Best i5 laptop under $500

We have seen two laptops from HP above in this article, but still, it is not ending here because we have one more known as HP 15 [15-DY2024NR]. This laptop comes with the Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor. This is a quad-core processor with 2.4GHz of base clock speed, which goes up to 4.2GHz when the laptop uses its all cores. It is also designed on the 10nm SuperFin process that allows higher performance at low power consumption. You can compare it with the Ryzen 5 5500U mobile processor. Additionally, it also has an Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics card. There is no VRAM, so it shares from the 8GB system memory. Further, it adds a 256GB SSD drive for storing data.

On the outside, it features a 15.6-inch diagonal IPS display. Further, it comprises Full HD 1920 x1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate and 250 units of peak brightness. Other features include support for Wi-Fi 6 combined with Bluetooth 5 for a better and reliable connection. However, it doesnt have a fingerprint scanner, but that is not a major problem because it is very uncommon to get a fingerprint reader at this price range. On the sides, you will get all the external ports. There is also a lock key for better security. But you will need to buy that separately. Being a Windows laptop, it runs on the latest Windows 11 laptop, which is the most recent version with refreshed optimizations.

Along with that, it has slim bezels and offers an 82% screen-to-body ratio. So you will enjoy watching the contents on this display. On the top of the display, there is the front camera. You can use it with built-in microphones for video calls. In the meantime, this laptop comes with more than 5 hours of battery life on a single charge. It also supports a 41Whrs battery with fast charging technology which can charge its battery up to 50% in just under 45 minutes. Probably, this could be the best option, around $500, if you can slightly increase your budget by a few bucks.

This Lenovo IdeaPad 3 just landed on the USA land with its new variant. That makes it still pretty fresh in terms of specifications. That being said, it arrives with AMD 5000 series Ryzen 5 5500U processor. We already know that it has powerful 6 cores and 12 threads. Combined with its processing power, it can reach up to 4.0GHz while running demanding tasks. But without burst mode, this processor only reaches at 2.1GHz of maximum base frequency speed.

This processor also has an integrated AMD GPU, which is the Radeon RX Vega 7. Nonetheless, it can handle routine tasks like MS Word, Excel, and other programs but lacks GPU performance. Besides, it comes with 8GB of DDR4 shared memory and a 256GB SSD drive. If you want to increase its storage and RAM, you have to buy a new SSD and put that on its slot. Other than that, this laptop features a 14-inch display with Full HD 1920 x1080 resolution. The display quality is very good and produces up to 250-nits brightness, which is just fine for indoor usage, and that is what we can expect from a budget laptop.

Moreover, his Lenovo IdeaPad runs on Windows 10 Home, a full-fledged version, unlike the restrictions that apply in S mode, which we have seen on its predecessor. This will further boost your laptops performance. It also has all the fundamental ports and an HD webcam placed on the top of the display. Due to its low-powered processor, it propels a decent amount of battery life on a single charge, and on a typical day, you can accept around 7-8 hours of real-world usage battery life. Overall, the laptop is best suited for those with a limited budget.

The Acer Aspire 5 is going to be a little cheaper yet a compelling laptop. Acer makes laptops from high-end to more budget-friendly. This is also a budget-friendly laptop with balanced specifications. Speaking of its internals, this laptop is powered by the AMD Ryzen 3 4300U mobile processor with the AMD Radeon integrated graphics card. Talking about its CPU, there are four cores incorporated with another four threads. This chip is designed on a 7nm TSMC process and gives a 2.7GHz base clock speed.

Further, the CPU can go up to 3.7GHz with the help of precision boost technology. Having a 4000 series processor with four cores makes this laptop a beast performer under 500 dollars. Subsequently, it arrives with only 4GB of pre-installed memory and 128GB SSD storage. In the future, if you require more RAM and storage, simply buy them and put them in their respective slots. In that way, you can use its multitasking power. For multitasking, you need a good display. So it sports a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display with 1920 × 1080 pixels. Accordingly, it also has very minimal bezels while including a front camera on the top portion.

