By Robin Owens 10 days ago, Hardware
Laptops for the money to write blog posts and work on productivity tasks
Looking for a laptop for the money to organize files, work with documents, websites, and social networks, and use as storage? With laptops under $500 both newbies and advanced users can do all their daily tasks.
When you're buying a mid-range laptop, you want to make sure it runs fast and offers a good balance of performance, battery life, and value. That means choosing a high-performance CPU and avoiding older models that don't offer enough performance for your needs.
You'll also want to consider the type of display you want, the amount of RAM you need, and the storage capacity. A good rule of thumb is to go for a laptop with a budget Intel CPU such as Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6’’ FHD IPS | Storage: 256GB
The Acer Aspire 5 is suitable for students and home users who need a reliable machine for everyday tasks. It comes with a hexa-core CPU which performs more efficiently than 4-Core CPUs found in most other laptops of this price range.
This Acer laptop provides fast and reliable storage for your files and apps, and it can be easily upgraded if you need more space. The FHD IPS display offers sharp and vibrant picture quality.
Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a great laptop for the money. In terms of performance, it can handle most general-use tasks like internet browsing, Microsoft Office, streaming, and basic image/video improvement with ease.
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 | GPU: Intel Iris Xe graphics | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 14’’ FHD Touchscreen | Storage: 128GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i 14 has a Full HD display with 360 nits maximum brightness, which is bright enough to do most things, although it is not ideal for gaming.
The Lenovo laptop also has plenty of features to help you get the job done, such as a WUXGA touchscreen. The CPU offers great performance, and the laptop has a premium look with a Graphite Grey color.
It's a versatile, well-designed convertible that folds 360 degrees from clamshell to tablet mode and tent mode. The hinge is loose enough to open with one hand but stiffens up when it reaches an upright position.
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | GPU: AMD Radeon Graphics | RAM: 32GB | Screen: 17.3" HD+ | Storage: 1TB SSD
The HP TPN-I140 17.3 is a solid choice for those on a budget. The display is LED-backlit, which is great for watching videos, playing games, and reading.
This HP laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor, which is good enough for everyday use, but don't expect it to handle heavy video editing or gaming. The HP TPN-I140 also has a backlit keyboard, which is a nice touch at this price point.
The HP laptop is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor, which is good enough for everyday use, but don't expect it to handle heavy video editing or gaming. The HP TPN-I140 also has a backlit keyboard, which is a nice touch at this price point.
CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6 | Storage: 16GB
As for a laptop for the money, the Samsung Chromebook 3 offers impressive battery life and great build quality. One of the great features of this laptop is its excellent display, which is very bright and ideal for watching movies, playing video games, and reading books.
The Samsung laptop is also very durable and can withstand scratches and abrasions, and it comes with a water-resistant keyboard, so you don't have to worry about spilling some water on it.
This laptop for traveling has a small size and weight, and the device is also very powerful and can handle all your everyday tasks.
CPU: Intel Core i5-1035G1 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics | RAM: 12GB | Screen: 15.6 | Storage: 256GB
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is a great option for anyone who needs a reliable and powerful laptop for the money. It has a large display and is available in multiple configurations.
The Dell laptop has a fingerprint sensor that makes it easy to log into Windows, and its hinged bumpers help protect it from scratches and damage.
It also has a full number pad and legacy ports, including HDMI, USB 3.1, and a headphone/microphone jack. Its built-in WiFi allows you to connect with the Internet anywhere, and the laptop's build quality is excellent, making it durable enough for regular use.
CPU: MediaTek 8183 | GPU: Not specified | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 12 | Storage: 32GB
The Asus Chromebook Flip CM3 definitely worth considering if you're on a tight budget. One of the standout features of this Asus laptop is its touchscreen, which is a great size at 12.5 inches. It's not quite as high-resolution as some of the touchscreens you'd find on Windows laptops, but it still works really well and is plenty responsive.
