Top 13 Best Laptops Under 500 Consumer Reports In 2020

Dell Inspiron 15.6” Touch Screen Laptop

If you are searching for a low budget laptop that is powerful, Dell Inspiron would be a good option. Its specs include an Intel Core i3 2.7GHz onboard CPU, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, an Intel HD Graphics 620 chips and 128GB of solid state drive space. Dell Inspiron is as powerful and capable as the other twice its cost. Hence, it is ideal for not only office tasks but also entertainment purposes such as games and movies.

In terms of connectivity, this laptop comes with various available ports that can be rarely found in a budget laptop, including 1 USB 3.0, 1 HDMI, 1 SD card reader and 1 microphone/headphone jack. Regarding its design, there is a nice paint job on the keyboard as well as a smooth finish on the case, resulting in quite a good-looking laptop.

Microsoft Surface Go MCZ-00001

Here comes one of the most eye-catching laptops in our list of best laptops under 500 consumer reports! With 1.3 lbs, Microsoft Surface Go can be said to be the lightest and smallest laptop in our list. It will fit your bag easily while giving you standard laptop performance.

This laptop works on Windows 10 and the new Surface Go to run Office and is powered by an Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y processor. Its 10-inch PixelSense Display with touch screen is ideal for working, browsing as well as watching.

You can also pair it with a new Surface Mobile Mouse in your favored color for precise control and navigation. With 128GB and 8GB RAM, this laptop can give you up to 9 hours of video playback. Battery life varies with usage, settings and other factors. For connectivity, there is a type C port which is suitable for HDMI.

ASUS F512JA-AS34 VivoBook Laptop

Rated 4.5 stars on Amazon, this has become a favorite budget laptop of many people. ASUS VivoBook has a 15-inch non-touchscreen and the Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor. This budget laptop will bring you better performance than many others in the list as it does not require you to add memory, due to its solid-state drive and 8GB of memory. These specs also allow the laptop to boot up instantly when you need it.

The keyboard and trackpad will ensure a nice user experience. There is a fingerprint reader which works smoothly and will improve your privacy. Its weight is 3.75 pounds so it is not really a hassle carrying it around. 

The keyboard might not be really comfortable since the keys lack a strong bounce that will cost you more effort to use. There is backlighting on the keyboard that delivers such higher experience for users. The 4.1 x 2.9-inche touchpad is large enough for your navigation. The panel is accurate and responsive, too.

In terms of audio, Asus Vivobook comes with dual bottom-firing speakers. They are able to stay clear, but they cannot produce any bass as well as not capable of high volume. If you want to listen to music with this laptop, you might be disappointed.

On the other hand, its screen looks a bit harsh that your eyes will get strained very quickly. The viewing angles are also not good as the others in the list.

Lenovo Ideapad 330 Laptop

If you are searching for a laptop that has a big screen in our list of best laptops under $500 consumer reports, Lenovo Ideapad 330 would be a good choice. This budget laptop has a 15.6-inch display and a comfortable keyboard. It is also an eye-catching budget laptop that will draw your attention at first sight.

This laptop is available in 3 screen-size options: 14 inches, 15.6 inches, and 17.3 inches. So you can easily select the right one for your anote-takingliking. Lenovo Ideapad comes with excellent connectivity function, as well as a premium design.

In terms of its screen, many people have complained about the dull colors and poor viewing angle. Even though Lenovo Ideapad comes with a low-resolution display, it is hard to criticize such a budget laptop like it. And you should look at its variety of advantages as well.

Searching for a budget Window-powered laptop? This one is installed with Windows 10 that is ideal for multi-purpose use, from learning, working to playing.

Its 256GB SSD will give you faster data transfers and shorter boot-up times. Meanwhile, the 7th generation AMD processor and fast disk drives will satisfy you with anything you need, from multi-task work to gaming, or movie entertainment.

HP Envy X360 FHD IPS 2019 Flagship 2 in 1 Laptop

HP Envy is known for both its stunning design and efficient performance. It also has a big screen of 15.6 inch, compared to other convertible laptops in the list. This 15.6 screen comes with a full-HD resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, delivering the combination of realistic color and stunning visuals. Also, the 16:9 aspect ratio is ideal for people who work in the photo editing field.

HP Envy X360 displays accurate colors and has great viewing angles. And even though the cover introduces some reflections, the maximum brightness levels are good.

