In 2024, the hunt for budget-friendly technology has led many users to seek out the best laptops under $500. Whether you’re a student, a busy professional, or someone who simply needs a reliable device for daily tasks, it’s possible to find laptops that meet your requirements without breaking the bank. In this article, we will discuss the top 10 best laptops under $500 available on Amazon, as well as provide a comprehensive buying guide to help you make an informed decision.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
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HP Newest 14" Ultral Light Laptop for Students and Business, Intel Quad-Core N4120, 8GB RAM, 192GB... | $246.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP 17 Laptop, 17.3” HD+ Display, 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1125G4 Processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD,... | $468.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Newest Flagship Touchscreen Win 11 Pro Laptop | 40GB RAM | 1TB Storage | 512GB SSD Onboard &... | $499.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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HP Go Slim 15.6" Laptop, 16GB RAM, 1.5TB Storage(512GB External SSD and 1TB Cloud Storage), Intel... | $399.00 | Buy on Amazon | |
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KYY Portable Monitor 15.6inch 1080P FHD USB-C, HDMI Computer Display HDR IPS Gaming Monitor... | $99.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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BESIGN LS03 Aluminum Laptop Stand, Ergonomic Detachable Computer Stand, Riser Holder Notebook Stand... | $17.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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ForHelp 15.6inch Portable Monitor,1080P USB-C HDMI Second External Monitor for Laptop,PC,Mac... | $85.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 8 |
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Lenovo Laptop Bag T210, Messenger Shoulder Bag for Laptop or Tablet | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
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Laptop Stand for Desk, Adjustable Laptop Stand for Desk, Laptop Desk Stand, Laptop Stand for Desk... | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon | |
| 10 |
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Charger for HP Laptop Computer 65W 45W Smart Blue Tip Power Adapter | $9.90 | Buy on Amazon |
Contents
The Benefits of Choosing a Laptop Under $500
When searching for the best laptops under $500, it’s essential to recognize the advantages that come with selecting budget-friendly options. These laptops typically offer excellent value for money, lightweight designs, and sufficient power for everyday tasks such as web browsing, document editing, and streaming media.
Key Considerations for Budget Laptop Buyers
While shopping in this price range, consider the following factors:
- Performance: Look for a laptop with at least 4GB of RAM and a decent processor to ensure smooth performance.
- Battery Life: A long-lasting battery is crucial for portability and convenience.
- Build Quality: Durable construction usually translates to better longevity.
- Display Quality: A good display enhances the overall user experience, especially for video content.
- Customer Support: Consider the warranty and customer service associated with your potential purchase.
Top 10 Best Laptops Under $500 in 2024
1. Acer Aspire 5
The Acer Aspire 5 is an impressive entry-level laptop that offers a strong blend of performance and design. With a 15.6″ Full HD display, it offers vibrant visuals, making it suitable for streaming videos and casual gaming. Featuring an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 4GB of RAM, it’s capable of handling day-to-day tasks efficiently.
The laptop also boasts a comfortable keyboard and a decent selection of ports, including USB Type-C, HDMI, and Ethernet. Battery life is rated at up to 8 hours, allowing you to work or study for an extended period without needing a charge.
- Do What You Do With Exceptional Performance: The 13th Gen Intel Core i5-13420H processor goes beyond performance to let your PC do even more at once. And Intel UHD graphics distribute performance where you need it most. With 16GB LPDDR5 memory and 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD storage—the Aspire 5 is made to do it all.
- Clear and Comfortable Viewing: Experience crisp, lifelike colors and sharp details on the 15.6” FHD IPS touch display. You have more space to work thanks to narrow bezels. Equipped with Acer’s suite of visual technologies for dynamic color optimization and viewing comfort.
- The Design: The slim 0.71" body give the Aspire 5 a premium feel and appearance. An ergonomic hinge design lifts the body of Aspire 5 and tilts the keyboard for comfortable typing, improved cooling and a better sound experience.
