Good laptop for gaming under 500: The best gaming laptops under $500 of 2023

The best gaming laptops under $500 of 2023

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Written By
Brandon Russell

Updated May 1, 2023 11:43 AM

At their best, gaming laptops offer powerful specs, high-resolution displays, and fast refresh rate screens. Unfortunately, the absolute best gaming laptops cost thousands of dollars. If money is no object, you can pay a tremendous amount of money and get an incredible machine in return. However, most of us have to think more pragmatically and that’s where the best gaming laptops under $500 come in.

Many of us do not have the luxury of spending a lot of money on a new laptop. In the world of gaming laptops, spending less money means you have a shorter window of playing the latest AAA games at high specs before you’ll need to upgrade again. If you’re willing to put concerns about fidelity aside, though, you can get a perfectly good laptop that should play a decent number of PC games for as little as $500. Will they all look great and run well? Probably not, but they’re still fun to play. The best gaming laptops under $500 give you the most gaming power possible on a shoestring budget.

• Best overall: Acer Aspire 5
• Best for video editing: Asus Vivobook 15
• Best for school: Dell Inspiron 15
• Best for streaming: Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
• Best 2-in-1: Dell Inspiron 14

How we chose the best gaming laptops under $500

I’ve been booting up games on Steam for as long as I can remember, and have written about computers for more than a decade on sites like Popular Science, Gear Patrol, and CNN Underscored. I’ve tested all manner of PCs and laptops to find the latest and greatest devices. To find the best gaming laptops under $500, a challenging task, I researched what kind of hardware you may be able to purchase with such a budget. With that information in-hand, I selected the individual picks based on third-party reviews and consumer feedback.

Finding a good laptop for under $500, let alone one capable of playing games, is a serious challenge. As you’ll see, most of our picks fall well under the basic standards we set for gaming laptops. Make no mistake: These are compromise picks to help you make the best of a less than ideal situation. With $500, we’d recommend people purchase a console for gaming, an iPad for general computing, or hold out for a major sale like Prime Day or Black Friday in the hopes of getting a rare deal on a more expensive gaming laptop.

Best overall: Acer Aspire 5 Slim

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Aspire 5 Slim’s Ryzen 3 3350U will ensure you can play many of the industry’s most popular games on low settings.

Specs

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U
• GPU: Radeon Vega 6
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Screen size: 15. 6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• Dimensions: 14.31 x 9.74 x 0.71 inches
• Weight: 3.97 pounds
• Connectivity: USB-C 3.1 Gen 1, USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 x 2; HDMI 1.4b, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1

Pros

• Expansive 15.6-inch FHD display
• Decent port selection
• 8GB of RAM

Cons

• Plastic build

The newest version of the Acer Aspire 5 Slim features an expansive 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, AMD Ryzen 3 3350U quad-core processor, and 8GB of RAM. (For $40 more, you can bump that up to 12GB of RAM.) The laptop also features Radeon Vega 6 graphics and a 256GB SSD, so games should run and load quickly. There is also a spacious trackpad, a full keyboard with a row of number keys, and a numeric keypad on the right.

Additionally, the Acer Aspire features a USB-C 3.1 Gen 1 port, an HDMI port with HDCP support, Wi-Fi 6, and up to 8 hours of battery life. It’s a good mix of specs, battery life, and price—and should be enough to run games like Fortnite and Minecraft.

Best for video editing: Asus Vivobook 15

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Vivobook 15’s combination of the Intel i3, UHD graphics, and 8GB is enough to edit memorable family vacation videos.

