10 Best Laptops Under 500

Wally Nowinski
editor

Our experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our laptop database and find the best laptops under 500 available in 2024. Here are our top picks.

Our criteria for the best laptops under 500:

  • Budget: We focused on budget and budget only. These are the best laptops in our database under $500.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized laptop recommendation
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10 Best Laptops Under 500

1
BEST RATING
Battery Life:
4.7
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Med. thick, light
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is a budget-friendly option with decent computing power, courtesy of the AMD Ryzen 7 processor, making it suitable for everyday tasks and some more demanding applications. It offers a satisfactory amount of storage and memory, with options for expansion. The integrated Vega 8 graphics can handle light gaming and graphical tasks, but may not be ideal for intensive gaming or high-end graphic design. With a weight that balances portability and build, it's a good fit for on-the-go use while maintaining a 14-inch display, which has a resolution favouring productivity and content consumption. Battery life is adequate for a day's work, and the laptop has a backlit keyboard, which is helpful in low-light conditions. Keep in mind, though, that while it's versatile enough for general use, professionals needing advanced computational or graphical capabilities may find it limited.
Pros
  • Affordable midrange price
  • Decent performance with Ryzen 7
  • Good display resolution
  • Solid battery life
  • Compact and lightweight
Cons
  • No dedicated graphics
  • Limited port selection
  • Build quality is average
  • Average speaker quality
2
BEST RATING
Build Quality:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 16"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Pros
  • High-resolution screen
  • Strong build quality
  • Good heat management
  • Long battery life
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
Cons
  • No touchscreen
  • Heavier than some laptops
  • Limited upgradeability
  • Not ideal for fast motion use
3
HP 15.6”

Envy x360 15"

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.6
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, med. heavy
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The HP Envy x360 15" is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, so it works both as a laptop and a tablet, offering flexibility if you like touchscreen capabilities or need a device that can double as a tablet. It has a lower midrange price and is quite light, which makes it easily portable. With an AMD Ryzen 5 processor and integrated Vega 7 graphics, it can handle general use like browsing, office tasks, and light multimedia creation but may not be best suited for intensive gaming or engineering software. The battery life is decent for typical usage, and the build quality is good. If your tasks are more demanding in 3D or machine learning applications, you may find its performance limited. The keyboard and webcam quality are marked as good, and it has a backlit keyboard with a number pad for easier typing in low light conditions. It also features a solid heat management system for sustained use.
Pros
  • Convertible laptop-tablet design
  • Good general performance for everyday tasks
  • Decent battery life for typical use
  • Backlit keyboard with fingerprint reader
  • Has USB-C charging capability
Cons
  • Limited color coverage may affect creative work
  • Not ideal for engineering tasks
  • Not suitable for intensive 3D tasks
  • Modest screen brightness
4
Lenovo 15.6”

IdeaPad Slim 3

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.9
General: B+, Gaming/AI: C, Eng/Design: B
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Poor
Portability: Med. thick, light
Battery: Very Good




Expert Summary
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 offers a balance between affordability and functionality, packing moderate performance with its AMD Ryzen 3 processor capable of handling everyday tasks smoothly. It comes with a sizeable 512GB storage and 8GB of RAM, ensuring ample space for applications and multitasking. While not designed for high-end gaming or intensive engineering software, its integrated Vega 6 graphics can support casual gaming and less demanding graphics tasks. Its large 15.6-inch IPS display provides a crisp and vivid full HD resolution but isn't suited for specialized color work due to moderate color coverage. The IdeaPad Slim 3 comes with a range of ports, including USB-C, and has reasonable battery life for typical use, but it may not be ideal for long periods away from a power outlet. Weighing over 3.5 pounds with a thickness of 0.7 inches, it offers moderate portability. The keyboard quality is good and it features a number pad, which is convenient for data entry, but the laptop isn't backlit, which could be a drawback in low-light conditions. It's a suitable choice for general use like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, particularly for those on a budget.
Pros
  • Affordable price point
  • Touchscreen functionality
  • Good battery life
  • Decent keyboard quality
  • Webcam quality is very good
Cons
  • Modest processor performance
  • Average build quality
  • Limited ports selection
  • No advanced graphics features
5
BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.6
General: B+, Gaming/AI: C, Eng/Design: B
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, very light
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is a budget-friendly option with a solid build and respectable performance for general use. It has an Intel i7 processor, integrated Intel graphics, 512GB of storage, and 16GB of RAM, which should handle most day-to-day tasks comfortably. The 14-inch IPS display offers clear images at Full HD resolution and has touchscreen capabilities. Key features include a backlit keyboard, fingerprint reader, and a variety of ports including USB-C, HDMI, and Ethernet, although it lacks a number pad. It's fairly lightweight, conducive to portability, and has a good balance of battery life. This laptop may not be suited for intensive gaming or demanding engineering tasks as the graphics are on the basic side. It's well-suited for business users seeking reliability and functionality without stretching the budget.
Pros
  • Very good portability
  • Good battery life
  • USB-C charging supported
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Fingerprint reader for security
Cons
  • Fair 3D/machine learning performance
  • Fair engineering performance
  • Screen colors are fair
  • Moderate weight
6
Acer 14”

