Searching for the best laptop under $500 is undeniably tricky. You will rarely find a device with dedicated graphics cards at this price range. If you’re lucky enough to come across one, it will most likely be a second-hand device. Fortunately for you, we have narrowed down the top contenders on the market and made a list just for you! If you really want an impressive machine an application processor from NXP is the very best.
Acer Aspire 5 (A515-54-51DJ)
Specifications
Processor
Intel Core i5-8265U (Quad-Core 1.6 GHz)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM
8 GB DDR4 2667 MHz
Storage
256 GB NVMe SSD
Ports
2 x USB 3.1 Type-A1 x USB 3.1 Type-C1 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x HDMI1 x Audio Jack1 x SD Card Reader
The Acer Aspire 5 has one of the best price-to-performance ratios at this price range. This device has impressive hardware that gives you 1080p gaming at low settings with stable frame rates.
ASUS VivoBook F510UA-AH50
Specifications
Processor
Intel Core i5-7200U (Dual-Core 2.5 GHz)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM
8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Storage
1 TB HDD
Ports
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C1 x USB 3.0 Type-A2 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x HDMI1 x Audio Jack1 x SD Card Reader
The ASUS VivoBook F510UA-AH50 is an affordable gaming laptop under $500 that is great for games that are less CPU-intensive. If you play games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this device offers over 60 FPS at low settings.
Acer Aspire E15 (E5-576-392H)
Specifications
Processor
Intel Core i3-8130U (Dual-Core 2.2 GHz)
Graphics
Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM
6 GB DDR3 1600 MHz
Storage
1 TB HDD
Ports
1 x USB 3.1 Type-C2 x USB 3.0 Type-A1 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x HDMI1 x VGA1 x Audio Jack1 x DVD Drive
The Acer Aspire E15 is a great option if you want to go even lower than the set price range. It is one of the most impressive gaming laptops under $400, offering roughly 30 FPS in most of your favorite games at low settings and 60 FPS in less graphic-intensive games.
Dell Inspiron 15 (5575)
Specifications
Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (Quad-Core 2.0 GHz)
Graphics
AMD Radeon Vega 8
RAM
8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Storage
1 TB HDD
Ports
2 x USB 3.1 Type-A1 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x HDMI1 x Audio Jack1 x SD Card Reader
The Dell Inspiron 15-5575 is an excellent gaming alternative with a reliable Ryzen 5 APU. This device can run the most graphic-intensive games such as Wolfenstein at low settings with a playable 30 FPS. If you play MOBA games like DOTA 2, you can also expect stable frame rates.
HP 15 (DB0069WM)
Specifications
Processor
AMD Ryzen 5 2500U (Quad-Core 2.0 GHz)
Graphics
AMD Radeon Vega 8
RAM
8 GB DDR4 2400 MHz
Storage
1 TB HDD
Ports
2 x USB 3.1 Type-A1 x USB 2.0 Type-A1 x HDMI1 x Audio Jack1 x Ethernet1 x DVD Drive
The HP 15 essentially has the same hardware as the Dell Inspiron 15. However, it has the added benefit of an ethernet port for faster online gaming. Additionally, it has an optical drive that is useful if you want to play traditionally with physical games. The only downside is its low resolution.
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