Best Laptop Under 500 in 2022:

In this article
We have gathered data about the best laptops under 500. As you know that budget laptops do not offer high-end performance because they are armed with mid-range specifications, including processor, RAM, and storage. That’s why these budget laptops are excellent for low-end multitasking, general purposes, low-end gaming, and other similar tasks. We have added a detailed buyer’s guide with all key factors to help you find the best budget laptop.

Best Laptop Under 500 2022

1. ASUS VivoBook 15
2. Acer Aspire 5 Slim
3. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook
4. Acer Nitro 5
5. CHUWI AeroBook Pro
6. Asus Chromebook Flip C434
7. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 2020
8. Newest HP 14 Laptop
9. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
10. Acer Aspire E 15

You don’t have to cost an arm and a leg to find a fine notebook because the best laptops under 500 can do all the basic tasks for you. They offer admirable performance and longer battery life, so spending on them is worth every penny. Also, you can expect gaming from them because some of the laptops on our list are an ideal choice for less demanding games. However, don’t expect massive editing and playing demanding games from $500 laptops; after all, they are not destroying your wallet.

If you are tight on budget and looking for an all-purpose laptop at a reasonable price, you have come to the right place. We have included such laptops in our list that will carry out all your basic demands quite effectively. However, if you want an even cheaper laptop, go through our list of best laptops under 400. On the other hand, if you are willing to spend more, take a look at our roundup of the best i7 laptop. If you want something for your kid, turn to our best laptop for kids page.

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Choosing the Right Type of Laptop

Before going to the reviews, you must know your needs and the particular type of laptop you are looking for. Because you may want a regular laptop and end up buying a Chromebook. In some cases, your work will demand a 2-in-1 laptop, and you will go for a traditional laptop. At the end of the day, your selection won’t be wise and leave you dissatisfied. So, to save you from any dissatisfaction, we have explained the three different types of laptops in this section. After going through it, it will be crystal clear that which laptop is for you.

Classical Laptops

Laptops are very common these days, and every other person has either used them or at least knows the basics. Anyway, a brief introduction would include the laptops pack processor, RAM, and storage drive. All these devices are connected to a motherboard which is the center of communication. Classical laptops are ideal for creation, editing, streaming, browsing, gaming, and multitasking.

Chromebooks

Chromebooks are run by a Google Chrome operating system and are a cheaper alternative to traditional Windows laptops. They usually come with low memory, but you can upgrade it up to 32GB. Initially, they were launched to serve the purpose of both a laptop as well as tablet. The best part of Chromebooks is their extreme portability and budget-friendly nature. So, if you find them attractive, we have compiled a list of best Chromebooks under 200.

The working of Chromebooks is different from regular laptops. They don’t come with a physical storage drive; instead, you will get a 15GB cloud storage where all your documents are stored. Although with this feature, you can excess your data from any device and anywhere you want conveniently. But at times, it can be disappointing if you are out of range of the internet. Also, the processor isn’t potent, so don’t expect multitasking or other heavy load tasks from them. However, you can play less demanding games on Chromebooks. So, if you want a portable device that can do simple tasks like browsing and word processing, a Chromebook would be an ideal choice.

2-in-1 Laptops

The 2-in-1 laptops are of two types that are hybrid and convertible. In the case of hybrid, you can completely detach the screen from the keyboard. The screen is touch-capable, so it independently serves as a tablet. While the keyboard houses various ports and has its battery. Although these laptops are Windows-powered, they are not as powerful as the regular laptops. However, they are superb machines for carrying around.

On the other hand, in convertible laptops, you can’t detach the screen from the keyboard. But they have a hinge that allows you to switch between laptop and tablet mode. Though they are a bit heavier, they are powerful and can perform like regular laptops. So, if you find this type appealing, you can easily find the best 2-in-1 laptop under 500 on our list.

Choosing the Best Laptop under 500 based on Features

As the well-known brands are launching a new model every other month, so the prices of laptops often drop. As we have already mentioned that you can find the best laptop under 500 dollars. All you have to do is take into account some fundamental factors, which are as follows.

Design

The first thing that you need to consider in a laptop is the design. There are various laptops in this price range, and depending upon your needs, you can choose the design accordingly. If you are a traveler, you would want a convertible laptop that’s convenient to carry and easily fit in your luggage. Also, you can convert such a laptop into a tablet when needed. On the other hand, if portability isn’t your top priority, you can go for a 15.6 inches laptop. If you want something even bigger, you can also find a 17 inches laptop. Fortunately, we have included one for you that is the HP 17.