Swift Go 14

BEST RATING
Portability:
4.7
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Good
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Acer Swift Go 14 is a laptop with a lower midrange price and comes equipped with 512GB storage and 16GB RAM, which should be sufficient for daily tasks and moderate multitasking. It features an Intel i5-1335U processor paired with Intel Iris Xe graphics, suitable for general use and light photo editing or casual gaming, but not for heavy 3D rendering or intensive gaming. The battery is fairly standard, ensuring around 8 hours of typical use. It has a 14-inch IPS display with good resolution and a 16:10 aspect ratio, enhancing productivity with more vertical screen space. The laptop doesn't have a touchscreen, but it offers good color accuracy and contrast ideal for web browsing, document editing, and movie watching. It's quite portable at under 3 pounds and just 0.59 inches thick, making it easy to carry around. It offers a good selection of ports, including USB-C with charging support, but lacks Ethernet and dedicated gaming features. The Acer Swift Go 14 also includes a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint reader for added convenience and security.
Pros
  • Lightweight and portable design
  • Good battery life for typical use
  • High-quality keyboard and webcam
  • Backlit keyboard with a fingerprint reader
  • Solid performance for general use
Cons
  • Limited high performance for 3D and engineering
  • Mediocre speaker quality
  • Display not ideal for fast motion
  • Graphics not suited for ray tracing
7
ASUS 14”

Zenbook 14

BEST RATING
Portability:
4.6
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B+
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Thin, very light
Battery: Good




Pros
  • High-resolution OLED screen
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Multiple USB-C ports
  • Good keyboard and trackpad
  • All-day battery life
Cons
  • Average speaker quality
  • Limited thermal management
  • Fair webcam quality
  • Moderate fan noise under load
8
Lenovo 15.6”

IdeaPad 3 15"

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.9
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B
Size: 15.6"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, light
Battery: Good




Expert Summary
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15" is a budget-friendly laptop with an Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics, suitable for everyday tasks and light productivity. It comes with a 512GB storage drive and 8GB of RAM, a combination that offers a decent balance for general use. The 15.6-inch IPS display offers clear images at a standard 1920 x 1080 resolution, but it isn't touchscreen. The battery life is modest, making it more suited for use where charging options are accessible. Weighing 3.59 pounds and measuring 0.78 inches thick, it's relatively portable but might feel bulky compared to ultrabooks. It includes a numeric keypad, backlit keyboard, and a good variety of ports including USB-C and HDMI. The IdeaPad 3 is not designed for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, or machine learning tasks, but it's a good match for more straightforward engineering software. Overall, this laptop is a good choice for students or home office use where high performance is not a critical requirement.
Pros
  • Solid build quality
  • Good portability
  • Decent general use performance
  • Backlit keyboard and number pad
  • Ample storage capacity
Cons
  • Moderate battery life
  • Average display for color work
  • Not ideal for 3D/machine learning tasks
  • No hardware ray tracing or DLSS support
9
Acer 14”

Aspire 3 14

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
5.0
General: B+, Gaming/AI: C, Eng/Design: B
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Poor
Portability: Med. thick, very light
Battery: Good




Pros
  • Silent, fanless operation
  • Good battery life
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Generous storage capacity
  • Lightweight and portable
Cons
  • Average screen colors
  • Fair build quality
  • Mediocre webcam
  • Lacks touch screen
10
HP 14”

14" Laptop

BEST RATING
Operating Noise:
4.6
General: B+, Gaming/AI: B, Eng/Design: B
Size: 14"
Overall Performance: Fair
Portability: Med. thick, very light
Battery: Good




Pros
  • 16GB RAM enhances multitasking
  • Large 1024GB storage space
  • Moderate battery life for standard use
  • Portable design under 3.5 pounds
  • Good general use performance
Cons
  • AMD Ryzen 3 less suitable for intense tasks
  • Graphics not ideal for gaming, 3D rendering
  • Subpar color coverage for professional editing
  • No touchscreen functionality