Are you a gaming enthusiast or a professional gamer or do you’re having plans of becoming one and you’re having issues selecting a gaming laptop because of how expensive gaming laptops can be? Consider your search over because, in this article, we have compiled a detailed list of the best gaming laptops around the 500$ budget.
Best Gaming Laptops Under $500 (OUR TOP PICKS)
For some people, gaming is a profession in which they make money while some just do it casually or for fun.
Nevertheless, every gamer wants to have the best gaming experience they can possibly have and that can only happen when you have a console or laptop that can provide you with that experience.
The Case For Gaming On $500 Laptops
When considering a gaming laptop to buy, there are several specs to look out for on the laptop like the RAM, CPU, GPU or video/graphics card, HDD, Keyboard quality, Mux switch, operating system, etc.
Gaming laptop manufacturers always try to produce laptops with specs that satisfy the needs of their customers and also make room for upgrades when necessary. However when it comes to playing graphics-intensive games like Dying Light 2 or Naraka: Bladepoint, the tradeoffs for the inadequate hardware starts to show.
In fact, most games won’t even run. There are hundreds of gaming laptops out there and usually, these laptops come expensive because of the high cost of quality parts they possess.
Buying a gaming laptop is a lot easier when you’re financially capable but unfortunately, that means it’s mostly unaffordable for a lot of people.
Every gamer would love to have the best gaming laptops with the best kind of specs available to enable them to have a wonderful gaming experience but most of these laptops cost way over a thousand dollars.
The Best $500 Laptops For Gaming
Getting a gaming laptop under $500 or below can be really exhausting. For this reason, we have done proper research and selected the best budget gaming laptop you can buy for around 500 dollars or below with their pros and cons to guide your selection.
Lenovo Idea Pad 3 14″
Lenovo is one of the leading laptop manufacturing companies in the world currently and they have manufactured and released different laptops with elegant designs and awesome features.
The Lenovo Idea Pad 3 is a low-budget laptop from Lenovo that features a 14-inch 1080p display, 8gig DDR4 RAM, a 256 gigabyte SSD, an AMD Ryzen 5 5500u APU processor which is the latest repetition of mobile processing with 6 cores and 12 threads hyperthreading with a base clock of 2.1 gigahertz and a max boost clock of up to 4.0 gigahertz and also an integrated graphics powered by the AMD Radeon 7 graphics
It has a really impressive battery life of about 10hrs and also has a default thermal design power (tdp) of 15watts which helps the battery stay cool and have decent battery life. For ports, It features a power port, HDMI port, a USB-c port an audio jack, an SD card slot, and a 2 USB 3.0 port.
Pros
- It’s affordable
- Impressive battery life
- Very decent CPU which makes it relatively fast.
- Upgradeable RAM
- Thermal design that helps the battery stay cool.
Cons
- High-demanding laptops mostly require a 16gig RAM but this laptop comes with an 8gig RAM
- A small storage capacity of 256gig and a small storage capacity means a limited number of games
- Low maximum screen brightness because of its 1080p display.
HP 14
HP is one of the best and oldest laptop manufacturing companies in the world and has produced several laptops with awesome specs.
The HP 14 is a low-budget laptop from Hp that offers a certain level of satisfaction to gamers and it features an AMD Ryzen 5500u six-core 12 thread processor with a base clock of 2.1 gigahertz and a boost clock of 4.0 gigahertz, 8gig DDR4 RAM @3200 MHz, a storage capacity of 256 SSD, and AMD Radeon Graphics.
It has a 14inch 1080p display, a battery life of about 10hrs with the Hp fast charge feature, a wifi 6, and Bluetooth 5.0 which will enable a really smooth wireless experience.
For ports, it has an HDMI port, two USB Type-A ports, a Type C port, a headphone/microphone jack, and an SD card reader. This laptop goes for about 450 dollars on Amazon.com
Pros
- Really decent price
- Impressive battery life with Hp fast charge feature
- It has a really decent processor which makes it relatively fast
- Upgradeable RAM from 8gig to 16gig
- Smooth wireless experience.
Cons
- Small storage capacity of 256gig which means a limited number of games.
- High demanding games mostly require a 16gig RAM but this laptop comes with an 8gig RAM
Acer Aspire 3
Acer is one of the leading laptop manufacturers in the world and they have been around for a while making really good laptops for people with both low and high budgets.
