Here are some of the best laptops for seniors that you can buy right now!

If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop for your elderly parents or grandparents, there are some factors you need to consider before you hit the buy button. The best laptops for everyone may not necessarily be premier choices for a senior person. First and foremost, you need to ensure that the intended user is familiar with the operating system of the device you purchase. Secondly, you need to make sure it has a large display (preferably a touch screen), a spacious keyboard and trackpad, good battery life, and still remain portable after fitting in all of this. Finally, you also need to figure out their use case, which will help you narrow down systems based on the performance capabilities. Based on these factors, we’ve curated this list of the best laptops for seniors that you can get right now.

Navigate this guide to the best laptops for seniors:

• Best overall: Apple MacBook Air
• Best Windows alternative: ASUS ZenBook 14
• Affordable Windows option: Acer Aspire 5 Slim
• Top ChromeOS pick: Acer Chromebook Spin 713
• Best pick for iPhone users: iPad with keyboard cover
• Best pick for Android users: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 with keyboard cover

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Best overall: Apple MacBook Air

The Apple MacBook Air is undoubtedly the best option out of this bunch if the intended user already knows their way around macOS. It’s also a great pick for those who haven’t used a PC in a while and are going to start from scratch no matter which operating system you pick. Even though I’ve been a Windows user all my life, I can’t help but agree that macOS is much easier to use, it offers a hassle-free experience, and you rarely have to deal with problems like viruses or bad updates. On top of that, macOS offers a bunch of useful accessibility features that are really handy for people with disabilities.

The new MacBook Air offers all that, and more. It has a decently sized screen, a tactile keyboard, an amazing trackpad, and superb battery life. Thanks to the new M1 chip, it’s also powerful enough to chew through almost anything that you can throw at it. The only drawback of getting the MacBook Air over any of the other laptops on this list is the price. But while it may be expensive, you can rest assured that it’s worth your hard-earned money. Do note that the 13.3-inch display may not be best suited for people with visual disabilities, and you might want to consider going with the 16-inch MacBook Pro instead. However, that will cost you a lot more and you won’t get the Apple M1 chip with that model.

Apple MacBook Air

The Apple MacBook Air is the best laptop for seniors. It offers a hassle free software experience, it's thin and light. And it's powerful enough to blaze through pretty much anything you throw at it.

Starts at $980 on Amazon

Best Windows alternative: ASUS ZenBook 14

While the MacBook Air may be our best pick, it’s not a great option for a Windows veteran even though macOS offers a better experience. For them, an ASUS ZenBook 14 will be a better buy. It features a slightly larger 14-inch display in a similarly thin and lightweight chassis. It’s powered by AMD’s Ryzen 5 4500U processor and an NVIDIA MX350 GPU, so you don’t have to worry about any performance issues. And it features a decent keyboard and large trackpad.

The ASUS ZenBook 14 is also much cheaper than the MacBook Air, starting at under $700 for the 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD variant. Despite the cheaper price tag, the ZenBook 14 can power through most day-to-day tasks with ease, and it also offers a much larger selection of ports that will let you connect a larger display, a better keyboard (like this one that has large legends), and a mouse. And while Windows 10 may not be as great as macOS, it also comes with a decent selection of accessibility features.

ASUS ZenBook 14

The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a great Windows alternative that packs powerful hardware in a thin-and-light chassis. It's got a great selection of I/O ports, a substantially large trackpad, and a decent keyboard.

Starts at $680 on Amazon

Affordable Windows option: Acer Aspire 5 Slim

If you’re looking for a basic Windows system and you don’t want to spend $700 on a laptop that will mostly be used for light tasks, then you can also consider getting the Acer Aspire 5 Slim. At a starting price of under $400, the laptop packs an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, Vega 3 graphics, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SDD. While it may not be as thin and light as the options mentioned above, it does offer a larger 15.6-inch display and a full-sized keyboard to justify the added bulk. However, the trackpad on this model is a fair bit smaller than the other options, so you may want to consider getting a mouse with it.

Another cool thing about the Acer Aspire 5 Slim is that it runs Windows 10 in S mode, which means that the user won’t be able to install any third-party software from outside the Microsoft Store. This drastically decreases the chances of the user unwittingly installing a malicious program from the internet. Additionally, Windows 10 in S mode is a bit zippier than regular Windows 10 and offers better battery life. It’s worth noting that you can also switch out of Windows 10 in S mode if you find it to be restricting, but that’s a one-way street so you may want to weigh all options before taking that step.