- Smooth Operator: Make light work of your daily tasks, with a full line-up of features to elevate your day-to-day—like a 720p webcam and an air inlet keyboard.
- Internal Specifications: 16GB LPDDR5 memory; 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD to store your files and media; Windows 11 Home
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is another excellent option within the budget category. Offering a 15.6-inch display and powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, it provides more muscle for multitasking and productivity. With 8GB RAM, this laptop can handle several applications simultaneously with ease.
Moreover, it has an impressive battery life of around 7.5 hours, making it perfect for classes or working from coffee shops. The IdeaPad 3 also features a privacy shutter for its webcam, ensuring security in these modern remote working times.
- 【Memory & Storage】Memory is 12GB high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. Hard Drive is 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 Solid State Drive which allows to fast bootup and data transfer
- 【Processor】 Intel Core i3-1115G4 3.00 GHz 2 Cores Processor (6MB Cache, up to 4.10 GHz), Intel UHD Graphics
- 【Screen】15.6" HD TouchScreen (1366 x 768) Display
- 【Ports】2 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A 3.2, 1 x SuperSpeed USB Type-A, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo, 1 x SD Card Reader, Wireless-AC (Wi-Fi 5) and Bluetooth Combo
- 【Operating System】Windows 11 Home, 64 bit
3. HP 14 Laptop
The HP 14 offers portability without compromising on performance. With a lightweight design and a sleek 14″ display, it’s perfect for users who are always on the go. The Intel Celeron processor and 4GB of RAM mean it is best suited for lightweight applications like browsing and word processing.
Despite its lower power, the HP 14 is equipped with a solid battery life of around 10 hours, ensuring that you can use it throughout the day without fretting about charging. The laptop comes with a variety of vibrant colors, adding a personalized touch.
- READY FOR ANYWHERE – With its thin and light design, 6.5 mm micro-edge bezel display, and 79% screen-to-body ratio, you’ll take this PC anywhere while you see and do more of what you love (1)
- MORE SCREEN, MORE FUN – With virtually no bezel encircling the screen, you’ll enjoy every bit of detail on this 14-inch HD (1366 x 768) display (2)
- ALL-DAY PERFORMANCE – Tackle your busiest days with the dual-core, Intel Celeron N4020—the perfect processor for performance, power consumption, and value (3)
- 4K READY – Smoothly stream 4K content and play your favorite next-gen games with Intel UHD Graphics 600 (4) (5)
- STORAGE AND MEMORY – An embedded multimedia card provides reliable flash-based, 64 GB of storage while 4 GB of RAM expands your bandwidth and boosts your performance (6)
4. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 is another powerhouse that fits our list of the best laptops under $500. It comes with a 15.6-inch display, Intel Pentium processor, and 8GB of RAM, allowing you to enjoy a smooth operating experience. The design is sturdy, making it a durable choice for everyday use.
Additionally, this laptop has a decent battery life, lasting approximately 6 hours, which is adequate for most work or study sessions. Dell backs this product with solid customer service options, ensuring peace of mind.
![Dell Inspiron 15 3000 3520 Business Laptop Computer[Windows 11 Pro], 15.6'' FHD Touchscreen, 11th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1135G7, 16GB RAM, 1TB PCIe SSD, Numeric Keypad, Wi-Fi, Webcam, HDMI, Black](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51O3nNfyJPL.jpg)
- 【15.6" Full HD Touchscreen】The 1920 x 1080 resolution boasts impressive color and clarity. IPS technology for wide viewing angles. Energy-efficient LED backlight. Designed with tiny rubber feet and bumpers on the hinge that keep it from skidding and provide additional stability.
- 【11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 Processor】Ultra-low-voltage platform. Quad-core, eight-way processing provides maximum high-efficiency power to go. Your always-ready experience starts as soon as you open your device. Turn on, boot-up, and log-in quickly.
