Are you looking for the best budget gaming laptop for under 500 dollars?
Since gaming laptops are expensive, the computer world has gone a long way to make them more affordable.
You can have an intense gaming experience without breaking the bank if you buy affordable gaming gadgets.
Gaming is an expensive hobby, especially after getting a laptop or PC set up.
If you want to play PC games, you’ll have to spend more money on a good laptop and some equipment than on an Xbox or PlayStation 4.
Various gaming laptops are available at different price points – low-cost, mid-cost, and high-cost – providing options for those seeking a more budget-friendly choice. You can play entry-level and mid-range games with a $500 gaming laptop.
Today, you can get a reasonably priced laptop with excellent performance, a long battery life, and is quite portable.
Depending on your needs, you may disable some features while focusing on the essentials.
If you’re looking for one of the best $500 gaming laptops, you can look at the list of the cheapest options.
What is the Best Gaming Laptop Brand?
The brand of laptops is also essential because premium makers are constantly being introduced to good quality machines. However, if you only buy a cheap and non-performer notebook, it will likely be damaged after 2-3 years.
Just check if there is any service center near you. If your PC breaks down later, it can be easily replaced.
In addition, you can only get a service center that repairs regular-brand gaming laptops, so you must check the brand before buying a gaming laptop for $500.
Some popular gaming laptop brands, such as Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, Asus, and MSI, always launch a good computer within your budget.
What to Look for in a $500 Gaming Laptop?
You should check the laptop’s specifications; it relies on the work.
No one purchases a laptop only to play games on. They watch films, multitask, use Microsoft Office, video conferencing, and perform some activities.
As a result, you should pay close attention to all components, including the CPU, GPU, RAM, battery life, screen quality, and so on.
To use it primarily for gaming, you must concentrate on some of the crucial components listed below.
Performance should be Good.
To get better performance on any laptop or PC, you must buy the most essential and powerful components, such as processors, graphics cards, memory, etc.
CPU
It manages the laptop’s processes and internal components, so check its generation ( like intel 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th Gen and AMD Ryzen 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th gen) and how many cores it has when choosing one.
Intel:
13th gen Core i5, 12th gen Core i5, 11th gen Core i5.
Intel’s last two processors are not as powerful, but the first one is very powerful and can easily play modern games.
AMD:
AMD Ryzen 5 7500+, AMD Ryzen 5 6600+, AMD Ryzen 5 5500+, and latest Gen AMD Ryzen 7
AMD’s performance in processing and gaming will be excellent; if you like, please choose the latter two CPUs.
Need Smooth Graphics Card
Therefore, the dedicated GPU expansion slightly reduces the graphics processing pressure from the processor and memory.
But if you play light games, the integrated graphics can also perform better.
Integrated Intel:
Intel UHD, Inter Iris, Intel Iris Xe, Intel Iris Xe Plus.
Don’t Buy any older Laptops with minimal Graphics less than these for Under $500.
Intel Iris graphics card is more powerful than some of the dedicated GPUs.
Shared AMD
AMD Vega 6, AMD Vega 8, AMD Vega 10 or Latest AMD Radeon.
Integrated AMD GPU gives more power at a lower price; that’s why to select with a little attention.
Memory and Storage Should be More
When choosing memory, you should see its power and size.
For example, 8GB RAM has a speed of 3200 MHz, which is how you must check on a laptop.
In terms of storage, solid-state drives should be used as the primary storage drive.
Today’s work cannot be done with HDDs because it is much slower than SSDs.
8 Best Gaming Laptops Under $500: Top Picks
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
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Acer Nitro 5
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TOP Pick
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HP Victus 15
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Best Value
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MSI Thin GF63
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Check Price |
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Dell Inspiron 15
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
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HP Envy x360
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Check Price |
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Acer Aspire 3
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Check Price |
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ASUS VivoBook 14
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Check Price |
1. Acer Nitro 5
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Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H (6 cores, 12 threads, Boost up to 4.5 GHz) |
| GPU | 4GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 3200MHz |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe Gen 4 SSD |
| Screen | 15.6-inch full HD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz widescreen LED-backlit IPS display |
| Weight | 5.51 lbs (2.5 kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 hours |
| Others | Red Backlit Keyboard, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, Windows 11 Home |
Acer Nitro 5 is one of the best gaming laptops under $500. The Acer Nitro 5 laptop comes with a 6-core 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H Processor, with powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Graphics to make your Gaming and everyday tasks more accessible.
This latest 6-core processor enables you to play medium graphics games easily.
In this, you will get 8GB of DDR4 3200 MHz memory, which is ideal for everyone. You will get a 512GB SSD with a customization option, which is a perfect choice in this price range, and you can go for a higher version.
