Whether you’re looking for an affordable Windows machine under $500, a lightning-fast gaming beast for those intense matches, or a portable 2-in-1 for school or work, you now have plenty of great options.
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Best cheap laptop deals under $500
Acer
Our top pick: Acer Aspire Lite 15, $499.99 ($300 off Amazon)
The Aspire Lite falls into that increasingly important “sufficient laptop” category. It’s not about being incredibly powerful. It’s about being consistent.
This is the laptop you use to read Reddit stories, watch Netflix, and get lost in a Wikipedia hole. The lighter things. That’s exactly what the entry-level Intel N150 processor is designed to do. This is a good machine, especially for under $500.
Amazon
- Acer Aspire Lite 15, Intel N150 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $499.99 ($300 off Amazon)
Best buy
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB UFS storage, $369 ($130.99 off Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook 3, AMD Ryzen 5 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen/8 GB RAM/256 GB SSD, $484.99 ($295 off at Best Buy)
Aim
- Asus Vivobook Go, Intel N150 Processor/15.6-inch FHD IPS Display/4GB LPDDR5 RAM/128GB UFS Storage/Peacock Blue/One-Year Microsoft 365 Subscription, $386.99 ($13 off at Target)
- HP Stream 14, Intel Celeron N4120 processor/14-inch display/4GB DDR4 RAM/64GB eMMC storage/Windows 11 in S mode/Pink, $369.95 ($130.04 off at Target)
The best mid-range laptop deals
lenovo
Our top pick: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, $615.99 ($284 off at Best Buy)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i offers a good mix of performance and everyday value. Its Intel Core i5-1335U processor and 16GB of RAM should handle multitasking and productivity apps without much trouble. You also get a 15-inch 1920×1080 display and a 256GB SSD, giving you a comfortable screen size and enough storage for all your important files. At $615.99 ($284 off at Best Buy), it’s one of the most comprehensive options out there.
Amazon
- Dell Pro 15.6-Inch Laptop, Intel Core 3 100U Processor/15.6-Inch FHD Display/16GB DDR5 RAM/256GB SSD/NumPad/Fast Charging/Windows 11 Home for Business, $558.99 ($141 off Amazon)
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core 5 120U processor/14-inch 1920×1080 display/12 GB RAM/256 GB SSD, $659.95 ($180.04 off Amazon)
- Acer Aspire Go 16 AI, Intel Core 7 150U processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16 GB RAM/512 GB SSD, $849.99 ($50 off Amazon)
Best buy
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x, Snapdragon $549.99 ($300 off Best Buy)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Intel Core i5-1335U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $615.99 ($284 off at Best Buy)
- Dell 15.6-inch Touchscreen Laptop, 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1355U Processor/15.6-inch 2K Touchscreen/16GB DDR5 RAM/512GB PCIe NVMe SSD, $709 ($290.99 off at Best Buy)
Best gaming laptop deals
horsepower
Our best choice: HP Omen Max 16, $1,344.99 ($1,155 off at Target)
The refurbished HP Omen 16 has good hardware for $1,349.99. With an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and RTX 5060 graphics, it should offer smooth performance in a wide range of games. The 16-inch 2560×1600 display also keeps images looking nice and sharp, while 16GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD storage ensure fast loading times and plenty of space for your game library.
Best buy
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $949.99 ($525 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo LOQ, Intel Core i7 13650HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,369 ($480.99 off at Best Buy)
Aim
- HP Omen Max 16, AMD Ryzen 7 Processor/GeForce RTX 5060 Graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 Display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Windows 11/Manufacturer Refurbished, $1,344.99 ($1,155 off at Target)
- Lenovo Legion 5, AMD Ryzen 7 260 Processor/RTX 5060 Graphics/15.1-inch WQXGA 165Hz OLED Display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD/Eclipse Black, $1,599.99 ($200 off)
The best premium laptop deals
microsoft
Our top pick: Microsoft Surface Laptop, $1,069.46 ($180.53 off Amazon)
As far as I’m concerned, the Surface Laptop is pretty much the complete package. Not only is it fairly light at 2.7 pounds, but it also has a Snapdragon X Plus chip and 16GB of RAM. That’s enough to make video calls and stream your favorite shows. Add in excellent battery life (Microsoft says it can last up to 23 hours) and a 13-inch 1920×1280 touchscreen, and it’s easy to see what makes this machine so appealing.
Amazon
Best buy
- HP OmniBook $1,059 ($440.99 off at Best Buy)
- Samsung Galaxy Book6, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch IPS LED touch screen/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099 ($350.99 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Dell Pro 16, Intel Core 5 120U processor/Intel Graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,074.99 ($424.01 off at Adorama)
Frequently asked questions
How much RAM will I need in my laptop?
You’ll want at least 8GB, although 16GB is preferable, especially if you game. don’t buy laptops with less than 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage, although on a Chromebook or budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. See our article on how much RAM a laptop needs for more detailed information.
What is the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The only big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows.
Chromebooks are good everyday machines because they are designed for browsing the web, checking email, etc. They use fewer resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also do not need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is much more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really boost a Windows laptop with a ton of RAM, storage, etc.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll probably find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find some great laptop deals all year round, but if you really want to save big, we recommend checking out your favorite online retailers during those times.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals at a wide range of online retailers like Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, etc. However, we recommend checking out offers from laptop manufacturers such as Lenovo, HP and Dell. You will usually find many different configurations for sale and the discounts can be quite steep.
For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.
