If you are looking for laptops that are the best fit for older people, we prepared this guide just for you. The best laptop for senior citizens is easy to use, affordable, and portable. We have done plenty of research while keeping these features in mind to help you get a great laptop that suits your needs.
Our Top Laptops for Senior Citizens
After reading innumerable customer reviews, getting expert opinions, and sieving through a plethora of laptops online, we have identified the following as the best companions for older people.
Best Overall Laptop for Senior Citizens: Apple 13″ MacBook Air
When it comes to MacBooks, there is very little to say. Not because there is nothing to say, their reputation is an open book. The 13-inch MacBook Air is undeniably a leader in the Mac space.
Like most MacBooks, the Air 13 packs a set of features that makes it easy for the elderly while it provides a satisfying laptop experience. Packing an Intel Core i5 processor means this laptop can breeze through daily tasks while also taking on medium gaming, image editing, and video streaming.
Senior citizens looking for a laptop to watch movies, browse the internet, or write their emails will find the MacBook Air 13 a welcome companion. With 8GB of RAM, you can open multiple browser tabs and run apps concurrently without bottlenecking the performance.
While this 2017 model is much cheaper than the latest MacBook air, very little has changed especially in terms of performance. You will still get the same nice keyboard for speedy typing while also enjoying long battery life. However, if you want even better performance with an improved design, you can opt for the 2020 model.
The 2017 MacBook Air comes with a display that is very friendly to the elderly. It is sharp with plausible color accuracy and friendly brightness. The famed retina display comes up upped resolution so senior people can view the screen’s content without straining. It comes with an IPS panel to provide wider viewing angles compared to other laptops in the same price range.
The battery life is also pretty decent. You can use the laptop for up to 10 hours without having to recharge. This is ideal if you plan on using the laptop away from the power source most of the time.
If you are going to be typing regularly, you will find the MacBook air keyboard a joy to type with. The keys are well spaced will nice travel and satisfying clicky feedback.
What We Like
- Sharp retina display
- Long battery life
- Portable
- Comfortable keyboard for speedy typing
What We Don’t Like
- A bit pricey
- Older model
- 1.8 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Processor
- Intel HD Graphics 6000
- Fast SSD Storage
Best Laptop for Senior Citizens for the Money: ASUS ZenBook Flip 14
The ultra-slim ASUS ZenBook Flip 14 is the perfect option for seniors who travel from time to time. What is more, the laptop is convertible which means you can use it a standard clamshell laptop or a tablet. This way, you will be able to easily transition between different modes without buying a separate tablet.
This laptop is an ideal option for browsing the net, watching movies, writing emails, or reading eBooks while relaxing at home. It is cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air so if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, we recommend you consider this model.
The older version of the Asus ZenBook 14 ran on a Core M3 processor which was pretty unreliable. This latest model packs a much faster Intel Core i5 CPU. This means that you can browse the net, run popular programs such as Skype when video calling or even check the weather on Yahoo! without your laptop slowing down.
On top of that, you get 8GB of RAM and 256GB PCIe storage which helps to significantly boost performance. With 8GB of RAM, your laptop with boot up more quickly while 256GB allows you to store as many files and multimedia as possible.
The SSD storage will ensure faster booting time and quickly opening different software. For instance, you can painlessly fire up Skype and enjoy a long video call with your loved ones without any interference. You will also be able to seamlessly write emails, watch your favorite shows on Netflix, and follow up on current news online without any frustrations.
The 14-inch display is truly remarkable. This size being the sweet spot for senior citizens with eye problems, you can expect a grasping viewing experience on the bezel-stripped display.
Just like the MacBook Air, the FHD display also utilizes an IPS panel for better viewing angles when watching movies or reading emails. Even more importantly for seniors, there is an anti-glare finish which ensures that your eyes do not take a toll when using the laptop for long hours.
