Craving an immersive gaming experience without breaking the bank? Affordable options do exist! We’ve identified high-performing gaming laptops under $500 in 2024 that cater to your gaming needs without costing a fortune. Let’s explore these budget-friendly gaming powerhouses & find the perfect match for your gaming adventures.
| # | Products | Description | Unique factors | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dell Inspiron I3567 | Everyday use, Intel Core, integrated graphics. | HD display, Waves MaxxAudio Pro, multiple ports. | View |
| 2 | HP 15 | Everyday use, Intel/AMD processors, integrated graphics. | HP TrueVision HD camera, fast charging, lightweight design. | View |
| 3 | Asus Vivobook 15 | Thin and light, Intel/AMD processors, integrated graphics. | NanoEdge display, ErgoLift hinge, backlit keyboard. | View |
| 4 | Acer Aspire A515 | Everyday tasks, Intel Core, GeForce MX. | BlueLightShield, Precision Touchpad, multiple ports. | View |
| 5 | Lenovo Ideapad | Everyday use, Intel/AMD processors, integrated graphics. | Dolby Audio, eye-care mode, modern design. | View |
| 6 | Dell Inspiron 15 3000 | Everyday tasks, Intel Core, integrated graphics. | Waves MaxxAudio Pro, HD webcam, multiple ports. | View |
| 7 | Acer Chromebook 314 | Everyday tasks, Intel Celeron, integrated graphics. | Chrome OS, long battery life, lightweight design. | View |
| 8 | Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R5ED Gaming Laptop | Gaming, AMD Ryzen 5, Radeon RX 560X. | CoolBoost cooling, NitroSense monitoring, red backlit keyboard. | View |
Best Gaming Laptops Under 500 Dollars
1. Dell Inspiron I3567
Things to consider before buying
A Windows 10 laptop with a 15.60-inch display and a 1920×1080 pixel resolution is the Dell Inspiron I3567-3276BLK-PUS. It has an 8GB RAM configuration with a Core i3 processor. The Dell 3567 was introduced in the start of 2017. Since then, laptops have drastically changed, offering more value for about the same cost. Full HD variants are currently available for as little as $400. Other notable areas where laptops have recently made substantial advancements include storage capacity and interface possibilities.
Best features
- Durability
- Large display
- Efficient customer support
- Affordable and economical
- Bulky storage
Pros
- Big screen
- Decent battery life
- Professional looks
Cons
- Overheating issues
- Screen is not completely HD
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 15 x 0.9 x 10.2 inches |
| Screen size | 15.60 inch |
| Processor | Core i3 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| Battery | Upto 6 hours |
2. HP 15
Things to consider before buying
The HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (2021) is a budget-friendly gaming laptop with AMD Ryzen 5000-series CPUs and dedicated NVIDIA GPUs. It’s entirely made of plastic. It’s also very simple to get to the internals if you need to upgrade the RAM or install a 2.5-inch hard drive. Overall, the user experience is good: the keys on the keyboard are well-spaced and have enough travel, and there’s a Numpad if you frequently do calculations or work in spreadsheets.
There are a good number of ports, including a dedicated HDMI 2.0 port and three total USB ports for connecting all your devices. However, its single USB-C port only supports data transfer and video output and cannot be used to charge the laptop. Unfortunately, due to its limited colorgamut, the screen appears washed out, and it does not get bright enough to be used outdoors or in bright rooms. It also has a short battery life and cannot last a full workday.
Best Features
- Build quality and sturdy hardware
- Budget friendly
- User friendly interface
- Efficient specs
- Can be used for both Gaming and office purposes
Pros
- Good performance
- User-friendly keyboard
Cons
- Short battery life
- Type-C port unavailable
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Operating System | Windows 11 |
| Display | 39.6 cm (15.6") diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, micro-edge, anti-glare, 300 nits, 72% NTSC |
| Dimensions | 37.8 x 25.21 x 1.99 cm |
| Processor | Intel core i5, 11th Generation |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Graphics | Discrete, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3050 Laptop GPU (4 GB GDDR6 dedicated) |
| Battery | Up to 11 hours and 30 minutes |
3. Asus Vivobook 15
Things to consider before buying
The Asus VivoBook 15 is a no-frills but reasonably-priced option. It’s slightly faster than most of its similarly priced competitors, has an above-average selection of ports, and has decent battery life. The most significant compromises are a display with poor brightness balancing and sharpness, and a small (but not uncommon in this price range) 128GB SSD for storage.
