 | Best Overall Acer Aspire 3 (A314-23P-R3QA) | |
 | Best Value Lenovo IdeaPad 3 (82KT00GVUS) | |
 | Best for Gaming & Study Acer Aspire 5 (A515-57-56UV) | |
 | Best Gaming Chromebook ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 | |
 | Best with Little Extra Cost Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 (21JT001PUS) | |
 | Best from Dell Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Cheap Gaming Laptop |
If you are looking to buy a cheap gaming laptop to fulfill your gaming needs and don’t want to put pressure on your wallet, finding the best gaming laptop under $500 is the perfect option for you. And with the technology growing so fast, you now have far more options than before to pick a model that doesn’t only give you a company for only a few months but can work for years while running many games.
We’re looking for a cheap gaming laptop that can handle your gaming needs without expecting them to run the latest AAA high-intensive titles on ultra-high graphics. Interestingly, you can manage to enjoy a few popular games like Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Fortnite while tweaking some graphics settings to get playable frame rates. So, we have done our analysis and brought the list of the best gaming laptops under $500 that will be a perfect companion for you to play video games and even for other creative work, without needing to sell a kidney.
Things to Look for When Buying a Gaming Laptop Under $500
PCs can be pretty confusing, especially if you’re not too familiar with all the tech details involved in picking out gaming laptops or PC components. When you are shopping for a gaming laptop, especially when you’re on a budget like $500, can be a headache. You’ve got to balance cost with performance, and that’s no easy feat.
Our list features the best of the best at this price point: fast, powerful machines that are great for both work and play. When you’re looking around for a budget-friendly gaming laptop, here are a few important hardware specifications to keep an eye on. These will help you find a notebook that gives you the most for your money.
Graphics Card
The graphics card is the heart of your gaming experience and under $500 price, you might see a lot of laptops with an integrated GPU. These are good because they help your battery last longer, but they can’t handle most of the latest titles if they’re graphics-intensive. If you’re into more demanding games, a laptop with a dedicated GPU is a better choice. These cards have their processing power, so they don’t lean on the CPU as much, leading to better visuals and smoother gameplay. Just a heads-up, though: finding a dedicated graphics card in this price range is not possible.
CPU
The CPU is the brain of the laptop. This component does all the heavy lifting – running your games, applications, you name it. With the built-in GPU, the processor has to work overtime to handle both regular tasks and graphics. But if you have a dedicated card, the processor gets a break from visual tasks and can focus on other things. More cores in a processor mean better multitasking, but again, with a $500 budget, you’re probably looking at a less powerful chipset.
RAM
Think of RAM as the laptop’s short-term memory, it’s what lets you multitask – like having many tabs open while jamming to music and checking social media. For gaming, RAM is crucial because games require a lot of memory to run smoothly. Ideally, you’d want at least 8GB of RAM. With less, your laptop might struggle to keep up, especially with newer games.
Storage
Storage is another big one, you’ve got two main types: HDDs (hard disk drives) and SSDs (solid-state drives). HDDs are the old-school type – they’re cheaper but slower and can’t stand the heavy workload. SSDs, on the other hand, are faster and more durable, but they can push the price up. For gaming, SSDs are generally preferred for their speed and thankfully, you will find many gaming laptops under $500 come equipped with solid-state drives.
Modern games require a huge part of the computer’s storage drives to be installed thus requiring a system with a lot of space. But finding a budget laptop to hold such big sizes can be tough as you don’t get a lot in a laptop for around $500. The only chance is you will be forced to delete old data to make space for new ones. If you like to keep lots of games on hand, try to get a laptop with more storage or, you con also buy a separate external hard drive.
How We Picked These Cheap Gaming Laptops
If you are looking for the best budget gaming laptop under $500 that won’t break the bank, you’re in luck. We’ve scoured the market and analyzed a lot of budget-friendly laptops to bring you the top models under $500. They’re reliable and capable of running most games, even if it means dialing down the settings a bit.
Our tech experts have put in the hours, combing through data and checking what other respected tech reviewers have to say. Furthermore, we’ve taken a close look at what actual users think. We considered the notebooks that people are buying and loving on popular sites like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, and Walmart. So, here’s our roundup of the best cheap gaming laptops that are easy on your wallet but still pack a punch for your gaming needs.