Unfortunately, this is not a touchscreen. So all you can do is use the combination of trackpad and keyboard. In addition to that, its keyboard offers reasonable key traveling. Its trackpad also has a built-in fingerprint scanner for better security. Apart from that, this laptop has support for Wi-Fi 5 as well as Bluetooth 5. There are all kinds of ports, including USB C and HDMI. You can charge its battery through the USB Type-C port. Speaking of its battery, this laptop can give 6-7 hours of backup, depending on your usage. So all of that makes this laptop a balanced machine that is suitable for normal users.

If youre looking for an affordable, compact, and productive laptop that can handle all your basic tasks, Asus Vivobook Flip 14 is the best choice for you. Its name itself defines its capabilities. Yes, its a convertible 2-in-1 touchscreen laptop. Asuss brand value makes it even more value, and its price is just unbelievable. Regarding the performance, the Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor drives this laptop, which belongs to the latest 11th generation Intel processors. As we know, this is a dual-core chipset, producing a base clock speed of 3.10GHz, going as high as 4.10GHz.

Besides, the chipset is manufactured on 10nm SuperFin technology, which clearly matches with its arch-rival AMDs 7nm processing node. A powerful processor also needs a good graphics card for balanced performance. As a result, the CPU integrates the latest Iris Xe GPU, which is fine for handling basic GPU tasks. The front portion is surrounded by a 14-inch 1920 x 1080p Full HD LED display with a touchscreen and thin bezels. The display quality is excellent, and you can easily bear it at that price range.

More importantly, the components are very well fitted in a small body. Unsurprisingly, the build quality is top-notch with a compact & lightweight body, making it a fascinating device for people seeking a portable laptop. Apart from that, the laptop weighs only 3.3 pounds, making it an extremely portable device. The computer further adds 4GB of LPDDR4X RAM coupled with 128GB of m.2 NVMe SSD storage. For connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, 1x Type-C port, 1x HDMI port, 2x USB-A port, 1x Headphone Jack, and a MicroSD Card Reader. Overall, this is an excellent choice for people looking for a 2-in-1 convertible laptop.

HP doesnt need an introduction when it comes to producing laptops, and HP 14 is its latest offering. It offers impressive performance and a stylish design. That being said, its processing power is powered by the AMD 5000 series Ryzen 5 5500U processor with Hexa-core and 12 threads CPU, making it one of the best chipsets under this price range. With Turbo Boost technology, these six cores accomplish at up to 4.0GHz frequency, while it goes up to 2.1GHz base frequency. The processor carries an integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 7 graphics card, flawlessly handling the casual workload.

Moreover, it comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 256GB of internal SSD drive. In the long term, storage space might be a problem. That is why both storage and RAM are upgradable. Its front portion features a 14-inch FHD IPS display with 1920 × 1080 screen resolution, generating bright colors so you can enjoy multimedia content on it. Along with that, it has an anti-glare coating on top of the display. So if you go outside and use it under a direct light source, it wouldnt reflect light.

Despite commanding so much less than the higher-end laptops, it proposes an overall good design as it is lightweight and has slim bezels. Meanwhile, it has all the essential ports, including three USB Ports, HDMI, headphone jack, and ethernet port. It also has a micro SD card reader, which can be utilized to read camera chips and expand memory. Moreover, its lightweight design only contains a 2-cell battery that can last for about 4-5 hours on a single charge. Overall, the laptop prioritizes smooth performance and good build quality under the price of $500.

If you like Chromebooks, then we have the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 for you. Chromebooks are great for students. It doesnt need super high-end hardware and also costs much less than others. It is always recommended that you should get Chromebooks that are capable of handling daily tasks. That being said, the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 comes with the Intel Core i3-10110U processor. This is a 10th Gen dual-core chipset that also arrives with the Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU.

Using its dual-core CPU and 4 threads, it can produce up to 4.10GHz of max clock speed. So it is safe to say that it can handle all of your work without any issues. On the outside, you get a 13.3-inch FHD IPS display that flips 360-degree and evolves into a giant tablet. That means this is also a touchscreen. So students can use a stylus pen to draw, paint, or for taking notes. Its display is also accompanied by narrow side bezels that make it more immersive. Additionally, there are also two front-facing speakers. So we can easily say that this laptop is great for productivity as well as for entertainment.

Lenovo has included their intelligent performance management software. All it tries to make a perfect balance between power-hungry tasks and battery consumption. This way, it will last more than 10 hours without needing to charge for once. Of course, battery life could have been better, but they decided to make it slim and lightweight. Apart from that, it comes with two USB C ports, one USB A port, and an Audio Jack. It has a separate power connector, but you can also charge its battery through the USB Type C ports. In the meantime, this laptop also supports Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6. So it will provide every bit of your internet speed as well as a reliable connection.

