It’s the cheapest ARM-powered Windows 10 laptop available, and with a qualcomm snapdragon 7C processor and 4GB RAM it proved speedy enough for our tester’s everyday browsing and homework needs. If you want Windows at a low price, the Samsung Galaxy book go is worth adding to your shortlist. Processor: QualComm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2.

This is a brilliant little machine that our testers voted their overall favourite. Those two alone add at least a couple of hundred pounds onto the price, although it’s well worth the investment. Likewise, the surface pen (£99.99, ), which lets you draw, sketch and colour on the screen, is an add-on. On the subject of budget, it’s worth knowing that the type cover (£124.99, ) – which turns this from a tablet into a laptop with a keyboard and trackpad – isn’t included, so you’ll need to buy this separately. Fortunately there are lots of configuration options, so this is easily done if you’re willing to up your budget.

The basic model comes with 4GB RAM and 64GB storage, which is sufficient for everyday use but will need upgrading if your children are liable to install millions of apps or want to use this for gaming. This little bit of kit can run full Windows 10 at a push, so it’s an affordable option if your kids need to use relatively complex applications for school. But don’t be fooled by its diminutive stature and light weight. Processor: Intel Pentium Gold and Core Mīilled as Microsoft’s smallest, lightest laptop, the surface go 2 is the teeniest model in our shortlist with a compact 10.5in touchscreen.

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