Acer Aspire 3 (A314-23P-R3QA)
Best Gaming Laptop Under $500
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Acer Aspire 3 (A314-23P-R3QA) is our top pick as the best gaming laptop under $500 and it’s standout in the budget laptop market, offering great value for your money than you might expect. In a sea of options such as Lenovo IdeaPads and Asus VivoBooks, it holds its own, especially when you consider its price tag. This notebook is a step above the basic performance. You won’t find yourself saddled with a dull, heavy machine. Instead, the Aspire 3 combines decent performance with a sleek look. The heart of this laptop is its AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, supported by 8GB RAM and a quick 512GB SSD. It’s a setup that can handle everyday tasks without breaking a sweat.
This laptop is well-equipped for normal working and even some light photo and video editing, though it’s not cut out for heavy-duty work or gaming. The Radeon graphics can handle older games reasonably well but don’t expect it to run the modern demanding titles. At 3.09 pounds, it’s a little heavier than some competitors but remains highly portable. Battery life is just okay, lasting around 7-8 hours on a typical workday – it’s enough for a full day’s work, but don’t expect much more than that. While the Acer Aspire 3 has its limitations, particularly with the display and battery life, it’s a solid choice for those who need a reliable laptop for routine work with some gaming in their free time.
Acer didn’t aim for luxury with this model but they focused on performance and practical specs in this model. The whole chassis is of plastic, which could pass for aluminum, is sturdy, and doesn’t show that it’s a low-level plastic build. Design-wise, it has simple yet a stylish silver appearance. The keyboard and trackpad are what you’d expect from a budget machine—serviceable, with a bit of a hollow feel to the keys. Moreover, the 1080p Full HD IPS display is sharp and bright, with vibrant colors and good contrast, though it’s not the best out there. The port selection is decent, with a mix of USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB Type-C, and HDMI 2.1, though a few more USB-C ports wouldn’t have hurt.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Best Value Gaming Laptop Under $500
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Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is yet another solid choice under $500 budget which includes AMD’s decent Ryzen 5 5500U CPU and Radeon 7 GPU. It has no problem running some popular games like CS:GO, Fortnite, and Apex Legends on lower to medium settings. Further, you can easily perform multitasking on this notebook without any worry. Regarding the specs, it’s got 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a zippy 256GB NVMe SSD for storage. And don’t worry about its gaming performance; you’ll get a smooth 40-60 fps on most titles and an even better run with the classics.
The design is sturdy and looks very decent, too. This IdeaPad 3 is a solid all-in-one machine, not just for gaming but for work or study, and easy to carry around. The 14-inch IPS display is another good feature of this device, especially when you’re using it outside. It has broad viewing angles and handles regular tasks like web surfing, emailing, and study work like a breeze. There are all necessary ports available for connectivity including the USB Type-C port. However, it has got its problems in the sound department which will satisfy you. But at this price tag, that’s a compromise I think most can live with by using external audio or sound devices.
Acer Aspire 5 (A515-57-53T2)
Best Sub-$500 Laptop for Play & Study
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Acer Aspire 5 (A515-57-53T2) is a reliable companion that may not be the flashiest in the group but always gets the job done. The Aspire series has this knack for balancing affordability with features you’d usually expect in pricier models. It’s like getting a bit more than what you paid for, you know? It features a 12th-gen Intel Core i5-1235U processor and 8GB of RAM paired with a 512GB SSD – it can handle everyday tasks with no problem.
Considering performance, it does a great job with everyday tasks. Just don’t expect it to handle heavy gaming or intense graphic design – it’s not cut out for that. But for things like office work, web browsing, and light photo editing, it’s more than capable. Battery life is pretty solid, with over 10 hours of running on a single charge. That’s more than enough to get you through a day without scrambling for a power outlet. This Acer Aspire 5 walks the fine line between being a budget gaming laptop and offering decent features. It’s not perfect – the display could be better, and some modern features are missing.
