The best laptops under $500 that wont slow you down
After extensive hands-on testing, we have four laptops to recommend in the under-$500 price range. Yes, we have an option for gamers too.
When shopping for a laptop on a tight budget — like, under $500 tight — you'll want to pay close attention to what you're buying.
In the highly competitive laptop market, you really do get what you pay for. That means it can be very dangerous to buy a cheap laptop just because it's inexpensive. Choose wrongly, and you'll be stuck with a slow, outdated computer that causes more problems than it solves. Mashable regularly tests budget-friendly laptops, but if $500 is your upper limit, even some of those models will be out of reach. Fortunately, we still highly recommend a handful of computers that will fit nicely into your budget.
A quick guide to laptop pricing
You can buy a cheap Chromebook for as little as $100, while our favorite gaming laptop will set you back over $3,000. And in our guide to the best laptops in general, you'll find machines that span a wide spectrum of prices. With $500 to spend, you'll be priced out of Ultrabooks, MacBooks, and most gaming laptops.
Typically, laptops fall into one of the following categories:
Chromebooks ($100 to $650): These computers have minimal storage and are designed to run mostly web applications. They're light, portable, and very affordable. Cloud-based gaming Chromebooks also offer an alternative to gaming laptops.
Budget laptops ($250 to $750): Even the best budget laptops won't have the most impressive specs, but they should have enough RAM and storage for everyday use at school or work.
MacBooks ($850 to $3,500): The cheapest MacBook worth buying (the M2 MacBook Air) will set you back $850 when it's on sale, while a fully specced-out MacBook Pro can cost as much as $3,500.
Ultrabooks ($1,000 to $3,500): These high-end laptops have enough processing power to handle tasks like photo and video editing. They typically have a sleek and modern aesthetic, too. MacBooks also fall into this category.
What are the best laptops under $500 in 2025?
We've put together a detailed guide to the best budget laptops for under $500, including some Chromebook picks. The right laptop will vary depending on your needs, but the Acer Aspire 5 is our overall top pick for our money. Check out all the contenders below.
