Which is the best computer for elderly persons who come in the age range of the 60s to 80s? This is a difficult question and is in no way meant to indicate that older persons have limited skills or mobility. Simply put, the past generations did not grow up being inundated by screens and, thus, might face some age-linked challenges when working on computers.
Though the older generations have worked on computers for several years, yet they get confused with recent technology. Not only is that frustrating for them, but also for the younger generations who have to assist them from far away.
Now, let us assume you have a parent who is struggling with an old computer, one that takes around 10-15 minutes to start or does not connect with the printer or contains a virus. Or maybe your parents have never used a computer, but now want to rummage through their grandchildren’s’ digital photos or partake in Zoom meetings. Whatever may be the situation, you may want to know the best personal computer to purchase for your parents or recommend suitable ones for them, so they can buy one themselves.
So, here we have listed some important considerations before you embark on your spree of selecting computers for senior persons.
Contents
Best 7 Laptops for Seniors
Affiliate Disclaimer: This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
| Laptops for Seniors | Processor | Graphics | Battery Life | Memory | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro | 6-Core Intel Core i7 Processor | Intel UHD Graphics 630 | 11 hours | 64 GB | 1TB SSD |
| Lenovo Flex 5 | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor | AMD Radeon Graphics | 10 hours | 16GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD |
| ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop | Intel Core M3-8100Y Processor | Intel HD Graphics 615 | 8 Hours | 8 GB | 64GB eMMC |
| Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 | Intel Core m3 | Intel HD Graphics 615 | 10 Hours | 4GB RAM | 64GB eMMC |
| ASUS ZenBook | Intel Core i7-10510U | GeForce GTX 1650 | 11 hours and 28 minutes | 16 GB | 512GB PCIe SSD |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 7 | 10th Gen Intel Core i5 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics (i7, i5) Intel UHD Graphics (i3) | 10.5 hours | 8 GB | 128GB SSD |
| HP Pavilion x360 | Intel Core i5 | Intel UHD Graphics | 9 Hours | 8 GB | 512 GB SSD Storage |
1. Apple MacBook Pro (16 Inches)
Apple MacBook Pro (16 Inches) is probably the most reliable laptops that a senior can get their hands on it. Apple MacBook Pro has got an undeniably classy look and its 16-inch Retina Display adds to its grandeur. Inclusion of True Tone technology ensures an immersive viewing experience for the elderly people. Apple MacBook Pro is known for its blazing fast speed and performance. This MacBook comes standard with an 8-Core processor that makes it blazing fast no matter how many tabs you are opening or how heavy applications you are using. Fast rendering of applications is made possible by its AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics card.
It comes fitted with Intel Core i9 Processor that makes it one of the most powerful laptops available in the market. It offers superior performance for longer period of time and that too without causing any heating problem. Compared to a Quad-Core MacBook Pro, this Apple MacBook Pro is 2 times faster.
Apple MacBook Pro has got one of its kind thermal architecture that allows it to stay cool even under extreme circumstances. To improve its cooling ability, this new Apple MacBook Pro has got more fins to dissipate heats, better fan blades to ensure proper airflow and extra-large impellers.
Multitasking is a breeze in Apple MacBook Pro. You can fit up to 64 DDR4 RAM inside it to improve its overall performance. If you are one of those seniors who love editing large images or videos, you are going to fall in love with this. Typing is super fun with this Apple MacBook Pro. It does not make much noise while typing.
2. Lenovo Flex 5
Lenovo Flex 5 is another versatile laptop that can meet the requirements of elderly people. It has not a nice stylish look and it is ultra-lightweight. It weighs just around 3.6 pound and you will get a Digital Pen with it. Extremely easy to use, Lenovo Flex 5 has got a decent FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS touchscreen which is more than enough to do basic stuff. The most amazing thing about Lenovo Flex 5 is that it can be used in different modes. Use the 360⁰ hinge to your advantage and you will be pleasantly surprised how you can versatile this Lenovo Flex 5 is. For binge-watching, you can try the Stand Mode or you can use it like a traditional laptop just to get things done fast. For sharing images, videos etc, Tent mode is an ideal choice whereas Tablet mode is preferable for painting or similar activities.
Lenovo Flex 5 has got a powerful battery that can last for 10 hours at a stretch when charged fully. The battery also does not take long to get fully recharged. It just needs 90 minutes or less than that to get fully recharged. Lenovo Flex 5 comes loaded with Radeon graphics and AMD Ryzen 5 4500U mobile processor that makes multitasking a breeze. If you are into content creation, you are going love this laptop.
