4 Best Laptops Under $500

101 laptops

Looking for the best laptops under $500? If your budget is limited but you still want a reliable and efficient machine, you’re in the right place. While laptops in this price range aren’t built for heavy gaming or advanced 3D work, they deliver excellent value for everyday use.

The best budget laptops under $500 are perfect for students, home users, and office work. They handle daily tasks like browsing, online classes, video streaming, and productivity apps smoothly. In this guide, we’ve carefully selected the top-performing budget laptops based on price, features, and real user reviews so you can confidently choose the best deal and get the most for your money.

Looking for the best laptops under $500?
Here we compare the top budget laptops based on performance, value, and real user reviews.

You don’t need a $500 laptop to enjoy a smooth and reliable computing experience. While budget laptops aren’t designed for high-end gaming or advanced 3D animation, they offer excellent performance for everyday tasks. In this price range, you can find thin and lightweight laptops that handle Microsoft Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with ease, as well as photo editing software such as Photoshop and Lightroom—making them a smart choice for students, professionals, and home users.

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Things to Look for in a Sub-$500 Laptop

Laptops under $500 are all about smart compromises, so it’s important to focus on what matters most for your needs. For multitasking and research, aim for at least 8GB of RAM, or a laptop with an upgradeable RAM slot. Storage is another key factor—most budget laptops offer 128GB SSD or less, but if you work locally, 256GB SSD should be your minimum.

The CPU is less critical, as most modern processors can easily handle Windows and Microsoft Office tasks. AMD Ryzen 3000 CPUs provide better raw performance, while Intel 10th Gen Ice Lake chips are known for improved battery life. If your work is mostly cloud-based, a Chromebook can be a cheaper, lighter alternative, though it comes with limited local storage and desktop app support

🏆 #1 Best Overall

  • 【 Office 365】 Office 365 for the web allows users to edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents online at no cost, as long as an internet connection is available.
  • 【Display】This laptop has a 15.6-inch LED display with 1366 x 768 (HD) resolution and vivid images to maximize your entertainment.
  • 【Powerful Storage】Up to 32GB RAM can smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs, all at once.1.1TB Storage leaves the power at your fingertips with the fastest data transfers currently available.
  • 【Tech Specs】1 x USB-C. 2 x USB-A. 1 x HDMI. 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack. Wi-Fi. Bluetooth. Windows 11,  Laptop, Numeric Keypad, Camera Privacy Shutter, Webcam.
  • 【High Quality Camera】With the help of Temporal Noise Reduction, show your HD Camera off without any fear of blemishes disturbing your feed.

Pros

Cons

Rank #2

  • Crisp Full HD Display, Big Impact – Enjoy sharp 1920 x 1080 visuals on a roomy 15.6″ screen.
  • Windows 11 Ready – Modern interface, enhanced security, and fast startup for everyday users.
  • Efficient Celeron Performance – Intel Celeron N4020 eases through daily tasks—web browsing, Zoom, docs, and more.
  • Classic Port Selection – Use dual USB ports, mini HDMI, and Bluetooth to connect work, play, or external setups.
  • Ultra-Affordable & Lightweight – Value-packed specs at a student-friendly price; under 4 lbs for easy portability.
  • Crisp Full HD Display, Big Impact – Enjoy sharp 1920 x 1080 visuals on a roomy 15.6″ screen.
  • Windows 11 Ready – Modern interface, enhanced security, and fast startup for everyday users.
  • Efficient Celeron Performance – Intel Celeron N4020 eases through daily tasks—web browsing, Zoom, docs, and more.
  • Classic Port Selection – Use dual USB ports, mini HDMI, and Bluetooth to connect work, play, or external setups.
  • Ultra-Affordable & Lightweight – Value-packed specs at a student-friendly price; under 4 lbs for easy portability.

Pros

Cons

Rank #3

  • ✅All-Day Efficient Performance: Powered by an Intel Celeron processor, 4 Core performance delivers seamless multi-monitor setups. Whether you’re working on documents, streaming videos, or browsing the web, it offers a responsive and seamless experience. Ideal for students and business on the go, you can easily power through a full day of work and play more tools .
  • ⚡ Upgraded RAM & Storage: With up to 16GB DDR4 RAM, enjoy smooth multitasking and seamless performance for everyday tasks. Store your files easily with up to 128GB UFS storage, with an additional 128GB Micro SD Card for extra space, provides enough space to save more data more tools 
  • 🔋Ultra-Portable & Long Battery Life: Lightweight at just 3.24 pounds and 0.71 inches thin, this sleek laptop is designed for effortless mobility. With a battery life of up to 8 hours and HP Fast Charge (0 to 50% in 45 minutes), you can stay productive and entertained anywhere—whether moving from room to room, traveling, or carrying it in your backpack more tools.
  • 🖥HD Display: 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display, BrightView. With micro-edge design, delivering vibrant visuals and reduced eye strain. And the built-in HP True Vision 720p HD webcam enables easy video calls, ensures crisp video and clear audio during online meetings or video calls more tools .
  • 💼Windows 11 Pro & 1Year Microsoft Office 365: Experience enhanced productivity and security features with Windows 11 Pro & 1 Year Microsoft Office 365.

Rank #4

  • 【A cost-effective choice for students and daily users】MediaTek Kompanio 520+4GB memory+64GB eMMC +64GB USB Flash Drive, smoothly running basic tasks such as online courses and document editing; 2.86-pound lightweight body+13.5 hours of long battery life, stress free for commuting/campus/home  mobile use, budget friendly and worry free.
  • 【Easy to use design for the entire population】The 14 inch FHD touch screen is intuitive to operate and suitable for business demonstrations and elderly users to get started with; The keyboard is comfortable, the system is simple and has no redundant software, making it easy for students to type, business offices, and simple users to use in daily life.
  • 【Efficient connection + privacy protection】High speed Wi Fi is stable and not lagging, making online classes/remote meetings smoother; Built in privacy camera, it can protect privacy for sensitive business operations and online learning for students, making use more reassuring.
  • 【Reliable and durable + low maintenance cost】Chrome OS automatically updates, with a durable body material and high-quality customer support; No need for complex maintenance, business professionals can work with ease, elderly users can use it with confidence, and it adapts to the reliability needs of multiple groups of people.
  • 【Fashionable, portable, and adaptable to multiple scenarios】Abyss Blue has a minimalist appearance and an online aesthetic value; The ultra-thin design is easy to carry, seamlessly switching between campus, office, home and other scenarios, balancing practicality and aesthetics.
Lenovo 2020 IdeaPad 3 15″ HD Touch Screen Laptop, Intel 10th Gen Dual-Core i3-1005G1 CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM, 256GB PCI-e SSD, Webcam, WiFi 5, Bluetooth, Windows 10 S – Almond
acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display, AMD Ryzen 3 3200U, Vega 3 Graphics, 4GB DDR4, 128GB SSD, Backlit Keyboard, Windows 10 in S Mode, A515-43-R19L, Silver
Acer Swift 1, 14″ Full HD Notebook, Intel Pentium Silver N5000, 4GB, 64GB HDD, SF114-32-P2PK
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 13″ Laptop, FHD Touch Display, Intel Core i3-10110U, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage, Chrome OS
Microsoft Surface Go 2 – 10.5″ Touch-Screen – Intel Pentium – 4GB Memory – 64GB – Wifi – Platinum
Acer Swift 1, 14″ Full HD Notebook, Intel Pentium Silver N5000, 4GB, 64GB HDD, SF114-32-P2PK