6 of the Best Gaming Laptops Under $500 on Amazon
One needs to consider the limitations that this budget imposes on your purchase options when shopping for the best gaming laptop under 500 USD. As long as you’re only planning on playing older, less demanding games, then this may not be a problem, but if you game on a daily basis, you may find it an issue.
Gaming laptops with $500 in price should be more than sufficient for casual gamers or those who mostly play second-tier games.
Therefore, there are still some budget-friendly laptops offered in this price range that let you play games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2, Minecraft, Hearthstone, etc.
In this case, if you don’t want to purchase a desktop instead and you need a gaming laptop under $500 keep on reading…
At a Glance:
1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
- Good battery life.
- Very powerful processor.
- Supports Dual-Band 2.4GHz.
3. 2018 HP Touchscreen Laptop PC
- Outstanding speakers.
- Has the operating system of Windows 10.
- Amazing battery life.
5. HD Touchscreen Backlit Keyboard Laptop
- Very flexible with a 360-degree hinge.
- Wide connectivity.
- Best for multitasking.
- 6 Best Gaming Laptops Under 500
- 1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
- 2. Touchscreen Flagship High-Performance Laptop PC
- 3. 2018 HP Touchscreen Laptop PC
- 4. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
- 5. HD Touchscreen Backlit Keyboard Laptop
- 6. ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin & Light Laptop
- Buying Guide
- CPU:
- GPU:
- RAM:
- Storage:
- Display:
- Refresh Rate:
- Display Resolution:
- Battery:
- Operating System:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion:
6 Best Gaming Laptops Under 500
| Design | Best Tablet | Retailer |
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Best Pick | Check Price | |
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Staff Pick | Check Price | |
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Budget Pick | Check Price | |
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1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
Best Pick- Added to its features is a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD with 4GB DDR4 memory.
- Featuring a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, its display is 15.6 inches bright FHD IPS.
- In addition to the USB 2.0 ports, it has 1 HDMI port and 1 USB 3.1 port.
Gaming performance is highly dependent on two things, the CPU and the GPU. With the new Acer Aspire 5, you won’t be able to play light games as the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor is plenty powerful to handle all your high-end games.
Also, the AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics, which are available in the Radeon Vega 3 Edition, allow you to enjoy games with an improved frame rate and excellent visual quality. Besides gaming, they are perfectly capable of processing-intensive tasks such as video and photo editing.
Moreover, in the Aspire 5, the base model comes with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage. This comes in a $350 model. As both of these can be upgraded in the future, you can upgrade either.
With a 128GB solid-state drive and enough RAM to run low- to medium-setting games at a good frame rate, a solid-state drive might seem a little less than adequate.
With a resolution of 1920 x 1080, the display of this laptop is full HD. It comes with a 15.6-inch IPS display that provides an exceptional level of display quality, so gamers can step into another world of gaming. With its backlit keyboard, you can work with complete precision even in complete darkness. With its long-lasting battery, you’ll be able to work all day long!
There are four USB 2.0 ports along with an HDMI port on this budget laptop. Neither one is particularly impressive, but they will do for most people. The device doesn’t feature a USB Type-C port either, which is a disappointment. In addition, your one-year manufacturer’s warranty is included as well.
Pros
- Good battery life.
- Very powerful processor.
- Supports Dual-Band 2.4GHz.
Cons
- No USB-C type port.
We would say that overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a pretty good deal considering that it comes with Windows 10 Home operating system, and most importantly it is within the budget, especially if you are just starting out.
2. Touchscreen Flagship High-Performance Laptop PC
- A 256GB SSD and 8GB DDR4 memory are included.
- This display features a resolution of 1366 x 768 on its 15.6-inch display.
- Additionally, the device comes with two USB 3.0 ports, two USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI port.
Dual-core 7th generation Intel Core i5-7200U processor powers the Dell Inspiron 15 inch laptop. Gamers will experience an extraordinary gaming experience with this laptop which has integrated graphics provided by Intel HD Graphics 620. A good frame rate can be obtained when running popular games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.
With 256 GB of solid-state drive storage and eight GB of RAM, this gaming PC offers plenty of power. Games of the current generation tend to use a minimum of 6-8 GB of RAM. Because it has 8GB of RAM, you can use this laptop without any issues.
Furthermore, a 256 GB hard drive is plenty large enough for gaming. Although it may become necessary after a while to upgrade.
In spite of the thick bezels, this budget laptop offers a stunning 15.6-inch True-Life HD display with 1366*768 resolution. In terms of design, it is a bit traditional and doesn’t have a backlit keyboard.