A seamless all-around performance is what you can expect from this Lenovo Flex 5. Powerful and highly flexible, this Lenovo Flex 5 will help you get things done in a record time and thereby allowing you to free up more time to get involved in other leisurely activities. Lenovo Flex 5 is basically a perfect fusion of power, performance, productivity and perfection.
3. ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop has got ultra-narrow bezels and hot a 360-degree hinge that allows users to transform it into a table in a matter of second. Full HD 1920×1080 is definitely one of its main USPs. It has got a powerful Intel Core m3-8100Y Processor that allows users to use heavy applications without causing any lags or disruptions like heating it or making it unresponsive every now and then. People who are in the habits of opening multiple apps or like to keep multiple tabs opens for some unknown reasons, this is the laptop they need to get their hands on it.
ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop has got built-in virus protection and can boot in seconds which is impressive. It is super light; just weighs around 3 lbs and it is ultra-slim. Four-sided NanoEdge display offers an immersive viewing experience that you will unlikely to experience in any other Chromebook at this price point. If you like binge-watching, you are definitely going to like this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop for sure. Experience borderless display and vivid colors with this ASUS Chromebook Flip C434 2-In-1 Laptop.
4. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2
Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is another powerful laptop that elderly people can get their hands on without burning a hole in their pocket. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 flaunts a 2-in-1 design and that can it can double as a tablet and laptop; all you have to do is to use the hinge to transform this fully functional tablet into an elegant looking tablet. Tablet mode is ideal for browsing the web or viewing some random YouTube videos. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is extremely lightweight. It weighs just around 3 pounds and that means, you can easily carry it around without hurting your shoulder muscles. Powered by an Intel Core m3 processor, this Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 offers decent performance.
You will get 64 GB of built-in memory but you can always increase it by inserting an external microSD card. Use the built-in pen to give your creativity wings. You don’t have to charge this built-in pen which is quite convenient and you can use this Pen to capture screenshots, edit images, write something or do some sketches. The battery can last for 10 hours and thereby giving you more time to do stuff without shutting it down to get it recharged completely first.
5. ASUS ZenBook
ASUS ZenBook is another decent laptop that senior people can purchase to get things done. It flaunts an ultracompact design and it is extremely lightweight too. 4K UHD 4-way NanoEdge bezel display makes viewing spectacular and immersive. It weighs just 3.6 lbs and it is smaller than its predecessor. To boost productivity, ASUS ZenBook has added touchscreen to improve interactivity of this laptop. Experience new generation computing with this ASUS ZenBook. The most unique thing about this ASUS ZenBook is that it helps increasing productivity and it has got smartphone-like interface that makes it convenient for elderly people to perform daily tasks with ease and eloquence. If you want to boost your productivity level one step further, all you have to do is to use the ASUS utility apps a try.
ASUS ZenBook comes fitted with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics that will help render high resolutions images with immaculate perfection and will give the performance of this laptop a shot in the arm. 10th generation Intel Core i7-10510U Quad Core Processor makes multitasking as easy as falling off a log. 16GB RAM is more than enough to get you through the day. It comes equipped with 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD which is definitely not enough.
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is sleek and stylish laptop that has got all features and firepower to help you complete your tasks without getting bogged down in the process. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is super-fast and comes fitted with powerful battery that can last long. The battery can last 10.5 hours once gets fully charged. It comes standard with 8 GB RAM, 256GB internal space and Intel Core i5. Available in two variants – Matte Black and Platinum, Microsoft Surface Pro 7 lets you personalize it the way you like.
Its ultra-slim design adds to its awesomeness and it is durable enough to survive a fall (hopefully). It takes only a few seconds to boot up and it can be transformed from a fully functional laptop to a tablet in a matter of few seconds. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a next-gen laptop that have multiples modes to let you explore your creative side.
7. HP Pavilion x360
HP Pavilion x360 can easily convert from a tablet to a standard laptop or vice versa in a matter of few seconds. HP Pavilion x360 lets you draw or take notes with ease and eloquence. You will get to play with 4 different modes with this HP Pavilion x360. Since work from home has become a norm these days, HP Pavilion x360 comes equipped with Wi-Fi 6 connection that allows you to stay connected. Wide-angle clarity is definitely one of other interesting features that we should not give a miss. HP Pavilion x360 has done incredible job to keep you safe from unauthorized access while browsing the web.
