Finding an affordable gaming laptop is not at all difficult in the modern day and age. Gone are the days when you had to spend a thousand dollars just so you could get your hands on something that works really well. If you have some time on your hand and you want to get started with gaming, a good gaming laptop that is also affordable is the way to go.
Believe it or not, finding the best gaming laptops under 500 is not a chore anymore as there are plenty of those available for you to check out and almost all of them are going to deliver amazing performance regardless of what you are looking to invest on.
The roundup caters to all the gamers out there who are on a budget but still want their hands on something that is good and will at least not make them feel like they have wasted their money. For the concerned, we also have ad definitive buying guide. This means that you do not have to stress over buying the wrong laptop as we are here to change that.
1. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 – Best Laptop under 500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
The great thing about the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is that it does come with a really good combination of CPU and GPU, something that is not going to let you down if you are looking for some light to mid-range gaming and the fact that the laptop is small enough is another thing that I do love about this laptop.
For CPU, you are getting the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U, which serves as a pretty good CPU and delivers well-balanced performance, too. Under the hood, you are also getting AMD Radeon 7 GPU, which serves as a great choice for this laptop as it does not increase the overall cost and if you are in search of some good performance, then this is the laptop you should be looking into.
I am more than happy to report that the performance on this laptop is excellent and you are not getting something that will not perform as well as you might want.
Storage and RAM
It is safe to say that both the storage and RAM are important aspects of almost every laptop you are getting in the market. Not just laptops, these factors are also important for almost any digital device that you could get your hand on and same is the case here.
Thankfully, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 comes with 8 gigs of RAM that you can easily go ahead and upgrade should you decide to go for it. Not just that, you are also getting access to 256 gigs of storage, which should be more than enough for Windows, your applications, and a couple of games. So, any worries you might have there are not going to be of a concern.
Keyboard and Display
It is safe to say that without having access to a good keyboard and display, a lot of people would not want to go ahead and buy a laptop. I mean, what even is the point of having a laptop that is not going to give you a good display.
Thankfully, that is not the case here. The keyboard on the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is better than you might expect, it is comfortable, easy to use, and does not come in the way of the overall experience. Whether you are gaming or doing some word processing, you are looking at an excellent keyboard here.
As far as the display is concerned, it is true that you are getting a full HD display and while the resolution is decent here, to say the least. I have an issue with the fact that the display itself is dull and that might not be of everyone’s liking, which is a sad thing.
Connectivity and Warranty
Last but not the least, we are looking at connectivity and warranty that the IdeaPad 3 brings to the table and honestly, there is a lot of good that this laptop has to offer in terms of connectivity including a USB Type-C port, which I believe should be a common in almost every laptop in the market. Other than that, the laptop has all the other ports that one would need, including USB A port, which is more than welcomed.
As far as the warranty goes, the laptop is covered under 1-year standard Lenovo warranty which ships with most of the laptops that you are going to find in the market.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
2. Lenovo Flex 5 – Best 2-in-1 Laptop
Best laptop for college students under $500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
There is no denying that without having access to a good CPU and a GPU, the laptop’s performance might not be as good and you will be left with something that is average at best. What is the point of wasting your time and money on hardware when the performance is going to be subpar at every level.
Thankfully, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14 offers a decent combination of a powerful enough processor and a capable GPU to a point that you can easily go ahead and do some decent, lightweight gaming in addition to the overall performance that you are going to get from this CPU.
The good thing is that you are getting the Ryzen 3 4300U and Radeon graphics that you are getting is a good combination and the overall performance that is here is also pretty good, so you should be more than happy to know that you are getting your hands on something great overall.
Storage and RAM
I cannot stress the importance of storage and RAM enough, to be honest. Without access to both, you might not be able to get ahead in your tasks, and that changes now, thankfully. Why so? Well, the performance you are getting here is decent to say the least and the overall experience is good.
The laptop brings 4 gigs of RAM and 128 gigs of storage. I do understand that it is not as much as some of the other higher end laptops but for most basic tasks and light gaming, this definitely is a respectable offering.