The Asus Vivobook 15 laptop is not one of the best gaming laptops for resource-intensive games. However, the laptop remains a viable option for casual gaming. You can play games like GTA 5 or Fortnite at low to medium settings while maintaining a steady 30 FPS. Asus has a good reputation for producing long-lasting laptops. When fully charged, the laptop battery can last between 2 and 5 hours depending on the type of game.
Best Features
- Fast and precise
- Relatively faster loading rates than its competitors
- Decent build quality and unique design
Pros
- Good battery life
- Excellent display
Cons
- Poor aesthetics
- Finger-print scanning issues
| Storage | Hard Disk 1TB SSD 512GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 360.00 x 235.00 x 22.90 |
| Processor | dual-core Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Graphics | Intel Integrated HD Graphics 620 |
| Battery | 37 WHr lithium polymer battery 5-8 hours per charge |
4. Acer Aspire A515
Things to consider before buying
The Acer Aspire 5 A515 is a straightforward laptop that offers adequate performance for the price. It is not the most visually appealing laptop, but its overall construction is satisfactory. This laptop isn’t the most exciting thing you’ll ever see. It lacks both cutting-edge hardware and a luxurious build. However, it is nearly perfect for a low-cost purchase. Its 15.6-inch display and dual-core AMD Ryzen processor make it a viable option.
The Aspire 5 A515 is powered by a dual-core AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor. The processor operates at a base frequency of 2.60 GHz and can reach a maximum speed of 3.50 GHz. A dual-core CPU is sufficient for the majority of daily computing tasks. As a result, the Acer Aspire 5 A515 performs admirably in daily computing tasks.Furthermore, the Acer Aspire 5 A515 can handle document editing, web browsing, emailing, and YouTube video streaming.
Best Features
- Decent design
- Decent build
- Portable and easy to carry
- Powerful processor
- Good specs and features
- Can be opened 360 degrees flat
Pros
- Affordable
- Comfortable keyboard
- Sleek and lightweight
Cons
- Suboptimal webcam
- Touchpad not user-friendly
| Storage | 256GB M.2 PCIeNVMe SSD 2.5-inch HDD slot Upgradeable |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.6 inches |
| Dimensions | 14.31 x 9.39 x 0.70 inches (363.4mm x 238.5mm x 17.9mm) |
| Processor | 11th Gen Intel Core i3-1115G4 2 cores, 4 threads Up to 4.1GHz |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 (Soldered) Extra SODIMM slot Upgradeable |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Integrated |
| Battery | 48Wh |
5. Lenovo Ideapad
Things to consider before buying.
With the Lenovo 15.6″ IdeaPad Gaming 3i Laptop by your side, you’ll be able to play your favourite games and create content. with a 2.5 GHz Intel Core i5-10300H quad-core processor, this laptop is designed to load and multi-task 3D games and applications quickly.
Its bright resolution IPS (in-plane switching) 60 Hz display is powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 graphics, which delivers high frame rates, and its Dolby-enhanced stereo speakers help you immerse yourself in games, movies, music, and more.
Best Features
- Durability
- Build quality
- Robust display
- Easy multi-tasking
Pros
- Slim and sleek design
- Comfortable track-pad
Cons
- Difficulty in using upper half of the track-pad
| Storage | Up to 1TB SSD |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Display | 16 inches, 165Hz |
| Dimensions | 359.6 x 251.9 x 24.2 mm (14.16" x 9.92" x 0.95") |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen™ 7 4800H mobile processor AMD Ryzen™ 5 4800H mobile processor |
| RAM | Up to 32GB 4800MHz DDR5 |
| Graphics | 1920x1080 pixels |
| Battery | 45Wh battery last up to 9.7 hours between charges |
6. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
Things to consider before buying
There are plenty of good Chromebooks under $500, but there aren’t many inspiring Windows laptops at that price. Dell’s Inspiron 3000 series, which comes in three screen and chassis sizes, is an exception. The Inspiron 15 3000 configuration reviewed here has a 15-inch screen, starts at $293, and costs $369 when tested. It has all of the physical characteristics of a good low-cost laptop, but in its lower price range, it suffers from lackluster performance and, especially, mediocre display quality. If your budget is tight, you can live with these flaws.