Battery Life

Battery life is another essential factor to consider. How long your laptop will last depends upon usage and the overall structure of your laptop. If your laptop is heavy and bulky, you can expect a longer battery life. On the other hand, if your laptop is slim and lightweight, they usually don’t last long. However, 2-in-1 laptops are exceptions since they are portable as well as offer a prolonged battery life. Going towards the usage, if you play games or watch movies, your battery will soon run out of juice. Let’s conclude, the majority of the laptops in this price range can last up to 8 hours which is more than enough for most users.

Specifications

Although specs vary for every laptop, the overall performance of these laptops is considerable. They pack an Intel processor, and you can get up to Core i5. Along with this, 8GB memory is not only sufficient for simple tasks but also somehow multitasking. Some of them even pack a dedicated GPU for gaming, like the Acer Nitro 5. In addition, the storage space is plentiful, but users who prefer SSD will be a bit disappointed. That does not mean that you can’t find the best laptop under 500 with SSD, but you can’t get more than 512GB SSD. On the bright side, you can get cloud storage if you opt for a Chromebook that will give you quick excess to your essential data.

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Best Laptop Under 500 2022 Reviews

1. ASUS VivoBook 15

Best value laptop

ASUS VivoBook 15 REVIEW: The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a good laptop with a stylish design and holds solid specs. Speaking of the design, it features an innovative ErgoLift hinge for better typing and viewing experience. The typing experience is made even comfortable by the backlit keyboard. Though a full number pad is located on the right side yet the keys are well-spaced and have a decent vertical trip. The touchpad is pretty standard and you won’t notice any issue while executing various Windows gestures. Plus, a fingerprint reader is embedded at the top right corner for easy sign-in.

The screen is surrounded by extremely narrow bezels that draw your eyes towards the large panel. Despite the ultra-slim bezel, happily, the webcam is located at the top bezel. While the 15.6 inches full HD display generates superb images. The best laptop under 500 for students is equipped with an Intel i3-1005G1 processor, Intel UHD Graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD. So, whether you want to do your assignments or play games in your spare time, the VivoBook 15 won’t disappoint you.

One other thing that students and travelers will love about ASUS VivoBook is its portability. Since it weighs only 3.5 pounds and measures 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.75 inches. Along with this, the ports are well-considered. On the left side, you will only have two USB 2.0 ports. The right side houses a USB-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, an HDMI port, an audio jack, and a microSD card reader. Over and above that, up to 8 hours of battery life is quite enough for a long working day. Hence, if you want the best cheap laptop that isn’t just stylish but offers admirable gaming and computing performance as well, go for VivoBook 15.

2. Acer Aspire 5 Slim

Slim mid-range laptop

Acer Aspire 5 Slim REVIEW:The Aspire 5 Slim comes with powerful internals, has a gorgeous display, and offers long battery life at a cheaper price. The design is stylish and the build quality is admirable with the aluminum hood. While the interior has its beauty with the silver deck and black keyboard. Bringing the backlit keyboard up, although the keys are a bit shallow, the 78 grams of actuation force make up for that. More, the touchpad is responsive, accurately accepts operating system gestures, and holds a fingerprint reader at the top left corner.

The best laptop under 500 features a 15.6 inches FHD display for impressive picture quality. Plus, the panel is IPS type, so the viewing angle is pretty decent. Also, with 273 nits of brightness, watching your content under bright conditions won’t be an issue for you. Armed with an AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, 4GB memory, and 128GB SSD, the performance of Aspire 5 is praiseworthy. Besides, with Acer TrueHormony, the speakers bring a deeper bass and more volume when listening to your favorite track.

With 3.97 pounds weight and 14.3 x, 9.8 x 0.7 inches dimensions, travel with ease with the Aspire 5. Despite a slim profile, the ports selection is admirable. You will have a USB 3.0, two USB 2.0, HDMI, Ethernet port, and an audio jack. What is more, up to 9 hours of battery life allows you to carry your notebook around without worrying about the charging station. Hence, if you want an outstanding laptop at a reasonable price, the Acer Aspire 5 Slim is unbeatable.

3. Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook

Affordable yet powerful Chromebook

Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook REVIEW: Lenovo Flex 5 is one of the finest Chromebooks from Lenovo, with the latest 11 generation processor and amazing FHD display. Its processor is dual core, it doesn’t faze out while browsing, playing videos, and PDF rendering. The design of the laptop is quite satisfactory for the list of Under 500 laptops with Abyss blue aluminum chassis and thin bezels. If you are looking for a portable laptop with an extended battery life of up to 10 hours backup, powerful internals, and outstanding design, then Lenovo Flex 5 is one of the best laptops under 500. However, Flex 5 doesn’t have HDMI and Ethernet ports for connectivity, but the fair price, performance, and design of the Chromebook Flex 5 completely overshadows the trade-offs.

