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Are you looking for a wonderful gift that your grandfather or grandmother could enjoy and use? We sure know something they will be thrilled to receive – a laptop. A laptop can meet all their technology needs. From helping them easily connect to their loved ones to reading newspapers online, watching their favorite movies, and making new friends online, a laptop will be the right gadget to give them freedom from boredom.
However, not every senior is tech-savvy to handle laptops with tons of features and software applications. For most seniors, technology seems like a foreign language. Therefore, while looking for the best laptops for seniors, your criteria for selection should be different.
Unlike an IT expert or a gamer, the computer requirements of the elderly are pretty minimal. After all, it will be disappointing to give something to your elderly loved ones that they can’t even use. Therefore, you must consider some bottom-line factors such as ease of use, screen size, and usage purpose before buying any laptop for your elderly family member.
Finding the perfect laptop for elderly people is a tedious process when the internet is full of tech-savvy laptops. However, stress no more. Whether your elderly loved one is a regular computer user or has trouble using technology, we have got great laptop recommendations for you. All the laptops included in our top 3 picks are designed keeping seniors in mind. If you are in a hurry, take our best pick: LG Gram 14.
Read on to find the perfect laptop for your elderly loved one and bring a wide smile to their faces.
Laptop #1: LG Gram 14 (Best Overall)
Out of hundreds and thousands of laptops from popular brands such as Apple, HP, ASUS, and the list goes on – LG Gram 14 is our winner. From being user-friendly to having a durable and sleek design, great sound system, highly responsive touchpad, and perfect screen size, it has everything to win the “best laptops for seniors” battle for us.
This sleek-looking laptop is sturdy enough to withstand accidental drops from waist height. Therefore, you will no longer need to worry about your elderly loved one breaking the laptop. Even though it has a strong build, this laptop still weighs only 2.2 pounds, making it perfect for seniors to keep on the lap and carry it around with themselves. Also, it has a matte grey finish to suit people who are fans of simple aesthetics.
To make it even better value, it comes with a 14-inch display with a true-color FHD output that makes reading the screen easy for seniors with eyesight problems. Moreover, the built-in speakers provide rich and clear sound to seniors using hearing aids.
The keyboard is also comfortable to type on, and the keys are large with prominent fonts to help seniors avoid any wrong inputs. Also, the backlighting will allow them to work efficiently in dim light without putting pressure on their eyes.
Another feature that seals the deal for us is its fingerprint sensor that offers great help to the elderly. It will make logging into the laptop effortless without requiring any password and pin while keeping private data safe. Furthermore, it offers an incredible battery life of more than 15 hours. Therefore, even if your elderly loved one forgets to charge their laptop, you will stay connected with them for the longest time.
LG Gram 14 is undoubtedly a perfect choice for seniors. Therefore, if you plan to surprise your elderly loved one with a perfect laptop, this one is definitely not worth skipping!
Best features or specifications
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-10210U
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD 605
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 22 hours (standby)
- Display: 14 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Weight: 2.2 pounds
Pros
- Speedy processing power
- Sleek and slim design
- Easy to carry
- It can withstand accidental drops (waist height)
- Bright display
- Great speaker performance
- Fewer complex features
- Incredibly long battery life
- Fingerprint sensor for easy login
- Ideal for traveling
Cons
- No dedicated graphics
Laptop #2: Microsoft Surface Pro 7 (Best touch screen laptop)
Do you want a touchscreen laptop for your elderly family member? Go for Microsoft Surface Pro 7. It has a multi-function design that allows seniors to use it as a laptop as well as a tablet. Isn’t it amazing?
Apart from being a touchscreen laptop, Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has earned the second spot on our list because of its other senior-supporting features. Let’s talk about the 2-in-one feature first. The Surface Pro 7 turns into a handheld gadget from a laptop by simply adjusting the stand. It can be a great choice for seniors wanting something simple and convenient. However, the surface-type cover (keyboard) does not come with a laptop. Instead, you will have to spend a few extra dollars to help your elderly loved one enjoy the convenience of using a laptop.
Besides the 2-in-one feature, it has an ultra-slim body and a solid build to withstand accidental drops. Also, the sleek design makes it easy for elderly parents to carry it with themselves in small backpacks or purses. Despite having a small frame, this laptop does not compromise battery life. Still, it can serve you 10 to 12 hours of battery life.
It is a great choice for seniors who have not decided to retire and want a smart gadget to manage all their tasks.
Best features or specifications
- CPU: 1.6GHz Intel Core i5-1035G4
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: Integrated Intel Iris Plus
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 10 hours
- Display: 12.3 Inches
- Resolution: 2736 x 1824
- Weight: 1.7 pounds
Pros
- Convertible design
- In-built touch screen
- Speedy processing power
- Ultra-slim design
- Lightweight
- Connectivity options provided
- It can withstand accidental drops
- Fewer complex features
- Travel-friendly
Cons
- Battery performance could be improved
- Poor camera quality
- The keyboard is sold separately
- Limited storage capacity
Laptop #3: ASUS VivoBook 15 (Budget-friendly option)
Remember, a special gift does not have to blow your budget. Do you want to surprise your elderly parents with a perfect laptop but have a limited budget? Stress no more. We have got a budget-friendly option for you – ASUS VivoBook 15.