Acer Aspire 5 Slim

The Acer Aspire 5 Slim is a good budget pick for Windows users. It offers a large 15.6-inch display, a capable Ryzen processor, and a great selection of I/O ports.

Starts at $365 on Amazon

Top Chrome OS Pick: Acer Chromebook Spin 713

Chrome OS-powered devices, like the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, are also a great pick for seniors who have a primarily browser-based workload. They’re fast, portable, and quite easy to use. And they also give you access to a whole bunch of Android apps, so you can do pretty much everything. The Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a solid option that features a tall 3:2 aspect ratio display, Intel’s 10th Gen Core i5-10210U chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD.

With this kind of hardware coupled with Chrome OS, you can rest assured that the device will deliver great performance and handle most basic tasks with relative ease. Much like the Windows alternatives, it features a good selection of I/O ports, including two USB 3.2 Type-C ports, one USB 3.0 Type-A port, an HDMI port, and a microSD card slot. The inclusion of an HDMI port is especially great, as it will let you connect a larger display if the need arises. If you’re not entirely sold on the Acer Chromebook Spin 713, you can also check out our list of the best Chromebooks to pick another option.

Acer Chromebook Spin 713

If you're open to switching over to Chrome OS, the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 is a good option to get. It has a tall 3:2 display that's great for productivity, capable hardware, and an easy-to-use OS that can get most things done.

Starts at $760 on Amazon

Best pick for iPhone Users: iPad Air with keyboard cover

In case you’re getting the laptop for someone who hasn’t used a PC in a while, I would strongly recommend getting them a tablet instead. An iPad Air will be the best option for an iPhone user, as it will offer them a software experience that they’re already familiar with. And despite its slim form factor, the iPad Air is capable enough for most basic tasks. You’ll just need to get a keyboard cover along with it to get a more traditional laptop experience.

While you can go with Apple’s own Magic Keyboard, I would recommend that you buy the Logitech Folio Touch, as it offers extra protection and costs half as much. With this combo, you’ll be able to do pretty much everything that you can do with a traditional laptop with the added benefit of the combo being much more portable and lightweight. The only drawback of getting this over a laptop would be the small screen size, but you can always go for the larger 12.9-inch iPad Pro to solve that issue.

iPad Air with keyboard

The iPad Air may not be a laptop in the traditional sense, but it's powerful enough to get most things done. Just slap on a keyboard cover and you get an insanely portable laptop at your disposal.

Starts at $560 on Amazon

Best pick for Android users: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 with keyboard cover

Just like the iPad Air is a great option for iPhone users, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a good pick for Android users. It will offer the same software experience as their smartphone, with a much larger display and physical keyboard to get some serious work done.

As with the iPad Air, the Galaxy Tab S7’s 11-inch display may not be ideal for those with visual impairments. So, you can pick the larger Galaxy Tab S7+, which comes with a 12.4-inch display. Both variants come with an S Pen in the box, which is a surprisingly handy tool for all kinds of users. Do note that the keyboard cover is sold separately and it’s essential to get that laptop-like experience.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 with keyboard

For Android users, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 is a great option. It offers a familiar software experience on a much larger display. And it's powerful enough to chew through most basic tasks.

Starts at $580 on Amazon

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That rounds up our list of the best laptops for seniors. Which one out of this lot are you going to pick? I recently bought the Galaxy Tab S7 with the keyboard cover for my grandfather, and he’s quite happy with it. Since he’s been an Android user for a while now, he didn’t face any issues getting a hang of the tablet. And since a vast majority of his work is browser-based, he’s quite pleased with the performance too. The tiny trackpad on the keyboard cover was my only concern with the Galaxy Tab S7, but my grandfather seems to be managing just fine with the touchscreen. I hope you’re able to get similar results with an option that best suits your senior’s needs. In case you’re on the lookout for something a bit more powerful, we’d recommend checking out our list of the best laptops for a more suitable pick.

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Sony may launch a compact smartphone to rival Apple’s iPhone 12 mini

Although Sony may have officially killed off its Xperia “Compact” brand of small form factor flagships, the company has continued to offer a smaller, more handy version of its top-of-the-line flagships over the last couple of years. Following the launch of the last Compact-branded device, the Xperia XZ2 Compact, in 2018, the company launched the Xperia 5 (a smaller version of the Xperia 1) in 2019 and the Xperia 5 II (a smaller version of the Xperia 1 II) in 2020. But both these devices had a much larger footprint than the Xperia XZ2 Compact, making them less suitable alternatives to the recently launched iPhone 12 mini. Thankfully, Sony is reportedly working on bringing back its “Compact” lineup, which will likely offer Android users a better alternative to the iPhone 12 mini.

