The best laptops under $500 for 2023

Laptops that cost under $500 often make significant compromises, whether in performance, screen quality, or battery life. There are exceptions, though — machines that manage to have almost everything you’d want in one of the best laptops at an impressive price discount.

Below, we’ve rounded up all the best laptops under $500 we’ve tested, including the best 2-in-1 under $500, and the the best laptop under $300.

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5

The best laptop for under $500

Why you should buy this: It’s the best laptop you can find for under $500.

Who it’s for: Anyone who needs a well-built and well-performing laptop but doesn’t have a lot of cash.

Why we picked the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5:

Finding a 13-inch laptop for under $500 is nearly impossible. That’s a shame, as it’s the most popular size for a laptop. But it’s not actually impossible thanks to Chrome OS, and the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 manages to come in well under $500 and provide impressive performance, 2-in-1 flexibility, and great value. That places this good Chromebook at the top of our list.

Impressively, there’s a 10th-gen Intel Core i3-10110U CPU inside, which is plenty fast for Chrome OS. The 4GB of RAM is enough for good performance and moderate multitasking prowess, and 64GB of storage is sufficient if you make effective use of the cloud.

It should be no surprise that it’s a Chromebook that occupies this category, and the Chromebook Flex 5 is a lot of computer for a little bit of money.

Dell Inspiron 14

The best 14-inch laptop under $500

Why you should buy this: It’s the best 14-inch laptop for under $500.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a slightly-smaller-than-15-inch laptop for not a lot of money.

Why we picked the Dell Inspiron 14:

It’s not often that you can pick up a laptop with an all-metal chassis for around $500, not to mention an 11th-gen Intel Tiger Lake Core i5-11300H CPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Those are specs that typically cost hundreds more. Toss in a Full HD 14-inch IPS display and you’re good to go.

The Inspiron 14 is also a nicely-sized laptop, at 0.67 inches to 0.71 inches thick and 3.22 pounds. It even offers relatively small bezels, making for a smaller chassis than your typical budget 14-inch laptop. Connectivity is also strong, with a USB-C 3.2 port (no Thunderbolt support, unfortunately), two USB-A 3.2 ports, and a full-size HDMI 1.4 port. Wireless connectivity is up to date with Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

If you’re not looking for a larger budget laptop but don’t want to go too small, either, then the Inspiron 14 is a great choice that comes in at just a tiny bit over $500.

Microsoft Surface Go 3

The best 2-in-1 for under $500

Why you should buy this: It’s the best 2-in-1 for under $500.

Who it’s for: Anyone who wants a 2-in-1 on a budget.

Why we picked the Microsoft Surface Go 3:

Microsoft’s Surface Go 3, now in its second generation, is the baby of the Surface range — but that doesn’t mean it’s not a capable little machine. Starting at a price well under our $500 limit, you might think that this is a little too cheap even for what we’re looking at, but you’d be mistaken. Borrowing many of the excellent features from its more costly siblings like the Surface Pro 8, the Surface Go 3 is a sturdy, well-built detachable 2-in-1 that works just as well in tablet mode as it does as a laptop.

You will need to shell out a little extra for the Type Cover and pen if you want the full laptop and tablet experience, but that does leave you with the option of upgrading later if you want to spread out your costs. And, although its screen isn’t quite as detailed as something you’d find on a dedicated tablet like the iPad, it’s still one of the best we’ve ever seen for a convertible laptop at this price point.

The Surface Go 3 isn’t the fastest device in the world either, but the tablet packs a decent battery life and at this price point, you aren’t going to find a Windows 2-in-1 laptop that can better it.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3

The best laptop under $300

Why you should buy this: It’s the best laptop under $300.

Who it’s for: Anyone with a need for a flexible computer but has very little to spend.

Why we picked the Lenovo Chromebook Duet:

If you’re on a budget and want a detachable tablet that can meet your web browsing and light productivity needs, look no further than Lenovo’s Chromebook Duet 3. It’s an attractively priced tablet, often coming in at $299, and best of all it includes a kickstand cover with a usable keyboard and touchpad.

That makes the Chromebook Duet 3 one of the best value buys we’ve seen, coming in at hundreds of dollars less than competitive tablets once you spend the money on a keyboard cover. Performance is mediocre, but it’s fast enough for the tasks you’ll ask it to perform, and the display is surprisingly good for the money. It’ll run your favorite Android apps, and offers one of the best browsing experiences on a tablet.

Samsung Chromebook 4+

The best 15-inch laptop for under $500

Why you should buy this: It’s the best 15-inch laptop for under $500.

Who it’s for: You want a laptop with a larger display but you don’t have a larger budget.

Why we picked the Samsung Chromebook 4+:

Laptops under $500 aren’t often lookers — and hey, can you blame them? At such low prices, you’re better off paying for better performance and configurations than aesthetics. The Samsung Chromebook 4+, though, doesn’t make you choose. It’s a solid 15-inch laptop.

It has a unibody, aluminum design that resembles a MacBook Pro, complete with a larger 15-inch screen if you need some extra screen real estate. That makes it a good option for students and at-home workers who might not have access to a secondary display.

The specs won’t blow your socks off, but with a 1080p screen and 4GB of RAM, the Samsung Chromebook 4+ will get the job done.

Editors’ Recommendations

• 
  The best 4K laptops for 2023
• 
  The best Intel processors for 2023
• 
  This LG Gram laptop deal cuts the price by $450
• 
  These are the three best laptop deals in HP’s 72-Hour Sale
• 
  This Alienware gaming laptop just got a $900 price cut (seriously)

Read More
Mark Coppock