We all remember Asus for its top-end and innovative laptops. However, they also make some of the best budget laptops, particularly for students. The primary motto of this laptop is See more, carry less. That implies it offers a big visual area; still, it is lightweight. That being said, it features a 15.6-inch FHD display that has 1920 × 1080 pixels. As it says, it gives an 88% screen-to-body ratio. So it has very narrow bezels around the display.

Other than that, this Asus laptop is powered by the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor. This is a dual-core processor with four threads. With the help of Turbo Boost technology, these cores can produce up to 3.40GHz frequency. In the meantime, it only gives a 1.20GHz maximum base frequency. Alongside, it comes with an Intel UHD graphics card. As we know, this is an integrated GPU with a maximum clock speed of 900MHz. So this laptop is perfect for general usage.

Talking of its other features, it has an ergonomic design that lifts the backlit keyboard for a better typing experience. Along with that, there are three USB ports, including a USB Type C, HDMI, gigabit ethernet connector. It also has a headphone jack and a micro SD card slot for better continuity. Meanwhile, this laptop comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM combined with a 128GB SSD drive pre-installed.

After some time, you will require more space. So buy a separate SSD and put it in the slot to expand the storage. However, it runs on Windows 10 S. This is a lightweight version of Windows 10. Apart from that, it offers excellent performance at its price. Along with that, dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 are there for a reliable internet connection. Possibly, this is the most affordable Windows laptop on our list that performs really well in different circumstances.

We all know HP brings in good-looking laptops. They have some of the best-designed laptops. Along with that, HP 15 also looks good despite costing less money. Its ergonomic design makes it so lightweight that you can take it anywhere. Besides, it also generates a slight angle that assists you while typing on it. Apart from that, it features a 15.6-inch HD WLED display with 1366 × 768p screen resolution. In addition, it offers 10 points of multi-touch support. If you want a laptop that has a touchscreen, then this might be for you.

Regarding its performance, the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 powers this laptop. We have seen this processor on many laptops. These cores extend battery life due to a low-powered dual-core chipset with Intel UHD integrated graphics card. Depending on your usage, it can last around 6-7 hours on a single charge. Apart from that, this processor can go up to 3.4GHz clock speed. So it has the raw processor performance but lacks again in terms of GPU. However, you can take advantage of some lightweight games but wouldnt handle high intensive games.

In addition to that, it contains 8GB of RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. After installing the Windows 10 OS, you will have around 100 GB left to use. So you can buy a 512GB SSD or more to expand the storage space. When it comes to I/O ports, there are one USB C, two USB A ports, one HDMI, and a micro sd card reader. Additionally, this laptop supports dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. So you can connect to a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection and utilize your fast internet connection. If you are looking for an affordable touchscreen laptop without a convertible design, this can be an ideal choice for you.

This convertible laptopimplies you can either use it as a normal laptop or flip it into a giant tablet. But the most important thing is that it comes under the Pavilion series. On the front, it sports a 14 inch IPS LED display with backlit technology. However, this display only consists of a total of 1366 x 768p resolutions. Additionally, it succeeds with multitouch support. So you can use a pen to work on the display, which will give a better experience.

If you open up the back panel, you will get the 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 processor. It deals with all the tasks along with the Intel Iris XE Graphics card. This processor includes two cores and 4 threads. With the help of these two cores, it will produce a 3.0GHz base clock speed. It also comes with Turbo Boost technology. This technology helps the processor to gain more performance. In that case, this processor will reach up to 4.10GHz. So you will get a significant boost in your work if you are coming from an old laptop. Along with that, it also offers a touchscreen with convertible capability. Other features include support for Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.

There is also an HD webcam on the top portion of the lid and microphones, a useful addition for video conferencing & live video streaming. So you can join conference calls. Apart from that, it has one USB 3.1 Type C port, two USB Type-A ports, and an HDMI and ethernet connector. You also get a micro SD card reader.Regarding the battery, it comes with a 3 cell battery that will last for more than 5 hours on a single charge. Altogether, this laptop is for those people who want an HP-branded laptop with a touchscreen and offers excellent performance. So you can buy it without any issues.