According to a recent Voice post from renowned leaker OnLeaks, the upcoming Xperia Compact device will be slightly larger than the iPhone 12 mini, measuring in at just 140 x 68.9 x 8.9mm. It will feature a 5.5-inch flat display with a waterdrop-style notch and a chunky bottom bezel. As you can see in the attached renders, the device will feature a dual-camera setup on the back, comprising of a 13MP primary camera and an unspecified secondary camera. It will feature an 8MP selfie shooter over on the front.

The renders further reveal that the upcoming Sony Xperia Compact will include a 3.5mm headphone jack, a side-mounted fingerprint scanner embedded within the recessed power button, and a dedicated camera shutter button. The device also looks to have a USB Type-C port at the bottom, along with a single bottom-firing speaker.

Apple iPhone 12 Mini Hands-on: It’s so tiny

As of now, it isn’t clear if Sony will actually revive the “Compact” branding with this device or not. It also isn’t clear if the device will feature the latest flagship processor from Qualcomm. We’ll update this post as soon as we have more details about the upcoming device.

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The Redmi 7 might just get stable MIUI 12 after all

Xiaomi has a good track record for providing long-time software support to its smartphones irrespective of its price category or segment. While the base Android version may not receive as many updates, the MIUI version for these devices does get a bump up with all the feature improvements in two. So it came as a big surprise when the company announced last month that it was not going to update the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 to MIUI 12. But it looks like at least the Redmi 7 might receive the stable MIUI 12 update after all.

The Chinese variant of the Redmi 7 has received a MIUI 12 “stable beta”, indicating a possibility that the device could see an actual stable update if everything goes according to the plan. The MIUI 12 build, version number V12.0.1.0.QFLCNXM, is based on Android 10 and weighs in at 2.3GB in size. Alongside the usual jump to MIUI and Android versions, the new update also bumps the security patch level to January 2021.

This particular build is a “stable beta“ build for the Chinese region. If this build reaches an acceptable level of stability, it will be rolled out to the stable branch. At the same time, Xiaomi could also pull the build back if there are serious bugs and it may never reach the stable channel — this sometimes happens for older and low-end phones. So even if there’s a chance the Redmi 7 will receive stable MIUI 12, there’s no guarantee that it will indeed be the case.

Barring the front camera, the Redmi 7 and Redmi Y3 are pretty identical in terms of internal hardware. That means there’s also a good chance the Redmi Y3 could follow the footsteps of the Redmi 7 and receive MIUI 12. However, we haven’t seen a similar MIUI 12 beta making its way to the device so far.

The Redmi 7 was launched in March of 2019 and landed on the Indian shores alongside the Redmi Y3 a month after. The phone came running Android 9.0 Pie with MIU 10 on top and was eventually updated to MIUI 11.

Download MIUI 12 (V12.0.1.0.QFLCNXM) for the Redmi 7

Full update changelog for Redmi 7’s MIUI 12 beta update:

• System
  • Optimization: Full-screen gestures are now ignored on the Lock screen alarm page
  • Updated Android Security Patch to January 2021. Increased system security.
• System animations
  • Optimization: Animations in selected scenes
• Control center
  • New: Swipe down from the upper left corner to open Notification shade and from the upper right corner to open Control center
  • Optimization: Control center is now closed by incoming calls
  • Optimization: Control center layout in landscape mode
  • Fix: Control center wasn’t always displayed correctly in landscape mode
• Dark mode
  • Optimization: Brightness and color improvements for wallpapers in Dark mode
• Status bar, Notification shade
  • Fix: Notification shade wasn’t displayed correctly in Dark mode

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Turn your tablet into a PC monitor with Deskreen

Having a secondary screen has its benefits, but buying a second monitor may not always be a feasible solution. If you have a smart device lying around, say like an older tablet, you can now turn it into a secondary monitor for your PC using Deskreen. A free open-source app, Deskreen lets you use any device with a web browser as a second screen over Wi-Fi. Best of all, it offers support for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

The idea behind Deskreen was to offer something similar to what Apple has with Sidecar, allowing you to use your iPad as a secondary screen for your Mac. Even Samsung for that matter has just started offering a similar feature with a new update for its premium tablet, the Galaxy Tab S7. According to the developer of the app, “People nowadays are buying new devices very often and may have an old tablet, phone or laptop that they stopped using. If your old tablet, phone, or laptop is still able to run a browser, Deskreen can help you to bring new life to your old digital buddy, and you can start using it as a second monitor for your laptop.”

