Buying Computers In Bulk For School (All-in-One Guide)

Frankly speaking, it’s not easy to advise you on which type of computer your school needs without understanding your specific requirements. That’s why conducting internal school research is crucial to pinpoint the devices that will best suit your needs.

However, we’re here to assist you every step of the way!

We’ve done extensive research into the types of computers schools commonly use, their ideal specifications, and their typical lifespan. This information will help you make an informed decision and ensure you purchase the right devices for your school.

Step 1: Identify your needs:

The most critical step in making a perfect purchase is understanding your school’s needs. To start, ask yourself these key questions:

• Who will use the devices?
  • Teachers, students, or administrative staff?
• What tasks will they perform?
  • Basic browsing, graphic design, coding, or video conferencing?
• Where will they use them?
  • Classrooms, computer labs, or on the go?

Step 2: Decide where to make your purchase

You have two options to buy your computers in bulk.

• Option 1: Buy from the market
  • Advantages:
    • Experience the product firsthand, ensuring quality and functionality before committing.
    • Immediate availability allows you to walk away with your purchase the same day.
  • Considerations:
    • When buying business computers in bulk, handling transportation and logistics becomes more challenging and costly.
    • Additionally, you’ll bear full responsibility for the safety and condition of the items during transit.
    • Warranty or support may require dealing directly with the seller or manufacturer, which could be time-consuming.
• Option 2: Buy online (e.g., Amazon)
  • Advantages:
    • Ideal for bulk purchases, as online platforms often provide comprehensive delivery services, reducing your logistical risks.
    • Access a vast selection of popular brands with detailed reviews to guide your decision.
    • Online purchases often come with perks like doorstep delivery, 90-day money-back guarantees, and hassle-free return and exchange policies.
    • Many sellers also offer bulk discounts and extended warranties.
    • Sometimes, Amazon offers flexible payment options. You can choose to pay in installments.
  • Considerations:
    • While you can’t physically test the product before buying, the detailed specifications, reviews, and ratings can offer valuable insights.

Step 3: Match needs to the right machines

Once you’ve answered these questions, you can confidently decide which type of computer—laptop, desktop, or tablet—best satisfies your school’s requirements.

The options may include Chromebooks, iPads, laptops, and desktops, depending on your school and requirements.

For K-12 students, you can buy Chromebooks or iPads.

Chromebooks are often considered a budget-friendly option, but it’s essential to understand a crucial aspect—their lifespan.

The US PIRG Education Fund has highlighted in a recent report titled “Chromebook Churn” that Chromebooks have begun experiencing issues within three years of use in schools.

Even Elizabeth Chamberlain, the director of sustainability at iFixit, stated, “Chromebooks aren’t built to last.”

In contrast, an iPad typically lasts an average of five years. This implies that while investing in iPads might seem challenging initially due to higher costs, considering the broader perspective reveals that it can ultimately save you money in the long run.

For staff and labs, buy computers and laptops

If you are not buying for kids, you should consider other options, such as Windows laptops, MacBooks, and desktops. These machines are powerful and are best in terms of lifespan.

We have identified the best options to meet all your needs. The following iPad is one of the most appreciated and widely purchased devices by schools for kids. It is the latest model, launched in 2024, and remains one of the top choices for 2025.

The first suggestion we have is the iPad, making it the best choice for kids.

Apple iPad (10th Generation): Best iPad for schools

Specifications:

Review:

I very strongly believe iPads make for perfect creative tools for children in kindergarten and elementary school that can be utilized for drawing, painting, and learning apps.

This Apple iPad provides a fun multimedia learning opportunity for kids to watch videos, listen to audiobooks, or even record their own projects.

The touch interface is very easy and straightforward to use. Even 5-year-olds can pick it up very quickly.

It’s lightweight, portable, and available in fun colors: pink, blue, silver, and yellow, which are bound to appeal to children.

There is more than enough space for apps, videos, and school projects with the 256GB of storage.

Learning and creative pursuits are made more versatile with the 12MP front and rear cameras.

Screen width is okay for kids to read and do creative stuff.

They do support tools like the Apple Pencil (1st generation), which might help with drawing or handwriting practice.

The battery life lasts all day, so learning sessions won’t be interrupted.

They are also durable, and with an extensive library of educational apps for young students, they make an excellent investment.

ASUS Flip CX1 Convertible: Best Chromebook for Schools

Specifications:

Review:

The ASUS Chromebook Flip CX1 is a superb option for young learners, an elegant mix of versatility, durability, and ease of use. 

It has some amazing features, including a touch screen and a rocking hinge.