You can keep files, save games, and perform all operations with the option to upgrade later based on your requirements.
Here, you will see a 15.6-inch full HD widescreen display with an LED-backlit IPS function, and the backlight is a non-touch Narrow Border Display, which will be used in wide-angle and side views. Using this screen, you will not be disappointed at all.
The resolution of this display is (1920 x 1080) which is perfect. The screen refresh rate is 144 Hz.
The Acer Nitro 5 provides good battery life and it will give you all 7 hours of backup for everyday tasks and 4-5 hours for playing games. With this laptop, you will also get a 65-watt adapter, which can quickly charge the battery.
The keyboard and the multi-gesture trackpad are also very responsible, and will never disappoint you. It comes with a Red Backlit keyboard, so it feels good on typing.
You also get a multifunction two USB Type C Gen 2, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4 port, Headphone/Speaker/Line-out Jack, Ethernet (RJ-45), and more like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Strong Build Quality |
| ✔ Smooth Graphics Performance |
| ✔ Powerful CPU with Powerful GPU |
| ✔ Great Backlit Keyboard |
| ✔ Cheap Price |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘Bulky Design |
| ✘Noisy Fan |
Read our Acer Nitro 5 Full Review
2. HP Victus 15 Gaming
Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H (8 Cores, 12 Threads, 12MB Cache, Up to 4.4 GHz) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (4 GB GDDR5 dedicated) |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Screen | 15.6-inch diagonal, FHD (1920 x 1080), 144 Hz |
| Weight | 5.06 lbs (2.3 kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Others | Backlit keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, Windows 11 Home |
The HP Victus 15 Laptop is a lightweight gaming laptop that offers superior performance, durability, and convenience. Its powerful processor provides the perfect balance between performance and energy efficiency to smooth your gameplay while not compromising battery life.
The 12th Gen Intel Core Processor i5-12450H is powerful yet versatile and capable of efficiently handling demanding tasks like video editing, design, or gaming.
An 8GB DDR4 RAM provides the best speed for gaming. It also ensures no lag and enhanced performance for a smoother experience.
An NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GPU features enhanced ray tracing and tensor cores. It can offer increased performance in popular applications such as games, 3D design, and Virtual Reality (VR) content creation.
4GB of high-speed memory to optimize performance and reduce lag spikes.
A 512 GB of PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage; blazingly fast and more reliable than traditional SSDs. It gives you enough space to save all your documents and projects in one place.
Unfortunately, the battery lasts only about 4 hours and 40 minutes. So keep the charger nearby to keep playing through your day without worry.
It has a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display with a 1920×1080 resolution.
There is one HDMI, multiple USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and 802.11a/b/g/n/ac for wireless connectivity. Also, It can support all your devices and needs with 2 USB 2.0 and 2 USB 3.0 Ports. It supports Windows 11 Home OS.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Powerful Processor |
| ✔ Looking Stylish |
| ✔ Dual Speaker |
| ✔ Solid Build |
| ✔ Stunning Screen with 144Hz refresh rate |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Average Battery |
| ✘ No thunderbolt |
3. MSI Thin GF63
Specifications
| Processor | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H (8 Core, 1.3-4.5 GHz) |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 3200MHz Memory |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Screen | 15.6-inch FHD IPS LED-backlit 144Hz Display |
| Weight | 4.10 lbs (1.86 kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
| Others | Backlit Keyboard, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, and Windows 11 Home OS |
If you are a student looking for a thin and light laptop for all streaming and video editing, then the MSI Thin GF63 in an MSI laptop can solve all your problems.
MSI laptop allows us to work efficiently and enjoy entertainment anytime, anywhere. This MSI Thin GF63 is the best laptop for gaming under 500 dollars in 2024.
This is a thin and light gaming notebook. For less than $600, this laptop is suitable for all beginners and students. In addition, it is vital to quickly share content between your friends and the school.
Performance
In terms of performance, it is powered by an 8-core 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H processor and is paired with the most powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 graphics.
It can handle all the work, it is enough for gaming, streaming media, video conferencing, and online courses; remember that it will provide you with the best performance at a low cost.
It is loaded with 8 GB DDR4 RAM, very suitable for simple daily tasks but not suitable for high-quality games, and 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, which is 15 times faster than traditional hard drives.
This laptop can provide you with up to 6 hours of battery life and reliable power for a whole day.
Display and Design
The MSI Thin GF63 has a 15.6-inch FHD IPS LED-backlit 144Hz Display with a maximum screen resolution of up to (1920 x 1080) that can provide unmistakable image quality during streaming or video conferencing. This lets you enjoy ultra-wide viewing angles and seamlessly perform multi-monitor settings.
