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Choosing 1:1 computing devices for education

Windows, Apple or Chrome? We work with the world's leading device manufacturers for education to bring you quality, reliability and choice. There's options for every need.

Want to speak to one of our education specialists?

Request a call back

Laptops, tablets or convertibles? BT will guide you through the choices

The device is the part of your 1:1 strategy that really brings it to life. In the hands of each teacher and learner, the right device is the key to unlocking all the benefits that one-to-one computing can deliver. Through our close strategic partnerships with the world’s leading manufacturers of devices for education, we offer a wide range of options which includes the perfect model for every need and budget.

A school boy at home with a one to one device

We’re the experts for 1:1 devices and deployment

Here at we BT, we work with all the top manufacturers of education devices like Acer, HP, Dell, Lenovo, Apple, Asus and Microsoft Surface.

Whilst so many makes and models gives educators an abundance of options to choose from, narrowing it down can sometimes be a challenge. That’s where BT’s education specialists can help.

With tonnes of experience in device provision and 1:1 deployment, they’ll help you make the right device choices for the needs of your school, college or university.

Choosing the operating system is a key decision

Before you look at devices, you’ll need to decide which Operating System you prefer – Microsoft’s Windows 10, Apple’s iOS, or Google’s Chrome OS. This decision needs to be made in conjunction with deciding on the cloud platform or "ecosystem” you'll use, as well as which apps you want to adopt. For example, do you want to run Microsoft Office 365, Apple and iCloud, Google G Suite, or a combination?

Learn more about choosing a cloud platform and productivity apps for education


Things to look for when choosing devices for education

Will the battery last the full school day?

Is it robust enough to withstand everyday use in school?

Is it light enough for students to comfortably hold and carry around?

Can it be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe?

What form-factor is best for the needs of students and teachers?

How good is the wi-fi antenna for a seamless connectivity experience?

What security features are built into the device?

Can touch and pen be used?


Windows 10 devices for Education

Prepare your students for the future with personalised, inclusive and immersive learning experiences on a device that’s powered by Windows 10. It’s the Windows you know, combined with the security you need and the latest features like Inking and Pen. Some devices come with a specific version of Windows 10 called "Windows 10 Education".  In this edition of the operating system, some settings have already been configured especially for use in educational settings, like disabled access to the Windows Store and Cortana.

Good: Great value Windows devices ideal for general use in school

These laptops offer all the functionality that students studying core subjects need. There's plenty of power to keep up the learning pace, plus battery life to see the school day through. They're essential school laptops at prices that help your budget stretch further.

HP ProBook 450

HP ProBook 450 G8 15.6"

A new design for wherever work takes you The compact, light, slim chassis with aluminium components is easy to carry from place to place. An optional high-brightness display provides an over 87-percent screen-to-body ratio and a new keyboard delivers a quiet and responsive experience.

  • Intel® Core™ i5-1135G7
  • 8 GB DDR4-3200 MHz RAM
  • 512 GB PCIe® NVMe™ SSD
  • 15.6" diagonal, FHD screen
  • Windows 10 Pro 64
Microsoft Surface Laptop SE - 128 GB SSD EDUCATION
 

Microsoft Surface Laptop SE - 128 GB SSD EDUCATION

quicklinx:GKXLWS00
mfr#:KF8-00005
£245.10 ex VAT
Acer TravelMate B1 Celeron N4020 4GB  Win 10 Pro 64-bit Academic
 

Acer TravelMate B1 Celeron N4020 4GB Win 10 Pro 64-bit...

quicklinx:G74SWS00
mfr#:NX.VHSEK.016#EDU
£177.62 ex VAT
Microsoft Surface Laptop SE - 4 GB RAM - 64 GB SSD - EDUCATION
 
£187.70 ex VAT
Lenovo 100e Winbook 10 2nd Gen 11.6" AMD 3015E 4GB 64GB Windows 10 Pro
 
£224.99 ex VAT
Microsoft Surface Go 2 Intel Core m3 8100Y 4GB 64GB eMMC 10.5" Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
 
£388.52 ex VAT
Acer TravelMate B3 Spin Celeron N4020 4GB 64GB 11.6" Win 10 Pro
 

Acer TravelMate B3 Spin Celeron N4020 4GB 64GB 11.6" Win 10...

Please call 0370 240 0588 for Education pricing
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mfr#:NX.VN8EK.007#EDU
£212.49 ex VAT
Acer TravelMate Spin B3 TMB311RN Intel Celeron N4120 4GB 64GB 11.6" Windows 10 Pro Academic 64-bit
 
£266.66 ex VAT
Acer TravelMate P2 Intel Core i5-1135G7 8GB 256GB SSD 14" Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
 
£442.21 ex VAT
Lenovo 14w AMD A6-9220C 4GB 128GB SSD 14" Windows 10 Pro Academic
 
£283.33 ex VAT
Lenovo 14w Winbook AMD A6-9220C 4GB 64GB eMMC 14" Windows 10 Professional national Academic
 
£123.21 ex VAT

Better: Mid-range Windows devices with more functionality

Paying a little more often gets you extra functionality too, such as the ability to convert into different form factors (like tent and tablet modes), or more processing power. Check out these mid-range Windows 10 models that are ideal for student use.