Keyboard and Display
Moving further, keyboard and display are two of the most important aspects of any laptop you are getting. Considering how these things are going to be consistently there, it is better that you are getting good performance out of them.
The keyboard is actually really good and comfortable and I honestly did not run into any issues as far as the overall experience is concerned. However, I would like to mention that if you have been searching for a good laptop with enough keyboard prowess.
Moving further, the display is a full-HD offering which should be good enough. Sadly, it does not offer a lot in terms of the brightness and maxes out at 250 nits, which is not something that most people would prefer.
Connectivity and Warranty
I remember the time when laptops used to skimp on connectivity simply because the companies wanted to make laptops smaller and more compact. Well, that has changed here because you are looking at this laptop, there is enough connectivity to go around and comfortable use the laptop without any issues. You do get an amazing laptop in terms of that, so you are not going to have to stress a lot.
Furthermore, the warranty on this laptop is pretty decent as well but nothing ground breaking. You are getting the standard 1-year warranty, so if that is something that tickles your fancy, you are good to go.
Pros
Cons
5/5
Editor’s Rating
3. HP 14 – Best Affordable Laptop under 500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
A good CPU and GPU can make almost all the difference and all of us are well aware of that. It is safe to say that you are going to need something that is good when you are looking at a good CPU and GPU in terms of the power and well, this laptop more than delivers in that case.
You are getting the revered AMD Ryzen 5 5500U which does deliver great performance and comes with a decent GPU too. So, what does that mean? Well, I am more than happy to report that in terms of computing performance, the CPU more than delivers it, which is what most people are going to look for. However, the compute performance is not the only thing that you are going to get with this laptop. You are also getting access to respectable enough gaming performance as long as you are not going towards AAA games.
Storage and RAM
Storage and RAM are important for most people. After all, what are you going to do if you run out of space or if the RAM that you are getting in the laptop or your computer is not enough. We simply do not want to have that experience and the same can be said for all the consumers.
Thankfully, this is not the problem with this laptop as you are getting access to enough RAM and storage to give you a stellar experience and well that is what we are looking for here. You really are not going to be disappointed.
Both RAM and storage can easily be upgraded, so from the standard 256/8GB storage configuration, you can easily go higher if you wish to.
Keyboard and Display
Moving further, the HP 14 also brings a pretty good display and keyboard experience. Sure, it cannot match the likes of the flagship laptops that we have seen for some time but hey, it does not have to. The laptop actually manages to deliver the performance on more than a single front and that is what I love about it so much.
The display on the other hand is pretty decent, too. Nothing to write home about but the money you are going to spend on this laptop is more than justified, and therefore, delivers a good performance overall, so nothing major to worry about.
Connectivity and Warranty
Last but not the least, we definitely are going to pay attention to the connectivity and warranty of this laptop. Speaking of connectivity, there are ample ports to get the job done and that certainly is not going to be a letdown. If you do want an overall good experience, this is the way to go.
Moving further, you are also getting the standard warranty that most laptop manufacturers are known for providing. These laptops ship with a year of warranty which is enough.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
4. HP 15 – Best Value Laptop
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
The vice with most of the affordable laptops that are available in the market is that they come with lackluster CPU and GPU. This is not something that we believe in. I mean, just because you are looking at an affordable laptop does not mean that the overall experience is not going to be good. If you genuinely want something good then this is it.
With that said, you are getting a decent CPU and GPU combination in the name of AMD Ryzen 3 5300U. I will be honest, in the start, I did have my doubts about how the performance is going to be, but I am more than happy to respond that if you genuinely want something that is good, then this is the CPU that you should be going for as it does deliver on that front.
Storage and RAM
Moving on, the RAM and storage are two things that I do like about this laptop. You can, of course, upgrade both of them and that too, without any problems. So, if you do want to go ahead and have the experience you want, this is a good offering.
With that said, the 256/8GB configuration is something that has become a commonplace for most of the budget laptops and that is not bad thing. The laptop at hand does make up for one of the best entry-level laptops that you can buy.
