However, we still allow upgrading it to the full version (you can do this for free) to install Google Chrome, because S mode only supports Microsoft Edge.

4. Apple 13″ MacBook Air Core – Premium Pick

MacBooks are a top-notch choice for seniors who are using the laptop for daily tasks such as writing and editing docs. Of course, they are also excellent for light use, such as web browsing and watching videos.

But there’s no going around the elephant in the room with Apple laptops: the biggest knock on them is their price. These are not the laptops for those on a budget.

If you have the money, though, go for it. It has an excellent display with better viewing angles and color accuracy than any other on our list, though it’s on the smaller side with 13 inches.

All the MacBooks have superb keyboards with responsive keys, and it’s hands-down the easiest keyboard for typing. This will help seniors who are not used to typing often.

Mac OS may be something that people aren’t used to, but it’s arguably one of the easiest operating systems to use.

With the Intel Core i5 Processor, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD, Apple MacBook Air Core has everything you need.

There are two fast USB ports, an SDXC slot, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connection. Apple has also made significant improvements to the web camera.

This laptop passed our sound tests with flying colors with crispy and clear sound at any volume.

5. HP (17-BY1053DX) 17.3 Laptop – Best Display

Up until recently, the standard size of screens for laptops has been 15 inches. But this HP model manages to push the boundaries a little bit further with the ravishing 17.3-inch display.

Although the maximum resolution isn’t HD (it’s 1600 x 900 pixels), the colors are vivid, and the view is optimal for any older adult.

Surprisingly, this is also one of the most affordable HP laptops you can get when we count in the characteristics.

With this model, you are not getting short-changed on anything, as the Intel Core i5, 256 SSD, and Intel HD Graphics 620 make for a winning combination. Powerful sound is another benefit of the laptop.

A rare feature for laptops nowadays is a DVD-RW drive, but this laptop retained it, which deserves one more plus for details.

One thing we missed, though, is a backlit keyboard. We don’t see why the manufacturers chose to omit this feature, as the laptop is perfectly optimized for beginner users, other than that.

It comes with pre-installed 64-bit Windows 10 Home in S mode, which many seniors may prefer. And if they don’t, you can easily switch it to the original version.

We felt that a one-year warranty is a bit short, but this laptop will last much longer than that.

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What Is The Best Laptop For Seniors?

The only thing that might differ for senior laptop users is preference. We usually give advice to our younger readers to try anything that sports premium characteristics and see what fits them best.

But keep in mind that older generations did not grow up with the same amount of technology as millennials and Gen-Z. So, if they are used to something – say, Windows – stick with it. Keeping up with overwhelming new options can be intimidating even to us who have grown up with the internet and smartphones.

A study conducted by a group of researchers shows the top reasons for barriers older adults might experience:

Main Barriers	Solution
Lack of instructions and guidance	Intuitive and simple OS
Complex technology	Intuitive and simple OS
Lack of confidence	OS that isn’t prone to viruses, fast processor
Health-related barriers	Larger screen for vision problems, loud laptop speakers for auditory problems

Therefore, if you’re the one buying the laptop for your dearest senior, simply ask them what they prefer. 

On the other hand, some tech-savvy seniors might want to experiment a bit or require some more advanced functions.

To determine what are the best laptops for seniors, we delved deeper into the actual statistics of how many seniors use laptops and to what use.

In an AARP Research, it has been shown that seniors in the US prefer laptops to other computing devices. The distribution looks something like this:

Laptop	Desktop	Tablet	Home assistant
62%	61%	43%	7%

To further investigate the matter, we’ve considered what the primary activities that seniors focus on are:

Use of laptops	Percentage
Staying in touch with friends and family	91%
Surfing the internet	81%
Purchasing things online	74%
Getting news	69%
Making financial transactions	65%
Accessing social media	58%
Get directions or traffic information	45%
Watching videos	45%
Manage medical care	35%

With all this in mind, we carefully curated the list of the best laptops for seniors and reviewed the laptops for you.

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Factors To Consider In Order To Get The Best Laptop For Seniors

Just like when buying a laptop for any other user, the main things to pay attention to are hardware and software.

1. Hardware

Hardware requirements for the best laptop for seniors are not difficult to meet.

Here are some things we were aiming for while we assessed the laptops:

• Fast processor. A fast processor enables users to multitask without any troubles that may potentially stress out seniors. We did not settle for less than Intel Core 5, or AMD’s equivalent, Ryzen 3.
• SSD. Most seniors do not play storage-consuming games, so what they need is an SSD with enough storage space for the OS and a couple of programs. We dismissed laptops with HDDs because they are significantly slower.
• High-quality screen. Most compact laptops nowadays have small screen sizes, which might cause some difficulty for seniors with eyesight problems. The most optimal screen size for them is 15-17 inches.
• Good laptop speakers. We targeted laptops with high-quality audio and decent loudness.
• Touchscreen. This was not a must, but having a touchscreen can come in quite handy for seniors who are already accustomed to smartphones.

We didn’t focus on graphic cards as they are paramount for gaming laptops.

2. Software

Software, more precisely, the operating system plays a large role in senior-friendly laptops.

You don’t want to go with something overly complicated, like Linux, because seniors (just like standard users) prefer to keep it simple.

• The safest bet is Windows 10 because it is very intuitive, and many people have already worked on it.
• Alternatively, macOS is even easier to use, though it may not seem so at first provided you are used to Windows. But it’s perfectly optimized for web browsing and simple tasks, like writing docs. The same applies to ChromeOS.

Some of the laptops on our list come with Windows in S Mode. “S” stands for “Safety.” However, to some users, it might be synonymous with “insufficient.” 

The reason for this is that you cannot download any apps, games, etc., to the laptop unless they are from the Microsoft Store. 

This may not bother users who do not download much software. But some who are used to Google Chrome might want to use it in a regular mode since S Mode includes only Microsoft Edge.

Switching out of S Mode is relatively easy, and, more importantly, it’s free. 

Check out this video if you need some help:

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Bottom Line

Just like an average laptop user – not a gamer, designer, or professional editor – seniors are looking for fast, simple, and intuitive laptops.

They allow them to keep in touch with their beloved ones and follow their favorite blogs. And, if they are somewhat like some of our senior friends, play Solitaire.

The best laptop for seniors overall is ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 Ultra-Slim. 

If ChromeOS is no limitation, then our runner-up, ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop, is also a laptop to consider.

Finally, if you are willing to compromise for speed, our budget-friendly pick, Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, is a great value.