Need a new laptop, but not have much to spend? Shopping for one doesn’t have to be an exercise in making painful compromises. At PCMag, we’ve been reviewing laptops in depth for literally decades, so we know how pricey they can be. But our testing and reviews routinely feature laptops that sell for less than $500, and we’ve scoped out the best-value options. We test all laptops with rigorous, repeatable benchmark tests and evaluate them all on the basis of performance, display quality, connectivity, and overall build. Our current favorite under $500 is the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P), which won us over with its AMD Ryzen-powered performance, long battery life, and low, low price, which often dips below $300. That’s not the only model we recommend, though. Below, check out our other top tested picks in budget laptops, plus a detailed buying guide and a handy spec comparison table.
Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Best Overall Windows Laptop Under $500
Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P)
Pros & Cons
Smooth everyday operation
Extensive battery life
Current Wi-Fi connectivity
Competitive starting price
Limited performance headroom
Dated, somewhat flimsy design
Lackluster display
Top configuration is outclassed
Why We Picked It
The best cheap Windows laptop we’ve found for now is the Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P). It’s not only the best bargain laptop overall, it’s a decent performer, thanks to AMD processing and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. One more reason to buy it: It also has the best battery life among laptops under $500, lasting nearly 17 hours in our tests. Simple, effective, and long-lasting—it doesn’t get much better than that.
Who It’s For
The Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) is ideal for budget shoppers, but especially those who want a simple, functional Windows laptop. It’s a perfect platform for web browsing and light productivity or office work, and offers MacBook-like battery life at a dramatically low price.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Budget
Processor
AMD Ryzen 3 7320U
Processor Speed
2.4 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
15.6 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
AMD Radeon Graphics
Wireless Networking
802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)
0.75 by 14.3 by 9.4 inches
Weight
3.77 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11 Home
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
16:46
Learn More
Acer Aspire 3 (A315-24P) Review
Best Overall 2-in-1 Laptop Under $500
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus
Pros & Cons
Sturdy 2-in-1 design mixes durability, flexibility
Above-average ChromeOS performance
Crisp display with touch and pen support
Backlit keyboard
Decent variety of ports
Budget-feeling plastic construction
Merely average battery life
Stylus pen not included
Why We Picked It
Squeaking under the $500 mark, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is very similar to the Acer above, but earns special mention as the best 2-in-1 laptop under $500. The price is affordable, the laptop-to-tablet functionality is great, and Chromebook Plus thrives in the flexible 2-in-1 with both Chrome OS and Android app support that puts inexpensive Android tablets to shame. The 2-in-1 boasts above-average performance thanks to an Intel Core i3 processor and 8GB of RAM, and the touch screen supports pen as well as fingertip input. It may push up against the $500 limit, but with features like a backlit keyboard and decent port selection, it doesn’t feel like a budget system at all.
Who It’s For
Whether for home, classroom, or even office use, the Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is a great 2-in-1 Chrome laptop to get. The versatile design and decent performance belie the budget-friendly price. Just don’t expect premium design or super-long battery life.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Chromebook, Convertible 2-in-1, Budget
Processor
Intel Core i3-1315U
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1200
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.72 by 9 by 12.4 inches
Weight
3.52 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
11:43
Learn More
Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus Review
Best Windows Tablet Under $500
Microsoft Surface Go 3
Pros & Cons
Low starting price
Lightweight
Sunny display with vivid colors
Windows Hello webcam with 1080p video support
Integrated kickstand
SD card reader for easy storage expansion
Long battery life
Keyboard cover not included
Only one USB-C port
Optional extras pump up price quickly
Disappointing computing performance, even with Core i3 upgrade
Why We Picked It
In a sea of ChromeOS laptops and 2-in-1s, the Microsoft Surface Go 3 stands out as the best Windows tablet for budget shoppers. The price is compelling all on its own, but the Surface Go 3 really shines thanks to a slim, lightweight design, unbeatable portability, and a sunny display with vivid colors. The tablet design pairs with a 1080p Windows Hello webcam for easy secure logins, and an integrated kickstand lets the slate stand as needed on a desk or table. Just be aware that adding a keyboard cover or pen might bump up the total cost, since they aren’t included at this price.