The app can work with Wi-Fi or LAN and you can use almost any device with a web browser as a second screen for your computer. Additionally, you can use any device’s web browser to mirror your computer screen or view a single application window from your computer screen. The app also supports multiple screen sharing sessions to as many devices as you want along with end-to-end encryption. To offer improved imaging quality, the app comes with support for changing picture quality while sharing a screen along with an auto quality change feature.

To have an extended desktop experience one needs to use the Dummy Display Plug. What is that? Well, it is a tiny plug similar to a USB flash drive. This is only required to be plugged into your computer to make it think that an external display is connected. According to the Deskreen website, Display Dummy Plugs can be bought in online stores such as Amazon, Aliexpress, eBay, or any of your local tech stores.

The app can be quite useful for someone who wants an inexpensive way to expand your display, especially if you need to monitor data or maybe host a presentation. It also comes across as a good solution if you just need a second screen temporarily and may not always need a second monitor to warrant investment into one.

How to use Deskreen

1. Download the Deskreen app from the official website.
2. After you have installed it, run the app to see a QR code. Scan it with a tablet or phone, or you can manually type the web address given below the QR code in your browser running on the secondary device.
   
3. Once the connection has been established, a pop-up should appear on the app on your PC confirming the IP address, as well as other information including session ID, device OS, and more. Click on allow to start your session.
   
4. Deskreen will now ask you to select what screen source you want to share. You will have the option of either sharing the entire screen or sharing an application window.
   
5. If you want to share an app window, click on the Application Window Button and then click on the preview box to proceed to step seven.
   
6. If you want to share the entire screen click on the ‘Entire Screen’ button. This option can be used if you want to mirror the entire screen or use it as a second screen. For this feature, you need to make sure that a Dummy Display Plug is connected.
7. Double-check everything to make sure the settings and the correct mode has been selected.  If you want to change anything, just click on the green ‘Connected info’ button.
   
8. Once you are set, hit the confirm button at the bottom to start sharing your screen.

You can also check out the video below for more information:

Getting a second screen is actually a good way to boost productivity, especially if you switch between apps or tabs a lot. Deskreen comes off as a neat way to bring some utility to older devices that you may have lying around.

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OnePlus Nord’s second OxygenOS 11 beta brings January 2021 security patches

It has only been about three weeks since the first Android 11-based OxygenOS Open Beta update arrived for the OnePlus Nord. Keeping the update train rolling, the company is now sending out another Open Beta update to the mid-ranger 5G smartphone. The new build might not be a huge update in terms of new features, but it does bring the latest Google Security Patches and a host of welcome bug fixes for the system.

Thanks to OnePlus Community user MihirRaj for the screenshot!

According to OnePlus, the OxygenOS Open Beta 2 for the OnePlus Nord has a couple of enhancements that may improve the day-to-day stability. Fixes have been deployed for the camera, clock, and SMS apps, for instance. Security is now up to date to this month’s (January 2021) patch, although it isn’t mentioned in the official update announcement post. Here’s the full changelog:

• System
  • Optimized the UI display of Calculator
  • Optimized the position and animation of some icons in the lock screen
  • Optimized the background management of Whatsapp to receive more timely messages
  • Fixed the issue that the battery icon is not displayed after the device is rotated from landscape to portrait
  • Fixed the small probability issue where the Dirac Audio Tuner may fail to adjust the sound effect
  • Fixed the small probability issue that alarm clocks can not be set
• Message
  • Fixed the issue that Messenger Bubbles can not pop up
• Camera
  • Fixed the issue with Histogram and horizontal reference line being turned off by default
  • Fixed the flashing issue with the icon of Depth effect while shooting with portrait mode
• Network
  • Fixed the issue that SIM 2 can not be set as the default card

OnePlus Nord XDA Forums

Download: OxygenOS Open Beta 2 for the OnePlus Nord

As usual, we have the download links for the update right here.

• Open Beta 2:
  • Europe:
    • Full OTA
    • Incremental OTA from OB1
  •  Global:
    • Full OTA
    • Incremental OTA from OB1
  • India:
    • Full OTA
    • Incremental OTA from OB1

You can either download the full OTA if you want to upgrade from OnePlus Nord’s stable Android 10 release or you’re rooted, or you can download the incremental package if you’re already on Open Beta 1 and you haven’t modified the software. Either way, you can sideload the OTA by copying it to your phone’s internal storage and then choosing the “Local upgrade” option in the system updater app.