Specs

• Processor: Intel i3-10054G1
• GPU: Intel UHD
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Screen size: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• Dimensions: 14.1 x 9.1 x 0.78 inches
• Weight: 3.75 pounds
• Connectivity: USB-C 3.2, USB-A 3.2, USB-A 2.0 x 2, HDMI, microSD, WiFi, Bluetooth

Pros

• Decent port selection
• 8GB of RAM
• Fingerprint sensor

Cons

• Small trackpad

Video editing on an affordable laptop isn’t ideal, but the Asus Vivobook 15 provides users with a decently-powerful experience. The laptop features a 15.6-inch Full HD display, an Intel Core i3-1005G1 processor, an Intel UHD GPU, and 8GB of RAM. That’s good enough for basic video editing and color correction of short clips for social media—just don’t expect to edit any video other than Full HD or lower.

The Asus Vivobook 15 also features a 128GB SSD, a touchpad and keyboard, and USB-C 3.2, so you can quickly transfer video files to and from external devices. You also get an HDMI port, USB-A 3.2, and USB-A 2.0 for connecting additional peripherals.

Best for school: Dell Inspiron 15

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Dell Inspiron 15’s simple design is great for schoolwork, and can play a game or two between study sessions.

Specs

• Processor: Intel i3-1115G4
• GPU: Intel UHD
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Screen size: 15. 6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• Dimensions: 14.11 x 9.27 x 0.74 inches
• Weight: 3.82 pounds
• Connectivity: USB-A 3.0 x 2, USB-A 2.0, HDMI, SD card, WiFi, Bluetooth

Pros

• Big, comfortable 15.6-inch display
• Decent size SSD
• SD card slot

Cons

• Limited port selection

If you need something simple to power through note-taking, research papers, and presentations, the Dell Inspiron 15 (3511) is an excellent option. Of course, you’ll want to take breaks—and there’s no better way to unwind than with video games. Dell’s affordable laptop features an Intel Core i3 processor, UHD graphics, and 8GB of RAM to power through games like Rocket League and Counter-Strike: GO. The Inspiron 15 also features a 256SSD, giving you plenty of storage to save those vital school projects and download your favorite titles from Steam.

Best for streaming: Lenovo IdeaPad 3i

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i features Intel Iris Xe graphics, 512GB SSD, and 8GB of RAM, making it a powerful option for gaming and streaming.

Specs

• Processor: Intel i3-1115G4
• GPU: Intel Iris Xe
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 512GB SSD
• Screen size: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080)
• Dimensions: 14.26 x 9.98 x 0.78 inches
• Weight: 3.75 pounds
• Connectivity: USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 x 2, USB-A 2.0, HDMI 1.4, SD card, WiFi 5, Bluetooth

Pros

• Screen can fold flat
• 512GB SSD
• Intel Iris Xe

Cons

• Thick bezels

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is still nowhere near one of the best gaming laptops available but it provides fairly impressive performance for its extremely affordable price. It  features an Intel Core i3 processor, Intel Iris Xe graphics, and 8GB of RAM, giving you the components necessary to broadcast your games to the world. It may not be the smoothest experience, but you must start somewhere. The IdeaPad 3i also features a 512GB SSD, HDMI, two USB-A 3.2, and a 45Wh battery, which should get you through a full day of usage with light to medium use.

Best 2-in-1: Dell Inspiron 14

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut: Dell’s Inspiron 14 packs in decently powerful specs for the price in an attractive 2-in-1 design.

Specs

• Processor: Intel i3-1115G4
• GPU: Intel UHD
• RAM: 8GB
• Storage: 256GB SSD
• Screen size: 14-inch FHD (1366 x 768)
• Dimensions: 12.77 x 8.77 x 0.75 inches
• Weight: 3. 58 pounds
• Connectivity: USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 x 2, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 1.4b, SD card, WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.1

Pros

• 2-in-1 design
• Small, portable design
• USB-C and SD card

Cons

• Lower resolution display

For just a smidge over our $500 budget, the Inspiron 14 2-in-1 features a 14-inch HD touchscreen display, an Intel Core i3 processor, Intel UHD graphics, and 8GB of RAM. That’s enough power to run multiple applications and browser tabs smoothly. More importantly, it’s good enough to give us our gaming fix—and the 256GB SSD is plenty big to download free-to-play and other popular titles. The Inspiron 14 also features a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port for power delivery and data transfer and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. It also features an SD card slot, rounding out one of the sleeker, more sophisticated options on our list.