The battery life is over 7 hours, along with excellent image quality.
Further, this laptop comes with a few USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port as far as connectivity is concerned. Besides the headphone jack, the device has excellent Bluetooth capabilities! With the pre-installed Windows 10 Home operating system, Dell offers buyers a year-long warranty.
Pros
- Outstanding speaker quality.
- Good RAM and storage.
- Amazing frame rates.
Cons
- No related graphic cards.
In our opinion, this is a good gaming laptop. As it has great specifications and costs just about $400. It has no dedicated graphics card, which might be a problem for professional gamers.
However, aside from that, it is a great laptop. Thus, if you are a casual gamer or you prefer gaming as a specialty on a laptop then this laptop will work the best for you.
3. 2018 HP Touchscreen Laptop PC
Staff Pick- With a screen resolution of 1366 x 768, this 15.6-inch display is an HD WLED touch screen.
- A Core i3-7100U processor with a good speed of 2.40 GHz.
- Multi-format SD slot, dual USB 2.0 ports, and 1 USB 3.0 port.
Featuring an Intel Core i3-7100U processor, the HP Flagship deserves to be called a flagship. This allows it to not only run heavy games smoothly, but it also enables it to support heavy games. Perhaps you should consider upgrading your graphic card.
A low- to the medium-level game can be played with a reasonable frame rate on this machine thanks to the integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 graphics card. You can expect to pay a couple of hundred dollars more for a good graphics card if you need anything extra.
There is no super-fast SSD in the HP Flagship; instead, it uses a traditional hard drive. Despite the 1TB HDD, the laptop is still outdated technology, but it is adequate for playing games. The computer does have 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, which is typically sufficient for most games.
In addition to its regular keyboard, this touchscreen laptop has a 15.6-inch touchscreen display with HD WLED backlighting. Taking commands from the laptop is as easy as touching the screen or using the mouse pad. Taking commands from the laptop is also useful for playing games.
A SuperMulti DVD burner is still installed on the HP Flagship, a feature that is quite rare these days. Besides these features, both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 ports are present as well as a slot for multi-format SD cards. Additionally, the product is protected by a one-year warranty.
Pros
- Outstanding speakers.
- Has the operating system of Windows 10.
- Amazing battery life.
Cons
- No graphic cards present.
Overall, game-playing is possible with the current specs. Despite the fact that it has a DVD Burner, which is fairly uncommon, you can still play games with it. Over $400 gaming laptops lack a solid-state drive and a decent graphics card, which is a major flaw.
4. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
- The display resolution is 1920×1080 with a 15.6-inch FHD Widescreen LED-backlit IPS Panel.
- There is one USB 3.1 Type C port, two USB 3.1 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port.
- Powered by an Intel Core i5-8265U 8th Generation processor.
This laptop is powered by Intel’s 8th Generation Core i5-8265U processor, unlike the previous laptops mentioned in this article. Therefore, it offers better performance and efficiency. Applications are able to load more quickly and run smoothly since the processor helps speed up load times.
Only the Intel UHD Graphics 620 on this laptop is lacking. The system isn’t optimized for hardcore gamers, but it’s capable of handling mediocre levels of gaming or light gaming.
Additionally, you will receive a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD along with this laptop. This is a much faster SSD than a SATA SSD, and it also offers a good amount of capacity. Those who are interested in budget gaming laptops with 8GB of DDR4 RAM for under 500 dollars would find it comparable to similar models.
Like its Acer Aspire 5 3200U counterpart, the Aspire 5 8265U has a backlit keyboard. Besides being comfortable to use, it also has an elegant design. Although the display, which measures 15.6-inches with a horizontal resolution of 1920 x 1080 and thin bezels, is full HD, it provides IPS technology.
A similar laptop that costs this much lasts for around 6-7 hours on battery power, so it has an exceptionally long battery life.
This laptop is equipped with one HDMI and two USB 3.1 (Type-C) ports as well as dual USB 3.1 ports. In addition, it comes with a fingerprint scanner that offers added security, and it works extremely well with Windows 10 Home.
With the same 1-year warranty as on the Acer Aspire 5 3200U, this model also comes with a similar warranty.
Pros
- Additional fingerprint scanner.
- USB Type-C connectivity.
- Very powerful processor and good battery life.
Cons
- Comes with Intel HD Graphics 620
In conclusion, if you are looking for a laptop with some additional specs and an improved processor, then this is the one for you. Besides its features, it is really affordable!