Other Features
Overall, it is designed for creative task. Also, it is suitable for family use, elementary school students, and college students.
This is not suitable for travel, even though it is slightly lighter 4.10 lbs (1.86 kg). It has an excellent full-size RGB Backlit keyboard. To stay cool it comes with the latest Cooler Boost 5 uses 2 fans and 6 heat pipes to ensure optimal thermal dissipation.
It has multiple input/output ports and connectivity features to achieve a faster data connection. For wireless connectivity, It has Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1 for speedy connection, and for wired, one USB Type-C port.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ DLSS support with the potent RTX 4050 GPU |
| ✔ Handles most games smoothly |
| ✔ Lightweight for its size |
| ✔ Easily upgradeable for future gaming needs |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Screen is not very bright. |
| ✘ Gets hot when playing games. |
| ✘ Battery life is just okay, not great. |
Read our MSI Thin GF63 Gaming Laptop Review
4. Dell Inspiron 15
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Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U (12MB Cache, 4.60 GHz) Processor |
| GPU | Shared Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| RAM | 16 GB, 2 x 8 GB, DDR4, 3200 MHz Memory |
| Storage | 512GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive |
| Screen | 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) 120Hz 250 nits WVA Anti-Glare LED-Backlit Display |
| Weight | 3.57 lbs (1.62 kg) |
| Battery Life | 3 Cell, 41 Wh (up to 9 hours 15 minutes) |
| Others | Backlit Keyboard, Windows 11 Home, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 |
Dell’s latest Inspiron 15 3000 series laptop is suitable for note-taking; we strongly recommend it for gaming and daily use.
This type of laptop is known for its versatility, thanks to its lightweight and portable design. It has a surface of a metal shell on the top.
These Dell Inspiron 15 3000 series laptops are equipped with 13th Generation Intel Core i5-1335U Processor, efficiently running entry-level and mid-range games. It comes with Shared Intel Iris Xe Graphics.
Although not perfect, it fits this budget well. In addition, if you are willing to buy, please provide the option of choosing Intel processors.
You will get 16GB of DDR4 memory, the latest 3200 MHz. You will get a 512GB SSD, which is an excellent choice in this price range. You can keep the files, save the game, do all the operations, or choose to upgrade.
Here, you will see a 15.6-inch full HD display with an anti-glare function and a non-touch narrow bezel WVA display with a backlight for wide-angle and side views.
Using this monitor, you will benefit from DELL Cinema Color; its brightness supports 250 nits, bringing you a lot of outdoor performance.
It has been pointed out that it needs to be more reliable for photo and video editors looking for accurate color representation.
This laptop has perfect battery life and can provide up to 8 hours of battery backup, which is the ideal choice in this price range. You will also get a 65-watt AC Adapter with this laptop.
The keyboard and multi-gesture trackpad are also very responsible and will never let you down. The performance is also good, and the typing feel is excellent. I also saw a backlit keyboard inside, which would help you type at night.
You can also get a multi-function USB Type-C port, HDMI port, a USB 2.0 port, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A and Type-C (data only) port, a micro SD card slot, and more features like Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Affordable Price |
| ✔ Latest and Powerful Processor |
| ✔ Sturdy build and design |
| ✔ Excellent Battery Life |
| ✔ It has Adaptive Thermals for cooling |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ No Thunderbolt Port |
5. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3
Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U mobile processor |
| GPU | AMD Radeon 610M |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4-3200MHz |
| Storage | 256GB NVMe SSD |
| Screen | 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080), IPS, Anti-Glare, 45%NTSC, 300 nits, 60Hz, LED Backlight |
| Weight | 3.52 lbs (1.6 kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours (MM18) |
| Others | WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1+, Fingerprint Reader, Windows 11 Home |
The new Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 is a good choice if the budget is limited. This laptop is equipped with AMD Ryzen 5-7520U mobile processor and AMD Radeon 610M reworked graphics card, which provide smooth performance.
Choosing the AMD Radeon 610 Integrated graphics card might be a good idea. Even though you have a limited budget, you can still play many games smoothly.
This laptop features a 15.6-inch display that offers a full HD viewing experience with a maximum resolution of 1080p, ensuring clear and sharp images.
This laptop equipped with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, which can be easily upgraded in the future. This is one of the reasons why we selected this $500 gaming laptop.
Additionally, this Lenovo laptop is impressively lightweight, weighing only 3.52 pounds (1.6 kg), making it highly portable and easy to carry around.
This lightweight notebook computer is suitable for primary and middle school students. You can also watch videos and play some games, and it is better for daily work.
I noticed several ports on this laptop, including two USB 3.0 ports, a fully functional USB Type-C port, and an HDMI port. It also boasts the latest Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for seamless connections to other devices.