ASUS VivoBook 15 is a decent laptop for seniors in the price range of 400 to 450 dollars. It may come with a small price tag, but it is definitely tough on performance. It is made from ABS plastic, making it withstand waist-height drops without being damaged. Also, it offers a perfect blend of glossy and matte black finish, making it look stylish and modern.
When you open the laptop, the black keyboard instantly grabs your attention with a prominent key font and white backlight that enhances the laptop’s aesthetic. Moreover, it comes with a 15.6-inch display size which is undoubtedly a rarity at this price range. However, it offers only 252 nits of brightness, making it difficult to use for seniors with poor eyesight. Also, the VivoBook has a fast processing speed, but a small storage capacity may restrict your elderly parent to some extent.
If you are looking for a basic laptop for your elderly parents to help them catch up with you and your other siblings, this one is a perfect choice.
Best features or specifications
- CPU: 1.2GHz Intel Core i3-1005G1
- RAM: 8GB
- GPU: Integrated Intel UHD
- Storage: 128GB SSD
- Battery Life: Up to 6 hours
- Display: 15.6 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Pros
- Slim and lightweight
- Fingerprint scanner
- It can withstand accidental drops
- Fewer complex features
- Affordable price
- Strong build quality
- Good webcam performance
Cons
- Battery performance could be improved
- Average display
- Limited storage space
- Audio output could be improved
4 Critical factors to consider before buying a laptop for seniors
Finding the right laptop for seniors can be a daunting task. Older adults have a wide range of unique needs. Fortunately, laptop manufacturers have also taken notice of them and are coming up with new ways to meet those needs.
From large print keyboards to touchscreens to simplified processing systems, tons of features are introduced to help seniors stay connected with the technology. When looking for a laptop for your elderly parents or grandparents, it is important to look at their individual needs. What are their limitations? How do you think they will use the laptop? Knowing the answer to these questions will help you pick the right one for your loved one.
Here are a few considerations you must keep in mind while laptop shopping for your elderly family member:
Physical disabilities
With age comes wisdom, but in some cases, arthritis or hand pain too. Therefore, a laptop with a touchscreen or full-sized keyboard can be ideal. Also, for seniors with hearing issues, you must look for laptops with great quality built-in speakers along with Bluetooth connectivity. If your elderly loved one wears a hearing aid, they can easily connect their laptop to it via Bluetooth.
For seniors with vision impairment, you must look for laptops with larger screen sizes and accessibility settings for further assistance. These options include screen readers to read the text aloud or color settings to help with their vision impairments.
Ease of use
When looking to buy a laptop for elderly parents, the most crucial aspect to consider is the ease of use. Else a device with complicated technology will just be placed on the top shelves or somewhere else safe. The best laptops for seniors have user-friendly and intuitive interfaces that guide them through themselves.
Since many older people have memory issues and find it difficult to remember passwords or pins, a laptop with a fingerprint reader can provide a hassle-free login experience. Also, it will help them make easy and quick payments.
Furthermore, laptops with a helpful AI companion such as Siri, Alexa, or Cortana can enhance the accessibility for the seniors to a great extent. With the help of any of these companions, your elderly parent will perform custom operations with voice control eliminating the hassle of navigating through countless options. Choose a laptop that makes their lives easier!
Size and weight
The laptop’s size and weight should also be paid close attention to when buying for seniors. A bulky laptop will be difficult to carry, and it can also cause or worsen back problems in seniors. Therefore, you must stick to laptops that weigh around 2 to 3 pounds.
Webcam quality
It is difficult for older people on the verge of retirement to catch up on their children, siblings, or friends who have settled in different countries. However, they can connect with them through video chatting and be a part of their special occasions.
Therefore, you must choose a laptop with a high-grade HD webcam for a better video chatting experience. Else, your elderly loved one will miss out on many special memories because of poor webcam quality.
Conclusion:
Are you looking for the best birthday or Thanksgiving gift for your elderly parents or grandparents? What could be better than gifting them a user-friendly laptop? A laptop will add a lot of value in enhancing the quality of life of your elderly loved ones. It will be the right gadget for them to stay connected with the world and also stay amused for hours.
However, with hundreds and thousands of laptops available, how do you choose the right one for them? There are many products to compare, factors to consider, and reviews to check. However, we have saved you from the hassle of navigating through countless websites and getting yourself overwhelmed with too many options.
In our article, we have included the best laptops for seniors that have fewer complex features and are designed to meet their unique needs. If you want a perfect laptop with incredible battery life and outstanding performance for your elderly loved one, LG Gram 14 is the perfect choice for you. Your elderly loved one will definitely appreciate your thoughtful gift. Pick the right one and show them how much you care!