There is a built-in FHD IR webcam that allows taking photos and video calls. In terms of connectivity, there are 1 USB 3.1 type C, 2 USB 3.1, 1 HDMI, 1 microSD Card Reader and 1 headphone/microphone combo jacks.

This laptop’s frame is made of metallic so it will last very long. Its powerful 4 GB DDR4 RAM and 3.4 GHz Intel Core i3 Dual-core Processor provide you with great performance for daily tasks. In addition, HP Envy X360 is equipped with Intel Graphics that can handle light to medium games. 

Regarding its audio and speaker, this laptop does quite well as it truly delivers more volume and better sound.

HP Chromebook X360 Laptop

Rated 4.5 stars on Amazon, HP Chromebook X360 is a convertible that can be used as an ordinary laptop or tablet. It is even able to stand or tent mode for note taking, drawing and other activities that feel as pen on paper. Its touch screen is 12 inches in a format of 3:2 pixelbook, which is perfect for web browsing. Its specifications include a Celeron 1.1 / 2.6 GHz processor, 32 GB of storage and 4GB RAM. 

Other things that make this laptop attractive is its full HD screen and Bluetooth 5.0, which allows smooth wireless connectivity. Also, HP Chromebook X360 is equipped with a USB 3.1, 2 USB-C 3.1, a slot for MicroSD card and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. So you can connect any of the devices you have with this laptop.

With the weight of 2.86 pounds, you will love to carry it anywhere you want. Besides, its battery life can be up to 13 hours, which is quite impressive compared to many others on the list.

Apple MacBook Air MD760LL/A Laptop

This is the only product from Apple in our list of best laptops under $500 consumer reports. It’s hard to find a budget product from Apple, right?

Apple MacBook Air MD760LL/A has a Intel i5-4250U 1.30GHz processor and a 4GB RAM that allow smooth web surfing as well as basic work and study tasks. Its screen is 13.3 inches. There is also a webcam to support your needs for video calls. However, it does not have any USB ports so connectivity can be a bit troublesome. 

When it comes to Apple, we cannot forget to mention the stunning design. This laptop is so slim and light that you will find it super compact and portable. This laptop comes with a refund or replacement within 90 days of receipt if you are not satisfied.

HP 2019 14" Laptop

Rated 4.4 stars on Amazon, HP 2019 14-inch laptop works on Windows 10 that is really to use for people who are familiar with Windows. Powered by a 7th-generation Intel Core i3 processor, the laptop comes with a 8GB system memory. So you can easily multitask with this laptop! Also, it can quickly boot up when you need, partly because of the flash-based SSD that has no moving parts. 

HP 2019 comes with a 128GB SSD while offering less storage space than a hard drive. It has a solid design which is very thin and light, you will find it easy to carry this laptop from place to place. The 14-inch display glossy screen will remain the vivid colors in your videos and photos. It has a typical HD resolution of 1366 x 768.

HP 2019 14-inch comes with quite a disappointing webcam, which makes your skin look super blotchy and the background looks so dark. 

One plus is that this laptop stays very cool even under pressure. It is always below 95-degree Fahrenheit, which is our comfort zone.

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 2-in-1 Laptop

Here comes another 2-in-1 laptop in our list. You can rarely find a product from the giant brand Samsung in the list of best laptops under $500 following consumer reports. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is super lightweight (3 pounds) and you can turn it into a tablet just by folding it for more comfortable browsing and viewing. 

The laptop is equipped with a built-in pen, which allows you to write, edit, sketch and magnify easily. Furthermore, there is a built-in dual camera fold that allows you to take clear photos when needed, as well as enables video calls. Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 is equipped with a 13-megapixel camera with autofocus in addition to the 1-megapixel front camera. Even though your phone camera is much better, you might still consider this as a plus of Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 as you may need it some time.

The long-lasting battery and Intel Celeron processor will allow you to work continuously without having to recharge again and again. The built-in memory is 64GB and you can expand the memory by using a microSD card.

ASUS Chromebook Flip C302 2-In-1 Laptop

This 12.5-inch laptop from Asus is recently always the top-rated Chromebook under $500 from Chromebook. The laptop is really eye-catching as it is light, slim and very stylish. Its 360-degree hinge allows users to quickly flip it into a Chromebook tablet. If you are looking for a touchscreen laptop with a low budget, this will be a nice choice.

