Not everyone is interested in shopping for the latest and greatest laptops money has to buy.
This article is for all non-techies who get intimidated shopping for the “best laptop.” I’ve reviewed some of the most intuitive and responsive laptops on the market, taking into account beginners such as students, folks working at home, and even seniors looking to replace their tablets.
I found that the HP Chromebook x360 is the best laptop for non techies. Thanks to Chrome OS, beginner laptop users can easily navigate applications on a fast, secure, and responsive interface. Its touchscreen display and ergonomic hinge design also make it an easy transition for tablet users.
12.81 x 8.65 x 0.72 inches
9.68 x 14.09 x 0.64 inches
15.98 x 10.08 x 0.78 inches
14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches
Bluetooth
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth
Gigabit Ethernet
USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate
microSD media card reader
Headphone/microphone jack combo
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
USB 2.0 Type-A
HDMI 1.4
3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Headphone out
Micro SD card reader
LAN
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
Headphone/microphone combo jack
USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
12.81 x 8.65 x 0.72 inches
Bluetooth
USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate
microSD media card reader
Headphone/microphone jack combo
9.68 x 14.09 x 0.64 inches
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
Bluetooth 5.0
15.98 x 10.08 x 0.78 inches
Bluetooth 5.0
USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C
USB 2.0 Type-A
HDMI 1.4
3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
Headphone out
Micro SD card reader
14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches
Bluetooth
Gigabit Ethernet
LAN
USB 2.0
USB 3.0
Headphone/microphone combo jack
USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
Table of Contents
Best Laptop for Non Techie: HP Chromebook x360
- Brand: HP
- Series: Chromebook x360
- Operating System: Chrome OS
- Processor: Intel Pentium Silver processor
- Graphics and Video Support: Intel UHD Graphics 605
- RAM: 4 GB LPDDR4
- Hard Drive: 64 GB SSD
- Display: 14-inch FHD IPS micro-edge bezel (touchscreen)
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Keyboard: Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader
- Trackpad: HP ImagePad with Multi-touch gesture
- Wireless Type: 802.11ac, Bluetooth
- Ports: 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-C 5Gbps signaling rate (SuperSpeed USB Type-A 5Gbps signaling rate, DisplayPort 1, USB Power Delivery); 1 microSD card reader; 1 headphone/mic jack combo
- Camera: HP Wide Vision 720p HD camera, integrated dual array microphones
- Audio: Bang & Olufsen Dual Speakers
- Security: H1 Secure Microcontroller
- Average Battery Life (in hours): 14.5 Hours
- Chassis: Magnesium
- Item Weight: 3.6 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 12.81 x 8.65 x 0.72 inches
- Warranty: 1-year limited hardware warranty, 90-day phone support'
Chromebooks are the cheapest laptops you’ll find on the market, but that doesn’t mean they lack in functionality. Most Chromebooks are made with lasting build quality coupled with the insanely fast and intuitive user interface. Thanks to Chrome OS and its innovative hinge design, the HP Chromebook x360 is on top of our list as the best laptop for non-techies.
Here’s why a Chromebook is your best choice: it’s equipped with Chrome OS, an incredibly secure and no-frills Windows alternative. Let’s face it, non-techie laptop users aren’t looking for the most powerful hardware and ultra-fast performance, and what they’re looking for is a simple and intuitive way to handle everyday tasks, and that’s what Chrome OS is all about.
Surf the web, listen to music, call your loved ones, or send an email – thanks to Chrome OS, accessing all these apps is quick, easy, and painless. There’s not much of a learning curve, all you have to do is familiarize yourself with the apps and settings, and that’s it.
Now let’s get into the stunning display –– the HP Chromebook x360 features a 14-inch FHD touchscreen display that supports a 4K display and has a 178-degree viewing angle. While this isn’t the largest screen size on the market, most laptop users will find this size sufficient for their everyday productivity and entertainment tasks.
Another feature that makes the Chromebook x360 user-friendly is its highly responsive and easy-to-read backlit keyboard. It’s also got a no-fuss fingerprint reader, no complications for world-class security. I also liked the multi-gesture trackpad, which makes it easy to navigate, zoom, and scroll. When I’m tired of using the keyboard and trackpad, I’ll flip the screen and use the Chromebook x360 as a tablet. When I’m tired of that
Most non-techies used to touchscreen displays don’t want to deal with an unresponsive trackpad, which is understandable. The HP Chromebook x360 features an ergonomic touchscreen display and hinge design. This allows you to transform the laptop into a tablet, tent, and studio. With that much flexibility, every laptop beginner, including students and seniors, will find the right mode that’s the easiest to work with.
