Best laptops under $500: the best budget laptops around

If you aren’t looking for anything particularly powerful, one of the best laptops under $500 might be a better option. You’d be surprised at how capable these low-cost options are.

laptops
are, boasting excellent performance, a solid build, and a good number of features without emptying your wallet.

Naturally, this is dependent on your daily requirements. More expensive machines may come with a lot of power and features, like the If you’re not planning on doing processor- or graphics-intensive tasks like video editing or high-resolution gaming, a laptop under $500 makes more sense. Dell XPS 15, but they’re not worth the extra money if you don’t need a fully loaded portable or a flagship status symbol. You could spend the money you save on things like a dependable printer. mouse and a comfortable chair.

Whether you’re looking for a business notebook or a personal notebook, we’ve got you covered. portable for schoolA laptop under $500 might be the best option for you if you need something for work, school, or just at home. Check out our list below, and while you’re at it, use our price comparison tool. What are the chances? That’s especially true because many of them can compete with some of the best laptops in terms of both substance and style. You might even get a good deal on a car. budget laptop.

This device is not only one of the best, but it’s also one of the most useful. The Microsoft Surface Go isn’t the traditional laptop we’re used to, but it’ll more than suffice for your computing needs thanks to its small size and portability. best Windows tabletsIf you’re looking for the best laptop under $500, this is an excellent option. If you only need a computer for word processing, email, video conferencing, light gaming, light photo editing, and Netflix streaming, this device will suffice. You get a proper operating system out of the box with a Windows 10 S mode, which allows you to use apps like the mobile versions of Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop.

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Microsoft Surface Go

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook is the best budget laptop for the classroom and students, thanks to its hybrid tablet/snap-on keyboard design. The keyboard and trackpad are a bit of a letdown, but the Full HD+ display makes up for it. After all, it has a tablet mode for research, reading, and easy Netflix watching at home, as well as a traditional laptop mode for when you need a keyboard. Best of all, it all comes at a bargain price, making this one of the best laptops under $500. It’s an awesome computer package, with a powerful ARM processor that lasts for 21 hours (yes, you read that correctly).

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Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook

The HP Chromebook 14, with its bright blue finish and stunning screen, offers the best value of any Chromebook on the market – even if the battery life and performance are only average. The HP Chromebook 14 is the perfect example of how the best laptops under $500 balance a low price and high capability. In many ways, it’s similar to the Acer Chromebook 15, but this 14-inch Chromebook is a tad more compact and has a better design.

We were particularly impressed by how thin and light it is, making it an excellent device for anyone looking for a long-lasting laptop that they can easily transport. It also comes with a lot of ports, including HDMI-out, USB 3.0, and a microSD card slot, which makes it a fantastically versatile laptop for the price. This is also a good option if you want to work on a laptop while relaxing on a sofa.

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HP Chromebook 14

More importantly, it strikes a good balance between design, usability, features, battery life, and performance, all while accepting its limitations. Furthermore, the keyboard is both satisfying and enjoyable to use. The Acer Chromebook 314 is the best laptop under $500 if you’re looking for a budget laptop that delivers excellent value for money. More screen real estate for your productivity needs is provided by the 14-inch crisp and bright display. It’s simple to operate, dependable, and has a fantastic screen and battery life (up to 12 hours).

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Acer Chromebook 314

But it goes even further with its impressive levels of versatility, thanks to its abundance of ports, 2-in-1 design, portable size, and excellent touchscreen display, especially considering its size. If versatility is important to you, the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 is the laptop for you. Plus, because of its small size, it’s incredibly portable, so if you’re looking for the best laptop under $500 to travel with, this is it. This all-arounder has everything a great Chromebook should have, from a long battery life to a solid build and usability. It also has a keyboard and a touchpad that are both reliable and enjoyable to use.

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Acer Chromebook Spin 311
 

All of these features, combined with the Microsoft Surface Go 2’s portability, make it one of the best laptops under $500. It also runs the full Windows 10 operating system, making it even more capable in terms of the applications it can run than other laptops or laptop alternatives. Finally, it provides a marginal performance boost over its predecessor, giving users a compelling reason to upgrade if they can afford it. The Surface Go line has proven popular with the more budget-conscious crowd, and the Surface Go 2, with its reasonable price and premium design, continues that tradition.

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Microsoft Surface Go 2

The 12-inch touchscreen adds to the balance, making it portable, light, and perfectly usable. The HP Chromebook x360 range, designed for the education market, is tougher than it appears at first glance, and it’s also aimed at students on a budget. As a result, this won’t deplete your pencil fund too much. With the low-cost but reliable 1.1GHz Intel N4000 processor and 4GB of RAM, costs are kept low.

It folds into a tablet, has a lot of ports, and comes with a dedicated stylus as a bonus. Even at this low price, it manages to look pretty cool. The main drawback is the 1366×921 resolution, which is offset by an interesting 3:2 aspect ratio that makes browsing and writing more relaxing.

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HP Chromebook x360

You shouldn’t expect any groundbreaking features or design, but it already has a lot going for it for a laptop that costs less than half as much as many of the competition. The fact that the Intel Dell Inspiron 15 3000 models are just as heavy as the more expensive models only adds to their appeal. Of course, its specifications are less powerful, but its under-$500 configurations still include the most up-to-date components, such as 11th-generation Intel Core chips and 2666MHz DDR4 RAM. best laptops in 2021.

She has contributed to Nylon, Fodor’s, and SmarterTravel, as well as being a contributing editor for MiniTime.com. She writes for Thrillist, TravelAge West, HuffPo Travel, Paste Magazine, and Travel Pulse on a regular basis. Michelle Rae Uy is a travel-obsessed editor, writer, and photographer based in Los Angeles.