Keyboard and Display
Moving on, you are getting a decent keyboard that is known for working as it is advertised. HP has not claimed that you are getting a massively spruced up keyboard. It is simple and that is what the best thing about this keyboard and if you do want good performance, this is the way to go for and you will not be let down either.
The display on the other hand is something that is average. You are surely getting access to a full FHD screen but you are not going to be breaking any grounds here. Sure, the performance of it is good enough but it does not go super-bright and that is important to know.
Connectivity and Warranty
Last but not the least, we are paying some attention to the overall connectivity and warranty of this laptop. Considering how these are important for every consumer and without this, you might not really have the experience you are looking for.
Thankfully, you would be happy to know that the HP 15 does come with enough ports that you can use, and you will never feel like that you are being given something that simply is not good enough.
As far as the warranty is concerned, you are looking at a standard 1-year warranty, which should not really be a problem since you have more than enough time and these laptops easily live past that.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
5. Asus VivoBook 15 – Best Multimedia Laptop
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
The last CPU that we are looking into is a good one for those who are in the market for something that is decent and performs adequately given the price. Sure, we are not breaking grounds here but what you are getting is more than enough, allowing for a wonderful overall experience, to be honest that is not really going to let anyone down.
With that said, the CPU comes with an AMD Ryzen 5 1400 which is more than enough for entry-level gaming. I do understand that this is an older CPU but in terms of performance, you are getting more than enough and you really will not have any problems so you are good to go.
The GPU itself is adequate, too. If you are playing games like Counter Strike, DoTA, PUBG, and other similar games, you are more than okay in terms of the performance.
Storage and RAM
The storage and RAM are two things that this laptop is all about. I do understand that most people will be confused as to what they are getting but if you genuinely are interested in a laptop that delivers excellent performance in both aspects, then this is good
.For starters, you are getting 512GB of overall storage and that is an excellent offering for anyone who wants to install everything. Moving forward, you are also getting 8 gigs of RAM, which is more than enough.
Of course, if you want to go ahead, you can always upgrade both components. So, if you do need more storage, well, you are more than capable of doing that without any issues.
Keyboard and Display
Considering how you are looking at a laptop that is mainly built for good quality media experience, you are getting access to decent keyboard and display. Sure, it is nothing flagship but the overall experience in my opinion has been great to a point that I don’t think that you are going to run into any issues. So, buying this laptop makes a lot more sense than one might think.
Connectivity and Warranty
As far as the connectivity and warranty are concerned, these things can never be overlooked. However, if you do want something good, this is the one thing that you should be paying attention to. For starters, the VivoBook does bring enough ports for you to use without any worries.
Additionally, the laptop offers the standard warranty that you can find in some of the other laptops as well. While a year-long warranty might not seem enough to some, it will be enough in most of the cases as that is what people are often looking for.
Pros
Cons
4.6/5
Editor’s Rating
6. Acer Aspire – Best Acer gaming laptop for 500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
We all know just how important a good CPU and GPU are when you are talking about gaming and well, the situation is the same here. However, I have to tell you that the Acer Aspire is not made for high-end gaming or cutting-edge visuals. You are still getting a decent performance for e-sports titles or other similar games but anything more than that and you might have to reconsider a few things.
That is not to say that you are getting something that is not good enough. You are getting a built-in Vega GPU as well, so you do know that the performance is going to be there. It does make sure that your money’s properly spent.
Storage and RAM
Storage and RAM are the two places where this laptop ends up faltering a little. I am not saying that this is not a good laptop but with 4 gigs of RAM and 128 gigs of storage, you might find yourself in the need to upgrade either of them or both of them in near future, and well, that’s an important point of consideration.
Keyboard and Display
You are also getting a full HD display with an IPS panel, which is more than respectable considering how these things are not as easy to come by when you are looking at a budget level. I am not going to tell you that you can color correct on this display but for the purpose, it is good enough.
The keyboard itself is nothing fancy either but it is more than enough to get all the basic jobs done and that is what matters the most here, to be honest. So, always look into this.
Connectivity and Warranty
The Acer Aspire comes with a USB 3.1 and a couple of USB 2.0. You are also getting an HDMI port but sadly, there is no USB Type-C on the helm. You are also getting the standard 1-year warranty with this laptop so you must keep that in mind.