The fact of the matter is, you can’t really get a new dedicated gaming laptop for $500. For reference, our list of the best cheap gaming laptops highlights strong systems that cost less than $1,000, and it often features models that are 1-2 years old. Most of our picks are budget productivity laptops that happen to provide decent processing power for their prices. Few, if any, feature a dedicated graphics card, which you’d need to play many of the biggest games. Those that work will only run on low or medium settings.

If you are purchasing this device specifically for gaming, there are many other devices that will offer you a much better experience for that same $500. Though they can be hard to find, we would recommend any of the current game consoles over these laptops, including the PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch. You might also consider the 2022 iPad Air, which provides access to an increasingly large library of games thanks to game streaming services like Xbox Game Pass. In the realm of PCs, you may be able to build a budget desktop gaming PC for around $500 using older and/or used parts. This may be more difficult than in the past due to pandemic-era supply constraints, but it is not outside the realm of possibility.

If you have your heart set on a laptop, or need a more holistic device, here are the basics of picking a laptop so you can make your own choice:

Processor

The central processing unit, or CPU, is the beating heart of any computer. It performs the computations your computer makes to run programs and perform various tasks, from word processing to editing photos. A computer’s true performance relies on a number of factors, but the two easiest ways to gauge the power of a CPU, specifically, are the chip’s computing cores and its clock speed. Clock speed, shown in Hz, measures the number of computations or “cycles” the processor can make each second. For example, a CPU with a clock speed of 2.8Ghz executes 2.8 billion cycles per second. 

Meanwhile, compute cores give your processor the ability to handle multiple tasks at the same time. Broadly speaking, more cores means better multitasking, especially with more processor-intensive tasks like encoding video.

When discussing the best, we expect modern Windows laptops to feature an 11th or 12th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor with 6-8 processor cores, or an AMD Ryzen 5 processor with 6-8 cores. Since we’re looking at laptops with the tightest of cost constraints, you’re more likely to see the older version of the most basic processors available, such as a 10th-Generation Intel Core i3 processor, or something from AMD’s Ryzen 3000 series. If forced to choose, it never hurts to sacrifice bells and whistles for a basic laptop with a good CPU. The processor, more than any other component, determines how long your laptop will perform at its peak level.

Graphics

The graphics processing unit, or GPU, is an essential component in any gaming laptop and makes it possible to render graphics in 2D and 3D. If you’re working with high-resolution video and art, a GPU takes some of the strain off the CPU and makes rendering everything much faster.

Typically, gaming PCs feature dedicated graphics cards–a second processor to handle visual processing for games, video encoding, and other tasks with lots of … well, graphics. Two companies, Nvidia and AMD, make dedicated graphics cards for desktops and more compact versions for laptops. Occasionally, you will find a very large laptop with a “full-size” desktop graphics card. These laptops often weigh more than you should carry on your back every day.

For the purposes of this list, however, we will focus on integrated graphics, which is a small processing chip built into your laptop’s CPU. Integrated graphics are designed to perform basic graphics processing, such as web browsing and streaming video. They aren’t designed to handle new games or other GPU-intensive work. In the current gaming landscape, there are lots of games that can run acceptably well on integrated graphics, but no game will look as good or run without hiccups on integrated graphics, especially the integrated graphics on a low-end processor.

Memory

Random access memory, or RAM, gives your applications a place to temporarily store data, and quickly access it again if necessary. If your workflow involves using several applications at once, you’ll want a laptop that offers more RAM. Manufacturers generally allow consumers to upgrade their RAM before they make a purchase, and sometimes even after. 