Design-wise, it will not turn heads, but it’s got a practical charm. You will find it on the heavier side at 3.9 pounds, but still easy enough to lug around in a backpack. The keyboard has a backlight – a lifesaver in dim settings and the keys feel comfortable, except for the narrower ones on the numeric keypad. But having a number pad is a bonus for spreadsheet warriors. And the screen, while adequate, isn’t going to blow your socks off. It’s not the brightest or most colorful, but at this budget, it’s what you’d expect. The full HD display is standard fare, but it’s 1080p, so your Netflix streaming sessions are sorted.
In terms of ports, there are plenty of USB ports, an HDMI slot, and an Ethernet jack – you won’t be stuck looking for adapters all the time. Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth are there too, covering all your wireless needs. For the webcam, it is pretty basic, and there’s no fancy Windows Hello facial recognition or fingerprint reader. You’ll have to input your login passwords like you used to previously. The speakers are also on the letdown list, they’re not very loud, so you might find yourself reaching for headphones more often than not. But overall, it delivers what it promises: a solid, budget-friendly rig that performs better than many in its class.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34
Best Gaming Chromebook Under $500
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Chromebooks have been around for a while, but Google’s new “Chromebook Plus” lineup, including this CX34, is shaking things up. They’ve leveled up the standards with better displays, more RAM, and a slicker ChromeOS. The CX34 stands out in this crowd because it packs all these upgrades without putting too much pressure on your wallet. This CX34 contains an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, it’s not the newest kid on the block, but it’s a step up from the basic Chromebook chipsets. It’s coupled with 8GB of RAM and a 128GB UFS storage drive, which is kind of a new thing in the laptop industry, but it’s cool because it’s designed for low-quality models.
Considering the design and build of this cheap Asus Chromebook, it has a decent 14-inch FHD IPS display. The bezels are very thin on three sides, making it look pretty sharp. There is no touchscreen on this model, though – its keyboard and touchpad are the star of the show. The build is mostly plastic, which is kind of a giveaway of its budget nature. It’s available in white with gray keycaps, and feels a bit flexible but surprisingly passed some tough durability tests, so it’s tougher than it looks.
The ChromeOS has gotten some good upgrades with the Chromebook Plus series along with the usual Google Play and cloud gaming features for all gamers out there. There’s more stuff coming, like Google-powered AI features and they’ve also added some great tools for photo and video editing. For productivity, the CX34 is very snappy – it compares with high-quality flagship models and surpasses the other budget notebooks. The Chromebook Plus series, in general, seems to be a big step up in performance. Battery life is over 12 hours, which is decent and on par with most Chromebooks.
Furthermore, the 1080p webcam is a nice inclusion for better-looking video calls, although the colors seemed a bit dull. Still, a big leap from what most budget Chromebooks offer. Typing and using the touchpad feels good too; the laptop doesn’t flex when you’re typing, and the touchpad is spacious. Moreover, there’s an antimicrobial coating on the chassis, which is nice for hygiene, especially if you’re sharing the device. For the weight, it’s not the lightest at 3.17 pounds but still is portable enough to travel with you. The connectivity options are impressive for its price range, with many ports including two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB Type-A ports (USB 3.2) ports, an HDMI slot, and an audio jack alongside the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. Overall, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a solid choice for a budget Chromebook under $500; it’s a great value and a sign of exciting things to come for Chromebooks.
Lenovo ThinkPad E16 Gen 1
Our Gaming Laptop Pick with Little Extra Cost
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Lenovo is known for making solid laptops for the corporate world, but the ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 steps a bit out of that box. It’s more of an entry-level business laptop, but don’t let that “entry-level” tag fool you. It’s quite a package, especially for users on a budget or casual gamers. The base model starts at around $638 on Lenovo, which is great for what you get – a 13th Gen Intel Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD, and a nice 16-inch, 1920 x 1200 display. You will find this laptop with AMD configurations on Amazon and Best Buy. But if you’re willing to shell out a bit more (over $900), you get an upgraded version on Best Buy with more RAM and storage, plus a strong Core i5 chip and a touchscreen.