HP 630G8 I51145 8GB/256GB W10P
 

HP 630G8 I51145 8GB/256GB W10P

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mfr#:43A02EA#ABU
£960.32 ex VAT
HP 830G8 I51135 8GB/256GB W10P
 

HP 830G8 I51135 8GB/256GB W10P

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mfr#:48R37EA#ABU
£1,126.91 ex VAT
Samsung Galaxy Book intel i5 8G 256G Win Pro Silver 15"
 

Samsung Galaxy Book intel i5 8G 256G Win Pro Silver 15"

quicklinx:GDYCWS00
mfr#:NP750XDA-KD5UK
£687.90 ex VAT

Best: High-end Windows 10 devices for older students and teachers

Older students tackling more complex work may need more processing power, or a bigger and brighter display.  Higher end Windows devices do more than the norm and can empower pupils to achieve excellence. They're also great for teachers and support staff who may need more power and performance too.

HP  X360 830G7 I510210 8GB/256GB W10P
 

HP X360 830G7 I510210 8GB/256GB W10P

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mfr#:1J5V8EA#ABU
£1,308.35 ex VAT
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 intel i7 16G 256G Win 10  Pro Silver 13"
 

Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 intel i7 16G 256G Win 10 Pro...

quicklinx:GDW2WS00
mfr#:NP930QDB-KF3UK
£1,080.68 ex VAT
Microsoft Surface Laptop 4 Intel Core i5-1135G7 8GB 256GB 13" Windows 10 Professional - Platinum
 
£955.93 ex VAT
HP EliteDesk 705 G5 Ryzen 5 Pro 3400G 8GB 256GB SSD Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
 
£489.25 ex VAT
Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Intel Core i7 16GB 512GB SSD 12.3" Windows 10 Professional 64-bit
 
£1,502.18 ex VAT

For education pricing please speak to your account manager
or request a call from on of our Education IT Specialists


Apple iOS devices for education

Depending on the needs of your students and teachers, you can go for a mix of both iPad and Mac in your learning environment, alongside Apple TV. Teachers and students can share what’s on their device with the whole class by file sharing, or even mirroring through AirDrop and Apple TV. Our Apple Education Specialists can help you decide on the right devices for your school, college or university.  And because we're an Apple authorised specialist in education - we've got all the know-how you need.

Apple iMac with M1 chip

iPad

Browse our full range of Apple iPad devices

View range
Apple Macbook with M1 chip

Mac

Browse our full range of Mac devices

view range

For education pricing please speak to your account manager
or request a call from on of our Education IT Specialists


Chromebooks for education

We offer Chromebooks from all the major manufacturers of devices for education including HP, Acer, Asus and Lenovo. Designed predominantly for browser-based activity, Chromebooks offer limited functionality offline. This keeps the price low, which can be attractive when making cost-based decisions, but it doesn't always follow that Chromebooks are the cheapest option.  The starting price for a Windows 10 device that's built for education can actually be pretty similar.

Good: Great value Chromebooks for every day school use

These every day Chromebooks are great all-rounders and great value.  They're ideal for general use in and out of school, offering all the functionality that students need to keep pace with the core curriculum.

Acer  Chromebook 311 N4000 


1.10 GHz
 Dual-core  4GB 32GB
 

Acer Chromebook 311 N4000 1.10 GHz Dual-core 4GB...

quicklinx:FVC0WS00
mfr#:NX.H94EK.001#EDU
£143.91 ex VAT
Acer Chromebook 311 C722 MT8183 4GB 32GB 11.6" Chrome OS
 

Acer Chromebook 311 C722 MT8183 4GB 32GB 11.6" Chrome OS

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mfr#:NX.A6UEK.001#EDU
£200.07 ex VAT

Better: Mid-range Chromebooks to do more in school

Pay a little more for your Chromebook and enjoy a better range of features and functionality.  Here we've selected a few mid-range Chromebooks that give students more flexibility.

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4+ Intel Celeron N4000 4GB 64GB 15.6" Titan Grey
 

Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 4+ Intel Celeron N4000 4GB 64GB...

quicklinx:GCQYWS00
mfr#:XE350XBA-KA2UK
£319.51 ex VAT
Acer R752TN Celeron N4000 4GB 32GB 11.6" Chrome OS
 

Acer R752TN Celeron N4000 4GB 32GB 11.6" Chrome OS

quicklinx:FYG0WS00
mfr#:NX.HPXEK.001
£291.09 ex VAT
Acer  Chromebook 311 N4000 


1.10 GHz
 Dual-core  4GB 32GB
 

Acer Chromebook 311 N4000 1.10 GHz Dual-core 4GB...

quicklinx:FVC0WS00
mfr#:NX.H94EK.001#EDU
£143.91 ex VAT

Best: Power, performance and flexible Chromebook functionality

These Chromebooks are best suited for students and teachers who need more power and performance.  They typically feature faster processors, more memory and higher quality screens, so are great for coding, graphics and other specialist subjects. Here's just a few of our line up.

Acer Chromebook Spin 513 Snapdragon 7c Kryo 468 4GB 64GB eMMC 13.3" Touchscreen
 
£328.36 ex VAT
Acer Chromebook Spin 512 Celeron N4020 4GB 32GB 12" Touch
 

Acer Chromebook Spin 512 Celeron N4020 4GB 32GB 12" Touch

quicklinx:FWCLWS00
mfr#:NX.HVLEK.002
£267.30 ex VAT

For education pricing please speak to your account manager
or request a call from on of our Education IT Specialists

Get the conversation started

BT has a dedicated team of education specialists. We're here to support you with all aspects of your school, college or university's technology strategy across network, devices and apps. Just tell us how we can help and we'll have one of our education specialists call you back with free, no obligation advice.