How to Buy the Best Laptop Under 500 (by category)

Maybe this has been in the cards for some time, and you’re now ready to buy a new laptop. Or maybe, your current laptop just died, with no warning, and now you’re behind the eight ball. Perhaps you’ve been trying to get your kid to make do with your old laptop from 2006, but their screams of agony are just too loud now. Whatever the reason, you’re looking for a new laptop, and you’re hoping -- seriously hoping -- you can find a decent one for less than $500. Is it even possible? Didn’t that one you bought back in 2006, which wasn’t even that impressive, cost way more than that? Well, worry no more. There’s never been a better time to buy a new laptop, and we’re going to help you find a terrific one, without a going a dime over $500.

Let’s begin!

Yes, you can get a great laptop under $500

While you’ve been getting by with that old laptop, there’s been plenty of progress in the industry. The trend that Intel’s Gordon Moore noted years ago -- that every two years CPUs become twice as powerful -- (Moore’s Law) has continued apace, meaning that today’s laptops are more powerful than ever, and way more affordable, relatively speaking. For $500, depending on the model, you can expect a dual-core CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, integrated graphics, and a choice of screen sizes -- from 11-inches up to 17-inches. There’s also a wide variety of storage options, from ultrafast 128GB SSD drives, to 2TB HDDs, a perfect size if you like to take all of your files with you.

There’s no shortage of laptop designs, either. For under $500, you can pick from dozens of conventional models, plus Chromebooks, and highly flexible 2-in-1 designs that convert from a laptop into a tablet, with just a flip of the screen. There’s so much choice in this price range, your toughest job will be figuring out which model combines the features that matter most to you. There will be some compromises -- for under $500 you won’t get a 2-in-1, with a 17-inch screen that has a 2TB HDD -- but with a bit of research, you shouldn’t have a trouble finding one that will last you for many years to come.

Of course, we think that your next laptop should come from a reputable brand like Lenovo -- a company with a long history of designing computers that possess the latest technology, yet built with an unwavering commitment to quality. To get you started, here’s a roundup of some of our best laptops by category, all of which are priced below $500.

Best all-around use laptop under $500

It’s almost like we read your mind. We took all of the features we knew you’d want in a laptop: High quality materials, top-notch components, power and speed in equal measures, and a screen that lets you do everything from intricate photo editing, to watching movies -- and we packed them into one product. The $499 Ideapad 330S (14") is all of that, and more.

With its sleek, aluminum-finish lid, and understated platinum grey color scheme, the Ideapad 330S is a slender, premium laptop, that’s under ¾” thick, and weighs in at only 3.52 lbs. It’s small enough to fit in the most confined spaces, yet big enough to let you work comfortably. Under the hood, it pairs an 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 processor, with 6GB of fast DDR4 RAM, and integrated Intel® UHD Graphics 620. With this kind of power, you’ll be able to run all but the most demanding games, and make light work of your productivity tasks.

With 1TB of storage on-board, there’s plenty of room for your photos, videos, music, and apps, and you’ll be able to see them even in bright daylight, thanks to the generous, 14-inch anti-glare screen.

Best business laptop under $500

If your laptop needs to pull its weight when it comes to getting work done, you simply won’t find a machine for under $500 that ticks all of the boxes like the $499 Lenovo V130 15". The all-business V130 has been tested for its roadworthiness, so you know it can handle the routine bumps and jolts of regular business travel. With a 15.6-inch screen, this is a laptop that not only offers tons of display real-estate, thanks to its Full HD 1080 x 1920 resolution, but also plenty of physical real-estate too, with a full-size keyboard, and dedicated number pad.

Powering this business laptop is a 7th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM, making the V130 the undisputed champ specs-wise at this price point. Being slowed down by your hardware isn’t an option when there’s a deadline to hit, and the Lenovo V130 won’t disappoint you. We also know that security is a top concern for business users, so we’ve equipped this laptop with TPM (Trusted Platform Module), which secures all of your data and passwords behind industry-standard encryption. A thief may get their hands on your laptop, but that’s all they’ll get. It’s physically secure too: The built-in webcam has a sliding privacy shutter, guaranteeing that prying eyes will have nothing to see.

Best student laptop under $500

Being a student means you’re a chameleon. You catch up with your favorite YouTubers in the morning, take notes in class during the day, collaborate with your peers in the afternoon, and then probably end up binging on too many Netflix episodes at night. Yeah, we know, it’s an addiction. We also know that you need a laptop that can follow you through your busy schedule without missing a beat.

Our IdeaPad Flex 14, which comes in at a highly affordable $480, is a 2-in-1 laptop designed with maximum versatility in mind. Like all of our 2-in-1s, it can switch between classic laptop mode, letting you type even the darkest lecture hall, thanks to its backlit keyboard, and tablet mode, where its glossy, 14-inch multi-touch screen becomes a pen-friendly slate for all of your ideas.

Normal laptops favor storage over speed, but the Ideapad Flex 14 takes a different approach. With a 128GB solid state drive, you can boot up in seconds, and your favorite apps will load and run without any hesitation. It’s the perfect setup for when you’re making the mad dash between classes and can’t afford to wait for your laptop to catch up.

Better yet, the Ideapad Flex 14’s battery is good for up to 10 hours of use, so a full charge in the morning can easily get you through a day at school. Should you happen to be away a little longer, our Lenovo Swift Charge feature can buy you an additional two hours with only 15 minutes of charging time -- because who has time to wait for a battery to recharge?

Much, much more

These three laptops are just a taste of what you’ll be able to find for less than $500. If they aren’t quite right for you, we’ve got dozens more to choose from. Plus, all of our laptop models come in multiple configurations, so if you find one that’s almost perfect, make sure to scroll to the bottom of the product page for all of our current models. There you’ll find options that give you control over components like the processor, RAM, storage, and screen quality.

When you add a laptop to your cart, you’ll be offered a range of additional options, like extended warranties, pre-loaded software, and special discounts on accessories like wireless mice, and backpacks.

So take a look… we think you’ll find that the laptop you’ve been holding out for is there, and costs less than you think.