10 Best Cheap Laptops Review: Best Laptops Under $500
10 Best Cheap Laptops Review: Best Laptops Under $500
Are you looking for the best laptops under $500 to buy right now? The best affordable laptops above are good for everything from photo and video editing and other uses such as browsing web, streaming movies and videos and even virtual meetings. While there are those affordable laptops that can carry out most operations, there are those which are designed to meet certain specific functions. Since you can always make a choice, you might feel intimidated to buy a laptop. However, regardless of the brand and model, most laptops come with options for the color, size, CPU, and memory. If you are currently looking for the best laptops, here are our recommendations for the 10 best laptops under $500 to buy right now.
The 10 Best Laptops Under $500 To Buy Right Now
The Lenovo Ideapad Flex 5i Plus is our 1st pick for the best laptop overall. Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long-enough battery life for a full workday make the Flex 5i the best Chromebook for the price. VIEW DEAL
The Acer Aspire 3, 15.6″ is our 2nd pick for the best windows laptop overall. Unlike most cheap Windows laptops, the Acer Aspire 3 is fast, compact, and light, and it has a decent 1080p touchscreen and good battery life. VIEW DEAL
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is currently our 3rd recommendation for a great budget laptop. Reliable performance, a spacious touch display, and long-enough battery life for a full workday make the Flex 5 the best Chromebook for the price. VIEW DEAL
Here are the best laptops under $500 to buy right now:
10 Best Laptops Review: Best Laptops Under $500
1. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i – Best overall
Rating: 10/10
- CPU: Intel Core i3-1315U
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 14-inch, FHD IPS Touchscreen (1920 x 1080)
- Storage: 128GB eMMC
The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i truly is the winner of the best overall laptop PCs under $500. It is flexible, performs well, and inexpensive to use; thus suitable for students, workers, and other occasional users. This Chromebook comes with the functionality of both a tablet and a laptop which makes it easy for the user to switch between touch and keyboard mode. The Intel Core i3 processor provides optimal performance for multitasking, streaming, and browsing. undefined Consequently, a 3” Full HD touchscreen display offers sharp and rich images for business and leisure. The battery life of up to 10 hours means that you can work away from a power outlet without having to charge the battery quite often.
- Impressive performance
- Excellent keyboard
- Lightweight
PROs:
CONs:
- Mediocre display
- The display brightness
2. Acer Aspire 5 – Best affordable gaming laptop
Rating: 9/10
Acer Aspire 5 is the second best cheap gaming laptop that you wish to own from a budget of $500. But still it has quite affordable price for the laptop and has quite a powerful equipment including the AMD Ryzen 3 3350U, as well as the Vega 3 integrated graphics which are perfect for light level of gaming and standard tasks. The 15.6 inches Full HD screen makes the images and graphics clear and detailed, which makes other games and videos compelling to play. It has 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD which provides reasonable performance and significantly fast start-up time. As for the storage system in the laptop, you can extend it, which can be considered a plus. It has a relatively average battery life of 8 hours it is perfect for people who want to engage in non rigorous gaming without having to spend much.
PROs:
- Big display
- Inexpensive
- Lots of ports
CONs:
- Windows 10 S
- A little underpowered
3. ASUS Vivobook 15 Slim – Best slim windows laptop
Rating: 8/10
- CPU: Intel Core i5 12500H
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
- RAM: 16GB RAM
- Screen: 15.6″, 1920x1080p
- Storage: 512GB SSD
Asus Vivobook 15 Slim has the best overall slim windows laptop under 500$, and it comes with the latest thin and sleek design. Its exquisite design and light construction allow users to take it with them wherever they may need it, as it does not add any considerable bulk. It includes a 15-inch HD tile optics display that provides clear resolution and amazing colors, which is great for multimedia use. 6” Full HD display which allows the user to watch videos, play games as well as view images and different content with sharpness. Aided by 8 GB RAM along with the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, it offers a solid work for productivity tasks, browsing, multimedia, and mid-level gaming. This company offers Brazilian developers, iMac’s eighth-generation 128GB SSD which facilitates boot and file access. The battery capacity of up to 10 hours is commendable, thereby extending the working or gaming time without necessarily having to recharge the device frequently.