What We Like
- Sharp display for comfortable viewing
- Decent processor for smooth performance
- Slim and portable design
- Comfortable keyboard
- Wide viewing angles
- Convertible design
What We Don’t Like
- A bit pricey
- Average sound quality
- 14" Wide-view full HD NanoEdge bezel touch convertible Display in a 13.3” chassis and Windows 10...
- Latest 8th generation Intel Core i5-8265u Quad Core Processor (6M Cache, up to 3.9 GHz)
- Fast storage and memory featuring 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 8GB LPDDR3 RAM
Best Cheap Laptop for Senior Citizens: HP Pavilion 17
It’s hard to come across a laptop as big as the HP Pavilion 17 that still affords to be on the budget category. We recommend this laptop for seniors that need a big display and don’t have a lot to spend.
The Pavilion 17 packs an 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 1TB HDD storage. While this is not the most impressive set of specifications, there is still plenty of performance power.
We found that the speakers are not as loud as those of the MacBook Air so we wouldn’t recommend it for seniors with hearing problems. However, a budget external speaker should be able to easily offset this compromise.
While the keyboard is not remarkable, we would still give it a slightly above average score. Assuming you are not going to be typing most of the time, this is not an issue you should be finicky about. Being a 17-inch laptop, you should expect well-spaced out keys on a full-sized keyboard.
The display is the Pavilion 17’s major selling point. We found it to be as bright as that of the MacBook Air. Of course, this big much bigger and cheaper makes it an obvious choice for senior citizens whose top priority is the display. We highly recommend it for seniors with vision impairment.
Although the HD+ resolution is not something modern computer nerds would give a thought, most seniors are not going to sulk over it.
Since this laptop is bulky owing to its huge display, we would only recommend it for seniors who won’t have to move around with it. While it’s great for using in the house, it can be a pain to carry it around all the time.
What We Like
- Huge display
- Affordable
- Impressive processor
- Sufficient storage options
What We Don’t Like
- Weakling speakers
- Bulky due to the huge display
- 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8265U mobile processor, Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way...
- 17.3" HD display. BrightView glossy screen maintains the vivid colors in your photos and videos....
- 8GB system memory for advanced multitasking, 256GB PCI-e Solid State Drive.
What to Consider in a Good Laptop for Senior Citizens
When buying a laptop for older people, you will have to be a bit more careful and really think about what will click and what will not. If you don’t have any knowledge about computers, it’s hard to know what’s best for you. These are some of the most essential features in a good laptop for senior citizens.
Screen Size and Quality
A bigger screen would be a better fit for senior citizens with eye problems. While bigger screens do not necessarily make their content bigger, they will be able to fit more inside its bezels.
You can of course increase font sizes and pretty much everything by playing around with the settings. Otherwise, if you don’t have any vision issues, you should focus more on the pixel count that size.
Higher resolution will make everything easier to see. While HD should be enough for most senior citizens, you can make your experience even more exciting by opting for a Full HD resolution.
Sound
While most laptops do not have speakers as powerful as those of their desktop companions you should be able to get some great options if you shop around long enough.
If you’re going to depend mostly on audio while using the laptop, you should make it a priority. Whether movies, listening to music, following video presentations or video conferencing, make sure you’re able to hear everything without straining.
Read customer reviews, pay attention to what other customers say about audio quality.
Although you can use an external speaker or headphones for a better audio experience, this is not something most old people would agree to.
Weight
While bigger screens are better for seniors, they are going to make the laptop heavier. This is not good news if you move around a lot and like to tag your laptop along. If you travel or move around most of the time, we recommend the Asus ZenBook Flip or MacBook Air.
Otherwise, for seniors who spend most of their time indoors, the 17.3-inch HP Pavilion would be a great choice.
Conclusion
There is always the uncertainty of not knowing what to look for when buying a laptop for senior people. This guide should help you figure out what features to prioritize in order to ensure that you buy a laptop that provides the best computer experience for older people.