Lenovo laptops are known for their excellent audio quality, delivering clear sound. The display bezels on the sides are narrow, although there’s a bit more space at the top and bottom for a slight contrast in design.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Secured Fingerprint Reader |
| ✔ Affordable Price |
| ✔ Powerful Processor |
| ✔ Enough Memory |
| ✔ Superfast SSD Storage |
| ✔ Highly Portable |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Average Graphics |
6. HP Envy x360
Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1335U (up to 4.6 GHz, 12 MB L3 cache, 10 cores, 12 threads) |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe |
| RAM | 8 GB DDR4 RAM 3200 MHz |
| Storage | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD |
| Screen | 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), multitouch-enabled, IPS, 250 nits |
| Weight | 3.35 lbs (1.52 kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 8.5 hours |
| Others | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, Windows 11 Home, and Fingerprint reader |
The HP Envy x360 is the best convertible laptop in the $500 price range because it has powerful hardware and a beautiful all-metal chassis.
This is the latest model with the newest hardware and unique design. HP Envy x360 is the best touchscreen laptop for under $500.
The colors you see in the image are silver, blue, and black. It provides an enhanced premium appearance compared to traditional laptops and is undoubtedly fascinating.
This is a touchscreen laptop, on which you get to see a full 14-inch display that supports the touch. It has an Intel Core i5 processor with a max speed of up to 4.6 GHz.
The processor is the latest 13th generation which beats the i5-7th generation. It has a U series 1335U processor, which means it is designed for low energy consumption. The U-Series Processor is specially made for ultra-low power.
This laptop also integrates Intel Iris Xe Graphics, making it the best laptop for photographers or anyone looking for a multifunctional one with excellent capabilities.
It has 8GB DDR4 RAM, making it one of the best 2-in-1 laptops on the market. The storage is maintained by a fast 512GB SSD, which provides enough space to store all important files on this laptop.
The battery life of this convertible laptop is also very long, providing up to 8 hours of continuous backup. Overall, the HP Envy x360 is the best 14-inch convertible gaming laptop for around $500, which can meet all types of needs, including light gaming, video editing, and other power-hungry uses.
In this laptop, multiple ports are considered two USB 3.2 Type-A, one USB 3.2 Type C, 1 HDMI 2.1, and one headphone/microphone combo jack.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Affordable Price |
| ✔ Latest and Powerful Processor |
| ✔ Excellent Battery Life |
| ✔ Surface Pen Included |
| ✔ Excellent Touch response |
| ✔ Great Cooling Management |
| ✔ It has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5 |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Not for Heavy Gaming |
7. Acer Aspire 3
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Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U Quad-Core Mobile Processor(Up to 4.3 GHz) |
| GPU | Integrated AMD Radeon Graphics |
| RAM | 8GB LPDDR5 |
| Storage | 512GB NVMe SSD |
| Screen | 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080); 60Hz; LCD, IPS Display |
| Weight | 3.09 lbs (1.4 Kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 10 hours |
| Others | Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5, and Windows 11 Home |
Aspire 3 is an excellent product of Acer, which performs well when playing online games.
It uses an innovative and simple design, a metal casing, and a notebook computer body, improving its durability.
Acer Aspire 3 is a very thin and light notebook; you can quickly go anywhere and work perfectly. The lid has a shiny metal surface with a white Acer logo.
Acer Aspire 3 has a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor; the primary clock frequency is 2.1GHz, the maximum Boost clock speed is up to 4.3GHz, and 6MB of L3 cache, 4 cores, and 6 threads, which is reliable.
A laptop that you can take with you to your daily work. It is equipped with an integrated AMD Radeon Vega graphics card.
The display of this laptop is a 14-inch full HD widescreen LED-backlit IPS, which can display the resolution (1920 x 1080). This gives you the scope and clarity you need to get the job done.
It provides reasonable brightness and fantastic picture quality for watching large high-definition movies or videos.
It has 8 GB of LPDDR5 RAM; this high bandwidth can efficiently run your graphics-intensive PC games and video editing applications and run multiple programs and browser tabs simultaneously.
Acer Aspire has upgraded to a 512GB PCIe SSD, which is faster than HDD. All changes have been made in the daily tasks, from booting to uploading and downloading files.
The standard HDD is used for faster execution. PCIe SSD is ideal for online gaming applications, programming, multiple servers, daily backups, etc.
It is supported by Windows 11 Home OS, which is the fastest and most reliable for gamers.
In addition, it is also equipped with a USB-C 3.2 port, two USB-A 3.2 ports, an HDMI supporting HDCP, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), WiFi 802.11ac, Bluetooth, two stereo speakers, a high-definition webcam, and a built-in microphone. Hey, the keyboard comes with a backlit keyboard.
