Image: IDG / Ashley Biancuzzo
It’s essential to be good about your selections when shopping for a sub-$500 laptop computer, since, realistically, you will want to make some compromises. That doesn’t imply you may’t nonetheless get an incredible laptop computer on a finances. And imagine it or not, there are literally upsides to less-expensive laptops—their low-powered processors imply you may count on good battery life, and Chromebooks are sometimes much less susceptible to malware.
Within this finances vary, Windows machines with Intel Core i3 or i5 processors or entry-level Chromebooks are the way in which to go. We have examined quite a few cheap laptops and every one has its execs and cons, however people who stood out are included on this checklist. If you’re searching for one thing apart from the usual clamshell design, we’ve included our favourite cheap pill with a removable keyboard in addition to a convertible with a stunning OLED show.
If you may handle to stretch your finances a little bit bit additional, try our best laptops roundup for more strategies. Alternatively, see our roundups of the best Chromebooks or best gaming laptops for more picks in these areas.
Updated 1/06/2023: Check out our newest assessment of the Acer Chromebook Vero 514. The eco-conscious purchaser will discover lots to love from this reasonably priced Chromebook constructed from recycled supplies. Also make sure to check out our assessment of the Acer Chromebook Spin 513. A couple of build-quality points are overshadowed by the superb 3:2 side ratio show and long-lasting battery life.
Acer Aspire 5 – Best sub-$500 laptop computer total
Pros
- Affordable value
- Rugged construct
- Great keyboard
- Good choice of ports
Cons
- Subpar webcam
- Annoying bloatware comes pre-installed
- Touchpad is a little bit exhausting to make use of
With its reasonably priced value level, first rate efficiency, and strong construct, the Acer Aspire 5 is a wonderful sub-$500 choice. The Intel Core i5 processor retains issues comparatively zippy, and efficiency is quick sufficient for general-use duties like writing emails and looking the online.
The 14-inch LCD 1080p show in all fairness sharp and vibrant, which is nice for engaged on paperwork or streaming video. This machine additionally comes with 8GB of RAM, which is a lot for shortly firing up functions. The keyboard is fairly good, too.
In our assessment, the tester was pleasantly shocked by the keyboard’s “durable feel.” It has a spacious format, which is ideal for longer typing classes. Although the keyboard lacks backlighting (not stunning given the worth) and the touchpad is a bit troublesome to make use of, we really feel the professionals far outweigh the cons right here.
If you’re procuring round for a stable on a regular basis laptop computer that received’t break the financial institution, the Aspire 5 is unquestionably price a glance.
Read our full
Review Acer Aspire 5
Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 – Best sub-$500 Chromebook
Pros
- Attractive design
- Affordable
- Punchy audio
- Excellent keyboard
Cons
- Mediocre efficiency
- Subpar battery life
Between its cheap value and very good keyboard, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is good all-arounder. Thanks to the Intel Pentium Gold 7505 processor, this Chromebook is provided to deal with net looking, modifying paperwork, and different easy duties. However, in keeping with our assessment, it might probably “feel taxed by demanding tasks.” For instance when the tester opened up a number of tabs, he observed some lag in efficiency.
The port choice is a pleasant mixture of previous and new: It has two USB-C ports, a single USB-A port, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a microSD card reader. The 13.3-inch 1080p IPS touchscreen is a giant perk at this value level, too.
Regarding the keyboard, our tester preferred the “crisp and taut” really feel of the keys. It’s pretty snug, making it appropriate for marathon typing classes. Although this laptop computer is a 2-in-1—which means the display can fold again to make it perform more like a pill—it weighs nearly 3 kilos, which is on the heavier facet for a convertible.
It will not be probably the most moveable laptop computer on the planet, however that flexibility can nonetheless be good for functions that favor a pill type issue. Overall, the Flex 5 has lots going for it.
Read our full
Review Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
HP Chromebook x2 11 da0023dx – Best folio-style Chromebook
Pros
- Gorgeous 2K touchscreen
- Solid efficiency
- Excellent battery life
- Robust design
Cons
- Trackpad is simply too delicate at occasions
- Light on ports
Yes, one other Chromebook—however the HP Chromebook x2 11 is among the best 2-in-1 machines you should buy, contemplating its low-cost value. While some might discover the detachable-keyboard design a ache to cope with, our reviewer actually preferred this one. The pill’s aluminum chassis feels rugged and prefer it’ll final fairly some time. The removable keyboard took some getting used to, however ended up being wonderful for lengthy typing classes.
The rear plate, which transforms right into a kickstand that holds up the pill for hands-free use, connects to the again of the pill through magnets. The reviewer discovered the connection to be each clear and sturdy. As for the efficiency, it’s about what you’d count on out of a Chromebook: zippy sufficient for on a regular basis duties like looking the online and so on.
The x2 11 is powered by a Snapdragon 7c processor, which is best than the MediaTek chips you’ll discover in most Chromebooks. That mentioned, the Intel Core i3 in Windows machines is just more highly effective by default. This HP additionally packs 8GB of RAM, which helps with net browser efficiency, amongst different duties.
