By Robin Owens 15 days ago, Hardware
The best gaming laptops under $500 to buy this year.
A good gaming laptop is expensive as users expect it to be powerful enough, have high-quality graphics, lots of free space, a long-lasting battery and fast performance. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford a $1500+ laptop, so I decided to compile this list to help you find the best laptop under 500 dollars. If you’re looking for a budget device, check out this article.
Unlike more expensive devices with a dedicated graphics card, a budget laptop offers a weaker performance. However, there are affordable devices that come with a decent integrated GPU. Thanks to this, users can enjoy even older games with a playable frame rate.
CPU: Intel Core i5-10210U | GPU: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.97 pound
⊕ Small-sized
⊕ Enhanced visuals
⊕ Backlit keyboard
⊕ High-end speakers
⊖ Fragile construction
⊖ No SD card slot
The Acer Aspire 5 Slim is a cheap gaming laptop under $500 that is powered by a 10th Gen Intel Core i5-10210U quad-core processor. It has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with 1920x1080 resolution that produces stunning images. With the Acer BlueLightShiel technology, which reduces blue light emissions and protects your eyes, you can use the laptop for hours without experiencing eye strain.
Along with hardware features, this model amazes with its stylish design. Its narrow aluminum body has a sophisticated look, which is not typical for budget models. Besides, the laptop has a backlit keyboard that allows you to work comfortably even at night. Thanks to the integrated fingerprint reader, a user has fast and secure access to all the features.
CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1 | GPU: Intel UHD | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.4 pound
⊕ Touchscreen
⊕ Seamless gaming on low settings
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊕ High-end speakers
⊖ No optical drive
⊖ Limited viewing angles
The HP Touchscreen is a great device that runs many undemanding games. It is fitted with the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, which was created for portable and slim budget laptops. The processor offers high performance, which helps you avoid delays when launching programs and games. The laptop goes with 8 GB DDR4 memory, which accelerates its performance as well.
This gaming laptop under 500 dollars comes with a built-in Intel UHD graphics card, which gives maximum results for undemanding games at low graphics settings. You will also be pleasantly surprised by the 15.6-inch backlit HD WLED touchscreen with 1366x768 resolution, which supports multi-touch up to 10 fingers. Overall, this portable and fast model is a great choice.
CPU: Intel Core i5 1035G4 | GPU: Intel UHD | RAM: 4GB | Storage: 128GB | Display: 14-inch | Weight: 3.7 pound
⊕ Anti-glare screen
⊕ Portability
⊕ Convenient keyboard
⊕ Long-lasting battery
⊖ Keyboard comes without backlighting
⊖ Dull display
The Dell Inspiron is a gaming laptop that comes with a 14-inch display with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. Thanks to the Anti-glare coating, you can work for a long time without straining your eyes. Plus, the laptop weighs 3.7 pounds, making it a great option for users who often work on the go.
Besides, the Dell Inspiron has good internal specs. It comes with an integrated 10th Gen Intel Core I5-1035G4 processor (up to 3.7 GHz) and 6 MB cache. You can upgrade its 4 GB of RAM up to 8 GB if needed. The only thing that might confuse hardcore gamers is the 128 GB SSD drive. Still, you can always upgrade it.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 | GPU: Vega 8 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 3.96 pound
⊕ Smooth design
⊕ Speedy graphics performance
⊕ Worthy keyboard
⊕ Dolby Audio
⊖ Keyboard is non-backlight
⊖ Dim display
The IdeaPad is a budget gaming laptop under $500 that’s also great for everyday use. The laptop comes with a 15-inch display and perfectly combines powerful functionality with an elegant design. It delivers a great image and sound quality.