You can turn it all the way around to 360 degrees, so changing from laptop mode, tablet mode, tent mode, or even a standing one is really easy.

That variability does indeed work really well for various activities such as typing or working in docs in laptop mode, drawing or gaming in tablet mode, or even watching informative videos in standing mode. It feels exactly designed for participative education.

Also, another great feature is the 14-inch full HD display, which is a touchscreen. Everything, including videos and educational games, is turned into a brighter image as the colors are sharp and vivid.

With this device, it is apparent that durability comes first. It is designed to fulfill military-grade standards, making the device more than tough as required for schooling, making it easier for children to keep up with their everyday efforts.

Designed with a 14-inch full HD touchscreen, it is bright and colorful; everything, from videos to learning games, looks great. 

It also deserves some serious praise: this is an 11+ hour laptop, working on local and internet tasks without a blink of delay.

Running on ChromeOS, the Chromebook Flip CX1 has the advantage of using Google Classroom and accessing a broad library of educational apps at Google Play.

It can operate smoothly and without latency on primarily browsing, learning apps, and school tasks thanks to its Intel Celeron N6000 processor, 8GB RAM, and 128GB SSD storage.

What stands out most, really, is that this gadget is made for hands-on learning. The convertible form factor and touchscreen really work well for creative tasks and interactive lessons—engagement and exploration, through and through.

NIMO 15.6 FHD Laptop: Best Budget Machine To Buy In Bulk

Specifications:

Review:

For students who don’t want to spend too much, the NIMO 15.6 FHD laptop is a perfect solution.

As a matter of fact, $399 seems like an absolute bargain considering the features it has compared to the more upscale models.

The first feature that immediately catches your attention is the softness of the keys. Combining this with the build quality, it is ideal for any student who requires a laptop for work, such as essay or paper writing.

The backlit keyboard is a great help for working in the dark. It is not only efficient but it completes the overall look of the device quite well. 

This laptop works well with every application. Even during calls, you won’t face any delay or stuttering, which enables smooth conversations while using software such as Zoom.

This laptop features a sleek structure, which is yet another strong characteristic. It’s so light that you can easily carry it around the school or in between classes and the best part is that it fits right into the back without adding a substantial amount of weight.

The fingerprint scanner is so cool. It’s a feature that is rare on laptops at this price point and it also serves the purpose of securing the device and it works flawlessly every time.

The speakers are shockingly loud and clear. You can easily hear them across the room, making them great for online classes or casual music sessions.

Battery life holds up well, lasting through a typical school day. It may vary depending on usage, but it’s reliable enough for most students’ needs.

Finally, the two-year warranty is the cherry on top. It shows that NIMO stands behind its product, giving confidence in its durability and quality.

Overall, this laptop is tailored to students who are in search of a robust-performing device that is affordable and rich in functions. It’s cost-effective, fashionable, and very functional for day-to-day use.

HP Pavilion 15: Best Laptop to Buy in Bulk

Specifications:

Review:

I’ll admit it—I’m picky about laptops. It has to look good, run smooth and fast, and survive whatever I throw at it. This HP Pavilion has certainly impressed me.

HP can be considered to make some of the best laptops—in fact, it is best suited for small business owners or anyone who needs to use a reliable laptop.

This model is no different. It has an elegant modern look and a wonderful screen of the size 15.6 inches. The size is just right—not too small, not too big.

This is well suited for making up projects, videos or just browsing the web. But I was really convinced by the power that this laptop possesses.

The model I’m talking specifically about has 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD. That is a lot of power and space, especially for something that costs less than $500.

Of course, the amount you spend may vary according to the amount of memory or storage you choose to have.

You will save some amount of money if you opt for lower specs.

However, remember this: if it’s 32GB RAM with a 1TB SSD, it’s worth every single cent that you spend.

This laptop is worth more than what it costs.

It is a great choice for teachers and senior students who require a reliable device for higher-level projects or administrative purposes. It runs Microsoft Office, Zoom, and even school-specific ERP systems with ease.

Whether planning lessons, making presentations or keeping assignments organized, this laptop can keep up.

This is for people who have many things going on and want their devices to perform without obstructing them. 

It has an Intel Core i3, which is 8-core. Which is also sufficient for Zoom meetings, online classes, and much more.

It is also enough to perform everyday functions like Excel, word processing, web browsing, or even light photo editing.

With Intel UHD Graphics, you receive an integrated graphics option that is capable of video streaming, video conferencing, and casual gaming.

Not meant for hard-core gaming or video editing, it is a good workhorse for other day-to-day work.