Pros
Cons
4.6/5
Editor’s Rating
7. Dell Inspiron – Best Dell Laptop for Gaming under 500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
In terms of the overall performance, it is important to know that you are not looking to break any benchmark scores or numbers because the processor and the GPU combination you are getting is best suited for games that are not going to be resource intensive. However, if indie titles or emulated games are your thing then this laptop is more than enough for that purpose and you will do just fine.
Storage and RAM
In terms of RAM, I am glad you are getting at least 8 gigs of RAM and knowing this laptop, you can always upgrade in the future if you wish to do so. However, the storage tops at 256GB so you might want to upgrade that in the future as it might not be enough for several people.
Keyboard and Display
Moving further to the keyboard and display; the keyboard is the standard, full-sized offering you get with 15.6-inch laptops. The display, sadly, is the disappointment here is as I was expecting at least a full HD display, but that is not the case here as you are only getting an average keyboard and display that might not be satisfying enough for everyone.
Connectivity and Warranty
For connectivity, you are looking at a couple of USB 3.0 ports, a USB 2.0 and an HDMI port. You are also getting the wireless bells and whistles, so that should be another good thing here. Additionally, the laptop also comes with 1-year standard warranty that should be more than enough.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
8. HP Flagship – good gaming laptop under $500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
Starting with the obvious, you are getting the Intel Core i3 7300U and it is important to know that while this dual core CPU is not going to win any competitions, it is still good enough to get most of the jobs done. If you want a laptop that is good with indie titles and something that can power through without breaking a sweat, this is the one to get.
Storage and RAM
For storage and RAM, things are looking good for this laptop to be honest. For starters, you are getting access to 1TB of storage and with that, there is 8 gigs of RAM as well. Both of them can easily be upgraded should the need be, so you are all settled and that too, without any issues.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard is what you could normally expect from an entry-level HP keyboard. It is nothing special but the good thing is that it will still get the job done and will deliver good enough performance so you will not be letdown, that is what I can guarantee everyone.
For display, you are looking at a 15.6-inch display; nothing over the top and something that you can find on almost all the entry-level HP laptops that are available in the market.
Connectivity and Warranty
You are looking at some of the basic connectivity options including dual USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 port, an SD card slot, as well as 1-year warranty. Of course, it is nothing that is out of the way as most of the laptops are going to ship with this so you are all sorted here.
Pros
Cons
4.0/5
Editor’s Rating
9. 2018 HP 15.6” – Best Value for Money
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
Much like some of the other laptops featured, this one is also oriented towards the budget minded folk. You are getting access to an Intel Core i5 7200U, something that has been a good laptop and is in use for some time now, it delivers good overall performance and is not at all disappointing, so you are all sorted.
The GPU is an integrated one, so it is more or less suited for indie titles and you should not be investing in it if you are looking for something higher end.
Storage and RAM
For storage and RAM, you are getting some pretty decent specs, and that certainly is a good thing. For starters, there is 8 gigs of DDR4 RAM which can certainly be upgraded should you want to go ahead with that and a 2TB hard drive as well, which is another great thing that you can have with this laptop, and something that will not let you down.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard on this laptop is ordinary, but always is enough to get all the basic tasks done without breaking a sweat. As far as the display is concerned, I have seen this panel making rounds in several budget laptops and well, it is not bad by any definition but if you are looking for a higher quality display, then you might want to look elsewhere.
Connectivity and Warranty
The laptop brings dual USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports, a single USB 2.0 port, a single HDMI port, and all the other connectivity options including a headphone jack, as well as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. You are also getting access to a standard 1-year HP warranty.
Pros
Cons
4.2/5
Editor’s Rating
10. Acer Aspire 5 8265U – Excellent Performance for the Price
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
We are finally moving up the ladder and you are getting better specs this time around with a Core i5 8265U and it works really well in terms of performance. Sure, it is not going to give you the desktop level performance but everything you do have is great and you will not be regretting it either.