For gaming, we recommend 16GB on a new machine, since you often cannot add RAM to a laptop. This will give you the space to run more intense games while performing other tasks, like running streaming software. Again, though, for $500 or less you’ll likely have to settle for 4GB or 8GB.

Display

As with dedicated gaming monitors, the best gaming laptops can make games look great with sharp, vibrant displays. Gamers may want a larger screen, as it helps build immersion, especially in a temporary space. If we had to highlight one size in particular, it would be 15 inches. At this size, the screen is large enough for a comfortable gaming experience, but it doesn’t make your laptop too big to carry all day. Some gaming laptops offer 17-inch displays, but that’s only a good size if your laptop spends most of its time on a desk.

Whatever size you land upon, chances are it will feature a 1080p (Full HD) screen. A 1080p display will make your games look sharp enough and ensure your computer doesn’t buckle under the strain. If you want a display that’s 1440p (Quad HD) or 4K (Ultra-High Definition) and offers a high refresh rate, you’ll have to look at a more expensive gaming laptop with a more powerful GPU.

Battery life

People buy gaming laptops so they can play games anywhere, but the PC battery life can limit that promise substantially. The hard truth is that gaming laptops don’t offer the best battery life. Even the best, most expensive models won’t get through a full day of heavy use.

With our current picks, which don’t have dedicated graphics cards, you may actually see better battery life than a great gaming laptop—a small bright spot. That said, your laptops will burn through battery much faster when playing games than other tasks, so you should be strategic about how much you play. Keep one eye on your battery indicator and the other on the lookout for available outlets.

FAQs

Q: Can a $500 laptop run Fortnite?

The easiest way to confirm your laptop can play Fortnite is to check the game’s minimum required specs. The Battle Royale is generally friendly to a wide variety of computers, so if you own something older or less powerful, you should be fine on lower settings. 

Here are the recommended and minimum system requirements for Fortnite:

Recommended System Requirements
Video Card: Nvidia GTX 960, AMD R9 280, or equivalent DX11 GPU
Video Memory: 2 GB VRAM
Processor: Core i5-7300U 3.5 GHz, AMD Ryzen 3 3300U, or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM or higher
OS: Windows 10 64-bit

Minimum System Requirements
Video Card: Intel HD 4000 on PC; Intel Iris Pro 5200
Processor: Core i3-3225 3. 3 GHz
Memory: 4GB RAM
OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit or Mac OS Mojave 10.14.6

Q: Is a gaming laptop good for students?

While gaming laptops can handle everyday tasks, they aren’t necessarily the best option for students. Gaming laptops tend to be larger and heavier than laptops made for work, making them a burden to lug around campus. Students who carry their computer from class to class may not get enough battery life on a single charge to make it through a full day of school. They can also get uncomfortably hot after extended use, so you may not be able to use them on your lap in specific situations.

Q: Can you use a “normal” laptop for gaming?

Broadly speaking? Sure. Really, it depends on what you want to play. A productivity laptop made for work and general computing, like the picks above, is usually capable of playing some games using its discrete graphics chip. They will only play some games, and often on lower settings, though.

Many of today’s top AAA titles require more powerful CPUs, GPUs, and a certain amount of RAM. If you own an older machine, your laptop may not meet that game’s minimum requirements. You will probably not have a good time playing a Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed game on the average work laptop. That said, there are plenty of great indie games that don’t require a ton of graphics processing power.

We recommend buying a laptop specifically for gaming if that’s something you plan to do every day. As we mentioned, gaming-specific laptops are perfectly capable of performing other tasks, like word processing and web browsing. However, not all standard laptops, particularly models on the lower end of the spectrum, are capable of playing the newest games.

Final thoughts on the best gaming laptops under $500

• Best overall: Acer Aspire 5
• Best for video editing: Asus Vivobook 15
• Best for school: Dell Inspiron 15
• Best for streaming: Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
• Best 2-in-1: Dell Inspiron 14

The good news is that modern processors with integrated GPUs are becoming more powerful every year, making it possible to play games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox on a wide range of machines. That said, the best gaming hardware you can buy for $500 is not a laptop. It’s a console or a tablet. If you want a gaming laptop that will make your games sing, you’ll have to spend substantially more. 