It is powerful but very portable. Light enough to carry back and forth between school and home, it works when and where you need it.

And it can run anything from productivity tools to educational platforms.

What I really love is the smoothness of the operation. No freezing. No lag.

Just a fast, efficient machine that helps you accomplish your work.

The keyboard is pleasant to use even after hours of typing.

And the trackpad is responsive and very smooth, just as it should be.

The build quality doesn’t feel cheap either, even though this is a budget-friendly machine.

Also, the battery life is just excellent.

On a full charge, you can expect several hours of use, which should be enough to get you through most of the day.

So, what’s the bottom line?

If you’re a teacher or student, this laptop is a no-brainer. It’s a great fit for work, school, or personal use. And for under $500, it’s hard to beat.

HP 22-inch AIO Computer: Best PC to Buy in Bulk in 2025

Specifications:

Review:

I have always loved all-in-one desktop PCs.

They are neat, they save space, and they are good for people who don’t want to have too many wires hanging around.

This makes the new HP 22-Inch All-in-One Desktop PC (2024 model) stand out too.

It meets all the requirements of an efficient and up-to-date desktop that can be used in an office or even out of the office in today’s world.

Let us discuss the distinguishing features of this particular model.

To begin with, the design is so attracting that it captures your attention at once.

The white finish and neatness make it look very stylish on any desk.

One of the features that sets this computer apart is its 21.5-inch Full HD display.

For any activity, such as working on documents, broadcasting videos or surfing online, the 1080p resolution provides a greatly clear view.

It is powered by a 2.4GHz Intel Celeron Pentium processor coupled with either Intel UHD Graphics 600 or 605.

While it isn’t meant for high-intensity gaming and video editing, it can work absolutely fine for all the normal operations.

This is well suited for secondary school learning environments, with a focus on light programming, graphics, and multimedia. 

Thanks to its 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD, this is built to perform quickly and reliably under heavy workloads.

It gives you one more huge plus: being easily movable in your house or office.

Its weight is just 15.57 pounds, so moving it around is easy if required. This HP All-in-One Desktop PC is the perfect choice for anyone looking for a reliable and modern desktop setup.

It’s perfect for students, professionals, or even families that need one computer for everyone to use.

Overall, this all-in-one desktop is a solid choice for daily use.

This is designed with a sleek outline, a Full HD display, 32GB RAM, and a 1TB SSD for speed.

It is fast, smooth running, and does most of your tasks in a breeze.

If you want a desktop that saves space and has good looks and functions, the HP 22-inch All-in-One makes a fair investment.

Laptop vs. Desktop computers for schools

Schools often prefer desktops for most school-based use cases because of their durability.

Here are some interesting statistics about how long computers last, especially in schools.

We have conducted research and found this information for you.

• Desktops generally have a lifespan of five to eight years.
• Laptops typically last five to seven years.
• iPads, on average, last about five years.
• Chromebooks tend to last three to four years.

To save you money, it’s best to stick to desktops and laptops from well-reputed brands.

Minimum specifications required for schools:

We understand that the majority of schoolwork involves word processing, browsing, and research. You may also need to work with software such as LibreOffice, Apache OpenOffice, Collabora Online, and NeoOffice, or engage in coding activities.

In any case, staying above the minimum specifications is crucial to ensure a seamless experience. Falling below these minimum criteria might lead to issues after a couple of months.

Therefore, adopting a long-term approach, it’s essential to make well-informed decisions to avoid potential challenges and ensure the longevity of your investment.

Even UMass Amherst has also conducted research and suggested the following specifications as minimal for schools.

• Processor: Intel Core i5 (sixth generation or newer) or equivalent (Ideally, Intel Core i9 or equivalent)
• OS: Windows 10 Professional x64 or macOS
• Memory: 8GB DDR4 RAM (16GB recommended)
• Storage: 500 GB SSD
• Monitor/Display: 14″ LCD monitor, resolution of 1600 x 900 or better
• Network Adapter: 802.11ac 2.4/5 GHz wireless adapter
• Other: Internal or external webcam, lock, carrying case, external hard drive for backups

If you purchase computers with the best specifications, you can easily use them anywhere in your school. You can connect them to projectors in classrooms, utilize them for Art/CAD classrooms, or assign them to administrators.

FAQs

What computers do schools use?

Schools use all types of computers based on their needs. They use desktop computers, laptops, Chromebooks, and iPads in schools.

It totally depends on what you want to do on the computer. If it’s a computer lab, desktops are good; if it’s a classroom, then Chromebooks and iPads are the better choices.