Best Features
- Durable
- Decent specs and features
- Good customer care support
- Affordable
Pros
- Superb quad-core working
- Facial recognition
Cons
- Dim display
- Heavy
| Storage | 256GB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Display | 15.60-inch Resolution 1920x1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 380.00 x 260.30 x 25.15 |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 6th Gen 6006U |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Graphics | Intel Integrated HD Graphics 520 |
| Battery | 4 to 6 hours |
7. Acer Chromebook 314
Things to consider before buying.
The Acer Chromebook 314 is a return to the guiding principles that initially attracted so many people to Chromebooks. Here, you won’t find high-end screens, quad-core processors, or touchscreens; instead, you’ll find a low-cost device with a long batteryand pretty much all the basic functions that the majority of people need most of the time. Additionally, it is portable and functions more like a typical laptop. Retro with contemporary aesthetics and performance
Surprisingly, the keyboards on Chromebooks are all of decent quality and are comfortable to type on. The one on this gadget is ideal for the job because it has all the specialized keys youneed to quickly access Search, recently used apps, and full-screen mode.It is ideal for working indoors and bright enough to use in mild sunshine.
Best Features
- Decent design
- sturdy build
- Powerful processor
- Customer support
Pros
- High- resolution display
- Superb speakers
Cons
- Underperforms when heavy graphics applications are used
- Undesirable battery life
| Storage | 32GB eMMC |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Display | 14.00-inch 1920x1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 12.8 x 9.1 x 0.78 inches (32.5 x 23.1 x 2 cm; W x D x H) |
| Processor | Intel Core i3 6th Gen 6006U |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Graphics | Intel UHD Graphics 600 |
| Battery | 15 hours |
8. Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R5ED Gaming Laptop
Things to consider before buying.
The expense of more expensive laptops is largely attributed to their thin designs, whereas this laptop’s bulkier chassis is substantially less expensive. The Acer is moderately portable as gaming laptops go, but heavier than a contemporary daily carry
A 15.6-inch monitor, the longtime standard size, is tucked into this frame. Although larger 14.3-inch and 16-inch panels have become increasingly popular recently, 17.3-inch screens remain the standard for still-portable gaming laptops. It has a 144Hz refresh rate and a full HD (1,920 by 1,080-pixel) IPS display.The best gaming laptops on the list with high processing speed, fast refreshing rates, phenomenal display and a cool sturdy sleek design is what makes it the best pick.
Best Features
- Decent design
- Stylish build
- Powerful processor
- Good specs and features
Pros
- Good graphics
- Comfortable keyboard
Cons
- Heavy-weight
- Unpredictable battery life
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Operating System | Windows 10 Home |
| Display | 15.60-inch 1920x1080 pixels |
| Dimensions | 390.00 x 266.00 x 26.75 |
| Processor | 2GHz |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Graphics | GDDR5 |
| Battery | 5 hours |
Buying Guide for Laptops Under 500 dollars
There are many alternatives to take into account when purchasing a laptop, which can be a huge decision. You may learn the fundamentals from this article and discover the top gaming laptop for 2024.
When selecting a new gaming laptop, it might be challenging to know where to begin. The display, design factor, battery life, and of course the parts that power it all, are just a few of the elements to think about.
It’s normally impractical to upgrade a gaming laptop’s hardware, therefore it’s crucial to think ahead and consider your usage requirements. Setting the features that matter to you the most as priorities is a wonderful start.
Key factors to consider:
Display
CPU & GPU
Memory and storage.
Design
Ports and inputs
Your gaming experience might be affected by the screen’s size, resolution, and refresh rate. Do you want to use an external monitor or do you want to prioritize a screen with a high resolution or refresh rate.
Display
Refresh Frequency: A display with a higher refresh rate can make the activity on the screen seem smoother and simpler to follow. This is accomplished by drawing the image more frequently each second. This technology is used in many gaming laptop screens, some of which have refresh rates of 120Hz or 144Hz (or even higher).
OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode): These panels, which are available on some gaming laptops, feature pixels that generate their own light rather than a backlight. Since most laptop screens are frequently LED-lit liquid crystal displays, this means they are unable to achieve the same depth of black and contrast levels.
Display size: The most popular laptop configurations include displays that are 13, 15, and 17 inches in size. Laptop form factors and display sizes vary. The boundary around the screen, known as the bezel, can be thinner to enable larger screens in smaller form factors.
CPU
The central processing unit, or CPU, serves as the laptop’s “brain.” It processes the instructions supplied by all the software operating on your machine and sends signals to the other parts of your system.
The frame rates you see in games, the response times of applications, and even the laptop’s battery life can all be significantly impacted by the CPU you choose. Core count and clock speed are the two most frequently mentioned CPU parameters, although there are numerous more factors at play, including overclocking potential. Depending on how you use your laptop, the CPU features that are most important to you may differ, so it’s important to understand the fundamentals.
- Clock speed. The number of cycles a CPU performs each second is determined by the clock speed (measured in GHz). A faster CPU will typically have a higher clock speed, but there are many other considerations. See our page for additional information about CPU clock speed.
- Core number. A CPU that has several cores can perform more tasks since each core functions as a separate processing unit and can carry out multiple tasks at once. Using more than one software thread per hardware core allows CPUs with Intel® Hyper-Threading Technology to potentially achieve higher performance levels.
- CPU choices. It’s worth taking the time to choose the CPU that most closely matches how you intend to use your system because there are models available for practically every use case. . The Intel® CoreTM H processor series can be a fantastic option if you’re seeking for more cores and faster clock rates. For more performance headroom, unlocked CPUs (such the Intel® CoreTM i9-10980HK CPU) can be overclocked. Power-efficient CPUs like Intel’s U-series can assist extend battery life if portability is a need. We advise at least an Intel® CoreTM i7 processor to maintain consistent in-game performance while streaming or recording gaming. If you’re interested in live streaming gameplay, higher clock speeds and core counts are especially crucial because capturing software frequently needs a lot of computing power to compress video.
GPU
- The graphics processing unit (GPU) on a laptop is what produces the pixels that make up the visuals you see on your game screen. It’s essential for enjoying fluid frame rates and high-resolution gameplay, along with your CPU.
- A strong CPU and GPU are essential if you want to play games in 1440p or 4K. Higher resolutions result in more pixels being displayed on the screen; for example, playing a game at 4K resolution pushes four times as many pixels as at 1080p.
- Make sure the GPU and CPU of your gaming laptop can generate images at the right resolution for your screen or an external monitor while maintaining stable frame rates. To get an idea of how well they will run, compare the CPU and GPU in the laptop you are considering to the system requirements of the games you want to play.
- To fully take advantage of a 144Hz screen, if you’ve invested in one, you’ll need a GPU that can consistently deliver 144 FPS (or higher).
- Check the required benchmarks to determine the performance impact before enabling hardware-intensive rendering techniques like ray tracing technology.
Storage
In the majority of areas that affect gaming, solid-state drives (SSDs) perform better than previous mechanical drives (HDDs). Without using any moving elements, SSDs read and write blocks of data electronically using a form of flash memory called NAND. A moving drive head is used to access mechanical platters in HDDs, which are spun by a motor.
High random read/write rates, which allow them to quickly retrieve data stored in various locations on the drive, are one of the main advantages of SSDs over HDDs. They typically load applications and information more quickly than a comparable-sized HDD and can speed up system startup.
SSDs last longer than standard HDDs since they don’t have moving parts and have procedures to balance wear across memory blocks.
Because their production costs are higher than those of comparable-sized HDDs, SSDs typically cost more per gigabyte. For storing huge files, some systems therefore have both an SSD and a high-capacity HDD, though newer laptops increasingly rely only on SSDs.
anNVMe SSD. These drives replace the slower SATA interface with the faster PCIe bus, resulting in increased throughput and comparably quick random read/write rates.
SDRAM SATA. Similar to conventional HDDs, these drives employ SATA interfaces. Although slower than more recent NVMe drives, they are often speedier and more reliable than an HDD.