If you’d like to know more about buying a gaming laptop that delivers great performance and value, check out some of our other explainers on the topic, including the best gaming laptops and the best cheap gaming laptops. They may be expensive, but a great laptop will last five years or more, while you may only get a couple of good years out of these recommendations.

The 7 Best Cheap Gaming Laptops Under $500

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. Why Trust Us?

1

Best Overall

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Inexpensive Gaming Laptop

1

Best Overall

Acer Aspire 5 Slim Inexpensive Gaming Laptop

$500 at Amazon

Pros

• Well-rounded package
• Great performance
• Responsive keyboard
• Lots of storage

Cons

• Bad webcam quality
• Mediocre battery life

Acer’s Aspire 5 Slim is a laptop that can easily handle simple tasks and low-res games. Its well-rounded specs offer decent performance and storage options at a low cost, while its 15.6-inch full HD display shows crisp imagery.

The 20 GB of RAM is great for handling multiple tabs and programs simultaneously, and with 512 GB of storage, you won’t have to delete files to make room for gaming for a while. It also has a built-in fingerprint reader for an extra security feature not found in most other budget laptops.

Critics say the Aspire 5 Slim is a surprisingly competent laptop and are impressed by its inclusion of a quad-core CPU. One critic even says it’s the cheapest way to play Roblox. Meanwhile, users say its light-up keyboard is an excellent addition, and that it’s a great, well-rounded laptop.

Key Specs

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2

Runner-Up

HP Pavilion 15-dw1053dx Gaming Laptop

2

Runner-Up

HP Pavilion 15-dw1053dx Gaming Laptop

$449 at Amazon

Pros

• Quad-core processor
• Plenty of storage
• Decent graphics card
• Solid battery life

Cons

• Resolution isn’t full HD

This HP Pavilion laptop features a quad-core processor, 16 GB of RAM, and 1 TB of integrated storage space for solid speeds and space. Released last year, it uses the Intel UHD 600 for its graphics processing, which can handle games like Counter-Strike: Source and League of Legends without much trouble.

Users say this machine boots up quickly and works well with an external display. It also has excellent battery life according to reviewers, so you won’t have to worry about it dying during intense sessions. However, be wary of its less-than-ideal resolution, which doesn’t provide a full HD experience.

Key Specs

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3

Most Affordable

HP Notebook 15-dy1008CA Affordable Laptop for Video Games

3

Most Affordable

HP Notebook 15-dy1008CA Affordable Laptop for Video Games

$389 at Amazon

Pros

• Large keyboard
• Great for classic games

Cons

• Slow speeds
• No full HD resolution

If you’re looking for the cheapest laptop you can buy for gaming, HP’s budget Notebook 15-dy1008CA won’t set you back much. For less than $400, you’ll get a laptop with 256 GB of storage, 8 GB of RAM, and a number pad, which can be handy for gaming inputs.

It may not be the fastest laptop on this list, but it can run smaller games and less demanding classics. However, keep in mind that its display is less than ideal, with a resolution that’s less than the standard full HD at 1920 by 1080 pixels.

Key Specs

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4

Best Touch Screen

Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Affordable Gaming Laptop

4

Best Touch Screen

Dell Inspiron 15 3511 Affordable Gaming Laptop

$519 at Amazon

Pros

• Great display and quality
• Easy-to-use touch screen
• Great speeds and power

Cons

• Bad battery life

Those who want a touch screen for quick input should hop on this laptop. The Inspiron 15 3511 is strapped with an Intel Core i5-1035G1 quad-core processor for quick speeds and plenty of power, making it suitable for multitasking and light gaming.