With the weight of 2.65 pounds only, Asus Chromebook Flip 302 is ideal for people who have to travel quite often. You will not have any trouble carrying it around. 

Impressively, its battery is long-lasting that you can use it to work or play without worrying about recharge. Asus Chromebook Flip C302 is powered by the 6th generation Intel Core and 4GB RAM, by which the laptop can boot up quickly and run the apps smoothly for you.

This laptop comes with a touchpad and a backlit keyboard. For wired connection, it has a MicroSD reader as well as a lightning-fast USB-C port. Its storage is 64GB.

In general, Asus Chromebook Flip seems to be designed specifically for being used as a tablet. However, if you plan to use it as a laptop, its excellent keyboard can also make it as familiar as an ordinary laptop. Its 1.4mm of crisp key travel, which is rarely found in any ultra-thin notebooks, can help to satisfy your needs.

Lenovo Chromebook C330 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop

Rated 4.5 stars on Amazon, Lenovo Chromebook C330 can be considered one of the most favorite budget laptops currently. This is also a high-performance in the list of best laptops under $500 consumer reports, since it is powered by Chrome OS which is very easy to use and able to kick start instantly when you need.

This laptop is a 360-degree convertible laptop that is super light and thin - just 2.64 pounds and 1 inch. 64GB of storage could be enough for your basic tasks in both work and study. The 11.6-inch touchscreen display is ideal for daily use. You can use it as an ordinary laptop as well as a nice tablet.

Lenovo Chromebook is compatible with the latest standards and ports, consisting of USB 3.1 support and USB-C, SD. Its battery can last up to 10 hours, which is quite impressive.

In addition, this laptop is suitable for both teamwork and individual play since it fits many collaborative apps and services.

In addition, Lenovo Chromebook has a camera which enables you to take photos as well as video call. However, the camera is kind of sensitive to lighting, even the light one. We suggest that you should have natural light in front of you, as well as only a little light behind you.

Acer CB3-532 Chromebook Laptop

Acer CB3-532 HD Chromebook is one of the best laptops under $500 consumer reports that has a large screen, which is 15.6 inches. Your first impression with this laptop would be its simple but elegant design made of high-quality plastic and a matte finish. 

Acer CB3-532 is powered by Intel Celeron Dual-Core N3060 1.6 GHz. Its processor is a 2 GB DDR3 RAM and 16 GB flash memory. However, there is no optical drive. This makes sense since we cannot ask for everything in a budget laptop, can we? 

This laptop works on Chrome OS, which is really easy to use but it might take time for Window or Mac OS users to get used to. Acer CB3-532 is included with an HDMI port, an SD card reader, a single USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, as well as a headphone jack.

There is also a HD webcam that allows you to easily indulge in video calling. Its Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity helps the laptop to quickly connect to any Bluetooth device. 

One plus is that this Acer Chromebook has the capability to connect with WiFi 3 times faster than many others in the list.

Acer Chromebook is equipped with a chiclet style keyboard, which is easy to type on. The Caps Lock key is replaced by a Search key. Its touchpad is very responsive and easy to use. The speakers are not really loud and the sound is a bit light and hollow.

Acer Aspire E E5-575-33BM Notebook

Acer Aspire E is a full HD Chromebook that is promised by the brand as better everyday computing. Its processor is an 8th-generation Intel Core I3, which allows your basic work and study to run smoothly. 

One thing from this budget laptop that will impress you is its long-lasting battery, which is said to be 12 hours, but it can last up to 13.5 hours in reality. If you feel like the laptop’s specs are not enough for your daily needs, you can easily upgrade the hard drive and memory due to its easy-to-access compartment.

The MU-MIMO wireless antenna technology enables the connectivity to be strong and consistent. There are two options for you in terms of wired connectivity: USB 3.1 and 3.0 ports, allowing super fast data transfer. Besides, Acer Aspire E comes with Acer Harmony Audio, so you will have high quality audio from this laptop.

The keyboard is okay to type on, as the physical response and key travel distance are decent. The touchpad looks nice in silver and is responsive. We have to admit that you cannot get the desired speakers with a laptop under $500. This laptop’s speakers can get quite loud but the sound is still a bit tiny even at full volume. And there is not much bass.

On the other hand, some owners have complained about the dull screen despite full HD quality. Also, this laptop can sometimes get warm when being used in an extended period. So you might find it a bit uncomfortable.