- 【16GB DDR4 RAM + 1TB PCIe SSD】16GB RAM can smoothly run your games and photo- and video-editing applications, as well as multiple programs and browser tabs all at once. A 1TB NVMe PCIe solid slate drive that leaves the power at your fingertips with the fastest data transfers currently available.
- 【Easy-to-use Technology】Long-lasting battery and express charge capability, to keep going for longer. Comes with Express Charge capabilities that minimize the time you spend tethered to an outlet and will recharge your battery 80% in 60 minutes. Built-in media reader for simple photo transfer.
- 【Windows 11 Professional】Experience the most secure Windows ever built with fast boot times, increased responsiveness, and added protection against phishing and malware. Plus, you can switch out of S mode.
5. ASUS VivoBook 15
With an elegant and modern design, the ASUS VivoBook 15 is not only appealing but also delivers solid performance. The 15.6-inch Full HD screen provides crisp visuals, while the Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM make juggling between tasks seamless.
The integration of a backlit keyboard is a standout feature for those who like to work in low-light environments. Battery life is rated at around 8 hours, allowing you to stay productive throughout the day.
- 15.6” NANOEDGE DISPLAY — Super slim bezel design with a smooth 60Hz refresh rate, vibrant 45% NTSC color gamut and 250-nit sustained brightness
- AMD Ryzen 5 7520U PROCESSOR — Designed for thin laptops, this processor gives you fast performance for browsing and light gaming with longer battery life with integrated AMD Radeon Graphics
- 8GB MEMORY + 512GB STORAGE — Faster memory that smoothly runs multiple applications at once with supersized storage for files, documents and more
- WI-FI 5 AND BLUETOOTH 5.1 — Seamlessly and quickly connect your devices
- SOUND BY SONICMASTER — Crisp, multi-dimensional sound with built-in speakers and an array microphone
6. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
For those inclined towards Chrome OS, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is an excellent convertible option. Equipped with a 13.3-inch touchscreen display, it can be used as a laptop or a tablet, making it versatile for various tasks. Powered by an Intel Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM, this device is perfect for browsing and productivity tasks.
One of its key features is its responsive touch capability, which enhances interaction and user experience. Battery life here is impressive too, lasting up to 10 hours.
- Touch Screen Type :Capacitive.Aspect Ratio:16:9
- Work from home, school, or anywhere with the outstanding combination of performance, connectivity, and entertainment enabled by 10th generation InteI Core processors. The Lenovo Flex 5 offers intelligent performance features that adapt to you for a personalized, intuitive, and responsive experience
- This 2-in-1 laptop combines a keyboard and touchscreen to make it easy to interact with everything on your display. You can also use the Lenovo digital pen (sold separately) to quickly write, click or drag files right on the screen
- The 13.3-inch FHD display in this slim, light 360° convertible Chromebook offers beautiful visuals, while narrow bezels minimize distractions. Two user-facing stereo speakers keep you immersed in the experience
- Use your Google account to easily access files, videos, music, and documents stored on the cloud from anywhere. With up to 10 hours of battery life, you'll stay productive
7. HP Stream 14
The HP Stream 14 is designed for users who need a laptop for basic tasks, such as web browsing, streaming, and light document editing. It comes with a 14-inch display and is powered by an Intel Celeron processor with 4GB of RAM, making it appropriate for casual computing. The standout feature is its lightweight design, making it exceptionally portable.
Battery life is rated at around 8 hours, which is ample for daily tasks. HP also includes a subscription to Microsoft Office 365 with this laptop, adding additional value.
