10 Best Laptops Under 500

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.

The ASUS Vivobook 16X offers a balance between performance and price, being in the lower midrange category. It features a large 16-inch IPS screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, suitable for productivity tasks but with a standard 60Hz refresh rate that's adequate for general use rather than fast-paced gaming. Powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 5800HS with integrated Vega 8 graphics, the laptop is capable of handling daily tasks and lighter creative workloads, though it's not designed for intensive gaming or high-end 3D rendering. Its battery life is suitable for several hours of typical usage, making it moderately portable at a bit over 4 pounds. The Vivobook 16X is equipped with 512GB of storage and 12GB of RAM, enhancing multitasking abilities. It also has a decent selection of ports including USB-C, HDMI, and an Ethernet port, plus a backlit keyboard with a number pad, enhancing utility for work and study. Overall, the Vivobook 16X is good for general use, fair for 3D/machine learning applications, and fair for engineering tasks.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Razer Blade 14 is a high-end laptop with a premium price, designed for gaming and performance-intensive tasks. It features a robust AMD Ryzen 9 processor alongside an Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card, which makes it suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering software. With 16GB of RAM and 1024GB of storage, it's well-equipped for multitasking and large projects. The 14-inch display has a high resolution, very good color coverage, and a fast refresh rate, which is beneficial for both gaming and professional creative work. However, its compact size and relatively low weight also make it quite portable for a performance-oriented laptop. The battery life is solid for its class, contributing to its portability. It excels in build quality, heat management, and has a backlit keyboard but lacks an Ethernet port and a number pad. It runs Windows 11 Home and was released in February 2022.