Struggling to find the best laptop under $500? Well, there are so many options available in the market today so it becomes quite difficult to choose the best one for yourself. In order to find the best laptop for yourself, you need to identify your requirements as well as your budget first. In this way, you can make your task easy and get the best laptop for yourself.
A laptop is an essential requirement for college students as they have to perform many tasks such as assignment preparations, making presentations, web browsing, programming, graphics designing and much more. So, it becomes important to have a laptop that can handle all these tasks without any lagging issue.
If your budget is around $500, then it becomes more challenging to find the best laptop because there are tons of choices available in this budget category. To help you out in finding the best laptop under $500, we have compiled a list of top 10 best laptops for college students under 500 dollars based on their performance and customer reviews. And we believe that almost all laptops will be able to suit your needs.
So, without further ado, let’s proceed to the list of best budget laptops.
Best Laptops For College Students Under 500
1. Acer Aspire E 15 Best Seller
The Acer Aspire E15 is one of the most selling laptops in 2020. With an affordable price, it carries all those powerful specifications that make it the best laptop under $500. The laptop is built a black color plastic chassis having a textured pattern on it. It is powered by the latest 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor with a clock speed boost up to 3.4GHz. The laptop is featured with 8GB of RAM which is good for handling multitasking. For storage, you’ll get 1TB of massive space to store your favorite movies and other files.
The laptop comes with a 15.6-inch full HD LED display having the resolution of 1080p which delivers clear and sharp images. As far as graphics are concerned, the Acer Aspire E15 is backed by Intel UHD 620 graphics which lets you perform most of the demanding tasks such as video and image editing and programming, etc. Another great thing about this laptop is its long-lasting battery that stays up to 13.5-hours so you can stay productive for a long time without worrying about its charging. Overall, the Acer Aspire E 15 would be a great choice to buy under $500 range.
| Hardware Specifications of Acer Aspire E 15 Laptop | |
| Processor | 8th Generation Intel Core i3-8130U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1TB 5400RPM HDD |
| Display | 15.6″ FHD LED-backlit (1920 x 1080) Display |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | Up to 13.5-hours |
| Weight | 5.27 lbs |
2. Lenovo 330 Laptop 8th Gen
The Lenovo 330 is a good-looking laptop which is great for providing better all-around performance. The laptop comes with a 17.3-inch HD display with LED-backlit touchscreen that provides bright and vivid color images. It is designed with a grey color metal finish and scratch-resistant body. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core i5 8th generation processor paired with 8GB of RAM which lets you work with multiple applications at the same time with the lagging issue.
The laptop sports an Integrated Intel UHD 652 graphics card making it good for Internet use, basic photo editing and casual gaming. For storage, you’ll get 1TB of a hard drive to keep your files and data saved. For connectivity, you’ll get all kinds of important ports including 2 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C; 1x HDMI; 1 x Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack, and micro SD card slot. The only downside of this laptop is its weight which is a bit heavy than the other laptops on this list. Overall, the Lenovo 330 is a great laptop for college students under 500 dollars.
| Hardware Specifications of Lenovo 330 Laptop Under $500 | |
| Processor | 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U Processor (Turbo up to 3.40 GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1TB hard drive |
| Display | 17.3″ LED Backlight Touchscreen(1600 x 900) HD Display |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 Hours |
| Weight | 6.61 lbs |
3. Dell Inspiron i3567-5664BLK-PUS
Dell is a well-known laptop brand that produces many efficient laptops based on different price range. This Dell Inspiron i3567 is one of their powerful laptops that comes with an affordable price range. It is finished in black color chassis which gives its premium look and feel. The laptop has a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen display of 1366 x 768 resolution. Although the laptop doesn’t come with a backlit keyboard, it still offers nice ergonomic key placements.
