Until a few years ago, laptops were meant mostly for children and young people. But, with technology changing almost every day, the young generation is not the only one who is technically savvy these days.
Seniors and elders are jumping on the bandwagon and embracing the newest technology since they have realized how it can simplify their lives. Ease of communication, performing utility functions like paying bills as well as a being a major source of entertainment – all these factors are driving the seniors and elders to catch up with the latest trends.
These days, you are just as likely to find seniors hunched over their phones and rapidly tweeting their daily activities as you can find kids and young people posting photos on Instagram.
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Seniors and elders are starting to trust technology enough to conduct banking activities and shopping online on their laptops, instead of running to their nearest bank or department store like they used to do.
They can also easily stay in touch with their loved ones through video calls, or indulge in entertainment with movies, music, games and more.
Choosing the best laptop for seniors and elders is easier said than done. As is true in other cases also, a number of factors have to be kept in mind while choosing the most suitable laptop for seniors and elder.
One of the primary factors to be considered while choosing a laptop is its purpose. If you are going to use your laptop for basic functions like sending emails, the occasional browsing through YouTube and Facebook, and watching movies sometimes, then even a basic model will serve your purpose.
However, if you plan on doing heavy-weight gaming which requires high graphics, or you plan on running some special software on your device, then you would need a more robust laptop. You also need to consider the ease of accessibility.
This depends a lot on how familiar and comfortable you are with laptops in general. Of course, budget will be playing a vital role in the final decision making. It goes without saying that if you are looking for more juice and greater computing power on your laptop, you will have to shell out more money.
More features are definitely going to have an adverse effect on your wallet. To ease out the pain of hunting for the best laptop for seniors and elders.
Our Top Picks for Best Laptops for Senior Citizens and Elders
1. HP Spectre x360-13t
Specs:
The newest flagship notebook from the house of Hewlett-Packard has undergone significant refinement in the form of enhanced display color depth, trim in width size and premium chassis built with machined aluminum.
Its overall matte finish with the HP logo embedded on the lid blends in nicely with the posh look. The 2-in-1 design means you can use this laptop as a tablet too. This can be convenient for some seniors who would prefer a touch screen or stylus instead of a mouse. If you do decide to use the keyboard, the backlight is useful and the enormous trackpad provides comfortable typing and easy navigation.
With 1.25mm of travel time, the keystrokes might be shallow but given the thin frame of the Spectre x360, it definitely is complete value for money. At 1.3 kg, the Spectre x360 making it to our list of best 13-inch laptops can be carried around easily and runs for a whopping 16 hours and 45 minutes.
Under the hood, it features 16GB RAM and Core 7-8550U CPU that provides very efficient multitasking. The 13.3" display's 1920x1080 resolution is bright and clear, which makes it easy to read. HP goes a step ahead this time with zero backlight bleed, maximum screen brightness, and excellent viewing angles.
Positioned at its top-center is a full HD webcam which also doubles up as a Windows Hello camera for one-step login. This means when you are unlocking your PC the built-in infrared sensors are scanning your facial features in the background. The webcam is great for video chatting with your grandchildren.
This is a powerful and flexible computer that will meet the needs of most seniors and elders. It's a little more expensive than our other picks but well worth the price.
2. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575-33BM
Specs:
If you are on the lookout for a $350 laptop but do not want to settle for low features and dull display, then this model is perfect for your needs.
With a solid build quality and 1080p display, this laptop is a treat to the eye, with the added advantage of the display not buckling at all while handling the device. It comes with Windows 10 and an iCore processor.
Just like its big brother Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575G-57D4, this model also packs in all the required ports including the DVD tray. The typing experience is pleasant, as is its razor-sharp display, though you do have to compromise on the viewing angles.
The audio quality is quite good and the output is loud enough to be clearly audible in a medium-sized room. As is expected from a budget laptop, light multi-tasking can be handled easily, but it tends to lag if you try to perform too many functions at the same time.
So, if you are expecting to multi-task quite a lot, then this laptop is not for you. You will face minimal heating up during computing, and the battery life is surprisingly good too.
But if video calls feature on your priority list, then you will be disappointed with the inbuilt webcam, which is way too noisy to even click decent pictures.
3. Dell i5567-0927
Specs:
This 15.6” full HD laptop comes with 7th Generation Intel Core i3 Processor and a resolution of 1920 X 1080 Pixels. This laptop offers a touch pad with multi touch gesture support. It also has a LED-backlit on-cell touch display.
Be it working on projects, or steaming videos – this laptop handles everything you throw at it effortlessly.
You can increase the storage if you require. It also comes with a DVD drive and the standard USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, along with the mandatory SD card reader. Multitasking is smooth and lets you enjoy music or stream videos while performing other tasks in the background. No matter how much you use it, the laptop does not heat up much.
The strong build quality allows it to withstand a fair bit of pressure. In the audio department, you are offered with stereo speakers tuned with MaxxAudio by Waves.
With a price tag of around $540, this laptop comes with Windows 10 home. So, if you want a laptop which is an all-round performer and are not into high end gaming, then this one is perfect for your needs.
4. Lenovo Flex 5 80XB0000US
Specs:
Packed with the heavyweight processing power of Intel Core 7, the laptop sports a 15.6 inch full HD display and supports touch. One of the features that make it stand apart is its full sized screen, which is not a very common feature.
It efficiently packs in the convenience of a larger display with a convertible device. With the standard 8GB RAM and 256B SSD and stacked with Windows 10, the laptop has 4 different modes – laptop, tablet, tent and stand – to suit your needs.
It comes with a robust battery life so that you do not have to worry about hunting for a charging point when you are on the go.
However, you have to compromise somewhat with the slightly bulkier weight and only two 3.0 USB ports. Priced at around $850, the laptop packs a punch in the performance department to justify its price tag.
However, if a DVD drive is your priority, then you should give this model a miss. The keyboard backlight is a life-saver, as is its matte screen with glare protection. The sound quality is good, and the crystal clear display gives you a wonderful experience.
The model is not user upgradable. In a nutshell, if your primary requirement is of a reliably performing easy-to-carry laptop which you can use as a tablet also, and supports touch, then this is the one you should go for.
5. ASUS ZenBook UX330UA-AH54
Specs:
This 13.3 inch laptop comes with a vibrant 1080p screen and produces strong colors even with a viewing angle of 45 degrees on either side.
Audio reproduction is sharp and clear, and it offers decent performance, together with a good battery life.
Moreover, there are no heat issues while computing even for extended periods. Powered by the 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, coupled with an 8GB RAM, you are not going to face any lags while multitasking. However, if you are in to gaming, then this laptop is not for you.
Playing videos with 1080p quality, switching between tabs and working on a document – everything works smooth as butter. A remarkable feature of this model is its built-in fingerprint reader which can be used for one-touch login.
You can use the Smart Gestures to simulate quite a number of Windows 10’s functions on your touchpad.
Costing around $700, this laptop provides extensive connectivity options including USB 3.0 and USB Type C.
Its sleek aluminum body weights a mere 2.6lbs, which makes it easy to carry around, while its backlit keyboard makes it easy to use even in the dark, making it one of the best laptops for seniors and elders.
Conclusion
This list is not exhaustive, and is merely meant as a guide to help you decide on which laptop to purchase.
There are several other good laptops available in the market, catering to different needs of the customer, and with varying budgets.
But the picks which made into this list include the ones which have emerged as a general all-rounder in the laptop department with a tight budget.
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