Best Laptops Under $500

Updated February 2019
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
HP
Pavilion X360
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Bottom Line

Equally impressive as a laptop or a tablet, this 2-in-1 machine boasts crisp screen resolution, high internal storage, and an impressive processor for the price.

Pros

The 360º hinge provides excellent versatility, as users can switch between laptop and tablet modes easily. The touchscreen itself is large for this price and offers full HD resolution along with a stylus for drawing and sketching. Processing speed and storage are high points as well, making this an excellent choice for work, play, and everything in between.

Cons

Some users report that the two USB ports are too close together, preventing easy access with large connectors.

Microsoft
Surface Go
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Bottom Line

This entry-level 2-in-1 laptop offers superb portability, durability, and value, making it a stellar choice for students and workers on the move.

Pros

This is the smallest, lightest, and least-expensive option in Microsoft’s Surface line, and it’s built to last. Great for educational use, it includes Windows 10 S, a high-resolution touchscreen, and a battery that lasts up to nine hours. It’s perfect for students or as a secondary travel computer for professionals.

Cons

Processing power and screen size are downsized here, and this laptop features USB-C ports instead of full-size alternatives.

Lenovo
Ideapad 15.6" High Performance Laptop
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Bottom Line

Lightweight despite the large screen and high storage capacity, making it a good option for those who want a traditional laptop that travels well.

Pros

While some laptops may be lighter than the Lenovo's 6 lbs., most of them have smaller screens or less storage capacity than a traditional laptop. This model remains lightweight even with its 15.6" screen and 1 TB hard drive. The 2.7 GHz AMD processor offers adequate processing power for most users, and multiple USB ports and an HDMI port give users the ability to connect most commonly used accessory devices.

Cons

The run time of a fully-charged battery is shorter on this model than some others.

ASUS
10.1" Flip Chromebook
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Bottom Line

The flip hinge and light weight make this a good option for those who need a computer to use when traveling or for occasional use.

Pros

While it is not designed to be used as a traditional laptop, this model is one that travels easily. At only 2 lbs. and thin enough to fit in almost any bag or backpack, it is exceptionally mobile. 3 USB ports means accessory devices can be used on the go. 10.1" screen offers a clear display, so even with its smaller size, visibility is not a problem. 2 GHz of processing power is impressive for a unit this size. Flip hinge allows users to convert it easily from a traditional laptop to a tablet.

Cons

With limited storage space, this unit is designed for occasional work or travel, and it is not a good option as a primary laptop for a high volume of work.

Best Bang for the Buck
Acer
Aspire E15 15.6" HD Laptop
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Bottom Line

The screen size and storage capacity of this model compares favorably with other laptops in its price range. Earns high marks for its extended battery life.

Pros

The 15.6" screen and 1 TB hard drive are among the best available under $500, as is the computing power of the 8th generation Intel processor. We love the extended 13 hour life of a fully-charged battery, allowing users to be mobile for long periods of time without requiring a recharge. The 4 USB ports outnumber most laptop models as well, and an HDMI port is also included.

Cons

The 6 GB of RAM is a little less than some comparable models, so users may notice a slight lag during downloads or watching video.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

19 Models Considered
7 Hours Researched
1 Experts Interviewed
159 Consumers Consulted
Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent laptop. Thanks to aggressive pricing from manufacturers like Dell, HP, and Acer, many of the entry level models bring tons of features at a price point below $500. Most of these laptops are based on a Google Chromebook or Windows platform, or a hybrid of the 2, and often come with an Intel processors inside. With screen sizes up to 15”, these laptops will Web surf, meet basic productivity, and make a great bet for students. Check that the make and model you choose has enough memory to deal with the kind of work expected. Many are between 4GB and 8GB. Hard drives range from 16 GB to 500 GB, but many of the smaller drives offer free cloud storage. Also look for features like USB ports and HDMI output.

The team that worked on this review
  • Katie
    Katie
    Editorial Director
  • Melinda
    Melinda
    Web Producer
×

HP

Pavilion X360

HP

Pavilion X360

Equally impressive as a laptop or a tablet, this 2-in-1 machine boasts crisp screen resolution, high internal storage, and an impressive processor for the price.

$420
×

Microsoft

Surface Go

Microsoft

Surface Go

This entry-level 2-in-1 laptop offers superb portability, durability, and value, making it a stellar choice for students and workers on the move.

$349
×

Lenovo

Ideapad 15.6" High Performance Laptop

Lenovo

Ideapad 15.6" High Performance Laptop

Lightweight despite the large screen and high storage capacity, making it a good option for those who want a traditional laptop that travels well.
$348
×

ASUS

10.1" Flip Chromebook

ASUS

10.1" Flip Chromebook

The flip hinge and light weight make this a good option for those who need a computer to use when traveling or for occasional use.
$329
×

Acer

Aspire E15 15.6" HD Laptop

Acer

Aspire E15 15.6" HD Laptop

The screen size and storage capacity of this model compares favorably with other laptops in its price range. Earns high marks for its extended battery life.
$379

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