5. HD Touchscreen Backlit Keyboard Laptop
Budget Pick- Dual-core Intel Core i7 7200U processor (3.1GHz with Turbo Boost) at 2.5GHz.
- An 8GB DDR4 memory module and a 256GB SSD.
- The touchscreen display measures 15 inches with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
It is one of the most complete models in the Dell Inspiron series. Featuring a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core 7th Gen i5-7200U processor that can spike up to 3.1GHz with Turbo Boost, this laptop provides excellent performance.
Whether you’re gaming or doing any other task, it will provide sufficient performance. Large files can be rendered and exported quickly, and it works flawlessly. A downside is that it does not come with a dedicated graphics card for gaming, but with Intel HD Graphics 620 instead. This may be something you should consider before buying.
The laptop meets these requirements without sacrificing anything. Despite its relatively low price, it packs a 256 GB SSD that is of decent size and current. Furthermore, the 8 GB RAM is beyond the minimum requirement for good frame rates in new games. Additionally, the RAM can also be upgraded at a later date.
Moreover, there’s a traditional keyboard on the Dell Inspiron 15.6-inch laptop. The keyboard is nothing special. However, the screen on it has a resolution of 1366 x 768 on a 15.6-inch display.
Besides having a touch screen, it also has a 360-degree hinge, allowing you to fold it. As such, it can be used both as a laptop and a tablet.
Laptops from this manufacturer have dual USB 3.0 ports, one USB 2.0 port, audio jacks for microphones and headphones, HDMI ports, and Bluetooth 4.0. This is not surprising since it comes with a warranty. Operating Systems with Windows 10 Home is covered by the typical 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Very flexible with a 360-degree hinge.
- Wide connectivity.
- Best for multitasking.
Cons
- Not the brightest display.
Nonetheless, this laptop is an excellent choice because of its practicality. In terms of gaming components, the device has everything you need except for a good graphics card, but its 360-degree hinge improves its ergonomics.
Therefore, this gaming laptop is one of the best ones under $500 because it is a great combination of portability and performance.
6. ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin & Light Laptop
- This laptop comes with 128 GB SSD storage which is great for a gaming laptop
- A graphics chip from Intel, the UHD G1
- It has wide connectivity options, as the device supports USB Type C, USB type A, HDMI, micro SD reader, and audio jack
As the cheapest gaming laptop from this list, the Asus VivoBook 15 ASUS F512JA-AS34 is listed. In addition, for its price, it offers excellent performance with its Intel Core i3 10th Gen 1005G1 processor.
Furthermore, you will also get an Intel UHD G1 graphics card with 8 GB DDR4 RAM, resulting in a decent gaming experience. Although its SSD only has 128GB of storage, it falls behind some of the competition.
Moreover, this gaming laptop has a large 15.6-inch display and boasts high-resolution FHD images. It also has a lot of features that make it unique among entry-level gaming laptops. In addition to its handy features, this laptop also has a fingerprint sensor and a backlit keyboard.
There is also a micro SD card reader on the side of this laptop along with a combo audio jack, and it has USB type C, USB type A, HDMI, and a USB type-A port.
Pros
- Excellent processor for the laptop.
- Great gaming performance.
- High-resolution display delivering clear images.
Cons
- Limited storage of the laptop.
In our opinion, this is one of the best laptops for gaming at a budget of 500. You will get an amazing full HD display and a very powerful processor which together is required for the best gaming experience. And the best part is that you will get this laptop on your budget.
Buying Guide
CPU:
Every desktop or laptop has a CPU or processor as one of its essential components. All of your laptop’s tasks are handled by the operating system. It goes without saying that to play modern PC games, you need a processor that can handle them.
Many gaming laptops under $500 come with high-performance Intel Core i5 and AMD Ryzen 5 processors, so they ought to meet most of your needs. AMD Ryzen 3 or Intel Core i3 processors are also common entry-level laptops that are capable of running games at lower resolutions.
GPU:
In addition to the processor in your laptop, another internal component that can have a significant impact on your gaming experience and performance is the graphics card. The program renders the 3D graphics used by modern PC games, as its name implies.
A powerful GPU such as the AMD Radeon Vega 8 makes it a good idea to select a laptop with a powerful GPU. Among cheaper laptops, we may find AMD Radeon Vega 2, AMD Radeon Vega 3, and Intel UHD G1 graphics. You can still play your favorite PC games with these GPUs even though they are not the most powerful.
RAM:
You store all your games and other programs in the RAM or the main memory, whether you are playing a game or using another program.