- 【Processor & Graphics】Intel Celeron N4120, 4 Cores & 4 Threads, 1.10 GHz Base Frequency, Up to 2.60 GHz Burst Frequency, 4 MB Cahce, Intel UHD Graphics 600, Handle multitasking reliably with the perfect combination of performance, power consumption, and value
- 【14" HD Display】14.0-inch diagonal, HD (1366 x 768), micro-edge, BrightView. With virtually no bezel encircling the display, an ultra-wide viewing experience provides for seamless multi-monitor set-ups
- 【RAM & Storage】Upgraded to 16GB high-bandwidth DDR4 Memory (2400 MHz), Adequate high-bandwidth RAM to smoothly run multiple applications and browser tabs all at once. 128GB high-speed eMMC Storage for your office and webinar needs. With 128GB Ghost Manta SD Card.
- 【Ports】1 x USB 3.1 Type-C ports, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A ports, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and there's a microSD slot
- 【Windows 11 Home in S mode】You may switch to regular windows 11: Press "Start button" bottom left of the screen; Select "Settings" icon above "power" icon;Select "Activation", then Go to Store; Select Get option under "Switch out of S mode"; Hit Install. (If you also see an "Upgrade your edition of Windows" section, be careful not to click the "Go to the Store" link that appears there.)
8. Samsung Chromebook 4
The Samsung Chromebook 4 is another stellar option for fans of Chrome OS. Featuring an 11.6-inch display and a compact, lightweight design, this Chromebook is ideal for students or professionals who require extreme portability. It runs an Intel Celeron processor with 4GB of RAM, making it suitable for browsing and app usage.
Battery life is outstanding, boasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. With a durable build and solid performance, the Chromebook 4 offers great value in the budget sector.
- Large and immersive 15. 6” display in a compact frame
- Military-grade durability
- Ultra-fast connectivity with Gigabit Wi-Fi
- Advanced security with multiple layers of built-in virus protection
- 10. 5 hours of battery life
9. RCA Viking Pro 11.5” 2-in-1 Laptop
The RCA Viking Pro is a unique option in the best laptops under $500 category due to its 2-in-1 design. It features an 11.5-inch detachable touchscreen display, allowing users to easily switch between laptop and tablet mode. It runs on an ARM-based processor and comes with 2GB of RAM, which is sufficient for basic tasks and content consumption.
While its performance may not match that of larger laptops, the flexibility it offers is appealing. Battery life is around 6 hours, making it a decent companion for travel.
- This refurbished product is tested and certified to work properly. The product will have significant blemishes and/or significant scratches, dents, or frame damage. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, and may arrive in a generic box.
10. Microsoft Surface Go 2
Last but not least, the Microsoft Surface Go 2, often available at competitive prices, is a premium choice in the budget range. With a 10.5-inch touchscreen and a sleek design, it is designed for mobility. It operates on an Intel Pentium processor and starts at 4GB of RAM, which is decent for browsing and productivity tasks.
One of its significant advantages is the versatility of Windows 10 S, allowing you to switch out of S mode if necessary. The battery life is rated at around 10 hours, providing solid performance for mobile users.
- Light, portable Surface touchscreen Laptop with Windows 11 [2] and 12.4” PixelSense Display. [1] Starting at just 2.48 pounds.Control method:touch
- Work, play, stream, and run day-to-day apps with 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor.
- Look and sound your best on video calls with improved HD camera and built-in Studio Mics, plus rich sound for music and shows.
- Long battery life 13.5.[3] Plus, recharge quickly with Fast Charging – up to 80% in just over an hour.[7]
- Convenient security. Fingerprint Power Button with Windows Hello and One Touch sign-in on select models.
Final Thoughts
Choosing from the best laptops under $500 in 2024 allows users to find capable machines without overwhelming budget constraints. The choices listed above offer a wide variety, catering to different needs and preferences. Consider your primary use case and compare specifications, battery life, and build quality to find the best fit for you.
Ultimately, the right laptop under $500 should serve as a reliable tool to enhance daily productivity, entertainment, and learning experiences.
Last update on 2024-09-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API | votechriscarrillo.com is a participant in the Amazon Associate program and will earn from qualifying purchases.