The battery life of this laptop is also incredible; it can last up to 10 hours which is ideal for students.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Cheap Price |
| ✔ Powerful Processor |
| ✔ Great Upgradability |
| ✔ Responsive Keyboard and Touchpad |
| ✔ Enough RAM and Storage |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Lower-quality built-in speakers |
| ✘ No Backlit Keyboard |
Read our Acer Aspire 3 Review
8. ASUS VivoBook 14
Specifications
| CPU (Processor) | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U Processor (1.3 to 4.4 GHz, 12M Cache, 10 cores) |
| GPU | Intel Iris Xe Graphics with shared memory |
| RAM | 8GB DDR4 2400MHz |
| Storage | 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD |
| Screen | 14-inch FHD (1920 x 1080) display with ultra-slim NanoEdge bezels |
| Weight | 3.09 lbs (1.4 Kg) |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 hours |
| Others | Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5, Fingerprint reader, Windows 11 Home |
The ASUS Vivobook 14 is a current budget-conscious 14-inch laptop that is a truly capable device with an attractive price. It is light and thin; it comes with a stylish new look that fits right in with your active lifestyle.
The ASUS VivoBook 14 gives you everything you need to work or play. Asus VivoBook 14 is one of the best gaming laptops under $500 to play Minecraft, Roblox, Fortnite, etc.
The design was developed on last year’s VivoBook, and is both small and ultra-thin, weighing just 3.09 pounds (1.4 Kg), making it highly compact.
It comes with one of the most powerful and fast 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1235U processors with a base clock speed of 1.3 GHz and a maximum boost clock frequency of 4.4 GHz. It has a 12 MB cache memory.
The Asus Vivobook 14 comes with a great backlit keyboard, which takes this laptop away from the premium feel.
It has an integrated Intel Iris Xe graphic that won’t win any gaming performance, but it will allow playing classic titles.
The display of this laptop comes with a 14-inch FHD LED display with a screen resolution of (1920 x 1080), with an 82 percent screen-to-body ratio.
In addition, this laptop comes with two USB-A 3.2 ports, one USB-C 3.2 port, one USB 2.0 port, an HDMI port, one 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, and a DC-in.
The Asus VivoBook 14 features 8GB of DDR4 RAM and a 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. These components are expertly customized and upgraded as specified in the title and tech details. This ensures that your laptop runs applications smoothly without any noticeable slowdown.
Its battery life is also incredibly better than some of its rivals, and some users have reported run times of over 6 hours on a full charge.
You can easily get up to 6 hours of battery backup, and most commentators have reported that the audio quality is good.
It is powered by Microsoft Windows 11 Home with an excellent backlit keyboard, fast fingerprint reader, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ac), Bluetooth, excellent sound master audio, and a webcam.
| PROS |
|---|
| ✔ Affordable Price |
| ✔ Compact design with Narrow Bezels |
| ✔ 14-inch FHD display |
| ✔ 180° wide viewing angle |
| ✔ Fingerprint sensor |
| ✔ Backlit keyboard |
| ✔ Fast charging (60% in 49 mins) |
| CONS |
|---|
| ✘ Less Storage |
| ✘ No Ethernet port |
The Best Cheap $500 Gaming Laptops: Comparison
| Products | Our Ratings | Type | CPU | GPU | RAM | Storage | Battery | Display | OS |
| Acer Nitro 5 | 9.5/10 | Gaming | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12500H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 | 8GB DDR4 | 512GB SSD | Up to 7 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| HP Victus 15 | 9.5/10 | Gaming | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 | 8GB DDR4 | 512GB SSD | Up to 5 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| MSI Thin GF63 | 9/10 | Gaming | 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12450H | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2050 | 8GB DDR4 | 512GB SSD | Up to 6 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 144Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| Dell Inspiron 15 3000 | 8.5/10 | Students/ Traditional | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | Intel Iris Xe | 12GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | Up to 6 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 60Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 | 9/10 | Students/ Traditional | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | AMD Radeon 7 | 12GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | Up to 6 hours | 14-inch FHD 60Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| HP Pavilion X360 | 9.0/10 | 2-in-1/ Notebook | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | Intel Iris Xe | 8GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | Up to 10 hours | 14-inch FHD (Touchscreen) 60Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| Acer Aspire 3 | 8.5/10 | Students/ Traditional | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | AMD Radeon | 8GB LPDDR5 | 512GB SSD | Up to 10 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 60Hz | Windows 11 Home |
| Asus VivoBook 15 | 9/10 | Students/ Traditional | 11th Gen Intel Core i5-1135G7 | Intel Iris Xe | 8GB DDR4 | 256GB SSD | Up to 6 hours | 15.6-inch FHD 60Hz | Windows 11 Home |
How to Choose the Best Gaming Laptop Under 500 in 2025?