In this case, you can expect your laptop to become quite unresponsive and even suffer lag problems if the RAM gets too full. To avoid these problems, the best laptop for you is one with adequate RAM capacity. In addition to a few entry-level gaming laptops, most under $500 gaming laptops come with 8GB of DDR4 memory, which makes them quite capable of handling any PC game you like.
Storage:
Gaming performance is not necessarily affected by the storage capacity of your laptop, but it is still an important factor to consider. The biggest advantage of having a large storage capacity on a laptop is that most PC games are quite large.
The different gaming laptops under $500 presented above, all include SSD drives with capacities of either 128 GB or 256 GB, where higher capacity drives are better. You should still always consider getting an SSD over a hard drive, even though an SSD offers much faster access to storage, making your overall computing experience much smoother.
Display:
Having an immersive computing experience begins with the display on your laptop. Getting a laptop with a high-resolution screen is always a good idea in order to improve the image quality. Thanks to their full HD displays, almost all gaming laptops under $500 on this list come with Full HD displays.
In terms of screen size, users have the option of choosing between a 14-inch and a 15.6-inch model. In comparison to the larger 16-inch screen, the smaller 14-inch screen is more compact and portable. Additionally, thanks to the larger screen size of your gaming laptop, you can play games and watch movies together in an immersive manner.
Refresh Rate:
It is currently impossible to find 120Hz gaming laptops for under $500 (unless you go refurbished). In this price range, 60Hz is the norm, which gives you a maximum of 60 frames per second when playing games. In terms of competitive gaming, such laptops like these might not be the best choice, but for slower-paced games like RPGs and strategy games where reaction time isn’t as critical, you’ll be okay, though you’ll find the overall experience a bit jerky. Therefore, this may not be the solution for you, in which case you should spend more (or buy a used computer).
Display Resolution:
Unless you spend more than $500 on your gaming laptop, you’re only going to be able to have 1920×1080 resolution. The cost of a monitor with a 1440p resolution or higher is at least $1,000, and even more, is likely. Even so, many gamers will not be put off by this – 1080p is still the ideal resolution for competitive gaming, and if your laptop is smaller than 15 inches, it is questionable if a higher resolution is even essential (unless you are using it for graphics design).
Battery:
It is highly likely that you wish to use a gaming laptop for work as well as gaming while on the go if you choose to go with a gaming laptop over a gaming desktop. As a result, having a laptop with long battery life is always a wise choice, whether you will use it in class or in the office. The battery life of budget gaming laptops under $500 generally falls in the range of 5 hours or similar. Most models should provide large amounts of battery life, up to 8 hours depending on the model, so it’s ideal for all-day use.
Operating System:
It is extremely important to confirm that any PC game you intend to play on your laptop is compatible with your laptop’s operating system. Windows 10 offers the greatest number of games that you can play on your PC when it comes to support. If you are familiar with PC gaming, you know this. Therefore, all of the gaming laptops previously listed come with Windows 10 already installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are The Best Gaming Laptops For $500?
You can expect that, for $500, you will be getting a fairly sub-par gaming laptop with low specs. You can’t expect the laptop at this price to be able to run the latest games at anything but the lowest graphics settings, and even then the laptop may not handle the game well if it is particularly demanding. For at least $1,000 we recommend buying a gaming laptop, or, if portability is not your priority, you might want to consider a $500 or $800 computer built specifically for gaming.
Where Can I Find a Good Gaming Laptop on a Budget?
In general, we would say that anything that costs under $1,000 falls within the budget laptop category. But if your budget is low, then this article will work right for you. Here you can find the best laptops for gaming.
What is the Cheapest Gaming Laptop?
It is debatable whether gaming laptops under $500 are actually gaming laptops, even though they market themselves as such. Moreover, the most relevant factor depends on which games you desire to play and at what graphical settings you prefer. Therefore, a computer that produces decent FPS on medium settings and with the latest AAA games will set you back at least $1,000. In most cases, you can get away with paying no more than $500, $600, or $700 if you’re looking for older titles or less graphically demanding titles (indie and/or strategy games, for example).
Conclusion:
In this article, you will find some of the best gaming laptops under 500. We know how hard it is to find the best gaming laptop that goes on a budget of $500. To make sure that you don’t face any problems, we have listed some of the best gaming laptops under the range of 500 in this article so you can go through them and decide which one is the best one for you.
● ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin & Light Laptop.
This is the best gaming laptop for those who are on a highly tight budget. As it is a highly affordable laptop with which you get the fairly new Intel Core i3 10th Generation 1005G1 CPU together with 8 GB of RAM and Intel UHD G1 graphics.