Additionally, you are getting access to built-in Intel HD graphics that are more than enough in terms of the performance and the price you are paying for this laptop.
Storage and RAM
The laptop also brings ample RAM at 8GB, considering the type of tasks you will be doing with this laptop, it is more than enough and should not let anyone down, either. Additionally, you are looking at 256 gigs of SSD and while that might not be enough for everyone, it still is better than having absolutely nothing.
Keyboard and Display
Moving further, you are looking at backlit keyboard, which is always helpful if you are looking to type or game during the night. The keyboard is comfortable enough for longer runs, and the screen also comes with FHD resolution with IPS display, so you know you do have something good at your hands and something that is not going to let you down.
Connectivity and Warranty
The laptop offers a USB 3.1 Type-C port, dual USB 3.1 ports, and a single USB 2.0 port. You are also getting access to a standard HDMI port along with a fingerprint scanner. The warranty period on this laptop is 1-year, which is now a standard for all the laptops in the market within this range.
Pros
Cons
4.5/5
Editor’s Rating
11. Dell Inspiron 15 5000 – Best Laptop for Multitasking
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
The Dell laptop that I have my hands on brings you better overall specs in terms of the CPU you are getting. You are getting an Intel Core i5-8250U, a decent quad core chip that is good when it comes to delivering good overall performance in addition to being good at multi-tasking.
For the GPU, the graphical tasks are handled by an integrated unit; this goes to show that most of the gaming that this laptop will be able to handle is going to be good when you are talking about entry-level tasks and nothing fancier than that.
Storage and RAM
The laptop also comes with 8GB DDR4 RAM which you can expand if you feel like it, it is good enough and should be more than enough for the tasks at hand. For storage, you are looking at a 1TB hard drive, which might not be able to deliver the fastest transfer rates, but the good news is that you still have access to expandability options.
Keyboard and Display
The Dell at hand does come with a backlit keyboard that works really well overall and does not really create too many issues for anyone. If you are in the market for something solid and good in terms of the overall performance, this is the one to get.
For the display, you are looking at a full HD 15.6 display that does work really well, and considering how the colors on this laptop are also nice enough, you are not really giving a lot away.
Connectivity and Warranty
For the connectivity, you are getting a decent set of options such as a couple of USB 3.1 ports, a USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The speakers are also excellent and the 1-year warranty is there to back everything up in case you need that.
Pros
Cons
4.1/5
Editor’s Rating
12. Acer Aspire E15 – Best Gaming Laptop for Battery Life
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
If you are on a budget and are looking for something that is decent enough for your requirements then the Acer Aspire E15 does deliver just that as you are getting an 8th generation Core i3. I do understand that it is not going to score the highest, but for the tasks you want the laptop to handle, this is plenty and should work just fine.
Again you are welcomed with an integrated GPU that should be enough to play some indie titles but nothing over the top as the laptop is not equipped enough on that level.
Storage and RAM
For storage, you are looking at a 1TB HDD, which might not be enough for everyone but for bonus purposes, you are also getting the ability to upgrade to a faster SSD, which is always a good thing. Moving further, the 6GB RAM is a bit odd, to be honest. But this is what Acer has decided to go with.
Keyboard and Display
The Acer Aspire E15 comes with a standard keyboard that we have come to expect at this point, and I cannot really say if it is something that is going to impress anyone but hey, the option is there for you and it works the way it is intended to work.
You are also looking at a pretty good and decent display that will deliver the performance you want but there is nothing over the top, so that is one thing to know.
Connectivity and Warranty
The Acer Aspire E15 comes with a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, you are also getting dual USB 3.0 ports, a single USB 2.0 port, and an HDMI port, as well. You are also getting a 1-year warranty, which has become the industry standard for some time now.
Pros
Cons
4.1/5
Editor’s Rating
13. HP 2019 – Best Gaming Laptop for Fortnite under $500
Shop on Amazon
CPU and GPU
The laptop comes with the Intel Core i5 8250U, it’s a decent enough performance that does deliver good performance and while you are not getting a powerful, dedicated GPU, the one that is already there is good enough for the job and should not let you down.
