The 7 Best Cheap Laptops Under $500 That Don’t Skimp on Performance

Rocking a $380 sticker before any potential deals and discounts, the Acer Aspire 3 is a dependable PC laptop with an understated design, a quality screen with onboard tech to protect against harmful blue light, a future-proof set of connectivity features, and stellar battery life. Weighing less than 4 pounds, it’s also impressively portable for a 15.6-inch notebook.

What impressed me about the Aspire 3 when I unboxed it is that it looks like a more upmarket laptop that will look good on your desk, at work, in a classroom, or a coffee shop, thanks to clean lines and chamfered edges for the wrist pad.

Its all-plastic build flexes compared to the metal housings of pricier laptops, but it didn’t strike me as overly flimsy. The Aspire 3 is adequately put together for a laptop that costs under $400 before additional discounts.

Powered by a capable AMD processor with Radeon graphics and a speedy solid-state drive, the Aspire 3 performs incredibly well for the money. It can effortlessly conquer everyday tasks like web browsing with multiple open tabs and using productivity apps. The device’s keyboard has a number pad for conveniently tapping out digits, though we wish its keys were backlit.

The notebook runs Windows 11 in S Mode out of the box — you can upgrade to a full version of the platform for free. It comes bundled with a proprietary charger, but you can use its USB-C port to replenish the battery.

The Asus VivoBook 14 is the best PC laptop if you are upgrading on a really tight budget. Sporting a price tag that hovers below $300, the notebook has a sleek design, a lightweight build, and a sharp display panel with an anti-glare finish.

Remarkably, it rocks a backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor, unlike its pricier rivals, though I wish it had more up-to-date Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

With an entry-level Intel processor and a modest 4GB of RAM onboard, the notebook is best suited for web browsing, streaming video, and editing office documents. Overall, the cheap laptop is adequate for use on the go, so long as you don’t expect it to last through a busy workday between charges.

The VivoBook 14 runs Microsoft Windows 11 in S mode by default. The platform is upgradeable for free to a full version with access to third-party apps.

This HP laptop is an excellent alternative to our top pick, with more onboard storage and a built-in card reader. Like its Acer rival, the Windows 11 notebook lacks a backlit keyboard, though I tip my hat to HP for using recycled plastics to make the keycaps. Given the laptop’s agreeable price and hardware specs, the keyboard backlighting omission is not a dealbreaker.

Combined with sufficient RAM and a speedy SSD, the 12th-generation Intel chip of the HP notebook delivers price-defying performance, headlined by quick interactions and app transitions. Its anti-glare display panel with thin side bezels makes it suitable for use in spaces with bright lighting.

I like the device’s fast-charging capabilities, too. Getting its battery from empty to 50% takes only 45 minutes. Its battery endurance is unremarkable but adequate for a sub-$500 laptop with a big screen.

The Acer Vero 514 Chromebook is the best Chrome OS laptop $500 can buy. It has a characterful design, a durable build, a sharp screen, a backlit keyboard, plenty of power for a fast and fluid experience, and access to Android apps via the Google Play store. Weighing just a tad above 3 pounds, the 14-inch Chromebook is also impressively portable.

Acer crafted the Vero 514 Chromebook using recycled plastic. The eco-friendly material gives the notebook an incredibly cool speckled finish that’s a legit conversation starter. Its textured finish also makes the device durable and easy to handle.

Thanks to a speedy Intel processor, ample RAM (by Chromebook standards), and plenty of connectivity features, the Vero 514 Chromebook will deliver reliable performance for many years. Acer offers a PC version whose sticker hovers around $500.

The compact Surface Go 3 is hands down the best 2-in-1 PC (a laptop and tablet in one) for the money. You get a starter Go 3 with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM, though you’ll want to buy a Surface Type Cover as well — a must for replicating the PC experience. (That brings the total cost up close to $500.) The optional Surface Pen is also worth investing in.

Even though this isn’t exactly a powerhouse, the Intel Pentium Gold processor is ideal for daily tasks like web browsing, streaming content, and light productivity work. I successfully relied on it for outdoor work sessions during my testing. Speaking of work sessions, the Go 3's front- and rear-facing cameras are capable of Full HD video, making it the best here for teleconferencing.

Like all Surface products, the slate is elegant and exceptionally crafted. Interacting with it consistently brought me a sense of occasion that similarly priced rivals don't offer.

If budget permits, I highly recommend you opt for this Surface Go 3 version with double the RAM and storage. It’s also faster than the eMMC setup of the cheapest Go 3. Better yet, it’s frequently on sale below $500.

More: Our Review of the Microsoft Surface Go 3

The Chromebook 514 is an excellent touchscreen option for frugal upgraders. It has a premium design, a sharp screen, an impressively lightweight build (it tips the scales at 3 pounds), and fantastic battery life, all at a cheap price tag. To top things off, the Chome OS notebook packs a backlit keyboard.

Like the Aspire 3 PC laptop from the same maker, the Acer Chromebook 514 looks pricier than it is. Combined with the long battery life, the anti-glare screen, and the lightweight build, the design of the product makes it an excellent option for students.

With a 14-inch display, the Chromebook 514 is great for browsing the web, productivity, and streaming content. Its entry-level MediaTek chip and 8GB of RAM combine to deliver a solid Chrome OS experience, so long as you’re not a heavy multitasker.

The Chromebook 514 comes bundled with a handy storage sleeve. A version of the notebook without a touchscreen is also available for less than $500.

Dell’s latest Inspiron 15 is the laptop I’d pick for gaming on a $500 budget. Its AMD Ryzen chip and Radeon graphics are suitable for light play without maxed-out levels of detail. On the other hand, the display panel with a 120-hertz refresh rate — the only one on this list — will deliver smooth interactions that belie its price.

The Inspiron 15 is a reliable Windows 11 notebook for daily use. It has a sleek design, a backlit keyboard, and plenty of connectivity features. The device’s battery life is far from great, but a tradeoff worth making for its high-performance display.

Thankfully, Dell equipped it with fast-charging tech, which will get your battery up to 80% in an hour. The computer giant also used recycled plastics in the making of the Inspiron 15.