The 11-inch 1440p touchscreen is on the smaller facet, however that simply means it’s lighter and more moveable than larger show choices. Plus, the 1440p decision is really stunning. According to the tester, colours have been wealthy and shadows have been fairly darkish.
Read our full
Review HP Chromebook x2 11
Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5 – Best sub-$500 Chromebook for OLED followers
Pros
- Gorgeous display
- Amazing battery life
- Good value
Cons
- Awkward side ratio
- No fingerprint or face scanning
The Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5, a Chrome OS pill that doubles as a laptop computer, has a stable keyboard and drop-dead attractive 1080p OLED show that produces colourful photographs. Although the display’s 16:9 side ratio may really feel awkward for some, it might be excellent for watching motion pictures.
Lenovo’s keys have an honest journey distance of 1.3mm and the removable keyboard as a complete doesn’t really feel too cramped. There’s additionally a kickstand that may be adjusted as much as 135 levels. The one tradeoff is that the USI-compatible pen prices additional.
Let’s take a peek under the hood. For starters, this Chromebook is armed with a Snapdragon SC7180 processor. Again, it’s more highly effective than the MediaTek chips. When it involves opening up functions and net pages, the 8GB of reminiscence affords a pleasant increase in velocity.
There’s 128GB of storage, however that’s not majorly essential, as you’ll retailer most issues within the cloud. But the star of the present right here is the 1080p OLED panel, which makes each little pixel actually pop. If you’re after a stunning OLED display with wonderful distinction and coloration, the Duet 5 will hit the spot.
Read our full
Review Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebook Duet 5
How we examined
The PCWorld workforce places every and each Windows laptop computer by a collection of benchmarks that check GPU and CPU efficiency, battery life, and so on. The thought is to push the laptop computer to its limits and then examine it in opposition to others we’ve examined.
Chromebooks, alternatively, undergo a collection of web-based exams. It wouldn’t be honest or attainable to run the identical sorts of exams on a Chromebook, as they’re Chrome OS-based machines. Below, you’ll discover a breakdown of every check and the the explanation why we run them.
Windows laptops
- PCMark 10: PCMark 10 is how we decide how properly the laptop computer handles lighter duties like net looking, phrase processing, spreadsheets, and so on.
- HandBrake: HandBrake is more intensive than PCMark 10. It mainly measures how lengthy a laptop computer’s CPU takes to encode a beefy 30GB file.
- Cinebench: Cinebench is a quick stress check of the CPU cores. It does this by rendering a 2D scene over a brief time period.
- 3DMark: 3DMark checks if 3D efficiency stays constant over time by operating graphic-intensive clips.
- Video rundown check: To gauge battery life, we loop a 4K video utilizing Windows 10’s Movies & TV app till the laptop computer dies.
Chromebooks
- CrXPRT 2: The CrXPRT 2 benchmark exams a Chromebook’s battery life.
- Speedometer 2.0: This check determines a Chromebook’s net browser efficiency. It simulates this by including, finishing, and eradicating a to-do checklist.
- Basemark Web 3.0: This benchmark gauges how properly a Chromebook can deal with web-based functions.
- Kraken 1.1: Kraken 1.1 is a JavaScript efficiency benchmark.
- Jetstream 2: Jetstream 2 is a mixture of WebAssembly and JavaScript benchmarks. This is a method to gauge how properly a Chromebook runs superior workloads.
What sort of laptop computer do you have to get?
Ah, right here we’re on the billion greenback query. Do you spring for a primary Chromebook or go for a Windows laptop computer with more options? Well, it actually is determined by your way of life and your expectations of a sub-$500 machine. At this value level, you’re not going to discover a highly effective workhorse. However, there are many reasonably priced laptops on the market for individuals who want the fundamentals.
Chromebooks, for instance, are an incredible low-cost choice and provide phenomenal battery life. I take advantage of a Chromebook as my major work laptop computer, because it has every thing I would like for each modifying and writing. If you journey for work, it’s in all probability a good suggestion to put money into a laptop computer that weighs lower than three kilos. If you’re nonetheless not sure, don’t sweat it. I’ve put collectively an inventory of fast shopping for suggestions under.
- Laptop sort: There are many various laptop computer varieties that fall within the sub-$500 class: clamshells, 2-in-1’s, Chromebooks, and a lot more. The shows on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1’s), for instance, can swing round 360 levels. This means that you can use the laptop computer like a pill. They can be propped up like a tent for viewing motion pictures or taking part in video calls. Chromebooks are available numerous shapes and sizes, and completely run Google’s web-focused Chrome OS. With a Chromebook, all you want is a Gmail account and, increase, you’re in.
- CPU: When it involves the sub-$500 Windows laptops, you may anticipate finding Intel Core i3 or i5 processors. An i5 processor clearly supplies a little bit more oomph. That mentioned, primary workplace and net work does simply wonderful on a Core i3. As for AMD choices, the Ryzen 3 is sweet for primary productiveness and net looking, whereas Ryzen 5 chips rival Intel’s Core i5 as stable all-arounders. For Chromebooks, Snapdragon and Pentium processors are more highly effective than MediaTek chips.
