There are tons of laptops under $500 out there, but many of them aren’t worth the price. That’s why it’s important to shop smart when you’re looking for a budget laptop. For one, don’t settle for laptop with a resolution below 1080p. Second, always spring for at least 8GB of RAM. Although you may encounter a couple of trade-offs here and there, it’s entirely possible to score a sub-$500 machine with zippy general productivity performance and decent battery life. Below you’ll find a carefully curated list of our top picks.
Why you should trust us: It’s in our name! PCWorld prides itself on laptop experience and expertise. We’ve been covering PCs since 1983, and we now review more than 70 laptops every year. All of the picks below have been personally tested and vetted by our experts, who’ve applied not only performance benchmarks but rigorous usability standards. We’re also committed to reviewing PC laptops at every price point to help you find a machine that matches your budget.
If you can manage to stretch your budget a little bit further, check out our best laptops roundup for even more suggestions.
Updated August 22, 2024: We updated our list of recent laptop reviews, so be sure to check those out near the bottom of the page!
The best laptops under $500
Acer Aspire Go 15 – Best laptop under $500 overall
