In this article, we’ll discuss the best laptops under $500. I’m really excited about these notebooks they offer great value for money and are perfect for most users. I’ve picked and tested these laptops to ensure that they’re still affordable whilst providing a great user experience.
Here in this list, I have listed some best laptops out of all under $500. We know that at this price, most of the people want a laptop which gives a lot more than its price. With our benchmark, we have reviewed these laptops and picked the best ones for you.
There are some brands such as Dell, Asus, Acer, and Lenovo that create laptop models that cost at least $500. We’ve gone through lists of laptops from best-reviewed websites and selected the top 7 best laptops under $500 to give you a hand in your search for the best laptop on a limited budget.
Before you make your buying decision there are a few things you need to consider when purchasing a laptop on this budget. You can’t expect this budget machine to run high-end apps like video editing, machine learning, 3D animation, etc. However, you can expect to run some basic apps like Microsoft Office apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and many others.
In this buying guide, you will get laptops from the range of $400 to $500. If you have very less budget then you can check our guide on the budget laptops under $400.
So, without further delay let’s have a look at the best laptops for under $500.
Best Laptops Under $500 – Top 7 Picks
- Intel Core i3-1115G4
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Intel Core i3-1115G4
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Intel Core i3-1115G4
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- Intel Core i3-1115G4
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- AMD Radeon 7 Graphics
- AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
- Intel Core i5-1135G7
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
1. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Value For Money
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 8.5 Hours Battery Life
- 14.31 x 9.39 x 0.7 inches
The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-36UT is a great laptop for under $500. It offers a robust design and ports, as well as a good range of features. The 15.6-inch FHD display is great for streaming content and working on MS Office applications.
This model comes with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, which should be able to handle most everyday tasks. It’s also equipped with 4GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB NVMe SSD, which may not be enough if you frequently multitask or run many programs simultaneously, but this can be upgraded to 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD.
It runs Windows 10 Home in S Mode, which boots up quickly and comes with built-in security features. The device has a backlit keyboard, so it’s easy to type in low light settings. The battery life is about 8 hours, so it should easily last the entire day without needing to be recharged.
We love that this laptop has three USB Type-A ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet jack, and a headphone/mic combo jack. There’s also Wi-Fi 6 for fast wireless networking and Bluetooth for connecting peripherals like headphones, wireless mice, etc.
What We Like:- Latest 11th Gen i3-1115G4 CPU
- Upgradable memory and storage
- Good display quality
- Decent battery life
- Lack of card reader & optical drive
2. ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 – Best Thin & Light Laptop
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-glare Display
- Up to 5 Hours Battery Life
- 12.6 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
If you’re looking for an affordable laptop that can do it all, the ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 is our top pick. With its powerful 11th-generation Intel processor, plenty of RAM and storage space, and a sleek 15-inch screen, this machine offers a great balance of performance and value.
The new Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU supports hyperthreading to help ensure smooth multitasking between apps and programs. We were even able to play some games on this computer like Fortnite, although we did have to turn down the graphics settings.
In addition to its speedy processor, this ASUS laptop also comes with 8GB of RAM for multitasking and 128GB SSD for fast boot times. It features a large 15.6 inch Full HD display with slim bezels for an immersive viewing experience. The NanoEdge IPS panel has an anti-glare coating so you can work or stream movies anywhere, even under direct sunlight.
This model weighs just 3 lbs and measures 12.6” x 8.3” x 0.7”, making it light enough to carry around all day without weighing you down. It also has a fingerprint sensor built into the touchpad so you can log in with your fingerprint instead of typing a password everytime.
What We Like:- Thin & light weight design
- Good amount of RAM for this price
- Anti glare panel
- Fingerprint sensor
- Lack of Ethernet port
3. ASUS VivoBook Flip 14 – Best 2 In 1 Laptop
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor
- 4GB RAM
- 128GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 14 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 5.5 Hours Battery Life
- 12.76 x 8.66 x 0.74 inches
The Asus VivoBook Flip 14 is a good choice if you’re looking for a mix of a tablet and laptop. The Flip 14 is a 2 in 1 device you can use it as a regular laptop, or flip its screen 360 degrees to use it in tablet mode.
It features a 14” inch Full HD Wideview touch display that offers stunning visual clarity and 86% screen to body ratio. Once you pick up the ASUS VivoBook Flip 14, you won’t want to put it back down. Moving on, it has an Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor and 4GB of RAM, which we think is enough for basic tasks and browsing the internet.
The storage space on this laptop is 128GB, which is not much, but it should be enough for most users. If you need more storage space, you can always use external storage devices or cloud storage. This laptop comes with an HD webcam and microphone, so if you like to make video calls, you’ll be able to do that quite easily.
Another great thing about this laptop is that it comes with a full-size backlit keyboard and a fingerprint sensor for even faster logins. With the help of the Thunderbolt 4 port and USB-C port, you can connect your laptop to other devices and charge them quickly.
What We Like:- 2 in 1 convertible design
- Fast Thunderbolt port
- Aluminum chassis
- Backlit keyboard
- Power button placed on the right side
4. Dell Inspiron 15 3511 – Best From Dell
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- Intel UHD Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Anti-glare Display
- Up to 4.5 Hours Battery Life
- 9.27 x 14.11 x 0.74 inches
Dell is the most popular and reputed brand in the market that has been producing some amazing laptops for its customers. Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is one of the best laptop that you can find at a price less than $500.