Who It’s For
If you need a Windows machine with unbeatable portability, it’s hard to beat the Microsoft Surface Go 3. Built for Windows 11 and designed for on-the-go use, it’s a great affordable alternative to premium products like Apple’s iPad or more upscale Surface gear.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Detachable 2-in-1, Budget
Processor
Intel Core i3-10100Y
Processor Speed
1.6 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
SSD
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
10.5 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1280
Panel Technology
LED
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics 615
Wireless Networking
802.11ax, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.33 by 9.7 by 6.9 inches
Weight
1.2 lbs
Operating System
Windows 11
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
11:34
Learn More
Microsoft Surface Go 3 Review
Best Chromebook Tablet Under $500
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook
Pros & Cons
Superb OLED display in an under-$500 detachable
High-quality front and rear cameras
Comes with keyboard cover and kickstand
Ho-hum compute performance
No audio jack, or 4G or 5G LTE option
Stylus supported, but costs extra
Why We Picked It
If you want a tablet, but ChromeOS is more your style, it’s hard not to love the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook. This 13.3-inch slate has one of the best displays we’ve seen in an under-$500 machine, an OLED panel with vibrant colors and high contrast, delivering a visual experience that blows budget competitors out of the water. Unlike the Microsoft Surface Go, it comes with both a kickstand and a keyboard cover, and it provides fantastic value across the board.
Who It’s For
The Duet 5 is Ideal for shoppers who want a machine that functions as a tablet and as a laptop, but in a package that’s much lighter than the average 2-in-1 convertible. Obviously, it’s built for light use, but it has features and app support that can handle web browsing, email, and streaming media. That makes it a great choice for students, casual users, or anyone looking for value in a portable tablet.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Chromebook, Detachable 2-in-1
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
eMMC Flash Memory
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
13.3 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
OLED
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Qualcomm Adreno GPU
Wireless Networking
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.28 by 12 by 7.4 inches
Weight
2.24 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
21:10
Learn More
Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook Review
Best Giant-Screen Laptop Under $500
Acer Chromebook 317
Pros & Cons
Jumbo 1080p display
Comfortable-feel keyboard
Two USB-C and two USB-A ports, plus a microSD card slot
Low price
No HDMI port or backlit keyboard
Tepid performance
Screen could be brighter
Weak sound
Why We Picked It
If you want a 17-inch laptop for under $500, the jumbo display of the Acer Chromebook 317 is your only option. Ample screen real estate and a comfortable typing experience aren’t all it has going for it, however; we loved the 317’s versatile port selection, affordable price, and convenient Chrome features. So long as you don’t expect to play games on this ChromeOS lightweight, the larger display gives you plenty to love.
Who It’s For
Ideal for users seeking a budget-friendly, big-screen display for media streaming and light multitasking, the Acer Chromebook 317 is also a smart pick for a family laptop, since the 17-inch design is well suited to being a shared, stationary computer in the home.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Chromebook, Desktop Replacement
Processor
Intel Celeron N4500
Processor Speed
1.1 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
4 GB
Boot Drive Type
eMMC Flash Memory
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
64 GB
Screen Size
17.3 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless Networking
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.89 by 15.8 by 10.5 inches
Weight
5.18 lbs
Operating System
Google Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
9:10
Learn More
Acer Chromebook 317 Review
Best 15-Inch Laptop Under $500
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
Pros & Cons
Low price
Considerably improved ChromeOS
Core i3 CPU and UFS storage perform like Core i5 and SSD
Wide array of ports and 1080p webcam
Screen could be brighter
Shallow, nonbacklit keyboard
HDMI 1.4, not 2.0
Why We Picked It
When it comes to shoestring-budget 15-inch laptops, the Acer Chromebook 515 is our best recommendation, if you’d prefer ChromeOS over the Windows 11 in our top pick. Equipped with an Intel Core i3 CPU and Google’s OS, the 515 is a peppy web browsing machine that’s outfitted with a 1080p webcam and versatile connectivity. And at just $399, it’s a superb value for a 15-inch system (even if we don’t love the cheaper UFS storage that this laptop uses).
Who It’s For
If you want a 15-inch laptop for under $500, this one’s for you. From the cost-conscious pricing to the reliable and sturdy design, it’s suitable for anyone who wants a slightly larger screen for productivity, but without the higher price tag.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Chromebook, Desktop Replacement
Processor
Intel Core i3-1215U
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
UFS (Universal Flash Storage)
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
15.6 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless Networking
Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1
Dimensions (HWD)
0.79 by 14.2 by 9.4 inches
Weight
3.7 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
10:50
Learn More
Acer Chromebook Plus 515 Review
Best 14-Inch Laptop Under $500
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34
Pros & Cons
Affordable price even with improved specs
Leading performance in every test
High-quality FHD display
Decent port array, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2
Durable MIL-SPEC-certified design and antimicrobial coating
Average battery life
No touch capability (at this price)
Limited UFS storage is just adequate
Why We Picked It
The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is another noteworthy Chromebook Plus model, but it’s also the best 14-inch laptop we’ve found in this price range. With an affordable $399 price, it offers leading performance in benchmark tests, showcasing the value of the Intel Core i3 inside. The sturdy plastic construction has passed MIL-STD 810 testing for durability, and has an antimicrobial coating to protect your health as well. Factor in the decent port selection, Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and an above-average IPS display, and it’s easily one of the best values on this list.