The anti-glare screen in full HD makes browsing the net look crispy, while the easy-to-use touch screen helps you ditch the machine’s touchpad.

Plenty of user reviews say this Dell can run notoriously heavy Adobe programs without terrible lag, and it’s reliable for its price. It offers poor battery life, however, and many users say they have to stay plugged in when getting work done.

Key Specs

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5

Most Storage

ASUS Vivobook 15 Inexpensive Laptop for Gaming

5

Most Storage

ASUS Vivobook 15 Inexpensive Laptop for Gaming

$629 at Amazon

Pros

• Fast speeds
• Specs offer plenty of versatility
• Tons of storage

Cons

• Battery life is poor

If you’re looking for a laptop with expansive storage space, the Vivobook 15 is your best bet. For under $500, you can get a machine with 1 TB of storage, making it great for gamers with massive Steam libraries.

A CPU speed of up to 4.10 gigahertz makes it reasonably fast, while 12 GB of RAM is suitable for quickly sifting through tabs and programs.

The Vivobook 15 is a favorite budget laptop among critics, and it currently holds a strong user rating at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy. Many users describe this laptop as fast, intuitive, and versatile enough for school or work use. Its thin bezel also accommodates more real estate for the 15.6-inch screen.

Key Specs

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6

Best Webcam

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Affordable Laptop for Gaming

6

Best Webcam

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i Affordable Laptop for Gaming

$449 at Amazon$470 at Walmart

Pros

• Clear webcam quality for calls and streaming
• Comes with Xbox Game Pass trial
• RAM is upgradeable

Cons

• Loaded with programs
• Poor battery life

From budget-brand Lenovo, the IdeaPad 3i is a suitable laptop for work, business, and light gaming. This lightweight laptop is fast enough to run most programs and tasks efficiently, plus it sports a fantastic webcam that makes Twitch streams and Discord calls clear and easy. It comes with 8 GB of RAM, but an extra module slot means it’s possible to upgrade that short-term memory.

Users say this laptop is surprisingly fast and capable for gaming as long as your game runs on low-res settings. The IdeaPad 3i even comes with an Xbox Game Pass trial to give its gaming possibilities a test run. However, many reviews indicate that the machine offers poor battery life and is loaded with bloatware, so it might take some time to set it up the way you like it.

Key Specs

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7

Best Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3i Gaming Laptop

7

Best Chromebook

Lenovo Chromebook Flex 3i Gaming Laptop

$309 at Amazon

Pros

• Can handle games like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress 2
• Lightweight and ultra-portable
• Touch-screen controls

Cons

• Small display
• Slow processing

The Flexi 3i from Lenovo is a cheap Chromebook that can handle games just fine, thanks to its Intel Dual-Celeron N4020 graphics card.

Although it only has 4 GB of RAM and a low processing speed, many online reviews and videos showcase games like Counter-Strike: Source and Team Fortress 2 running without much choppiness. Though modern games like Fortnite and Smite present plenty of frame rate issues, this Chromebook is surprisingly well-suited for playing classic games like Half-Life 2 and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time.

Users say the size of the laptop is perfect for taking on the road and that the touch screen is a nice bonus. As for downsides: Slow processing speeds may hinder numerous open tabs, and the screen isn’t full HD.

Key Specs

Kevin Cortez

Commerce Editor

Kevin Cortez is a Commerce Editor for Popular Mechanics, Bicycling, and Runner’s World. A culture and product journalist for over ten years, he’s an expert in men’s style, technology, gaming, coffee, e-bikes, hiking, gear, and all things outdoors. He was most recently the style editor for a leading product-recommendation site and previously covered music and podcasting at Mass Appeal, Genius, and The A.V. Club. His work can also be seen in WSJ, Leafly, Input, and Vulture. He enjoys reading graphic novels, birding, and taking long, meandering walks in his spare time.