Since elderly people have become easy target of online scammers, HP has gone one step ahead to make this device as secure as it can get. It draws its power from a super-fast 10th Generation Intel(R) Core (TM) i5-1035G1. Transferring files will not take ages anymore as HP Pavilion x360 comes standard with Solid-State Drive. It has got a decent battery life which is 9 hours 15 minutes.
Buying Guide Best Computer for Senior
The following aspects are important to consider when looking to buy a beginner-friendly computer that older people will find easy to use.
1. Portability
A portable tablet or laptop constitutes a good buy since they can easily be carried from one place to another.
2. Storage Space
If you intend to store many videos or movies or photographs on your computer, then go with computers that offer 500 GB or more storage space. Conversely, if you’re looking for a computer only for daily tasks such as checking emails or storing documents or managing finances, then the ones with memory space ranging from 128 to 256 GB suffices. Also, if you require additional space, later on, you always have the option of buying external hard drives or portable storage devices.
3. Powerful Processor
Nobody likes to deal with a super slow computer. It makes our blood boil. Moreover, senior citizens don’t have all day to send an email or fill out a simple form if the laptop gets hanged every now and then. This is the reason why it is important to invest in a laptop that comes standard with a powerful processor. The processor with a higher clocking speed is highly preferable.
4. Size Of Screen
If you’re comfortable with small screens, then you can opt for the 11 to 13-inch compact monitors; they can easy to carry around for your computer-related tasks. Even so, if you suffer from weak eyesight due to aging or prefer expanded and easy-to-read screens, then you can take your pick from screens starting from 17 inches for laptops and going up to 35 inches for desktop monitors.
5. Random-Access Memory (RAM)
Your computer’s RAM is an important consideration when purchasing a personal computer. The RAM determines the speed and performance of the computer.
For persons who want to keep things simple and need to have only a few tabs open at one time, they can go with computers having a memory of 4 to 6 gigabyte (GB) RAM. And if you want to have many pages open at once, then you can avail of the models with 8 GB or 16 GB RAM.
Only keep in mind that the higher the GB RAM, the more the product will cost.
6. Touch Screen
Elderly people don’t really like to use a mouse all the time to get the job done. They feel comfortable navigating the web with their fingers. However, touchscreen laptops don’t come cheap. You will have to pay a premium price for a Touchscreen Laptop.
7. Simple UX
Modern laptops have already become way too complex to handles even for the tech-savvy groups. When you are shopping for a laptop for an elderly person, you need to keep in mind that the laptop should be easy to use and should offer a simple user experience. Remove all the unnecessary software applications that most of us don’t even use. Keep the focus on performance and not on the features. The navigation should super simple and there should be fewer apps.
8. Compact Size
Size does matter whether you like it not. The laptop should not be too heavy or too bulky because that would make it really hard for senior citizens to move it around. A senior-friendly laptop should have a compact design and should be portable too.
9. Excellent Display
Most elderly people tend to have poor eyesight and that means, you will have to pick a laptop that has got higher resolutions and has got sharper viewing angles otherwise, elderly people might have a hard time while using it.
System Requirements
1. RAM
You simply can’t purchase a laptop with anything less than 8GB RAM because Windows 10 will slow down the laptop and sometimes, it might make it unresponsive. Windows 10 is a resource-hungry OS and it needs at least 8GB of RAM otherwise, you will have to deal with a super slow computer.
2. CPU
A 5th generation Intel Core-i3 processor is sufficient for doing normal tasks like browsing the web or watching cat videos online. But recently more and more elderly people have started working from home and that means, they will need laptops that are reliable and have got all the muscle power to get things done super-fast. So, a Core-i3 processor will not make the cut here. You need to find a laptop with an Intel Core-i5 processor. People with a bigger budget can even go for a Core-i7 processor.
3. Storage
SSD is the preferred choice here if you really value your time. SSD is known for providing superior performance but they have got high price tags associated with them. On the other hand, traditional HDD is available for cheap and offers decent performance.
4. Graphics Card (GPU)
Unless you are doing some serious video editing, you would not need a dedicated GPU. An integrated GPU is more than enough for basic jobs like sending emails, browsing the web, etc. However, if you have the budget, you should opt for a laptop with 2GB dedicated GPU as this will dramatically improve the performance of the laptop.