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Thanks to XDA Senior Member Some_Random_Username for providing the download links!

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Xiaomi Mi Band 6 tipped to feature GPS, Sp02, and Amazon Alexa support

Xiaomi’s Mi Band is one of the most popular fitness trackers in the entry-level segment and the company keeps on setting a new benchmark with each new release. The Mi Band 5, which launched in China in June before subsequently hitting the international markets, holds the fort as the most feature-packed fitness tracker that Xiaomi has to offer for now. But that is set to change as work is already underway for its successor in the form of the Mi Band 6.

A fresh report suggests that Xiaomi is working on a new device that could turn out to be the Mi Band 6. This leak comes from a brand-new website set up by user “Magical Unicorn”, who is a well-known leaker of Mi Band and Huami wearables over on the GeekDoing forums. Magical Unicorn confirmed the mention of a new device, codename “Pangu”, and model number XMSH16HM, while inspecting the code of Zepp application — Zepp, formerly known as Amazfit, is a companion app for Huami’s Amazfit lineup of smartwatches and fitness trackers. The info unearthed from the firmware file reveals two Mi Band 6 models: a China variant (XMSH16HM) and a global version (XMSH15HM). The Chinese variant appears to have NFC onboard but it’s unclear whether the global model will feature it as well.

Moving on, the Resource file reveals some of the possible features of the Mi Band 6 including a SpO2 sensor, Alexa support, and more. One of the biggest things revealed by the leak is that the Mi Band 6 might come with built-in GPS which could be a big deal. Following strings were found withing the Firmware file:

Open Mi Fit and turn on GPS on your phone
GPS is available
GPS signal is weak
Lost GPS signal
Couldnt position the GPS, please try again in an open space.
Couldnt position the GPS, open the app to update the AGPS to speed up the positioning.
GPS signal recovery
Couldnt position the GPS, it will be repositioned.
GPS is turned off automatically after 30 minutes of inactivity.
The app needs to be opened and GPS location permissions must be granted in order to use this workout.

The Mi Band 6 will also feature updated animations for Success, Update, and Heart Rate.

Furthermore, the Mi Band 6 could offer a bigger screen along with reworked watch faces and will also support displaying notifications with emoticons (currently, users have to install a custom font package to support emoji).

The new band is also expected to offer tracking across more physical activities than the Mi Band 5. These are the 19 new activities found within the Resource file:

• Indoor fitness
• Indoor ice skating
• HIIT
• Core training
• Stretching
• Stepper
• Gymnastics
• Pilates
• Street dance
• Dance
• Zumba
• Cricket
• Bowling
• Basketball
• Volleyball
• Table tennis
• Badminton
• Boxing
• Kickboxing

Other possible features of the Mi Band 6 include the ability to set alarms directly from the band, the ability to lock screen while swimming, the Pomodoro timer for better productivity, and the ability to view sleep data right from the band.

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Featured image: Mi Band 5

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Clubhouse says it’s making an Android app

Popular audio-based social networking platform Clubhouse has seen tremendous growth over the last few months. The invite-only service, which is currently only available for iPhone users, has already reached over 600,000 registered users and it now plans to tap into the Android userbase.

In a recent blog post, Clubhouse announced that it has secured a second round of funding led by Andreessen Horowitz through the firm’s partner Andrew Chen. The company plans to use the new funds to introduce new products, including an Android app to bring the unique service to a wider audience. The post notes: “From the earliest days, we’ve wanted to build Clubhouse for everyone. With this in mind, we are thrilled to begin work on our Android app soon, and to add more accessibility and localization features so that people all over the world can experience Clubhouse in a way that feels native to them.”

Along with the Android app, Clubhouse plans to use the funds to scale its technology and infrastructure, offer faster support to users, improve ranking and discovery, and introduce a new Creator Grant Program to support creators on the platform. The new Creator Grant Program is especially important for Clubhouse’s longevity, as it will provide an incentive to new creators to hop onto the platform and also help the platform make some money in the process. Currently, Clubhouse is free for all users and it isn’t supported by ads.

Clubhouse’s announcement regarding its Android expansion comes just a few weeks after Twitter started testing a new Clubhouse-like feature, called Spaces. Twitter’s alternative allows users to create a “Space” for their followers and other users on the platform to speak with other like-minded individuals. As of now, the feature is only available to a select group of Twitter users and the company hasn’t revealed any details about a wider rollout.

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