Best Productivity Laptop for Non Techie: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch
- Brand: Apple
- Series: MacBook Pro
- Operating System: macOS
- CPU: 2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz, with 12MB shared L3 cache
- Graphics and Video Support: Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Configurable with AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4GB of GDDR6 memory and automatic graphics switching_
- RAM: 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 (Up to 64 GB)
- Hard Drive: 512GB or 1TB SSD (Up to 8 TB)
- Display: 16.0-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
- Screen Resolution: 3072x1920 native resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
- Keyboard: Intel Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID, Dedicated Escape Key, Inverted T arrows
- Trackpad: Force Touch Trackpad
- Wireless Type: Wi-Fi, 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
- Ports: Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports with support for: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt (up to 40 Gbps), USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps)
- Camera: 720p HD
- Audio: Six-speaker sound system, Dual force-canceling woofers, Studio-quality three-microphone array
- Security: Touch Bar and Touch ID, T2 Security Chip
- Average Battery Life (in hours): 11 Hours
- Chassis: Magnesium
- Item Weight: 4.3 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 9.68 x 14.09 x 0.64 inches
- Warranty: 1-year Limited Warranty
A MacBook is a solid choice if you’re looking for a laptop for non-techies. While I’m sure a lot of people will argue, there’s no denying that MacBooks are becoming more intuitive than ever. It’s super responsive, offering smooth performance, easy to read displays, and macOS is arguably one of the easiest operating systems to navigate.
Let’s be honest, MacBooks aren’t the cheapest options out there. While most people would get a MacBook Pro for complicated photo and video editing, that doesn’t mean non-techies won’t get their money’s worth with this laptop. Here are just a few reasons why the MacBook Pro is best for beginners:
The display’s one of the best you’ll find! Offering choices from 13 to 16-inches, MacBook displays provide better resolution than your standard FHD screen thanks to its retina display. Aside from that, you also get higher brightness levels and an impressively wide color gamut.
Many non-techies are intimidated by keyboards and trackpads. The next best thing to getting a touchscreen laptop is a laptop like the MacBook Pro. It’s got an ultra-responsive keyboard and trackpad with a great tactile feel. The keyboard also has huge backlit letters that make typing easy. This is an excellent option for seniors who might have little finger dexterity and strength when typing long documents and emails.
If you’re used to Windows, the learning curve on a macOS might seem steep. However, if you try out the MacBook, you’ll notice that app updates are much easier than a Windows laptop. Almost all software is readily accessible, and it’s not likely you’ll deal with viruses and troubleshooting thanks to macOS’ stellar security and performance.
Best Work from Home Laptop for Non Techie: ASUS VivoBook 17
- Brand: ASUS
- Series: VivoBook 17
- Operating System: Windows 10 Home
- Processor: Intel Core i7-1165G7 Processor (12M Cache, up to 4.7 GHz, 4 cores)
- Graphics and Video Support: Intel UHD Graphics or NVIDIA® GeForce® MX1150
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 RAM (Up to 128 GB)
- Hard Drive: 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD (Up to 2TB)
- Display: 17.3 inches FHD Display
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Keyboard: Backlit/Fingerprint reader
- Trackpad: Precision trackpad
- Wireless Type: Wi-Fi6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
- Ports: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 2.0 Type-A, HDMI 1.4, 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, Headphone out, Micro SD card reader
- Camera: 720p HD
- Audio: SonicMaster, Audio by ICEpower, With Cortana Support
- Security: BIOS Booting User Password Protection, Trusted Platform Module (Firmware TPM), BIOS setup user password, Fingerprint sensor integrated with Touchpad
- Average Battery Life (in hours): 7 Hours
- Chassis: Aluminum
- Item Weight: 5.07 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 15.98 x 10.08 x 0.78 inches
- Warranty: 1-year Limited Warranty
The ASUS VivoBook 17 is a thin and portable laptop that’s your best option if you’re working from home. The Asus Vivobook 17 guarantees a powerful and smooth user experience thanks to its stellar multitasking capabilities coupled with responsive features.
We should begin by saying that Windows 10 isn’t the easiest operating system for beginners. However, it does use a familiar interface and start menu that’s easy to get to grips with. Windows 10 Home also ensures faster boot times and enhanced protection, with less work on your part. It’s a great option if you’re just looking to browse the web, use basic productivity apps, and access media files. You can also adjust ease of access settings on Windows 10 Home to make your laptop easier to use.
With an Intel Core i7 processor and a 16GB RAM that’s configurable to 128 GB, your Asus Vivobook is guaranteed to offer fast performance with zero lags, especially if you’re only looking to do basic tasks like accessing social media networks and browsing the web.
The graphics processor is either Intel UHD graphics or a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics card, both powerful options that ensure a smooth viewing experience.
