There are plenty of brands and amazing laptops in the market, but finding the best laptops for students under $500 is a difficult job. When you will start searching, you may find out there are not many options, but if you keep on searching, you see that there is a huge selection of laptops in this price range. As our budget is $500, we have to select the best laptops for students in that range.
It means that mostly you will see that Chromebook fall under this price range but if you want to get a Windows 10 laptop, then you should go for a Microsoft Surface Go 2 which is not only a laptop but can work as a tablet as well. Do keep this fact in mind that you may have to make some compromises, you may not be able to watch the movies on your device with resolutions higher than 1080p, but as you know this is a great resolution as well.
Since there are many options, we have listed below some of the best laptops for students and gaming under $500. If you need a laptop under this range, you should choose one from this list as this list will bring you the best laptops that are good for studies, gaming, or entertainment.
Dell Latitude E5440
Microsoft Surface Go 2
Acer Aspire 5
Acer Chromebook Spin 11
Samsung Chromebook 3
Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook
Dell Latitude E5440:

Dell Latitude is a perfect device to buy for under $500. Its higher versions are not so cheap, but some of its latest models are much cheaper and you can buy this without worrying about anything. For performance, it is a commendable option that you can avail of. Even if it is a 4th generation device, you can not differentiate between it and a laptop of 5th generation’s speed. Its graphics and high-performance CPU allow you to play games and do other activities with no hassle. You can also do beginner level image and video editing on this device seamlessly. Available at Amazon or Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $499.00
- CPU: 2.1 GHz, Intel Core i7-4600U
- RAM: 16 GB
- Storage: 500 GB SSHD
- Display: 14.1 inches, 1366 x 768 HD
- Battery Timing: 6 Hours
- Weight: 1.99 KG (4.40 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
Microsoft Surface Go 2:

This device falls in the best laptops’ list because it is a hybrid device with dual functionalities. It supports Windows 10 and can be used as a tablet. Surface Go 2 is almost like the Go 1, but it has an upgraded shape that looks charming. This device includes a 10.5 inches display screen with bright and eye-catching shades of colors. It does include a webcam feature allowing you to conduct or join meetings with the best quality. This is the best option for people who need a 2-in-1 laptop. Available at Amazon or Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $399.99 to $449.99
- CPU: 1.7 GHz, Intel Pentium Gold 4425Y
- RAM: 4 GB or 8 GB
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC or 128 GB SSD
- Display: 10.5 inches, 1920 x 1280 Full HD
- Battery Timing: 10 Hours
- Weight: 550 Grams (1.22 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
Acer Aspire 5:

This device is one of the best devices because of its amazing performance and response time. The laptop includes some of the best and latest specifications and has a bright and attractive display screen that is difficult to find under this range. Its shape is sleek and the edges are created in a pleasant look. Some of its versions do have a backlit keyboard and a fingerprint sensor as well. If you need a laptop and don’t want to waste your time searching for the best, this device is perfect for you in all its aspects. Available at Amazon and Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $364.99
- CPU: 2.6 GHz, AMD Ryzen 3-3200U
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 128 GB SSD
- Display: 15.6 inches, 1920 x 1080 Full HD
- Battery Timing: 7-8 Hours
- Weight: 1.67 KG (3.7 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
Acer Chromebook Spin 11:

This device is fairly inexpensive as compared to its features. This device can be folded to watch movies or reading books and can be used for playing games as well. It has a touch screen display and comes with a stylus pen as well. The only downside of this device is that its screen is not that bright as compared to the latest laptops of 2020. But its performance and shape make it worthy of buying, especially if you need a laptop under $500. Available at Amazon or Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $329
- CPU: Intel Celeron N3350
- RAM: 4-8 GB
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Display: 11.6 inches 1366 x 768 HD
- Battery Timing: 10 Hours
- Weight: 1.34 KG (2.96 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
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Samsung Chromebook 3:

It is a great and highly affordable device. It can handle multiprocessing at a time and have a much brighter and smooth display as compared to the other competitors of its price range. Include a webcam that has features such as face filters, multi-shot modes, live video chats, etc. Commonly it uses Chrome OS but can work flawlessly with Android App as well because of its compatibility. Available at Amazon or Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $299.00
- CPU: Intel Celeron N3060
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 32 GB
- Display: 11.6 inches 1366 x 768 HD
- Battery Timing: 10 Hours
- Weight: 1.13 KG (2.5 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
Lenovo Ideapad Duet Chromebook:

Because of its hybrid tablet and laptop features, this device is for people, especially the students who want to buy a laptop under the $500 range. Its tablet mode is extremely useful for people who do research, reading or watching movies on their devices. Its high-speed performance, amazing display screen, and snap-on keyboard are some of the features that make it a super suitable device for most users. It is lightweight portable but has only one downside that its design is good but not that great. Available at Amazon and Bestbuy.
Specifications:
- Price: $279.00
- CPU: MediaTek Helio P60T
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 64 GB eMMC
- Display: 10.1 inches, 1920 x 1200 Full HD
- Battery Timing: 8-10 Hours
- Weight: 450 Grams ( 1.00 Pounds)
- Find Best Price at Amazon.com
FAQs:
What should be considered while selecting a laptop?
The basic things that should be considered include the processor, RAM, storage, storage type (SSD/HDD), display screen resolution, operating system, weight, size, and battery life.
Does the weight of the laptop matter?
Not so often because it has no connection with the device performance but if you travel a lot or you have to keep your laptop with yourself for a long time, then you should choose a lightweight laptop so you can carry it in your bag without hurting your shoulders.
What’s the best laptop for a student?
You should not look for the best laptop, instead, find a laptop that meets your requirements and can help you in all types of your study-related activities.
Is a $500 laptop good for students?
If you are a student related to a non-tech field, then laptops under $500 will work for you perfectly, but if you are related to software engineering, then you may need a better one at some point. You can also get the job done by modifying your $500 laptop.
Conclusion:
The above-mentioned laptops are the most efficient and suitable laptops for students under the $500 range. Pick the one that falls in the range of your budget and provide you with the required features as well. This list is created by considering all the important aspects in mind, so don’t worry and choose the one that suits you.