Let’s face it: with an ever-rising price of residing, the very last thing you need to throw your cash at is overpriced tech. For those who’re out there for a brand new laptop computer however you are on a finances, do not sweat — there’s a variety of sub-$500 laptop computer and Chromebook choices that may get you loads of bang in your buck, and you do not have to sacrifice lots of efficiency to get there.
Additionally: The best cheap laptops under $350
By way of our hands-on testing, we thought-about efficiency, battery life, performance, and options to compile this record of strong laptops, however made even higher when the worth is true. We discovered that the most effective laptop computer under $500 is the Acer Aspire Go 15 for its long-lasting battery, 15-inch show, and unbelievable bang in your buck for simply $300.
Greatest laptops below $500
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Acer Aspire Go 15
Greatest laptop computer below $500 total
Our worth ceiling for this record is $500, however the Acer Aspire Go 15 is the most effective laptop computer for a lot much less. For simply $300, it is a succesful laptop computer that’s very best for anybody on a finances. Not everybody wants a robust laptop computer decked out in high-end {hardware}, particularly in case you have a desktop as a main pc. And for a conveyable pocket book constructed to cowl the fundamentals, it does not get rather more reasonably priced than this.
The Acer Aspire Go 15 has half the quantity of RAM and reminiscence as our total best-rated Chromebook, the HP Dragonfly Pro. Nonetheless, it is a third of the price, making it an amazing bang-for-buck machine or secondary laptop computer to be used on the go.
Evaluation: Acer Aspire Go 15
This laptop computer is right for work or enterprise college students, because the 15-inch display provides sufficient room for working with spreadsheets and productiveness software program, whereas the total keyboard encompasses a quantity pad on the proper facet. Add a webcam, a wide selection of ports, and a Kensington lock slot, and you’ve got a laptop computer with all of your bases lined.
Acer Aspire Go 15 tech specs: Value: $300 | Processor: Intel Core i3-N305 | GPU: Built-in Intel UHD | Show: 15-inch | Storage: 8GB reminiscence, 125GB SSD | Battery: As much as 11 hours | Weight: 3.75lbs
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HP 17 Laptop computer
Greatest laptop computer with a 17″ show below $500
This HP 17 laptop computer offers strong efficiency, a beneficiant show measurement, and loads of storage for round $400. At 17.3 inches, this display is without doubt one of the greatest you’ll be able to have on a laptop computer, and with a 1600 x 900 HD Plus decision, you’ll be able to stream, sport, and surf the net with pristine high quality.
Additionally: The best 17-inch laptops
A complicated 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD guarantees speeds which are 15x quicker than a standard arduous drive. The 4GB of DDR4 RAM with the next bandwidth additionally boosts efficiency to an already stellar laptop computer.
Lastly, this HP 17 laptop computer encompasses a battery with as much as eight hours of life and HP Quick Cost capabilities that may cost the machine from 0 to 50% in about 45 minutes.
HP 17 Laptop computer tech specs: Value: $350 | Processor: Intel Core i3 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | Show: 17.3″ | Storage: 4GB RAM, 256GB storage capability | Battery: 8 hours | Weight: 3.67lbs
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HP Chromebook Plus x360
Greatest 2-in-1 round $500
The Chromebook Plus sequence has confirmed to be a wonderful vary for the HP model. All of the laptops supply excellent {hardware} efficiency and varied options, and the Chromebook Plus x360 is not any exception. Though this laptop computer is presently over $500, it is rather reasonably priced for a 2-in-1 machine with a strong twelfth Gen Intel Core i3 processor that enables the pc to deal with extra demanding duties and to run extra apps on the similar time successfully than earlier fashions.
Evaluation: HP Chromebook Plus x360
Mix the superior efficiency of the Chromebook Plus x360 with its inherently versatile nature, and you should have a reliable work machine. The flexibility to flip the show round and switch the machine right into a pill is a useful operate, because the Plus computer systems are among the many first Chromebooks to help Photoshop on the internet. Mix this with a strong bodily construct that may face up to a number of bumps and bangs and a surprisingly good battery, and you’ve got a pill/laptop computer 2-in-1 that prices a little bit extra however is price each penny.
HP Chromebook Plus x360 tech specs: Value: $699 | Processor: Intel Core i3 twelfth Gen | GPU: Built-in Intel UHD | Show: 14″ touchscreen | Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB storage capability | Battery: As much as 10.5 hours | Weight: 3.34lbs
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
Greatest laptop computer below $500 for creatives
In October of final 12 months, Google introduced its Chromebook Plus line – a brand new technology of laptops sporting extra highly effective {hardware} and higher shows than older fashions. Of those, Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a distinct segment possibility, however one which I’d argue is healthier than the generic fashions when put into the palms of the right consumer.