This Dell laptop is powered by Intel Core i5 processor paired with 8GB of RAM and 2TB of the hard drive which lets it runs buttery smooth. The graphics on this laptop handled by Intel HD 620 graphics card and the laptop runs on Windows 10 making it compatible for all kinds of applications. It weighs just 5 pounds and offers battery life up to 6-hours. All-in-all, it is a great laptop for college students under $500.
| Hardware Specifications of Dell Inspiron i3567 Laptop | |
| Processor | 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7200U 2.4 GHz Processor |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 (Expandable up to 16GB) |
| Storage | 2TB 5400 RPM Hard Drive |
| Display | 15.6 Inch HD LED-backlit (1366 x 768) Touchscreen display |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 Hours |
| Weight | 5.07 lbs |
4. ASUS VivoBook F510UA
The ASUS VivoBook F510UA is a slim, stylish and premium looking laptop that weighs just 3.7lbs. It is designed with silver color aluminum metal and scratch-resistant body which is giving it an elegant look. It offers a 15.6-inch full HD display that provides very stunning visuals and bright colors. With 8GB of RAM, this laptop is ideal for students and other business people as it allows decent multitasking, gaming, and other demanding tasks.
It is powered by the latest Intel Core i5 8th gen processor with clock speed boost up to 3.4GHz. If we talk about the graphics, the laptop is featured with Intel’s integrated 620 UHD graphics card that can handle intensive software with ease. For connectivity, this laptop offers USB 3.1, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, HDMI, and SD card ports to connect with a wide range of peripherals, displays, and projectors.
| Hardware Specifications of ASUS VivoBook F510UA Laptop | |
| Processor | 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U (Up to 3.4GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 1TB HDD |
| Display | 15.6 inches FHD (1920×1080) Anti-glare Display |
| Graphics | Intel’s integrated UHD 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Battery Life | Up to 6-hours |
| Weight | 3.7 lbs |
5. Dell 15.6 Inch Premium Laptop
This is another great laptop from Dell packed with powerful specifications. It comes with a 15.6-inch HD LED-backlit display and inbuilt HD webcam which is perfect for Skype calls. The laptop is powered by Intel Core i3 processor paired with 8GB of RAM. The laptop comes with 128GB of SSD storage which is the added advantage in terms of fast transfer speed and loading programs. Speaking about the graphics, the device has an Intel HD 620 graphics card.
The laptop weighs about 4.63 lbs which is a bit lighter than the previous mentioned Dell laptop. By running on Windows 10 Home operating system, this laptop is compatible with most of the applications. The battery life of this laptop is also impressive as it stays up to 8-hours which is great for college students. In short note, everything from design to performance, the Dell Premium laptop is an ideal choice in this price range.
| Hardware Specifications of Dell Premium 15.6″ Laptop for College Students | |
| Processor | 7th Generation Intel Core i3-7100U Processor |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 128GB SSD |
| Display | 15.6″ HD LED-backlit (1366 x 768) Display |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Battery Life | Up to 8-hours |
| Weight | 4.63 lbs |
6. Asus VivoBook 14 With 256GB SSD
Asus VivoBook 14 is the best portable laptop under $500 which sports a 14-inch full HD display with a matte finish. Because of its stylish design and powerful specifications, this is a great choice for students as well as businesspeople. If we talk about its hardware specifications, the laptop comes with AMD Quad-Core A9 processor paired with 8GB of RAM that allows performing most of the demanding tasks such as graphics and file editing, decent gaming and many more.
Another great thing that makes it the best laptop in a $500 budget range is its 256GB of fast SSD which is hard to find in this price range laptops. The graphics on this laptop are handled by AMD Radeon R5 graphics making it capable to run intensive software smoothly. The laptop weighs only 3.9 lbs so it would be a great choice for students who need a portable and powerful machine.
| Hardware Specifications of Asus VivoBook 14 | |
| Processor | AMD Quad-Core A9-9420 3.0 GHz Processor (Turbo up to 3.4GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 256GB SSD |
| Display | 14 Inch Full HD LED-backlit (1920×1080) display (Matte Finish) |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon R5 Graphics |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 Hours |
| Weight | 3.9 lbs |
7. ASUS Chromebook C302
If you’re looking for a convertible laptop at a lesser price, then the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 is just ideal for you. It is a 12.5-inch full HD touchscreen laptop with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. The laptop comes with a 360-degree hinge features that can convert in different modes so you’ll be able to work as per your comfort. If we talk about its hardware, the laptop comes with the Intel Core m3 processor paired with 4GB RAM and 64GB flash storage which is good to handle all basic tasks smoothly.