Like any computer making a great laptop requires a lot of components… excellent. Let us break it down so that you don’t get stuck trying to figure it out yourself.
When buying the best $500 gaming laptop, you will want to look at the following:
Minimum and Recommended Gaming Laptop Requirements
| Specs | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | Full HD (1920 x 1080) | Full HD (1920 x 1080) or more |
| Processor | 10th Gen Core i3 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 3 | 12th, 13th Gen Core i5 or equivalent AMD Ryzen 5,7 or More |
| Memory | 4GB DDR3 | 8GB DDR4 |
| Storage | 128GB SSD | 256GB SSD or more |
| Graphics | Intel HD or Equivalent to AMD Vega | Intel Iris Plus, Dedicated Nvidia or Equivalent to AMD |
| Battery | 2 Hour | 4 Hour |
If the budget is tight enough, stay with the lowest specifications and buy the recommended laptop.
We all know that the minimum specifications of laptops will not be able to perform, and it is not suitable for tasks such as video streaming and editing photos.
Fixed a Budget
If the budget is tight, price is the main issue. Finding the best gaming laptop for under $500 takes work. We still don’t want you to waste money, so we will prioritize cheap laptops when everything else is the same.
Always choose the higher version if you have money because buying a laptop is a long-term investment.
The processor Should be Powerful
The Processor is the central part of any laptop. If you have a better processor, your computer can run anything perfectly. We recommend the Ryzen and Intel Processors these days because of their power.
If you are under budget, you can select the Latest gen of Intel i3, i5, and Ryzen 3, 5, and 7. The latest gen of i5 and Ryzen 5 Is better per your budget.
Minimum and Recommended CPU requirements for Popular PC Games
| Games | CPU (Minimum or Recommended) |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | Intel Core i5-4690 or Equivalent to Ryzen 5 |
| Fortnite | Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5 |
| League of legends | Intel Core i3 or Ryzen 3 |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Intel Core™2 Duo E6600 2.4 GHz or AMD Phenom™ X3 8750 2.4 GHz |
| Valorant | Intel Core i5-4460 |
| Dead Island | Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz |
| The Walking Dead: Episode 2 | Core 2 Duo 2GHz or equivalent |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Intel Core i3 (3.3 GHz) or Equivalent to Ryzen 3 |
Choose More and the Latest RAM
RAM, like CPU, is also vital in determining overall performance. Memory provides short-term memory storage for applications to quickly access data and store information that the computer is using.
Types: DDR3, DDR4, LPDDR4X
If any laptop has DDR3-level memory and your budget is only $500, you can buy it now, but find out if there is a minimum DDR4-level RAM.
You won’t get lpddr4x in any $500 gaming laptop, so don’t expect it.
For a gaming laptop with a limited budget, you should not be satisfied with less than 8GB of RAM or less.
Minimum and Recommended Memory requirements for Popular PC Games
| Games | RAM (Minimum & Recommended) |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | Minimum = 4GB, Recommended = 8GB |
| Fortnite | Minimum = 4GB, Recommended = 16GB |
| League of legends | Minimum = 2GB, Recommended = 8GB |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Minimum = 4GB, Recommended = 16GB |
| Valorant | Minimum = 4GB, Recommended = 8GB |
| Dead Island | Minimum = 1GB, Recommended = 4GB |
| The Walking Dead: Episode 2 | Minimum = 3GB, Recommended = 8GB |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Minimum = 4GB, Recommended = 8GB |
It should have a Smooth GPU
The graphics processing unit (GPU) or graphics card ensures that your game runs with the maximum and minimum expected graphics quality.
The better the GPU, the better the laptop can render details such as textures, anti-aliasing, ray tracing, etc. If you want to permanently change these game settings to suit better your graphics card, the better the GPU, the closer you are to these high-end settings.
Minimum and Recommended Graphics requirements for Popular PC Games
| Games | Graphics Card(Minimum & Recommended) |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | NVIDIA GeForce 700 Series or AMD Radeon Rx 200 Series |
| Fortnite | NVIDIA GTX 960, AMD R9 280 |
| League of legends | Minimum Shared Intel/AMD, Recommended = Dedicated GeForce 8800 |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Any video card with 256 MB of VRAM or higher |
| Valorant | Minimum = Intel HD 3000, Recommended = GTX 1050 Ti |
| Dead Island | ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 512MB VRAM (NVIDIA GeForce 8600 GT) |
| The Walking Dead: Episode 2 | ATI or NVidia card w/ 512 MB RAM |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Minimum = Intel HD Graphics 4000, Recommended = GTX 1050 Ti |
Battery Life
If your requirement is gaming, you need to sacrifice battery life because gaming laptops are not made for battery performance. Almost every gaming laptop under $500 can only last about 4 hours while gaming.