The Acer Aspire 3 features a 15.6inch 1080p FHD display, a 10th generation intel core i5-1035 GI CPU, 8GB DDR4 RAM @3200MHz, and an intel HD graphics 520, and a storage capacity of 256GB SSD.
It has a battery life that can last up to 7hrs depending on the task it’s been used to perform. For ports, it features an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and an audio jack.
Pros
- Upgradeable RAM from 8gig
- Decent battery life
- It’s affordable.
Cons
- High demanding laptops mostly require a 16gig RAM but this laptop comes with an 8gig RAM
- Small storage capacity of 256GB.
Asus Vivobook F515
This is the cheapest gaming laptop on the list and it was manufactured by Asus. It has a sleek design with a 15.6-inch FHD display, an intel core i3-1005G1 central processing unit, a 4gig ddr4 ram, and a storage capacity of 128GB NVMe.
It has a decent battery life that can last for up to 7.5hrs but might vary depending on what it’s been used for. It features two USB Type-A, a USB type c port, an HDMI port, and an sd card slot.
For 370 dollars, this is really decent but you definitely shouldn’t expect too much. This is the only laptop on the list with a 4gig ram.
Pro
- Cheapest gaming laptop on this list
- Decent battery life.
Cons
- Most games require at least an 8gig ram to run on a laptop and this laptop has a 4gig ram that can’t be upgraded.
- Small storage capacity of 128gig that can’t be expanded.
Acer Aspire 5
This is another Acer Aspire laptop on this list that offers a level of satisfaction for gamers with a low budget.
It features a 15.6-inch Full-HD 1080p IPS display, an AMD Ryzen 5 Hexa-core processor, AMD Radeon Graphics with a base clock of 2.3 gigahertz, and a boost clock of 4.0 gigahertz, an 8gig RAM, a storage capacity of 256GB SSD, and a battery life of up to 10 hours.
It also possesses a wifi 6.0, Bluetooth 5.0, an HDMI port, a USB Type-C port, USB 3.2 ports, and a USB 2.0 port.
Pros
- Decent processor
- Affordable
- Smooth wireless experience
- awesome battery life
Cons
- Low maximum screen brightness because of its 1080p screen display.
Gateway Ultraslim Notebook 15.6
Just like every other low-budget laptop on this list, the Gateway Ultraslim Notebook possesses features that can satisfy the needs or requirements of gamers with a low budget.
This laptop features a 15.6-inch 1080p display, an AMD Ryzen 3450u mobile processor with integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics with a base clock of 2.1 gigahertz and a boost clock of 3.5 gigahertz.
It features a 16gig RAM, a storage capacity of 256 SSD, and for connectivity ports, it features one USB Type-C port, two USB 3.0 ports, one micro SD reader, and an audio jack. It’s quite impressive for a laptop within the 500$ range.
Pros
- Impressive RAM
- It’s really affordable
- Very decent processor.
Cons
- Average battery life of about 5 hours
- The 256 SDD storage is decent but not enough storage capacity
- The 1080p screen display comes with a relatively low maximum screen brightness which might be an issue in a room with too much light.
ASUS Vivobook 15 X512DA
This is another budget laptop from ASUS on this list and it has more impressive features than the ASUS Vivobook f515.
This laptop features a 15.6 inch 1080p full HD display with AMD Ryzen 5 3500u processor with a base clock of 2.1 gigahertz, a boost clock of 3.7 gigahertz, and an integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics.
It has a storage capacity of 512 gig which is really impressive for a laptop within the 500$ range and an 8 gig DDR4 RAM. For ports, it has a USB 3.0 port, a USB Type-C port, two USB 2.0 ports, one HDMI port, a micro SD card reader, and a headphone jack.
Pros
- It features a really Impressive storage capacity
- It has a really decent processor for a laptop of that price range
- Affordable.
Cons
- The 8gig RAM is not bad but puts a limit on the kind of games that can be played on the laptop because high-demanding games mostly require a 16gig RAM
- Because it has an integrated graphic, you might need to reduce the graphic setting to have a consistent frame rate.
Dell Inspiron 15 5000
Dell is one of the top laptop manufacturing brands in the world and has been manufacturing laptops to satisfy the needs of everyone. From high-budget laptops to low-budget laptops, they have been successful in the manufacturing of laptops with really nice designs and impressive features.