The battery life of the ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 is also impressive that lasts up to 10-hours. If you’re worried about its less storage, this laptop comes with an SD card slot that supports up to 256GB memory. The laptop weighs only 2.65lbs which is good for travelers. Overall, it is the best 2-in-1 laptop to buy under $500.
| Hardware Specifications of ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 Laptop | |
| Processor | Intel Core m3 2.2GHz processor |
| RAM | 4 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB Flash Memory Solid State, SSD |
| Display | 12.5-inch Full-HD touchscreen 1920×1080 pixels |
| Graphics | Integrated Graphics |
| Operating System | Chrome |
| Battery Life | 10 hours |
| Weight | 2.65 lbs |
8. HP 15-inch Core i5 Laptop
This HP 15-inch laptop is one of the premium looking laptop that offers high-end specifications under $500 price range. The laptop is designed with black color chassis, which gives it an elegant and stylish look. It sports a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen display with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. It’s BrightView technology provides sharp and bright images. The laptop is powered by Intel Core i5 8th generation processor paired with 8GB of RAM. For storage, you’ll get 2TB of massive space to store your documents and other important data.
The laptop runs on Windows 10 Home operating system and backed by Intel UHD 620 graphics making it an efficient performer. For connectivity, the laptop has all the essential ports you can expect in this budget range. The laptop weighs about 4.52 lbs and offers a battery backup of 6-hours. All these specifications make it a perfect choice for students as well as for other professions.
| Hardware Specifications of HP 15″ Core i5 Laptop for Students | |
| Processor | 8th Generation Core i5-8250U Dual-Core Processor (Up to 3.4GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 2TB 5400RPM RMP HDD |
| Display | 15.6″ diagonal HD SVA WLED-Backlit Touchscreen (1366×768) Display |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Battery Life | Up to 6-hours |
| Weight | 4.52 lbs |
9. Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Best Business Laptop
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a premium business flagship laptop that offers many outstanding features under $500 price range. It is the latest released model from Dell built with an eye-catching premium metal giving it a premium feel. The laptop comes with a full-size backlit keyboard, allowing you to type conveniently in low light settings. The laptop is powered by Intel 8th Quad Core i5 Processor with Intel UHD Graphics 620 that speed and performance at the same time.
Apart from that, the laptop 8GB of RAM that allows you to run all apps and multitasking with no lagging issue. Its SmartByte technology lets you play gaming and streaming smooth and uninterrupted. The laptop carries all the essential ports to connect with the external devices such as USB 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, Audio jack, HDMI and many more. Overall, this is definitely one of the best laptops for college students under 500 dollars price range.
| Hardware Specifications of Dell Inspiron 15 5000 Laptop | |
| Processor | Intel 8th Quad Core i5-8250U Processor (up to 3.4GHz) |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 RAM (Expandable Up to 32GB) |
| Storage | 1TB 5400 RPM Hard Drive |
| Display | 15.6 Inch FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS TrueLife LED-backlit Touchscreen display |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Weight | 4.85 lb |
10. HP 15-ay191ms Laptop
HP 15-ay191ms is another great laptop for students that offers high-end configurations at a lesser price. It is powered by the Intel Core i3 processor with the clock speed up to 2.4GHz. The laptop also offers 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a huge 1TB hard drive for excellent multitasking and multimedia capabilities. It has a 15.6-inch HD touchscreen display that produces clear and sharp images.
The graphics on this laptop handled by Intel 620 HD graphics card which is good for running intensive software smoothly. For connectivity, you’ll get a total of three USB ports (1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0), HDMI port and a Multi-format SD Slot. The laptop runs on Windows 10 and weighs just 4.6 pounds. Overall, the HP 15-ay191ms is an affordable Notebook which is set to be your go-to laptop.
| Hardware Specifications of HP 15-ay191ms Laptop | |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-7100U 7th Generation 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 RAM |
| Storage | 1TB 5400 RPM HDD |
| Display | 15.6 Inch HD Touchscreen WLED (1366 x 768) display |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home 64-bit OS |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 Hours |
| Weight | 4.6 lbs |
So, these are the top-recommended laptops for college students to buy under $500. However, you must always check on the hardware specifications before making a final decision. Make sure you get the latest specifications at a lower price.
We hope this guide will be helpful to you for buying the best laptop under 500 dollars. If you’ve any suggestions or any queries about this guide, feel free to ask in the comment section below.
I bought an HP Pavilion 17-g121wm Laptop today at Amazon. I am enjoying my experience so far. The widescreen is great. It is bright and colorful. It is running smoothly. It was not filled with too many preinstalled programs.
-William