Best Laptops Under $500

When you are paying $500 for a laptop, it’s best not to expect a premium configuration that includes the latest GPUs or high-quality OLED displays. Still, for under $500, you will be surprised to see a plethora of laptops that can increase your workflow with their multi-core and latest-gen processors, decent connectivity features, and various technologies that enhance your day-to-day work.

Whether you are looking for a laptop that can help you with your office work like editing sheets, opening multiple browser tabs, or even things like basic photo editing, we have compiled a list of the best laptops that cost under $500 by analyzing dozens of laptops present on the market.

Game Rant’s Picks for the Best Laptops Under $500

From different hardware configurations to different display sizes, choosing the best overall laptop for under $500 is challenging. Most laptops lack the processing power needed for intensive operations such as video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking. The Asus Vivobook 15 Slim is designed for all these purposes without forcing users to resort to expensive options. A powerful 12-core Core i5 chip from the 12th gen is paired with 16GB of RAM to make sure your programs get enough juice to run on.

Moreover, the integrated graphics use the Iris Xe architecture to ensure optimal performance in casual and less intensive games and in various graphical workloads that require a GPU for quick processing. The laptop uses a sturdy and military-grade enclosure to provide a premium feel and doesn’t wobble. Even though the connectivity is not as good as found on higher-end laptops, it does include a fast Wi-Fi 5 adapter, Bluetooth support, and various output and input ports for displays and peripherals.

2-in-1 laptops are hugely popular with students and business professionals because of their versatility. Changing between the default laptop mode to tablet mode simplifies workflow. The Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14 is a terrific sub-$500 convertible laptop that has a 360-degree hinge to convert it into tablet mode. The display is also touchscreen-enabled. Use your fingers to quickly move elements or edit documents in no time.

The display has excellent viewing angles and doesn’t fade its colors when looking from different angles. The resolution is a bit bigger than traditional 1080p and has a 16:10 aspect ratio for sharper image quality. Connectivity is also outstanding and includes a Wi-Fi 6 adapter for fast internet speed, an HDMI 2.1 port for external monitors, and a Type-C port for the latest devices. The only major flaw is that it has low storage capacity. We recommend increasing the storage by adding one of our best-recommended SSDs to make sure you have enough space for your programs and data.

In case you have a budget of around $300, don’t worry as the Acer Aspire 3 has you covered. Unlike what you would expect for such a low price, the Aspire 3 is quite the opposite, providing plenty of modern features for your work. From good display to connectivity, everything is on par with modern-day usage. The laptop is slim and weighs around 4 pounds. Although its screen size is 15 inches, it won’t be too difficult to carry in a backpack.

It runs on the Ryzen 3 7320U processor, designed to perform well without consuming too much power. Although it looks like a CPU from the Zen 4 family, don’t get misled by its model number as it belongs to the Zen 2 series. Still, it has four cores with hyperthreading enabled and comes with a Radeon 610M iGPU with two cores. It won’t play most modern video games, but it will satisfactorily help you with graphic design. Due to its low power consumption, the laptop can last up to 10 hours on a single charge despite having a 40Wh battery.

For just over $400, the Asus Vivobook 15 is an impressive laptop that is one of the handful of AMD-based laptops using a hex-core CPU. While the CPU isn’t from the latest Zen 4 lineup, it is still relatively better than the so-called “Ryzen 7000 series” CPUs that run on Zen 2 architecture. Not only does it belong to the newer Zen 3 family, but it also has more cores and threads to execute multiple processes without causing a crash or freeze. However, due to higher operating TDP, the laptop tends to deplete the battery quickly. Still, it’s not going to discharge before three hours considering you don’t keep your CPU to 100% usage all the time.

Other hardware is up to scratch, featuring 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD storage, which is going to be enough for a while. You get the latest connectivity features, such as Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and a bunch of USB-A and USB-C ports that allow easy peripheral connections. Another fantastic feature is its 180-degree lay-flat hinge that lets you share its screen with anyone sitting around the table. It’s a very convenient and handy feature that is helpful in business meetings.

Touchscreens typically increase the cost of a laptop significantly. The HP Pavilion Touchscreen laptop, however, costs $500 and comes with a configuration that lets you use both keyboard and touchscreen functionality together. Surely, it’s not convertible, but it has plenty of merits over other laptops listed here. It has enough power to run most programs, as the Core i3 1215U CPU that powers it has a total of six cores and eight threads. Although it lacks a decent iGPU, which may turn away some users from this laptop, if the touchscreen functionality is what you are looking for, then it is the fastest for its price tag.

Business professionals or users who travel frequently will love this laptop due to its long battery life, fast charging ability, and bundled accessories, which include wireless earbuds, a wireless mouse, a mouse pad, an HDMI cable, and a USB cable. This laptop has an insanely high value for $500 without compromising on its configuration. However, it does have a lower resolution than FHD, which will make the image quality inferior to other laptops on this list.

Chromebooks are generally lightweight and highly portable apart from being simple to operate. If you love ChromeOS, the Flex 5i is a powerful laptop that has specs equivalent to a regular laptop and a high-quality display that allows touchscreen functionality. Moreover, it’s a convertible laptop that lets you choose between the regular laptop and the tablet mode according to your needs. It won’t run your regular Windows apps, but it will run all the apps and games on the Play Store.

It’s ultra-lightweight at just 3.48 pounds of weight and has a 14-inch display that makes it a compact device for carrying easily. It has a built-in webcam with stereo speakers, a full HD+ IPS display with great viewing angles, and an impressive 10-hour battery life. It’s pretty close to the $500 price tag, which is quite high for a Chromebook, but usually, you will see entry-level CPUs on such laptops. However, it’s powered by the Core i3 1315U CPU, which provides six cores that have a wide operating TDP.

Things to Consider When Buying a Laptop for Under $500

Processor: The first thing to check is the laptop’s processor because manufacturers tend to cut costs here. A dual-core processor is a big no, but a quad-core processor with hyperthreading or a Hexa-core processor will be wonderful for most operations. The processor should be from one of the latest-gen families from either Intel or AMD and should have an iGPU to carry out simple graphical loads.

Screen Size: Decide how big or small you want your screen to be. Do remember that not only does it affect immersion and clarity, but it also affects portability. A laptop with a 13-inch display will provide sharper image quality, provided it doesn’t go lower than FHD resolution, and it will be easy to carry inside a small backpack. On the other hand, a laptop with a 17-inch display or higher will be larger and provide bigger text and elements. They won’t be as sharp as on a laptop with a smaller screen, but they will be more immersive overall.

Battery Life: Most laptops typically last for three to four hours. This is something that depends on the configuration and the battery size. A laptop with a powerful configuration will not run for more than three to four hours if it features a standard-capacity battery. However, a bigger battery life that exceeds 70mAh will help the laptop run longer. Some laptops extend the battery life through the usage of a power-efficient CPU.

RAM and Storage: Even though RAM and storage capacity can be increased anytime, it’s best to go for a laptop that comes with at least 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage out of the box. Anything above that is an advantage, but anything lower than this should only be considered if you have a budget lower than $300.

FAQ

Q: Is a $500 laptop sufficient for gaming?

It depends on the configuration. Typically, $500 laptops don’t have a dedicated GPU and, therefore, aren’t fit to play modern intensive games. However, you can still play casual games or decade-old titles on low to medium settings.

Q: Should you spend more than $500 on a laptop for work?

If your work involves basic tasks like working on MS Office, Photoshop, or browsing the internet, you don’t need to spend a thousand dollars on a laptop. There are plenty of great sub-$500 laptops for these tasks.