- Decent iGPU for graphical workloads
- High performance CPU
CONs:
PROs:
- Average display
- Not the best connectivity features
4. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 (Intel) – Best budget laptop
Rating: 8/10
- CPU: Intel Core m3-7Y30
- Graphics: Intel HD 615
- RAM: 4GB
- Screen: 12.3-inch, 2400 x 1600
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 is a good laptop for the price and will serve anyone well in their various needs. This lightweight Convertible Laptop comes with 14” full high definition touch screen which can be easily turned 360 degrees, thus can be used in laptop, tablet, tent and stand configurations. With an Intel Pentium Gold 7505 processes, has 4GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD it serves the standard tasks like web browsing, streaming, and basic document editing. The Flex 5 comes in a portable and ultraportable that you can quickly take with you wherever you are going, and it has an HD that provides up to 10 hours of usage.
PROs:
- Great performance
- Long battery life
CONs:
- Display not bright
- Only 1 USB-C port
- Pen not included
5. HP 2024 Newest Pavilion – Best touch-screen laptop
Rating: 8/10
- CPU: Intel Core i3 1215U
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- RAM: 16 GB
- Screen: 15.6″, 1366x768p
- Storage: 1TB SSD
The HP 2024 Newest Pavilion is the most appropriate cheapest touch screen laptop in that budget category with excellent specifications. Of course, this notebook has a 15. Of the netbook we can name the 10.1 inch HD touchscreen which is very sensitive to touch, so it is suitable for carrying out creative works, presentations, etc., and general carries out. Moreover, It comes with an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 128 GB SSD that suffice the average computing demands. The construction of a laptop is quite stable, and the appearance is modern and concise. The built-in battery has the capability to support up to 8 hours use and thus you can continue with your tasks, browsing or streaming without time break.
PROs:
- Touchscreen without disabling keyboard
- Multiple accessories pre-included
- Great battery life and lightweight
CONs:
- Resolution is just 768p
- iGPU isn’t very good
6. Acer Aspire 3, 15.6″ – The perfect light-weight laptop
Rating: 8/10
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3250U
- Battery: Up to 9 hours
- RAM: 8 GB LPDDR5
- Screen: 15.6″ Full HD
- Storage: 256GB SSD
Acer Aspire 3, 15.6” is highly recommended for everyone looking for a laptop that is good for everyday use without spending too much money; this laptop is equipped with a 15.6” full HD IPS LED display that has bright and clear pictures for web browsing, movie watching, office use and more. It has an AMD Ryzen 3 3250U processor with up to 8GB of RAM for average performance suitable for multitasking, word processing, and occasional gaming. The 256GB SSD produces fast booting times and a considerable storage space for files and programs. T he Aspire 3 has an elegant and durable construction and is a rather light-weight notebook with 4.19 lbs, thus it is lightweight enough to suit the mobility aspects of students and professionals. It has up to 9 hours battery life which means that it allows you to work for quite some time without having to recharge the battery again and again. Furthermore, the laptop supports Windows 10 Home thereby enabling the user to easily operate and access wide range of programs.
PROs:
- Solid performance for everyday tasks
- Fast SSD storage
- Affordable price
CONs:
- Integrated graphics limit performance
- Basic build quality
7. Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook 14.1“- Best slim laptop
Rating: 7/10
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
- Battery: Up to 8.5 hours
- RAM: 4 GB
- Screen: 14.1″ Full HD, 1920 x 1080
- Storage: 64GB eMMC
The Gateway Ultra Slim Notebook 14.1” is a wonderful low-cost laptop that is designed for daily use delivering a good productivity as well as high-quality graphics for watch streams and moderate gaming. Integrated into an Intel Celeron N4020 processor, it means no lags for those simple tasks like browsing, doing documents or watching videos. Slimness of the laptop and light weight of only 3.5 lbs, hence, it is portable and ideal for use by individuals who are always on the move. It has 4GB RAM and 64GB eMMC storage enough for basic applications and files actions. Having Windows 10 Home in S mode increases security and efficiency and would be a perfect fit for students and business people looking for an affordable, top-quality device.