At a pretty reasonable price, you get a huge 17-inch display. While there’s nothing wrong with the more 13 to 15-inch screens out there, those extra two inches will make a huge for non-techie seniors with some vision problems. A huge FHD screen will ensure that non-techies won’t miss a single detail, whether they’re reading a document, looking at photos, or making an important video call.
The thin bezel display ensures a larger screen-to-body ratio of 85%, giving room for an HD camera that’s great for video chats and conferences.
Another feature that makes the Asus Vivobook 17 an excellent option for non-techies is its responsive and easy-to-read keyboard. It’s got an ergonomic travel distance and a powerful backlight that makes it easy to type even in low light conditions. What’s more, it’s backed with an Ergolift design, ensuring comfortable typing positions – a great feature for a work-from-home laptop!
The touchpad is integrated with a built-in fingerprint sensor, so you don’t need to type in your password each time.
Best Budget-Friendly Laptop for Non Techie: Acer Aspire 5
- Brand: Acer
- Series: Aspire 5
- Operating System: Windows 10 S
- Processor: 11th Generation Intel Core i3-1115G4 or Intel Core i5-1135G7
- Graphics and Video Support: Intel UHD or Intel Iris Xe
- RAM: 4GB or 8 GB DDR4
- Hard Drive: 512GB SSD
- Display: 15.6' FHD Non-touch
- Screen Resolution: 1920 x 1080
- Keyboard: Acer FineTip keyboard
- Trackpad: Multi-gesture precision touchpad
- Wireless Type:802.11a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth, Gigabit Ethernet
- Ports: HDMI, LAN, USB 2.0, USB 3.0 Headphone/microphone combo jack, USB-C 3.1 Gen 1
- Camera: 720p HD
- Audio: Stereo speakers, dual microphone
- Security: Kensington security slot
- Average Battery Life (in hours): 7 Hours
- Chassis: Aluminum
- Item Weight: 3.97 pounds
- Product Dimensions: 14.31 x 9.86 x 0.71 inches
The Acer Aspire 5 is a capable and budget-friendly laptop for non-techie users. Despite its low price tag, it’s an exciting device that can handle everything from your work tasks, social responsibilities and to your entertainment needs.
The Acer Aspire 5 runs on Windows 10 S, which is great if you want to install basic programs like Microsoft Office and entry-level games. Windows 10 S is also great for avoiding viruses and hacking – providing secure, fast, and simpler operations compared to your full Windows 10 operating system.
With that, Windows 10 S makes it easy to fulfill your everyday work tasks. Multitasking won’t be a problem thanks to its powerful processors and ample memory.
Another thing I like about the Acer Aspire 5 series is that it comes in two versions: Intel Core i3 and Intel Core i5. Of course, for most users, the first option is more than enough, offering fast performance thanks to 4 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and Intel UHD graphics. If you’d like something more advanced than that, get the Core i5 version with 8 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD, and Intel Iris XE graphics,
What I like most about the Acer Aspire 5 is the display –– offering exceptional color and brightness for its affordable price. The keyboard and touchpad work great too, and a sensitive fingerprint reader is added for extra security. I found the keyboard to have a great travel distance and a tactile feel that’s easy to type with.
It also has lots of connectivity ports, including a USB-C, HDMI, and Gigabit Ethernet.
If you’re like me, you’ll be more than happy with an ergonomic and easy-to-use laptop with reliable features for your basic productivity tasks and entertainment needs. You don’t have to buy the most expensive laptop if you’re just looking for a device to browse the web, watch movies, send emails, or make a video call.
What makes a good non-techie laptop?
Ease of Use
The most important factor for non-techies is ease of use, or basically how intuitive a laptop is.
Innovative features that take ease of use to the next level include security capabilities like fingerprint sensors or facial recognition for easy access.
Touchscreens also make laptops easier to use. While there are many responsive and ergonomic keyboards and trackpads, most people will prefer the one-click functionality of a touchscreen.
Simple design and user interface
A beginner laptop doesn’t need expensive and top-of-the-line features.
The best non-techie laptop perfects the most basic functions with a simple yet ergonomic design, including the keyboard, trackpad, and hinge.
When it comes to the CPU, you don’t necessarily have to have the latest generation, but make sure it isn’t too old either. An Intel Core i5 or i3 is enough for most beginners, allowing smooth web browsing and other basic applications.
Basic graphics like Intel UHD are also sufficient if you’re not a heavy gamer or content creator.
Reliability
A non-techie’s worst fear is being left alone with a malfunctioning laptop.
You can get an idea of laptop reliability by reading customer reviews, comparing warranties, and checking out the manufacturer’s customer support services.