This is because the hardware in gaming laptops requires much more power than ordinary laptops. Some gaming laptops may last longer when web surfing or watching movies, but if you buy a gaming laptop, be prepared to plug it in.
Should have Fast Storage
Regarding storage, you usually choose between an HDD and a solid-state drive (SSD). HDD may have a higher storage capacity than SSD but at the cost of lower performance than SSD.
Some gaming laptops use dual storage methods, choose HDD as the primary storage method, and built-in a smaller SSD; you can use it for games with higher performance requirements.
Minimum and Recommended Storage requirements for Popular PC Games
| Games | Storage (Minimum & Recommended) |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | Minimum = 32GB, Recommended = 128GB |
| Fortnite | Minimum = 64GB, Recommended = 256GB |
| League of legends | Minimum = 16GB, Recommended = 128GB |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Minimum = 64GB, Recommended = 256GB |
| Valorant | Minimum = 16GB, Recommended = 64GB |
| Dead Island | Minimum = 8GB, Recommended = 32GB |
| The Walking Dead: Episode 2 | Minimum = 16GB, Recommended = 128GB |
| Asphalt 9: Legends | Minimum = 16GB, Recommended = 128GB |
Look at Display Quality and Size
It would help if you bought a more prominent, brighter, higher-refresh-rate screen display for gaming purposes. A higher-quality Display can always provide a better gaming and viewing experience. This is why you have so much discussion about monitoring refresh rate now.
The extra money is worth it, but you can still play the game on a lower-quality screen because the budget is less than $500.
Select from a Trusted Laptop Brand
Every brand considers itself the best label on the market, but investing in certain brands can hurt you. Choosing laptops from top brands purchased on the market (such as Dell, HP, ASUS, Lenovo, etc.) can ensure quality control, and these models usually have a good warranty.
Still, waiting? Check the rating section on popular sites such as Amazon to understand the condition of each laptop.
| Ranking | Brand |
|---|---|
| 1. | Dell, Alienware |
| 2. | Asus |
| 3. | Acer |
| 4. | HP |
| 5. | MSI |
| 6. | Lenovo |
| 7. | RAZER |
| 8. | Gigabyte |
Needa Louder Speakers
Today, most gaming laptops provide good speakers. They are good enough for gaming, but if you want the best music experience, you may need to buy a good pair of headphones or external speakers. Brands like Dell and Lenovo provide accessories discounts with the laptop.
Ports
Ensure that the gaming laptop has all the necessary ports for a good gaming experience. It would be best if you had a USB port to add a USB flash drive, an external mouse, or any device connected via USB.
The HDMI port also connects your laptop to desktops and larger displays. The USB Type-C port can transfer up to 5GB of data per second.
Keyboard
Depending on your budget, you might get a backlit keyboard laptop, perfect for everyone. The keyboard is the main factor responsible for the typing experience.
You won’t get an RGB keyboard in a gaming laptop under $500; if you search better, you can get a better quality backlit keyboard in this price range.
If the laptop has a backlight function, You will enjoy playing games and typing in dim lighting.
You don’t have many quality keyboards in a budget gaming laptop, but the full-size backlit feature will help you a lot at night or when the lights are dimmed, not only for games but for all work.
Operating System
When choosing a laptop in this price range, there are two central operating systems, Windows and ChromeOS.
Windows will provide you with the broadest selection of software, and Chrome OS is very suitable for consumers who need to browse the web and run specific Android applications. macOS is extensible and is not used for gaming purposes.
FAQs
Q1. What is the Best Gaming Laptop Under 500 Dollars?
If you want a better gaming laptop for under $500, please use an Iris Xe Plus or AMD Vega 10 graphics card and the latest processor.
For optimal performance, computer components such as memory and storage drives need more powerful functions.
Any laptop with the essential components discussed above is the best choice.
Q2. How to Choose a Good Gaming Laptop Under 500 Dollars?
The mid-range laptop is about $500-$1000, and This budget falls into this category to find the best laptop for less than $500. If you want to play entry-level games and do Everyday tasks, it’s easy to find the best for under $500 Gaming laptops.
All laptops and Chromebooks included in the best picks under $500 are excellent, but each has its strengths and drawbacks.
If you want a laptop to play games occasionally, the computer will have a powerful CPU and dedicated graphics card, which will drain battery life.
