Key takeaways
- Best under $500: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) ($449 – $739).
- Best Chromebook under $500: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 ($399 – $499).
- $500 is the sweet spot where 16GB of memory and all-day battery become possible.
In this article
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The best laptops under $500 are where budget computing gets genuinely good. In 2026, $450 to $500 can buy 16GB of memory, a touchscreen and battery life that lasts well beyond a school or workday. Here are the laptops we would buy at this price, and what to avoid.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price on Amazon. Several picks list above $500 but sell below it often.
Quick answer
- Best laptop under $500: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) ($449 – $739)
- Best Chromebook under $500: ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 ($399 – $499)
- Best Windows laptop with a number pad: Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5) ($449 – $599)
- Best big-screen Chromebook: HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch ($449 – $549)
- Best x86 laptop under $500: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5) ($399 – $549)
Laptops under $500 compared
| Product | Best for | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X) | Best laptop under $500 | Buy | 8.6/10 | $449 – $739 |
| ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 | Best Chromebook under $500 | Buy | 8.3/10 | $399 – $499 |
| Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5) | Best Windows laptop with a number pad | Buy | 8.0/10 | $449 – $599 |
| HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch | Best big-screen Chromebook | Buy | 8.2/10 | $449 – $549 |
| Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5) | Best x86 laptop under $500 | Buy | 8.2/10 | $399 – $549 |
Our picks in detail
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x (Snapdragon X)
Best laptop under $500 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.6/10 · Typical price: $449 – $739
Key specs: Qualcomm Snapdragon X, 16GB memory, 256GB–1TB SSD, 15.3-inch Full HD+ touchscreen, 16-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: The best value in this price range: 16GB of memory, a 15.3-inch touchscreen and an efficient Snapdragon X chip that lasted more than 16 hours in testing, frequently at $449.
Pros: Huge battery life for the price · 16GB memory standard · Touchscreen · Frequently on sale under $500
Cons: Arm emulation for some apps · Plain design · Not for games
Buy it if you want the best budget laptop for students and home use.
Skip it if you need specialist Windows software or games.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
Best Chromebook under $500 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.3/10 · Typical price: $399 – $499
Key specs: Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB memory, 256GB storage, 14-inch Full HD touchscreen, 13 hours tested battery
Why we picked it: A Core i5 Chromebook Plus with 256GB of storage, a touchscreen and 13 hours of tested battery is the fastest way to run ChromeOS at this price.
Pros: Fast Core i5 for ChromeOS · Long battery · Touchscreen · Good keyboard
Cons: Heavier than some rivals · Plain design · Average display
Buy it if you want a fast, reliable Chromebook for students.
Skip it if you need a convertible design.
Dell 15 Laptop (Intel Core i5)
Best Windows laptop with a number pad · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.0/10 · Typical price: $449 – $599
Key specs: Intel Core i5 (13th Gen or Core 5), 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD 120Hz display
Why we picked it: Dell’s 15-inch Core i5 laptop includes a 120Hz Full HD screen, a full keyboard and plenty of ports for about $450 to $600.
Pros: Low price for a Core i5 · Full-size keyboard with number pad · 120Hz screen at this price · Good port selection
Cons: Dim display · Average battery life · Plastic build
Buy it if you need a simple, roomy Windows laptop for home and office tasks on a tight budget.
Skip it if you carry your laptop all day.
HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch
Best big-screen Chromebook · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $449 – $549
Key specs: Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB memory, 15.6-inch Full HD 144Hz display, 10-plus hours tested battery
Why we picked it: A smooth 144Hz 15.6-inch display and number pad make HP’s Chromebook Plus 15.6 a comfortable home laptop, though it is heavy to carry.
Pros: Smooth 144Hz screen · Large display · Good keyboard with number pad · Chromebook Plus AI features
Cons: Heavy at 3.8 lb · Average performance · Plastic build
Buy it if you want a big, smooth-scrolling Chromebook for home use.
Skip it if you want a light Chromebook to carry.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 15 (Ryzen 5 / Core i5)
Best x86 laptop under $500 · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $399 – $549
Key specs: AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5, 8GB–16GB memory, 512GB SSD, 15.6-inch Full HD display
Why we picked it: If you need every Windows app and game launcher to work without emulation, the Ryzen 5 IdeaPad Slim 3 is the dependable choice.
Pros: Strong everyday x86 performance for the price · Full compatibility with Windows apps · Number pad · Decent build
Cons: Average battery · Dim display on some models · Plastic chassis
Buy it if you want a capable Windows laptop around $500 with full app compatibility.
Skip it if you want a bright, color-rich display.
Why $500 is the budget sweet spot
Below $400, laptops cut memory, storage and screen quality hard. At $450 to $500, you can find:
- 16GB of memory on sale (essential for longevity)
- 512GB SSDs
- Full HD+ touchscreens on some models
- 15-hour-plus battery life from Snapdragon laptops
That combination makes a laptop pleasant to use for four or five years, not just two.
Which laptop under $500 should you buy?
Most people should buy the IdeaPad Slim 3x. If you depend on specialist Windows software, choose the Ryzen IdeaPad Slim 3 or Dell 15 for full x86 compatibility. Chromebook fans should look at the ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34. If your budget can reach $600, the HP OmniBook 5 adds an OLED screen; see our best laptops under $600.
Who should spend more?
Creative students, anyone who edits photos or video, and people who want a laptop to last six years or more should consider $700 to $1,000 instead. That budget adds better screens, metal builds and more powerful chips; the MacBook Air 13-inch (M4) on sale is a standout. For everyone else, $500 buys plenty of laptop.
What to check before you buy
- Confirm 16GB of memory in the listing title and specifications.
- Check whether the touchscreen is included on the configuration you choose.
- Read the return policy; budget models vary in screen quality from unit to unit.
What to skip
Common mistake: paying $500 for a gaming-branded laptop with an old GPU and 8GB of memory. It will not play modern games well and its battery life will be poor.
When to buy
The best deals under $500 appear in July and August for back-to-school and on Black Friday, when the Slim 3x has dropped to around $400.
Compare more options
Search laptop under 500 on Amazon See top-rated laptop under 500 on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What is the best laptop under $500?
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x is the best laptop under $500 when it sells around $449, thanks to 16GB of memory and more than 16 hours of tested battery life.
Is the MacBook Neo under $500?
Not usually. It starts at $599 ($599 or less with education pricing and occasional sales), so it falls just outside this budget.
Can a laptop under $500 play games?
Only light or older games and cloud gaming services. For real PC gaming, you need a dedicated GPU, which starts around $750.
Which is better under $500: Snapdragon or Intel?
Snapdragon offers much longer battery life; Intel and AMD offer full compatibility with every Windows app. Choose based on your software.