Another thing that sets this mid-range laptop apart is the fact that it comes with a detachable keyboard. This is a really useful feature that will save you money, and it also makes the laptop more versatile since you can use it as a tablet as well. It's also lightweight and small, so it's easy to carry around with you.
CPU: 8th gen Intel Core i5-8250U | GPU: Intel HD Graphics 620 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6 | Storage: 1TB
The Asus VivoBook F510 can handle most light productivity tasks, and its storage drive is excellent for storing large files. This budget laptop is designed to be fast and relatively quiet.
Its display is a good option for watching movies and playing games, as it has full Adobe RGB and DCI P3 coverage and can produce deeper blacks and a wider range of colors. Its OLED panel is also quite fast and can refresh at a blistering 120Hz.
The mid range laptop also includes an audio system designed by Dirac that delivers a wide and balanced soundscape, making it a great feature for listening to music.
CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N5000 | GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 600 | RAM: 8GB | Screen: 15.6 | Storage: 128GB
The HP Pavilion 15.6 is a great choice for college students and business users who need a reliable and affordable laptop. The 15.6-inch display is an excellent choice for multimedia and web browsing, with a wide array of colors supported by the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color spaces.
The panel also has a good contrast ratio, making it easier to read text on the screen. In addition, the high-quality, glossy screen has an anti-glare coating for improved visuals and viewing. Its brightness and contrast are also very good for a laptop under 600 dollars, along with its wide viewing angles and low-light performance.
CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T | GPU: Integrated ARM G72 MP3 Graphics | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 10.1 | Storage: 128GB
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet is an excellent choice for casual users who don't require a lot of performance. The display offers crisp, bright resolution for high-quality images. This cheap laptop for photo editing also great for reading books or watching movies, with good visibility at both day and night.
The Lenovo Chromebook Duet has a middle-level battery, which can last for over seven hours of video playback. It's also a 2-in-1 laptop for the money that offers both laptop and tablet functions.
| IMAGE | NAME | FEATURES | |
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Acer Aspire 5
OUR CHOICE
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i
2-IN-1
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HP TPN-I140 17.3"
BIG SCREEN
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CHECK PRICE → |
If you perform basic tasks of a photographer, such as sorting photos, communicating with clients, social networks, or just browsing web pages, then any of the mid-range laptops mentioned above will suit you.
Screen size. I mean the actual size of the display, measured diagonally. Lightweight laptops often have smaller screen sizes (these are usually 11-inch laptops) but on average you will see 15-inch laptops in the list.
Resolution. The higher screen resolution is, the better image quality you have. In this price category, you should expect a screen with a resolution of 720P and in some cases a screen with a resolution of 1080P and weaker characteristics.
Processor. Most of the laptops for the price are equipped with an Intel Corei5 processor, but some of the best laptops for streaming Twitch may offer an equivalent of AMD.
RAM. Eventually, you will get 8 GB or less in these laptops for the price. Luckily, you can upgrade and add even more. But as a rule, we recommend netbooks that offer at least 4 GB of RAM.
Drive. It can be a hard disk or SSD that stores all of your data, including the operating system, various programs, and personal files. A large disk may contain more files and a faster disk can process them more efficiently. Some models have multiple hard drives or a hard drive mixed with a memory card to increase memory capacity.
Battery life. If you travel a lot or use it remotely, for example, in a library, plane or cafe, then you probably need a good battery. At this price, you will not see surprising battery life on most laptops but some of them exceed 10 hours of work during normal use.
It really depends on your needs. If you're just using it for basic tasks like email and web browsing, you can get a decent laptop for around $500. But if you're a gamer or need a laptop for video editing, you may need to spend upwards of $1,000.
The CPU, RAM, and storage are all important factors to consider. A more powerful CPU will allow for faster performance, while more RAM will allow you to multitask more efficiently. As for storage, SSDs are generally faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives.
If you're constantly on-the-go, a small laptop may be more convenient. But if you need a larger screen for work or entertainment, a 15-inch or 17-inch mid-range laptop may be better for you.
