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!
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 |
| Screen Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Weight | 3.97 lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
| Fast NVMe SSDHigh-frequency RAMLightweight | Limited storage |
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 |
| Screen Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight | Dual-Core CPUSlow HDD |
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 |
| Screen Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Weight | 5.27 lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
| Reasonable priceStable frame rates | Dual-Core CPUHeavySlow HDD |
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 |
| Screen Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | 1920×1080 pixels |
| Weight | 4.48 lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
| Powerful APU | Slow HDD |
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 |
| Screen Size | 15.6” |
| Display Resolution | 1366×768 pixels |
| Weight | 4.4 lbs |
| Pros | Cons |
| Good connectivity | Slow HDDLow resolution |
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.
You can also check out the best gaming hard drives.
Author Bio
Hayk Saakian is a passionate tech writer who covers various apps, games, and the latest gadgets.