This amazing laptop from Dell comes with a sturdy design and compact form factor that makes it a perfect choice for all kinds of users. One of the best things about this laptop is that it comes with a massive 15.6 inch full HD display which delivers quality viewing experience.
For graphics, the Inspiron 15 3511 comes with Intel UHD Graphics and has support for Dell Cinema streaming as well as ComfortView Low Blue Light solutions that help to reduce eye strain while working long hours on your laptop. The laptop has been powered by Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor which provides sufficient power to run all kinds of applications with utmost ease.
It comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM that can handle multitasking without any issues and also provides enough headroom for future upgrades. There is storage space of 256GB SSD available on board to store your pictures, videos, apps, games and other files in the system.
What We Like:- Enough RAM & storage
- Latest Windows 11 OS
- Lid-open sensor
- Dell ComfortView
- Doesn’t have Type-C & Ethernet port
5. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Best For Business
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- AMD Radeon 7 Graphics
- 14 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 5 Hours Battery Life
- 19 x 11.5 x 3 inches
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is the best laptop under $500 for most people. It has a reliable AMD processor, decent performance, and a beautiful 14-inch display. To start with the specs, the IdeaPad 3 has an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
That’s the same CPU as in more expensive laptops from Lenovo and is more than enough for everyday tasks like typing in Google Docs, streaming videos, and sending emails. The integrated AMD Radeon 7 graphics are better than what you’ll find on Intel processors at this price but can’t handle gaming.
Regarding the display it sports 14-inch Full-HD display has four narrow bezels that make it look like a larger screen, and the hinge lets you open the laptop up to 180 degrees so you can share your screen with others. Apart from that, the keyboard is comfortable to type on, the touchpad is large and responsive, and it has two USB-A ports, an HDMI out port, an SD card slot, a headphone jack, and a USB-C port.
You get the latest Windows 11 Home preinstalled with this notebook. As far as battery life is concern, the battery life isn’t great it lasted for 5 hours in our testing but that’s pretty solid compared to other laptops at this price point.
What We Like:- Powerful specs for this price
- Thin bezel IPS panel
- Intelligent thermals
- Latest WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity
- Webcam with built-in privacy shutter
- Does provide a Lock port
6. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Best Laptop For Students
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Processor
- 16GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD Display
- Up to 4.5 Hours Battery Life
- 14.4 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches
ASUS has a well-earned reputation for producing high-quality laptops, and the ASUS VivoBook 15 is no exception. The display on this laptop is also impressive. The screen itself is 15.6 inches and has a full HD resolution with four-sided NanoEdge bezel display, meaning you’ll be able to watch movies or play games in stunning detail.
It comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U CPU, 16GB DDR4 RAM and a 256GB SSD. This laptop has the power to handle your everyday tasks very easily. And because it is one of the best laptops under $500, you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
The ASUS VivoBook 15 also features an AMD Radeon Vega 3 GPU, which allows you to do a little bit of gaming. This laptop also comes with a backlit keyboard for those late nights when you need to get some work done.
Moreover, VivoBook 15 weighs 3.8lbs and has 0.8 inches thick which means it is pretty portable and will fit in your backpack without any problem. The build isn’t that great as it has a plastic chassis instead of aluminum or magnesium alloy. As far security is your concern, it comes with a fingerprint sensor which is rare in this price range.
What We Like:- Remarkable 16GB RAM for this price
- NanoEdge bezel display
- Plenty of port options
- Overall performance is good
- Mediocre battery life
7. HP 15-dy2024nr – Best Overall
Quick Overview Of Hardware Specifications- Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor
- 8GB RAM
- 256GB SSD
- Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- 15.6 Inch Full HD IPS Anti-glare Display
- Up to 7 Hours Battery Life
- 14.11 x 9.53 x 0.71 inches
The HP 15-dy2024nr is one of our favorites from the line, packing a 15.6-inch Full HD display, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 256GB solid-state drive (SSD) into a package that costs you around $500.
The 256GB SSD provides plenty of storage space for your documents, photos, and other files. However, it doesn’t have an optical drive so you’ll need to use an external USB DVD reader if you need to install software from disc. Alongside, the 8GB of system memory lets you easily run multiple programs at once with no lag or stuttering.
Further, it’s also got a bit more power under the hood, with an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. Sure, it’s the latest 11th Gen chip from Intel, you’ll be able to use this laptop for light photo editing and video rendering without any problems.
You also get surprisingly decent graphics performance from the Iris Plus Xe graphics integration that comes with the chip. While it’s no dedicated GPU by any stretch of the imagination, you’ll easily be able to play games like Overwatch and Rocket League, as long as you keep your expectations in check.
Moreover, it has a standard full-sized keyboard, complete with number pad, that’s comfortable to type on and has backlighting for working in dimly lit environments.
What We Like:- Fast NVMe SSD
- Excellent display quality
- HP Fast Charge technology
- Best value for money
- Lack of backlit keyboard
Final Verdict
So, these are some of the best laptops under $500 which are available on the market right now with latest specs and features. Apart from this, in a recent year, the sales of budget laptops are increased drastically and the reason is that due to pandemic all the company had started work from home for their employees. However, $500 is a good budget to buy a decent laptop for your office work or online studies.
Still, you are stuck or confused about which one is best for you then feel free to send us your requirement via below comment box.