PROs:
- Affordable price
- Slim and lightweight design
- Windows 10 Home in S mode
CONs:
- Limited storage capacity
- Basic processor
8. Vaio FE14 (2022) – Best affordable windows laptop
Rating: 7/10
- CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U
- Graphics: Intel Iris Xe (integrated)
- RAM: 8GB
- Screen: 1920 x 1080p
- Storage: 512GB SSD
Therefore, the Vaio FE14 (2022) offers adequate performance at a low cost and takes the title of the best cheap Windows laptop in this category. This laptop comes with a 14 inches display and has a resolution of Full HD which is ideal for productivity, entertainment, and gaming. It operates with an intel core i3-1115G4 processor and Intel UHD Graphics with the support of 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage capacity, enough for efficiency and space. With it’s light weight compact design which weighs only 3.5 pounds, it can be carried around easily and the battery has a life span of up to 8 hours you can work a full day.
PROs:
- Good keyboard
- Decent battery life
CONs:
- Mediocre display
- Underwhelming performance
9. Samsung Chromebook 4 – Best for comfort
Rating: 7/10
- CPU: Intel Celeron N4020
- Battery: Up to 12.5 hours
- RAM: 4GB
- Screen: 11.6″ HD Display
- Storage: 32GB eMMC
Samsung Chromebook 4 is one of the device that is most comfortable to use and therefore suitable for individuals who want the easiest device to use. Another aspect characteristic of this laptop is its 11. 6” high definition touch screen which is small in size and can easily fit in any bag making it suitable for users who are frequently in transit. It incorporates an Intel Celeron N4020 processor along with 4GB of RAM and 32GB eMMC, which gives reasonable performance for the basic activities such as browsing, streaming, and editing documents. The Chromebook 4 is slim and lightweight for portability with a unit weighs 2.6 lbs, which is rather comfortable to type on and can be used for protracted intervals. Then there is battery life of the device which may be up to 12.5 hours it allows you to work throughout the day and not get fatigued.
PROs:
- Affordable
- Comfortable keyboard
- Lightweight and portable
- Long battery life
CONs:
- Limited storage
- Lower resolution display
10. Microsoft Surface Pro 5 – Best 2-in-1 laptop
Rating: 7/10
- CPU: Intel Core i5-7300U 2.6 GHz
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: Up to 10 hours
- Screen: 12.3″ full hd touchscreen
- Storage: 256GB SSD
The last one detailing is the Microsoft Surface Pro 5 which is equipped with detachable keyboard. The chosen 2-in-1 laptop is Microsoft Surface Pro 5, which is the best example of a proper equipment for those who need a laptop under $500. This laptop also offers a 10-inch HD screen, that makes the use of the notebook very comfortable. 5” Full high-definition touchscreen that offers bright picture quality for work, streaming, as well as, creativity. Thus, the Surface Pro 5 is relatively light and weighs only 1.2 lbs, and its versatility stems from being 2-in-1 and highly portable for various purposes. The battery capacity is up to 10 hours which means that you can be productive for most of the day.
PROs:
- High-resolution touchscreen
- Compact and lightweight
- Versatile 2-in-1 design
- Long battery life
CONs:
- Limited storage and RAM
- Basic processor
Conclusion – Best Laptops Under $500
For a budget of $500 or less, one has to compromise on memory size, processing speed, and design. Ultimately, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5i takes the cake as the best all-purpose Chromebook because of both its capability and adaptability. The Acer Aspire 5 is an ideal choice for value-based gaming, while the ASUS Vivobook 15 Slim is both portable and lightweight. The Microsoft Surface Pro 5 make it a great 2-in-1 for anyone looking for a highly-wearable device. All these laptops have their specialties which basically means that they are all useful in some particular ways and within a specific price category.
Taking into consideration the mentioned above demands and the opportunities presented by each of these laptops, one can easily choose the one needed with necessity to spend much money. Begin with these basic recommendations and use the advantages of a strong, inexpensive laptop without fail.