This is the 2020 edition of the Dell Inspiron 15. We have seen many elegant laptops from Dell. But they also make a lot of budget laptops that are sold under $500. This laptop also costs less than that but gives very good performance at the same time. Speaking of its performance, it sports the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor. It is a dual-core processor designed on a 14nm process. Depending on these cores, you will get up to 3.40GHz of maximum speed. In terms of graphics, it comes with the integrated Intel UHD GPU.

As it is an integrated graphics card, there is no separate VRAM. So it shares with the system memory. That is why it has 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Solid State Drives are known for their fast speed. So this combination will give a snappy feeling while working on your projects. On the outside, it sports a 15.6-inch display that has a 1366 × 768 screen resolution. This display is based on IPS LCD technology. On top of that, it has an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections. So you can use this laptop outside without any problems.

When it comes to problems, its display is not a touchscreen and comes with only HD resolution. Besides, there is no backlighting on the keyboard. However, it has a full-sized keyboard with Numpad. You will find all the basic ports on the sides, including two USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A ports. One of the key reasons it weighs very little is that it only has a 42WHr battery, giving around 8 hours of backup. After all, this is a good laptop with a powerful processor.

Asus is also a well-known laptop manufacturer, and we have picked the Asus Chromebook Flip C433 with a 2-in-1 convertible design. The laptop is powered by the Intel Core M3-8100Y processor under the hood. Indeed, the provided chipset is more than sufficient for most tasks you can expect from a Chromebook. It utilizes a dual-core CPU with four threads, making it a very ordinary chip. Its two cores deliver 1.10GHz base clock speed, overclocked up to 3.40GHz using Intels Turbo Boost technology.

The laptop further occupies the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 615 GPU to handle the graphics-intensive tasks. In a collective effort, this hardware tends to deliver fluent experience. Furthermore, it features a 14-inch Full HD display at 1920 x 1080p resolution that can be converted to 360-degree. Hence, you can convert it into a tablet whenever your work requires it. Usually, the convertible mechanism is handy for some specific tasks, such as watching movies, drawing, artists, sketching, etc. So, you can utilize it at your convenience.

In terms of memory, it packs 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM coupled with 64GB of eMMC internal storage. This combination is also pretty good considering the Chromebook industry. The backlit chiclet keyboard takes charge to improve the typing experience. All the essential connectivity ports are available, including 2x USB Type-C ports and a USB Type-A port. The battery life becomes significantly crucial if you have decided to choose a Chromebook. This laptop doesnt disappoint in this section either with a claimed battery backup of more than 10 hours. Overall, this is a powerful 2-in-1 Chromebook for under $500.

FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]

How important is a processor in a budget laptop?

The processor handles all the tasks on your laptop. Without having a powerful processor, you will spend tons of minutes just waiting for the unfinished work. So it makes sense to get laptops that come with powerful processors.

How much RAM do you need in a laptop?

RAM or Random Access Memory contains all the current tasks. For example, consider you want to do some video editing. Then you will need more RAM to store all that data. So make sure you at least have 8GB RAM.

Do you need a touchscreen on a laptop?

It depends on what you want to do. If you are an artist, then you should get a touchscreen laptop. It will help you to draw or paint using a pen. Otherwise, you can use it as a tablet. So the touchscreen looks cool on a laptop.

Final thoughts Which is the best laptop under $500?

In recent times, PC or laptop sales are skyrocketing because of the pandemic. In addition, a lot of companies are allowing their employees to work from home. So they need laptops to do that. You can spend more than 1000 dollars to get the best laptop. However, not everyone wants to spend that much when you get decent laptops under 500 dollars. At this price range, we get laptops with different configurations. So you have to decide which laptop you want to buy.

We highly recommend going for Lenovo IdeaPad 3 and Acer Aspire 5 with a decent hardware offering starting with the general purpose. If you want a convertible laptop, you can consider picking the Asus Vivobook Flip 14 and HP Pavilion x360.On the other side, if you want Chromebooks, then consider the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5. If you can slightly push the boundaries, HP 15 is a great option to go with. It barely costs 50 bucks more than $500, but at the same time offers great value. After all, you have to decide on the perfect laptop according to your needs. So in case you want to know something more, just comment down below.

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