Technology for Intel® OptaneTM memory. A small NVMe-based solution called Intel® OptaneTM memory combines modern storage technology with intelligent memory that stores commonly used programmes and files for quick retrieval. This technology is ideal for use as a boot drive because it is made to load important apps and data quickly.
External memory. When onboard storage is at a premium, external hard drives or SSDs can offer cost-effective extra space.
RAM
The memory that temporarily stores data for quick retrieval by your CPU is known as random access memory, or RAM. It resets if there is a power outage, unlike an SSD or HDD, but it also makes frequently used data accessible more quickly than a storage disc.
A PC with greater RAM can run more processes concurrently and move between programs more quickly while still executing background functions.
For internet browsing, light job apps, or older games, 2-4GB of RAM may be adequate.
- For most job applications and mid-level games, 8GB of RAM may be plenty. 8GB of RAM or greater is the minimum system requirement listed for many contemporary PC games.
- A PC with 16GB of RAM can handle numerous background apps (such voice chat or video highlight recording), streaming software, and newer, resource-intensive games at higher settings.
- For resource-intensive multitasking, such as gaming, and content creation, or for anyone who frequently uses memory-intensive procedures like video editing or rendering, 32GB of RAM is the optimal amount.
Ram features
- RAM frequency, which is expressed in MHz (or millions of cycles per second), gauges how quickly your RAM can access memory after receiving a request from the CPU.
- There are gaming laptop designs that permit access to the internal SO-DIMM slots that house the RAM. Although it still happens occasionally, take into account how much RAM you could need for the experience you desire. Later adding more might not be feasible.
- SO-DIMM. Keep in mind that RAM from desktops and laptops is not compatible. In contrast to the DIMM slots you would often find on desktop motherboards, laptop RAM is frequently smaller, has a different pin arrangement, and fits into SO-DIMM (small outline dual in-line memory module) slots.
Design
The sizes and styles of gaming laptops are diverse. While more powerful gaming laptops have typically taken up more space, entry-level devices may attempt to strike a compromise between mobility and performance. The compromise has, however, been less common in recent years. High-end laptops can use high-performance components while yet remaining relatively small and light thanks to innovative thermal designs.
When thinking about laptop design, take into account the tradeoffs between power, pricing, mobility, available ports, and performance-enhancing additions.
- Develop caliber:The Aluminum casing can offer designs that are more sleeker and sturdier than traditional plastic.
- Bezel: Choose thin bezels to reduce the size of the device overall. By cutting the screen’s borders, producers can reduce the laptop’s size while keeping the screen size same.
- Weigh: A design that is more portable is one that is lighter and thinner. But “musclebooks,” or heavier, thicker gaming laptops, usually have more input-output (I/O) options and cooling solutions that are more appropriate for a sedentary home situation.
- Aesthetic: Brushed metal finishes, RGB lighting that the user may control, and other eye-catching design features could be found on high-end laptops.
- Extravagant addition: Ultrawide and multiple screens may be seen on high-end gaming laptops.
Ports
A laptop with additional ports has more choices for enhancing its usefulness. When comparing, keep in mind that some gaming laptops could sacrifice several ports in order to attain a smaller form factor.
Display. Utilize these connections, the most popular of which are HDMI and DisplayPort, to connect extra monitors or HDTVs.
Technology using Thunderbolt 3 Using the DisplayPort standard, this adaptable connection technology can provide video and audio to monitors. Additionally, it can deliver power and transfer data four times quicker than USB 3.1. For multiple display configurations or when transmitting huge volumes of data to external discs, this connection might be extremely helpful. If you want to use ThunderboltTM 3 technology, make sure your laptop is compatible first.
USB. Mice, headsets, external hard drives, and a plethora of other devices can all be connected to USB ports. The port’s data transfer speed is indicated by revision numbers like 2.0, 3.0, or 3.1, while classifications like “Type-A” and “Type-C” refer to the port’s type.
Conclusion
It turns out you don’t need to spend a lot of money to purchase something worthwhile. When you know what you need to acquire, you may get an excellent laptop even if you are on a tight budget.The aforementioned advice will make the process simpler for you overall. If you’re torn between a few laptops, use the tables to compare their specifications.