The Dell Inspiron 15 5000 is a low-budget laptop that features a 15.6 inch 1080p full HD display and is powered by an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with a base clock of about 2.3 gigahertz and a boost clock of about 4.0 gigahertz and an AMD Radeon integrated graphics.
Also, it comes with an 8gig DDR4 RAM at 3200MHz, a storage capacity of 256gig SSD, and a decent battery life of about 7 hours with fast charging. It happens to be the most expensive laptop on this list.
Pros
- It’s quite affordable
- Features a really decent processor
- Decent battery life with a fast charge feature.
Cons
- Has a limited storage capacity of 256gig.
Acer Swift 3
This is another low-budget Acer laptop on this list that features a 14inch 1080p full HD IPS display, an AMD Ryzen 7 5700U Octa-Core Processor with a speed of 2.10 gigahertz, an integrated AMD Radeon graphics, an 8gig RAM, a storage capacity of 512 NVMe SSD.
This laptop will be relatively fast depending on the kind of game. You might have challenges playing high-demanding or flagship games but less demanding games should function properly on this laptop.
For ports, it features an HDMI port, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, and an audio jack. It has a pretty decent battery life with a 65w lithium-ion battery that can last for a maximum of 12 hrs.
Pros
- It’s really affordable considering the features it possesses
- Decent processor for a laptop around the 500-dollar budget
- Very impressive battery life
- Impressive storage capacity for a 500-dollar laptop.
Cons
- The 1080p display will be an issue because you might have to reduce the graphic settings to get a consistent frame rate
- It won’t be able to play current flagship games because they more than 8 gigs to function properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are There Any Gaming Laptops Under 500?
Yes, there are some gaming laptops under $500. Or should we say, there are laptops under $500 that can be used for gaming? Laptops like Lenovo Ideal Pad 3, Hp Pavilion 15, Hp 15, Acer Aspire 5, and Asus VivoBook f510ua are among the gaming laptops you can get within the $500 price range.
However, if you intend to play the flagship games or new releases, these laptops are not for you.
They do not have the requirements to give you a solid gaming experience. Most laptops under $500 that can be used for gaming are not typical gaming laptops and can’t handle heavy, demanding games. They are suitable for light gaming or less demanding games.
Are There Gaming Laptops Under $300?
Not really. There are laptops under $300 that can be used for gaming, but they can’t really be considered gaming laptops. Hp Chromebook, ASUS L210MA-DB01, and Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 are laptops under the $300 dollar budget that can be used for gaming.
These laptops don’t have the requirements to run modern or flagship games smoothly, or might not even have the requirements to run them at all. They are meant for light and only light gaming. To be honest, no one should consider getting any laptop below $300 for gaming.
Best Gaming Laptop Under $500?
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3, Hp 15, and Acer Aspire 5 can be considered the best gaming laptops within the $500 budget. These laptops can give you a decent FPS when used for light gaming or less demanding games. But it won’t run flagship games smoothly.
Are There 17-Inch Gaming Laptops Under $500?
Yes, there are. Lenovo Idea Pad 3, Hp 17.3, Acer Aspire 3, and Asus VivoBook 17 are some gaming laptops within the $500 budget with a 17-Inch display.
Are HP $500 Laptops Good For Gaming?
Yes. Hp 14 and Hp Pavilion 15 can be considered gaming laptops within the $500 budget. However, these laptops are not designed for heavy games or flagship games. They can only run less demanding games smoothly.
Wrapping It Up
Every laptop on this list actually has really decent features for that budget but to be honest, these laptops would at most give you an average gaming experience. It’s impossible to get a 500$ budget gaming laptop that will give you an impressive gaming experience.
The laptops on this list put a limit on the kind of game you can play. You mostly would be able to play lightweight games with the laptops on this list but won’t be able to play flagship games.
The best option for you will be to up your budget to get a laptop that would provide you with a really good gaming experience.
Most of the laptops in this article feature a 1080p display with integrated graphics which will be an issue. None of these laptops possess a mux switch that allows you to turn off or turn on integrated graphics to give the best possible game performance.
Your only option will be to reduce your graphic settings to get the best frame rate.
Another option, if you are working with a strict budget or can’t afford to up your budget, will be to upgrade the upgradeable parts of your laptop to improve your gaming experience or to buy a pre-built one.
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