Its 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor allows users to get things done faster. The model is designed with various secure storage options, such as a hybrid solid-state drive with a hard disk. The Dolby Audio technology delivers clear sound whether you’re playing games, listening to music or video-chatting with someone. Thanks to the anti-glare technology, you can watch videos in HD and FHD formats.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 | GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | RAM: 8GB | Storage: 256GB | Display: 15.6-inch | Weight: 4.85 pound
⊕ NanoEdge design
⊕ Wide viewing angles
⊕ Anti-dust fans
⊕ RGB backlit keyboard
⊖ Poor battery
⊖ No G-Sync
The Asus TUF is a powerful gaming laptop that suits both hardcore gamers and beginners. It comes with a quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 R5-3550H that quickly processes data without affecting the overall performance. The NVIDIA GeForce Experience technology is developed to optimize your device. It lets you choose the best settings both for regular use and gaming.
The model comes with a 15.6-inch Full HD display with a Nano design. Its refresh rate is 120 Hz. Thanks to the thin panel, your gaming will be more immersive. The IPS panel has wide viewing angles and delivers clear images. The Asus TUF has a backlit keyboard. You can customize lighting effects with the help of the ROG Armory Crate utility.
| Image | Name | Features | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Acer Aspire 5 Slim
Our Choice |
CHECK PRICE → | |
 |
HP Touchscreen
Practical |
CHECK PRICE → | |
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Dell Inspiron
Lightweight |
CHECK PRICE → |
When choosing the best gaming laptop under 500, not everyone can estimate the functionality of a device. You can find a good model, but don’t expect a premium design. You also won’t get the most powerful performance or advanced display. Be ready that the display will be inferior to more expensive models. Such screens have poor image quality and color saturation. Usually, you can to settle for a 14-inch laptop. This does not mean that you have to choose the cheapest laptop and be content with it. On the contrary, you should look for the most affordable one that will have decent functionality. I recommend looking at my checklist before you start searching for a perfect option.
One of the most important elements of any laptop is its built-in processor. It affects the processing speed. Its power also determines how smooth the gameplay is.
The AMD Ryzen 3 processor is most commonly used in affordable hybrid laptops. Its counterpart is the 8th Gen Intel Core i3-8145U, which offers faster performance than the MD Ryzen 3.
The next equally important component that affects the comfort of your game is the video card. To make your gameplay enjoyable and smooth enough, you should choose a dedicated graphics card.
Most of gaming touchscreen laptops offer an integrated graphics unit, but some come with a good graphics card. The GPU and laptop memory play an important role in how smooth your game will be. For modern 3D gaming, you need a dedicated graphics card that delivers excellent performance at high settings.
Finding the right graphics card is not easy. Check the specs carefully while choosing a budget gaming laptop under $500 to make sure it offers a decent graphics card. NVIDIA or AMD create great graphics cards that can run most modern games.
RAM is another important factor that determines the speed of your laptop. For decent performance, you need at least 8 GB of RAM. This is enough to play any games. Modern models offer 8 GB or more, and therefore finding a suitable device is not a problem. I recommend buying DDR4 (a type of RAM), which is generally faster than others. As operating memory standards continue to decline today, buying a high-performance laptop with maximum operating memory will allow you to run most games quickly.
RAM is responsible for the amount of graphics your laptop can handle, so it really matters if you are eager to buy a fast device. The more RAM a laptop offers, the higher the price. The minimum is 4 GB, which can be increased to 8 GB.
Battery life is very important especially for gaming laptops, as your device might turn off unexpectedly after a couple of hours of non-stop playing.
If a laptop can last for 3-4 hours when you play games, I recommend buying it without hesitation. When you are solving regular tasks, such models can last 5-7 hours.
The minimum RAM value for a gaming device is 8 GB. This amount is enough to run a lot of games without delays. However, for modern games that require advanced hardware, 8 GB of RAM may not be enough, which will result in the decreased quality of the graphics.
If you want a portable and easy-to-carry device, the recommended getting 15-inch laptops. Such a laptop will be lightweight enough to work on the road, while a 17-inch laptop is likely to be heavier and less compact.
Unlike Intel, the AMD processor has more cores and threads in every price range, more cache, faster memory and PCIe 4.0 for the mid-range and high-end devices.
Generally, gaming decreases your laptop’s battery life faster. This is because games require more processing power. On average, a laptop battery lasts 3000-4000 cycles, but this period can vary depending on the way of use.