4. Acer Nitro 5

Affordable gaming laptop

Acer Nitro 5 REVIEW:The strongest addition to the Nitro series, Acer Nitro 5 is the best gaming laptop under 500. With the angular design and red-and-black combination, it will catch your eyes straight out of the box. Whereas the laptop is housed in a matte-black plastic exterior. Lift the lid to see the red backlighting keyboard. The WASD keys are illuminated which the gamers will certainly love. The key travel is 1.4mm and requires 70 grams of actuation force to save you from bottoming out. While the touchpad gives you plenty of room for pleasant navigation.

Large and immersive, the 15.6 inches FHD display generates great images during gameplay. Featuring an IPS panel, the viewing angle is wider, and picture quality won’t disturb if you view from perspective. Equipped with AMD Ryzen 5 CPU, 8GB memory, AMD Radeon RX 560X GPU, and 1TB HDD, enjoy every bit of action with Acer Nitro 5. Besides, the NitroSense allows you to monitor the processor and graphics card and keep them cool. Also, you can turn on the Coolboost to increase fan speeds under pressure.

The gaming notebook weighs 5.97 pounds and measures 15.3 x 10.4 x 1 inch, so portability is in the mid-range. One other thing that gamers will about this buddy is the plethora of ports. The left side is home to an HDMI port, a USB-C port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, and a Kensington lock slot. Simultaneously, the right side houses a pair of USB 2.0 ports along with an audio jack. Besides, up to 5 hours of battery life is sufficient for such a budget gaming rig. Hence, if you want the best laptop under 500 for gaming, Acer Nitro 5 is matchless.

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5. CHUWI AeroBook Pro

Best general purpose laptop

CHUWI AeroBook Pro REVIEW:The Chuwi AeroBook Pro is a Windows laptop that appears just like a MacBook. The manufacturer has given it brush metal finish and accepts a dark grey color scheme. Overall, the AeroBook looks stylish, performs decently and you just have to spend around $400 to get it. Just below the screen, a very decent keyboard sits which offers a comfortable typing experience. The keys have an ideal travel accompanied by a decent level of feedback. Plus, the spacious touchpad gives you a responsive and precise click-action.

The best laptop under 500 2022 sports a 13.3 inches FHD antiglare display for an immersive viewing experience. While the panel is IPS that offers a wider angle of view. More, the AeroBook Pro comes with a night mode to reduce eye strain. The budget laptop delivers a solid performance by featuring an Intel Core M3-8100Y processor, 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 256GB SSD. Plus, the memory ensures multitasking, and the SSD loads programs quickly with the 500MB read and write speed.

Weighing only 3.90 pounds and measuring 0.63 inches thick, the Chuwi AeroBook is not much lighter but surely thinner. Regardless of the slim chassis, the connectivity is praiseworthy. The laptop holds 2 x USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a USB Type-C port, a micro SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone audio jack. And up to 8 hours of battery life is more than enough for all-day working. Thus, if you are looking for a stylish and easy on-the-go laptop, go for Chuwi AeroBook Pro.

6. Asus Chromebook Flip C434

Portable 2 in 1 laptop

Asus Chromebook Flip C434 REVIEW:The Chromebook Flip by ASUS is a cheap 2-in-1 laptop with a gorgeous display and long battery life. With aluminum build quality, it isn’t just elegant but durable as well. Since the notebook is convertible so the two sturdy hinges allow you to use it in tent and tablet mode. Also, the ErgoLift hinge slightly raises the keyboard when you open the lid for even comfortable typing. Bringing the keyboard up, the keys are nicely spaced, have 1.3mm key travel, and require 71 grams of actuation force. Likewise, the touchpad is responsive and you won’t notice any issue while using Chrome operating system gestures.

With extremely narrow bezels, the 14 inches screen is outfitted in a 13 inches small footprint. The display is Full HD, fairly bright, and generates decent images. While the best touchscreen laptop under 500 accurately tracks your irregular swipes during navigation on the screen. Armed with the Intel Core M3 processor, 4GB memory, and 64GB eMMC storage, performance is more than enough for day-to-day tasks. Though you should not expect multitasking or other intensive tasks, which is the common fate shared by all Chromebooks.

With 3.3 pounds weight and 0.6 inches thickness, the ASUS Chromebook Flip offers maximum portability. Anyhow, you should not expect a wide range of ports from such a slim laptop. Still, you will have a USB-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port, and an audio jack. While the left side holds another USB-C port and a microSD card slot. Besides, the bottom-firing speakers deliver decent and generously loud sound. What is more, up to 10 hours of battery life for a lightweight and touchscreen laptop like Chromebook C434 is superabundant.

7. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

Best budget laptop

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 REVIEW:The IdeaPad 3 is newest Lenovo’s business laptop that is designed for style and gives an overall fantastic performance. The notebook features a sleek and clean design with the all-aluminum chassis. The laptop offers more than just a good look since it’s durable and can deal with spills from up to 60cc of water, shocks, and extreme temperature. Though the keyboard is a bit shallow, the overall typing experience is comfortable. You won’t witness any flaw in the overall design of this best rated laptop under 500.