Evaluation: Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i is a surprisingly good laptop computer for creatives that appears like one thing a number of hundred {dollars} costlier. Photographers and visible designers will love the 14-inch touchscreen show that may be flipped 180 levels, turning the Chromebook right into a pill, and pictures look nice on the 1920 x 1200 decision display.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i tech specs: Value: $500 | Processor: Intel thirteenth Era Core i3 | GPU: Built-in Intel UHD | Show: 14″ LCD, 60Hz, 300 nits brightness | Storage: 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD | Battery: As much as 10 hours | Webcam: 1080p | Weight: 3.52 lbs
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Acer Aspire 5 A515-45-R74Z Slim Laptop computer
Greatest laptop computer below $500 for gaming
Chances are you’ll typically see Twitch streamers gaming with their huge PC towers, RGB lights, and superior keyboards. However you need not pump 1000’s of {dollars} into your setup to get a high-quality gaming expertise. This Acer Aspire 5 laptop computer is a strong laptop computer powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor that may deal with most mid-range video games.
Nonetheless, this laptop computer can do extra than simply run your favourite video games — it is also an excellent laptop computer for varsity {and professional} work. With two built-in microphones and an HD webcam, you’ll be able to full your conferences in top quality. Moreover, you’ll be able to plug in all of your equipment with three USB ports, an HDMI port, an ethernet port, and a USB-C port.
Acer Aspire 5 A515-45-R74Z tech specs: Value: $438 | Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5500u | GPU: Built-in AMD Radeon | Show: 15.6″ LED, 60Hz | Storage: 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD | Battery: As much as 11 hours | Webcam: 1080p | Weight: 3.88 lbs
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Laptops are a give-and-take of options and worth factors; understanding which options you prioritize and that are much less crucial will assist you choose the proper laptop computer. For those who’re in search of an enormous display since you plan on utilizing your laptop computer for media consumption, it may be price sacrificing some RAM to get there (just like the HP 17 Laptop computer on this record).
Value, display measurement, and reminiscence are three options that may be useful to check at a look and assist differentiate the 5 laptops on this record.
Laptop computer |
Value |
Display measurement |
Reminiscence / Storage |
Acer Aspire Go 15 |
$300 |
15″ |
8GB, 128GB |
HP 17 Laptop computer |
$350 |
17.3″ |
4GB, 256GB |
HP Chromebook x360 |
$699 |
14″ touchscreen |
8 GB, 256GB |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i |
$500 |
14″ |
8GB, 128GB |
Acer Aspire 5 |
$438 |
15.6″ |
8GB, 256GB |
We all know that patrons contemplate many components earlier than deciding which laptop computer to buy. However with so many various makes use of for laptops immediately, discovering the right one for you might be difficult.
This is a fast description of every one that can assist you make your choice.
Select this laptop computer… |
If you need… |
Acer Aspire Go 15 |
A reliable laptop computer for an unbeatable worth. For those who’re an informal laptop computer consumer who wants commonplace ports and options, you’ll be able to’t go flawed right here. |
HP 17 Laptop computer |
An reasonably priced laptop computer with a beneficiant 17″ show. For those who like fast charging, want a little bit extra SSD, and need a wonderful show, this laptop computer will get the job finished. |
HP Chromebook Plus x360 |
A premium Chromebook that gives a 2-in-1 consumer expertise. If having a pill and a laptop computer in a single machine is essential to you, the Plus x260 presents that for much less cash. |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i |
A laptop computer designed with creators in thoughts that will not break the financial institution. If you need a touchscreen show and excessive decision, this laptop computer is for you. |
Acer Aspire 5 |
An inexpensive gaming laptop computer with nice specs. For those who’re in search of a succesful gaming laptop computer with out spending 1000’s, contemplate this feature. |
We get the prospect to go hands-on with dozens of laptops a 12 months right here at ZDNET, so narrowing down the highest 5 for this choice of use circumstances was no simple activity. That mentioned, we selected the 5 machines that glad the broadest potential and would resonate with probably the most vital variety of shoppers.
Laptops and Chromebooks below $500 occupy a specific area of interest inside the market, and producers are getting extra considerate about squeezing solely probably the most desired options into machines whereas holding different components that bloat the price out totally. In that vein, these laptops are well-optimized to work inside their limitations and are marketed as such to the patron.
As with the whole lot else, you get what you pay for. If you need a laptop computer with all of the bells, whistles, and superior specs, you’ll probably must spend at the least $700. The laptops designed for strenuous workloads akin to video enhancing, 3D animation or rendering, or hardcore gaming will include next-gen {hardware} that is not low-cost. However if you happen to’re in search of a laptop computer able to browsing the net, enjoying media, and getting you thru a day of labor, the entire picks on this record are succesful machines, capable of tackle the calls for of the common consumer with ease.
With so many tech firms producing entry-level laptops at a comparatively low price, there’s lots of competitors, which is an effective factor for shoppers. You are unlikely to see an Apple MacBook below $500. Nonetheless, producers that make Chromebooks and entry-level laptops, akin to HP, Acer, Lenovo, and Dell, have probably the most excellent choice of machines below $500.
As I discussed above, competitors is plentiful at such a low worth for laptops, so narrowing this record down to simply six was robust. The above laptops are the most effective in the marketplace relating to price and performance, however if you happen to’re in search of extra choices, listed below are some noteworthy alternate options to contemplate.
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Lenovo Flex 3i
This touchscreen laptop computer presents an abundance of ports, an honest processor, and excessive ranges of performance.
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