On the hardware side in terms of CPU and GPU performance, it’s middle of the road. Good enough for everyday tasks and light gaming, but don’t expect to do heavy-duty graphics work on it. The battery life is decent but not extraordinary compared to what we have seen in the Lenovo Yoga 7i. The ThinkPad E16 Gen 1 is a bit of a compromise, sure – the screen could be better, and the Intel versions miss out on the higher-res option available with AMD.
The E16 is built tough – it’s passed all those hardcore MIL-STD tests but they’ve cut some corners to keep costs down. It’s got a mix of aluminum and plastic in the build, and some bits like the webcam and Wi-Fi 6 tech aren’t top-tier. Moreover, it’s not an ultra-light machine, but not a brick either as it weighs around 3.9 pounds and is a rather slim unit. There is a good selection of ports, including USB-C, Thunderbolt 4, and handy Ethernet for wired internet connection. And inside, there’s room for upgrades with two M.2 slots and a memory socket.
The screen is decent but could be brighter and more colorful. The speakers are fine for casual listening but don’t expect a concert hall experience. The keyboard’s classic ThinkPad – comfy, backlit, with a suitable layout including a numeric keypad. When typing, you will feel comfortable, and you’ve got both the TrackPoint joystick and a nice touchpad. Lenovo throws in their Vantage app for system management, which is pretty useful, though there’s a bit of bloatware like McAfee that might annoy you. But for its price, it’s a pretty good deal, especially if you’re comparing it to other business notebooks or consumer models.
Dell Inspiron 15 3511
Best $500 Dell Gaming Laptop
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If you’re wallet-conscious but still want a decent gaming laptop, this Dell model is a good pick. It comes with a nice big 15.6-inch screen, runs on Windows 11, and is gentle on the bank account. The display quality isn’t something you love, but for a budget Windows notebook, it’s a fair trade-off. Under the hood, there is 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. The processor is an Intel Core i3, which is a nice step up from the basic chips in low-cost models combined with a built-in Intel UHD graphics card – not a powerhouse, but enough for everyday tasks and playing classic games. The base model is around $323, but if you’re willing to spend more, you can get upgrades like more RAM and better graphics by spending some extra cash.
Its look is very similar to its predecessor (the 3505), sporting a solid build and a classy carbon-black look. It’s relatively less in weight for a 15-inch laptop, but not the lightest out there. One big upgrade from the older model is the 1080p full-HD screen, which is a good improvement from the 720p panel. The brightness could be better as it’s not very bright to use in direct sunlight. Typing on this laptop feels good, and it’s got a spill-resistant keyboard (a nice perk!). The touchpad is roomy, so your hands won’t feel cramped.
The speakers are fine and loud, but somewhat smaller. Port-wise, it has the basics, but sadly no USB-C port, which is a bit of a downer. Gaming isn’t its forte, but it can handle less demanding games smoothly. The battery life of this Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is not the best out there but not terrible either. However, Dell has done something great with sustainability, using recycled plastics and eco-friendly packaging materials. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is not going to blow your mind, but for under $500, it’s a good choice to consider, especially with the newer Windows 11 on board.
Is A Gaming Laptop Under $500 Worth It?
If you’re planning to play your modern favorite games on high graphics, a sub-$500 laptop shouldn’t be your choice to fulfill these needs. High-end gaming laptops, which offer strong hardware configurations, full HD displays, and higher refresh rates, usually cost a lot of over $1000. So, if you’re eyeing a $500 laptop, you’re essentially entering a world of compromise and pragmatism.
For the casual gamer or someone who mostly plays non-demanding titles like League of Legends, Roblox, or Minecraft, a $500 gaming laptop could be a decent fit. These laptops can handle such games reasonably well, making them a solid option for light gaming needs. But remember, these are mostly budget productivity machines that can do decent gaming on the side. You’re unlikely to find one with a dedicated graphics card, which is kind of a big deal for gamers.
In conclusion, it boils down to what you need and expect from your playing sessions. If you’re only starting or are a casual gamer, a cheap laptop under $500 can be worth it. It’ll get you to play games, but don’t expect it to deliver the earth-shattering performance of its pricier counterparts. If you’re a pro, you might want to save up money for a powerful gaming rig that can keep up with your demands.