With a 14 inches anti-glare display, the best laptop under 500 generates sharp and detailed images. However, the screen isn’t very bright, so watching your content in direct sunlight might be an issue. In addition, the IdeaPad 3 2020 is armed with an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB SSD along with 1TB of HDD to store your important data and files. Whereas the AMD Radeon Vega 3 dedicated graphics allows you to play less demanding games.

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 weighs only 3.31 pounds, so you don’t have to bear an extra burden on your shoulders when it’s in your backpack. Finding a charging station on the go isn’t possible always; happily, the IdeaPad 3 provides up to 5 hours of battery life which is satisfactory. The slim chassis offers a decent range of ports, including two USB Type-A (USB 3.1 & USB 3.2 Gen1) ports, a USB Type-A 2.0 port, and a headphone/microphone jack. Hence, if you want a budget business laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 should be at the top of your shopping list.

8. HP 14 Laptop

Best business laptop

HP 14 REVIEW:HP is a well-known brand in the laptop world and it’s launching such product what the users are looking for. The HP 14 10th gen is a decent model having a traditional design. The combination of classic exterior and the black bezels around the screen makes the overall look even attractive. With an all-metal body, the notebook is durable enough and meant to last. The keyboard gives you a convenient typing experience.

The 14 inches display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 generates decent pictures. Plus, the viewing angle is pretty good, which ensures that picture quality won’t distort if you view from perspective. Powered by the Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost technology, the performance of the best laptop under 500 2022 is exceptional. Alongside this, the 8GB memory and 256GB SSD give you faster loading and superior responsiveness.

Although the notebook looks heavy by design, but it’s lightweight and portable. With 3.24 pounds of weight, you can carry it around effortlessly. In addition, ports selection is admirable with a USB Type-C port, SD card reader, an HDMI 1.4, 2 x USB 3.1 ports, and a microphone/headphone jack. Above that, over 7 hours of battery life is more than enough, though it may vary depending upon usage. Thus, if you are looking for a decent laptop under 500, surely this is one of the best picks for you.

9. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

Best all-around laptop

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 REVIEW:The Dell Inspiron is a budget touchscreen laptop that gives an acceptable performance. The design is professional enough to take the laptop to a meeting. Despite the mostly plastic body, the Inspiron 3000 is sturdy and durable. The keyboard offers a decent typing experience but we don’t recommend it for a long working day. Happily, the touchpad is responsive and fairly sized.

The best part of Inspiron 15 3000 is the stunning 15.6 inches display. The FHD screen is vibrant and sharp and delivers appreciable picture quality. Plus, whether you sit in front of the screen or watch from perspective, the picture quality remains the same due to the wide viewing angle. In addition, the best laptop under 500 is powered by the Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB HDD for decent computing performance. While the dual speakers generate loud enough sound to fill a large room.

Weighing 4.83 pounds and measuring 0.8 inches thick, the portability is satisfactory for a 15 inches laptop. Besides, the Inspiron 15 3000 comes with all the necessary ports you need for secondary connections. Talking about it, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, 1 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x headphone/microphone combo, 1 x SD Card Reader, and the 7 hours of battery life is another excellent thing.

10. Acer Aspire E 15

Best laptop for students

Acer Aspire E 15 REVIEW:With robust performance and long battery life, the Aspire E 15 is the best laptop under 500 dollars in 2022. Since it’s a budget laptop so you should not expect a great innovative design from it. However, the brushed metal texture gives it an overall premium appearance. Typing on the full-sized keyboard is comfortable, even with the number pad the keys are well-spaced. Though the key travel is a bit shallow, the 72 grams of actuation force gives them a solid feel. Along with this, the touchpad is spacious and responsive and reacts well to operating system gestures.

The 15.6 inches full HD display delivers breathtakingly beautiful images. However, we wish that the screen was a bit more colorful. Happily, the 227 nits of brightness are well above the budget laptops. Packed with an 8th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB memory, and 512GB SSD, the overall computing performance is admirable compared to the price. Plus, with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, you get the extra power when you need it. Also, the Acer TrueHarmony delivers crystal clear audio during games, movies, and music.

The Aspire E 15 weighs 5.27 pounds and measures 15.02 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches in dimensions. Although it’s not very lightweight and has a slim profile, luckily, the thick chassis gives you a wide range of ports. Bringing this up, the right side features a DVD double-layer drive, an audio jack, and a USB 2.0 port. In contrast, the left side is home to two USB 3.0 ports, a USB Type-C port, a VGA port, a Kensington lock slot and an HDMI 2.0 port. Besides, over 13 hours of battery life allows you to go all day without worrying about the charging station.