Who It’s For
If you want a reliable and high-performing 14-inch laptop, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a smart pick. The price is right, but it’s also ideal for students and professionals who need a durable device for daily tasks.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Chromebook, Budget
Processor
Intel Core i3-1215U
RAM (as Tested)
8 GB
Boot Drive Type
UFS (Universal Flash Storage)
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
128 GB
Screen Size
14 inches
Native Display Resolution
1920 by 1080
Panel Technology
IPS
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Intel UHD Graphics
Wireless Networking
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5.2
Dimensions (HWD)
0.73 by 12.9 by 8.4 inches
Weight
3.17 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
12:46
Learn More
Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 Review
Best Ultralight Laptop Under $500
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3
Pros & Cons
Includes a stylus
Includes multiple USB-C ports
Lightweight
Excellent performance
Clumsy touchpad
Glossy display is prone to glare
Disappointing battery life
Why We Picked It
The Asus Chromebook CM3 grabs a spot on the list thanks to its lightweight design, making it easy to carry and use on the go. With a touch screen and 2-in-1 design, it’s an excellent device for the price, and even includes a stylus and USB-C connectivity, but it earns its spot on the list as the best lightweight laptop under half a grand thanks to its awesomely portable 2.5-pound carry weight.
Who It’s For
If you’re after the most portable laptop on the list, the 2-in-1 Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 is an excellent choice. This capable lightweight laptop offers great performance for everyday tasks and productivity. Just be sure to bring along the charger, since the battery might not make it through a long workday.
Specs & Configurations
Class
Convertible 2-in-1, Budget
Processor
MediaTek Kompanio 820
Processor Speed
2.2 GHz
RAM (as Tested)
4 GB
Boot Drive Type
eMMC Flash Memory
Boot Drive Capacity (as Tested)
64 GB
Screen Size
12 inches
Native Display Resolution
1366 by 912
Panel Technology
LCD
Variable Refresh Support
None
Screen Refresh Rate
60 Hz
Graphics Processor
Arm Mali-G57
Wireless Networking
802.11ac, Bluetooth
Dimensions (HWD)
0.7 by 10.6 by 8.5 inches
Weight
2.5 lbs
Operating System
Chrome OS
Tested Battery Life (Hours:Minutes)
6:23
Learn More
Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 Review
Buying Guide: The Best Laptops Under $500
What Are the Important Specs in Budget Laptops? When you limit yourself to $500 or less for a laptop, you need to manage your expectations. There are a lot of ways to save money on a cheap notebook, but a price this low is going to require you to prioritize just what’s important. Budget laptops in this price range will have certain limitations in hardware, performance, and storage, and these all carry over to the end-user experience. Read on to learn what to expect and what trade-offs are required when your spending power is limited.Chromebooks vs. Windows LaptopsBudget shoppers will quickly learn that many of the most affordable laptop choices are powered by ChromeOS rather than Windows. (Apple macOS laptops, even the cheapest ones, aren’t sold new for anything close to $500.)
(Credit: Molly Flores)
But Chromebooks aren’t a bad choice, especially for getting the best value out of an affordable laptop. Their low-priced hardware is well suited to the online-centric ChromeOS experience, and this lightweight operating system runs great on relatively low-end components.But you can find some Windows laptops in this price range, and they’re worth considering if you have specific apps you need to run. Just be aware that when paired with modest components and limited storage, the Windows experience may not be everything you’d want it to be.Frugal Form Factors: Clamshells, 2-in-1s, and DetachablesEven on a tight budget, you can choose among several different designs, from traditional clamshell laptops to 2-in-1 rotating convertible designs and detachable tablets. Some thin-and-light designs are quite portable.