7 Best Gaming Laptops Under $500 in 2023: [Best Pick]

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means that if you click on one of the links and buy an item, I can earn a commission. However, all opinions are mine.

In this post, you will see seven of the best gaming laptop under $500 and also know which one is the best.

This guide includes:

• Points that matter in a gaming laptop on this budget
• Gaming laptops from Asus, Dell, Acer and more
• Verdict on my favorite gaming laptop on the list
• And more

Each of the seven budget gaming laptops featured has its own set of pros and cons, as well as a selling price. We’re focusing on GPU, Processor, Memory, and Display specs to help you choose between them.

Check out our best gaming laptops page if you’re looking for the very best mobile gaming platforms, no matter the price.

Read on if you’re looking for the cheapest of the budget gaming laptops.

So, if you’re looking for the best gaming laptop under $500, you’ll love this new guide.

Let’s dive right in.

How to choose the best gaming laptop under $500?

If you’re a gamer and want to buy a gaming laptop for yourself or give it to someone, then you must be wondering if you can get anything under $500.

You’ll be happy to hear that there are some great gaming laptops under $500 . People who are or aspire to be gamers no longer have to worry about budget.

Here is a list of the top 5 gaming laptops you can easily buy within your budget.

Typically, gamers are looking for laptop gaming features such as a good processor, good design, etc. , which is worth the money.

Let’s take a look at the main features of a good gaming laptop on a small budget.

Processors

The central processing unit or processors determine how fast a computer will run and process information. And a gaming laptop should have a great fast processor so you can enjoy gaming on it.

Even high-end gaming laptops now come with a minimum Core-i5 processor, some even with four processors.

So, choose a laptop with an ultra-fast processor that meets your ultra-fast gaming needs.

Monitor

When it comes to gaming, visuals and entertainment are extremely important. The picture quality and sound quality of the game enhance the overall gaming experience.

The best gaming laptops feature a full range of 1080p displays and Blu-ray drives for stunning visuals.

Display size and resolution is another important feature to check before buying a gaming laptop. A high resolution screen of at least 1280 by 1024 is vital for a good gaming laptop.

Also consider aspect ratio, native image resolution, size and viewing perspective.

Graphic cards

A high quality graphics card is an absolute must for a gaming laptop. A graphics card that supports the latest games and makes the gaming experience smooth can greatly enhance the gaming experience.

All recent games require updated and modern graphics cards, otherwise it will give the feeling of some kind of video game from the 80s.

There have been many advances in game graphics over time, so graphics cards must support the latest updates and games.

Under $500 you can’t expect world-class graphics, but you can still make some adjustments to your games to make them look appealing.

Many popular games support NVIDIA or AMD graphics cards. The graphics card should be your priority when looking for a gaming laptop.

Hard drives

Modern gaming laptops support up to terabyte hard drives for storage.

Most gamers prefer SATA HDDs and SSDs as they provide amazing functionality for extravagant bandwidth applications.

Solid state drives offer a very promising future in gaming, they are an expensive choice but very reliable.

RAM

RAM is an important factor to consider as it determines how fast your laptop will run. A minimum of 8 GB of memory is required for all games, but most laptops now have 8 GB or even more.

Make sure you have plenty of RAM when you buy a gaming laptop as it comes at affordable prices. So don’t compromise on this.

More RAM, more graphics it can handle, so make sure you have as much RAM as possible. A lot of RAM is needed for an amazing gaming experience.

Should you buy the best gaming laptop under $500?

When looking for the best gaming laptop under $500, it’s important to understand the limits that this budget places on your choice.

At this price, you’ll only get entry-level gaming performance, but if you’re only going to play older, less demanding games, this shouldn’t be a problem.

These are truly inexpensive gaming laptops that go beyond the definition of a gaming laptop in some ways.

We recommend browsing through the list below of the best gaming laptops under $500 on the market and making the best decision.

Top 7 gaming laptops under $500 in 2023

Here is a list of the best gaming laptops under $500:

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