In this case, you will need to sacrifice a little portability to enjoy the fun of the latest high-frame-rating games.
However, you may want to buy a portable and durable laptop. In that case, it is easy to put in a bag, has a long battery life and good manufacturing quality, and the cost of games is extremely low, so there is many under $500 select.
Q3. What Processor should I buy?
Nowadays, there are many options on the market. Also, You May know the Best Gaming Laptops Under 400 Dollars.
You can view the latest products if you want to buy a laptop equipped with an Intell processor. Intel G-series processors are more suitable for gaming and heavy tasks than U-series processors. The latest generation i3 or i5 is perfect for under $500.
You can check the latest mobile processors; if you want to buy a laptop equipped with AMD Ryzen processors, you can check the latest mobile processors. All AMD Ryzen processors are designed for gaming so you can choose anyone. The latest AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 is perfect for under $500.
If you buy a Chromebook, you can choose a slower processor, such as an Intel Core i3 or Pentium processor. And, in this price range, you will find a few laptops with Core i5 processors. Therefore, we recommend that you choose Intel and AMD processors.
Q4. How much RAM do I need for gaming in a $500 Laptop?
The best gaming laptop for 500 Dollars, RAM is an essential aspect after Processor. Whether using a Windows or a lightweight Chrome operating system, 8GB can provide you with plenty of space for multitasking and more complex applications and certain games.
So you should have at least 4GB of RAM on your laptop.
Q5. Is a backlit Keyboard Needed for Gaming?
The backlit is another essential factor you should look at in a 500-dollar gaming laptop. This particular feature helps a lot in dim light conditions.
Therefore, you need to buy a laptop with a backlit keyboard.
There are RGB and simple backlit features in a good gaming laptop.
If you find an RGB backlit keyboard in this price range, it will be an ideal choice for everyone. However, every cheap gaming laptop under $500 has now come with RGB features.
Q6. Are under $500 gaming laptops good?
As we have always said, if you have a limited budget and want to buy the best gaming laptop under $500, you will not find a computer specifically designed for gaming.
With a laptop under $500, you can smoothly perform daily tasks and entry-level games.
Q7. Should I buy a Touchscreen Laptop?
Depending on your budget, you may find many touch screen options, and many Chromebooks are touch screens. Touchscreen laptops and Chromebooks have advantages, allowing users to switch between tasks quickly and easily.
They also can provide a way of working even if the touchpad or keyboard does not work correctly. For those who take notes, the touch screen is a great advantage.
Compared to standard laptops, they also have better color, brightness, and contrast on a smoother screen surface.
You will also find some things that could be improved; for example, a smoother screen style will make the colors clear, but when using a laptop for typing or office work, it will also produce glare, which may make your eyes tired.
The battery will drain quickly if you are working on the touch screen. You need to turn off the touch option if you want the best battery life on a touchscreen laptop.
Q8. What should I buy windows, Mac, or Chromebook OS?
All choices are up to you. All three operating system laptops have their characteristics. To simplify the interface, consider using a Windows operating system laptop.
If you want to play games, please buy a Windows laptop. Google’s ChromeOS is not used for gaming but for web surfing and daily routine tasks. Each Windows or Chromebook has advantages and disadvantages.
macOS laptops are not cheap, but they are expensive. You may only find macOS laptops if the budget is less than $500.
We recommend that you only purchase updated products that cost $500. The rest is Windows and Chrome OS, depending on the kind of software you need to run and what game you will play.
In short, if you want to access the most extensive software on most platforms, Windows is definitely your safe choice. A Chromebook is your ideal choice if you have a limited budget and need to browse documents with little storage space.
Related: Best Gaming Laptops Under $400
Q9. Is a $500 Laptop suitable for high-end gaming?
You can easily enjoy entry-level games on a $500 gaming laptop, but some modern games, such as Killer, Interstellar World 2, etc., cannot be played.
To run high-end games, you need a dedicated and influential graphics processor and a new generation of CPUs.
A $500 gaming laptop offers a powerful processor, dedicated graphics card, and memory.
This is why if you play modern and high-end games on a cheap laptop under $500, it will be a problem, and you will need help to work properly.
If you want to play a modern game, please increase your budget and easily find it between $800 and $900.
Final Words
This is our recommended list and reviews of some of the best gaming laptops under $500, where we carefully explain the features of each computer.
Nowadays, buying affordable gaming laptops is not tricky because brands continue to make great laptops.
Many options can be within your budget, and you can efficiently run entry-level and mid-range games.
If you buy any recommendations from the above list of best gaming laptops under $500, you will not disappoint. All of these offer fast gaming performance and have high-quality hardware components.
After reading this article, we hope you can easily buy the laptops you want, which are the best overall.