(Credit: Molly Flores)
However, any category of laptop that is truly defined by its hardware—such as gaming laptops, mobile workstations, or rugged laptops—will cost more than your $500 budget will allow. Even the cheapest gaming rigs tend to cost $800 or more, and few business laptops cater to the budget shopper, unless you are looking at older, refurbished models.A light carry weight is something you can find in an under-$500 laptop, if you look. Thin plastic designs are par for the course, with many hewing close to the 3 pounds that we use to categorize ultraportable laptops, and a fair number weighing even less than that thanks to compact or tablet-centered designs.The CPU: Low Prices Mean Low-Powered ProcessorsThe actual computing in any laptop is done by the CPU, making a great processor essential to getting a great laptop. Unfortunately, that usually means paying more. When shopping sub-$500 laptops, the selection of processors won’t conform to the Intel Core processors you might be familiar with. You can find a few of those, but Intel’s Core i3 is usually the highest you’ll find, with other brands like AMD, Qualcomm, and even less prominent manufacturers like MediaTek getting a foothold. The last two are most common in Chromebooks. RAM and Storage: Modest Memory of Both KindsWe usually recommend against buying any computer with less than 8GB of RAM, but memory options on cheap laptops are often lower than that, with 4GB models making up about half of our suggestions. A 4GB RAM amount will do OK in a basic Chromebook for browsing a few tabs at a time, but 4GB should be avoided in a Windows machine. The most affordable laptops are prone to lagging when trying to do more than one task or open many application windows at a time, and more demanding uses such as video editing are severely limited or impossible.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Storage space will tend to be limited, too, with 128GB being on the high end for these value laptops. If you can find a notebook with 256GB or even 512GB of storage in this price range, that’s a win, but you’ll more likely want to invest in a portable external SSD to give you better storage capacity.Speaking of solid-state drives, they don’t come standard, either. In these inexpensive models, you’re more likely to find alternative storage formats such as eMMC and UFS. These options are usable, especially for Chromebooks, which rely more on cloud storage than local drives, but overall performance will be affected by the smaller capacity and slower formats.What Kind of Wi-Fi? Connectivity on the CheapOne area where you may not need to make many compromises is connectivity. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth are quite common on all current laptops, even at the low-priced end of the shelf. Sure, newer, faster wireless standards, like Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, are nice, but Wi-Fi 6 is more than capable for the workaday web browsing and media streaming that these affordable systems are built for.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Port selection also tends to be good, with USB Type-C and the larger USB Type-A ports being common, with a number of systems outfitted with full-size HDMI monitor connectors and microSD card slots. The high-speed Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 interfaces, on the other hand, are still limited to pricier systems, so be ready to pay more if you need that faster connectivity.Battery Life: Being Budget-Friendly Can Have Its Perks One unexpected benefit of low-powered hardware is that many of these inexpensive laptops also have fairly long battery life. Test results of 10 hours or more in our video rundown are quite common, with many lasting even longer. The longest-lasting model in our recommendation lineup stretched the battery a full 21 hours on a single charge, making it great for longer uses (so long as you keep the Wi-Fi off). Part of the reason is that dimmer, lower-resolution screens and lower-power CPUs make less demands on the battery than powerful parts do. The Display: Discount Panels and Touch ScreensTouch screens are one feature that you might not expect to see at this price point, but thanks to the abundance of decent 2-in-1 Chromebook designs, touch-capable displays are not impossible to find among the under-$500 set. (They are much less common on inexpensive clamshell models, though.)Touch is one thing, but high resolutions and OLED panels aren’t common on these budget models. In the under-$500 category, you’re most likely limited to 1,920-by-1,080-pixel full HD or 1080p resolution, and most will use cheap LCD screens instead of the nicer IPS variants found on mainstream models. Looking at the screen before you buy, if you can, is always a good idea.What About Graphics and Gaming?Finally, the one thing you’re guaranteed not to find in these bargain-priced models is a discrete graphics processor. GPU hardware adds a lot of expense to a laptop, and that means uses like gaming and GPU-powered media creation aren’t really an option for shoppers on a shoestring. If you’re really pressed on price and absolutely need the extra graphics power, consider buying a used or refurbished model from a year or two back, as that’s your best bet for gaming-grade components.Is a Laptop Under $500 Worth It?Don’t get too discouraged reading about specs and performance on these budget-friendly laptops. For most shoppers, a laptop serves as a web browsing machine, used more for social media and occasionally typing up some documents than it is for anything requiring a more capable model. And with the right laptop, you’ll still get plenty of usability, even with lightweight processors and minimal specs.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
We’ve reviewed plenty of budget laptops in the $600 or $700 range, along with reasonably priced laptops for kids and laptops for college students that are worth checking out. These can be especially enticing if student discounts are available to knock off part of the expense. We find that that price range is the real sweet spot for basic Windows machines.Plus, it doesn’t cost a whole lot more to step up in power and performance. Our recommendations for Chromebooks and the best laptops for under $1,000 open up a lot of possibilities, at prices that are still quite attainable. You can even find some cheap gaming laptops for three instead of four figures.Ready to Buy the Best Laptop Under $500 for You?You may be on a budget, but you’re not out of luck—if you look, you’ll find some very serviceable Chromebooks, 2-in-1 laptops, and tablet PCs under $500. By knowing what you want and what your cash can buy you, you can still find a decent deal on a laptop that will do the job.We’ve laid out our favorite frugal options here, but you’ll still need to decide whether you want a Chromebook or a Windows machine, a laptop or a 2-in-1 design, and even whether you want features like SSD storage or a touch screen. The specs for all of our top picks are listed in our spec comparison, along with links to the full reviews.