Storage and RAM
For storage, the laptop does let a lot of people down because you are only getting access to 128 gigs of SSD and while you can certainly upgrade that, it does feel like a disappointment. For RAM, you are looking at 8 gigs of RAM, which is what we have come to expect at this point and there is nothing wrong with that, either.
Keyboard and Display
The keyboard and display are two of the things which are a hit and a miss. For instance, the keyboard does feel premium but is more or less your standard set of affairs and the display you are getting is also just HD with moderate bezels. You will not be blown away by looking at how this laptop looks, I am afraid.
Connectivity and Warranty
You are getting a USB 2.0 port, a USB 3.0 port, SD card reader, headphone jack, and an HDMI port as well. You are getting a standard 1-year warranty that comes with most HP laptops in this price category.
Pros
Cons
4.3/5
Editor’s Rating
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What laptops run games well?
Honestly, that really depends on the laptop you are trying to go for and the games you are playing. Different laptops are made to cater to different user types.
What is the best gaming laptop 2020 under $500?
You are going to run into countless laptops in the given category and price range and based on your requirements, you can easily find something that is good.
Is 4GB RAM enough for gaming?
That all depends on the games that you are trying to play. There are some games that work just fine with 4 gigs of RAM and at the same time, there are some that require more RAM. So, you have to be careful here.
How to Buy the Perfect Gaming Laptops under 500
Now that we have gone through almost all the aspects of a gaming laptop that is cheap and also gets the job done, the next job is to start looking at some really good factors that will help you find the best offering there is in the market so you do not end up spending your money on other products that look tempting.
Thankfully, there are enough offerings available to check that you should not run into any problems. Still, for anyone who is buying a laptop for the first time, there are certain things that you have to know before you make a decision.
So, let’s not waste more time and start exploring.
The Budget
I have said this numerous times in the past that the start of a good laptop or anything, for that matter, cannot really come if you do not have a proper budget setup. A lot of people have very little idea about this and therefore, they end up messing this prospect as well and well, we want to avoid that, at all costs.
What I always suggest my readers is that before they go for a new laptop, it would be wiser if they pick up a notepad or start checking their financials so they can make the right decision and well, without that, things might not really make that much sense, to begin with. So, always keep this in mind.
The Specs
Buying a gaming laptop is a bit different than let’s say buying a laptop that you want for Netflix and other similar activities. Wherein, a laptop for Netflix does not have to boast powerful hardware. It only needs to be powerful enough to get all the things sorted so you can play the games you want to play without any complications.
So, before you decide that you want to get your hands on a gaming laptop, be sure that once you have decided your budget, you are also deciding on the specs of the laptop you are interested in buying because it is very, very important that you do not end up getting something wrong.
The Games You Want to Play
Of course, you have finally decided that you want to spend money on a gaming laptop and you are about to get your hands on one. There are a number of things that need to be considered and one of the most important ones has to be the fact that you need to know about the games that you are going to play.
This is not at all important when you are talking about something akin to a laptop that you are buying for word processing or other tasks that are not as intensive in terms of the resource usage, but if you want to game on your laptop, you will be needing something that is good, and well powerful, as well.
Portability
There used to be a time when gaming laptops were heavy and bulky to a point that carrying them would almost be impossible. That has more or less changed now because the laptops have become so much lighter and easier to carry to a point that you really do not have to worry about carrying them.
Still, gaming laptops are still heavier as compared to the standard thin and light laptops in the market and if you do want something that you can game on with ease, you will have to keep the portability in mind. It will not entirely be crippled, but it will be affected to a certain degree, so better have that in mind.
Conclusion:
A cheap gaming laptop is a dream for a lot of people and often times, you end up finding the wrong laptop because you were not sure about what you should be looking at and what you should be ignoring, in the first place.
Thankfully ,the whole round up is dedicated to those who are looking to get their hands on a laptop that is going to serve them well through their career or a foreseeable time as well. If you do want your hands on a good laptop, this is the one that you have to do so you do not end up getting the wrong laptop.
There is nothing worse than spending money on a laptop that is inherently not as good as you wanted it to be.