- Graphics: At this value vary, you in all probability received’t discover a laptop computer with a strong discrete graphics card. Instead, you’ll encounter laptops with built-in graphics, that are built-in with the CPU and use much less energy consequently. This is completely wonderful for on a regular basis duties, particularly for those who’re not doing something that’s graphics-intensive—like 3D gaming.
- RAM: Always go for 8GB of RAM. That’s a lot sufficient for firing up functions and loading net pages. Most Chromebooks are outfitted with 4GB of RAM, which is the naked minimal. You want an honest quantity of reminiscence on these machines, as they’re primarily web-based. If there’s an 8GB RAM choice, I’d suggest springing for that.
- Display dimension: If you’re a video editor or somebody who does lots of multimedia work, you’ll need a show that’s wherever from 15- to 17-inches (however these machines normally price far more than $500). The candy spot for finances laptops is absolutely wherever from 13- to 14-inches. The larger the show, the heavier your laptop computer goes to be. A 13- or 14-inch show is the best by way of portability and worth.
- Resolution: I wouldn’t go for something lower than 1080p, as there’s nothing more annoying than a barely fuzzy picture. 1080p produces an image that’s sharp sufficient for watching Netflix or working in Excel. At this value vary, you received’t actually discover many (if any) laptops with 1440p decision or larger.
- Battery life: If you propose on taking your laptop computer wherever with you, intention for one thing that may final 10 to 12 hours on a single cost. That’s more than a full work day, so it ought to theoretically get you thru lengthy flights or a day of courses. Obviously, more is at all times higher. Just know that the larger the battery, the heavier the laptop computer.
- Price: The value actually is determined by your finances. If you’re strapped for money (been there, belief me), go for a Chromebook or an entry-level enterprise laptop computer. These laptops are a sensible choice for college students or younger professionals. If you store good, you may even discover 2-in-1’s within the $500 vary.
- Ports: A big selection of ports is at all times a plus, because it eliminates the necessity for an adapter. I’d suggest a laptop computer that has each USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is sweet, too. This is very helpful for hooking as much as an exterior monitor.
FAQ
1.
What is the distinction between an everyday laptop computer and a Chromebook?
When individuals discuss common laptops they normally imply a PC or Mac. A Chromebook continues to be a laptop computer, however it differentiates itself from both of these two by utilizing a singular working system known as ChromeOS, which was created by Google. Think of it like this: All Chromebooks are laptops, however not all laptops are Chromebooks.
Unlike different working techniques similar to Windows or macOS, ChromeOS are optimized to run Google apps similar to Google Drive, Google Docs, YouTube, and different Google companies. Because most Google apps are on-line, Chromebooks usually require an web connection to make use of most of their essential options.
Finally, Chromebooks have traditionally been designed with portability, ease of use, and affordability in thoughts fairly than high efficiency. They usually forego the quicker high-end {hardware} that PCs or Macs use for a more minimalist, light-weight strategy to computing.
2.
Can you utilize built-in graphics for gaming?
Yes, among the newest processors with built-in graphics can run fashionable PC video games at first rate sufficient settings. For instance, we discovered that in our exams, Intel’s newest Iris Xe line of processors with built-in graphics can run among the newest video games at 1080p and 30fps. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for all built-in graphics and your mileage might differ drastically with older tech.
Intel and AMD’s built-in graphics have made big leaps lately with regard to gaming efficiency. If you’re on a finances or searching for an ultra-thin laptop computer with built-in graphics you needn’t fear, you may nonetheless recreation on. We suggest testing Intel’s Core Twelfth-gen Iris Xe or AMD’s model new Ryzen 6000 RDNA 2.
3.
What’s the distinction between a finances laptop computer and a pill?
More and more the road between what’s a laptop computer and what’s a pill blurs as firms combine the options of each into their newest units. But there are nonetheless a number of key distinctions between the 2. Laptops usually are bigger, include more storage, have higher efficiency and productiveness options, and might or might not function a contact show. Tablets alternatively are smaller and more moveable, have longer battery life, function a contact show, and are normally a bit more reasonably priced.
When selecting between a finances laptop computer and a pill it’s best to first ask your self what the first use of the machine shall be. Do you want one thing for productiveness with numerous storage? Then a laptop computer—even a finances mannequin—will in all probability be the way in which to go. Or do you want one thing that’s small, travels properly, and has an extended battery life? Then you may think about a pill.
4.
Do Chromebooks make good gaming laptops?
Unfortunately, if gaming is your essential concern, you could wish to look elsewhere. Chromebooks can deal with net video games and Android video games with none points. But of their present state they merely aren’t designed to deal with high-powered 3D video games. This primarily comes all the way down to the truth that they don’t run Windows and most Chromebooks don’t have ample graphics energy.
With that mentioned, cloud gaming companies permit a distant PC or console to play video games streamed from a distant server utilizing more highly effective {hardware}. But these are early days nonetheless, and the true viability of this selection will rely upon the well being and survival of cloud gaming companies, in addition to Chromebook makers providing more choices expressly designed with gaming in thoughts, like this Asus Chromebook Vibe CX43 Flip.
…. to be continued
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