Yes it’s above $500 which is why it didn’t make the award for “most powerful laptop” on this list. Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go 2, CPU: Intel Celeron N3060 | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 400 | RAM: 4GB | Screen: 11.6-inch, HD (1366 x 768) touchscreen | Storage: 32GB-64GB eMMC. We also recommend picking an option with a fingerprint reader whenever possible, as well as any model with keyboard backlighting. While that offers less overall storage than the typical 1TB hard disk drives standard for this price range, trust us that speed boost is well worth the trade off. Overall, the HP 15 is a reliable budget laptop with a very powerful processor compared to other laptops of the same price range. That 14-inch crisp and bright display gives you more screen real estate for your productivity needs. For some buyers, that’s a must-have feature. Unfortunately, the 2-in-1 Windows options aren’t fabulous if you plan to stick under the $500 threshold. TechRadar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Rather than wasting your time comparing all the options across the web, we’ve done all the heavy lifting for you already! 5 hours| Weight: 5.27 lbs. With a Corning Gorilla Glass screen, you also get a sturdy, high quality display that can withstand regular daily use. Despite having an overall thin and lightweight design, you still get a DVD-RW drive. Recommended configuration for Lenovo IdeaPad 3, CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Processor | Graphics: AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics | RAM: 8 GB RAM | Screen: 14.0″ FHD (1920 x 1080) Display | Storage: 256 GB SSD | Operating System: Windows 10 | Battery Life: 8 hours | Weight: 3.3 lbs. Whether you’re buying one of the best budget laptops for you or as a gift for someone, it would be wise to wait until the major deal event of the year. Hearing this though shows you that this laptop has some pretty amazing specs. Sadly you won’t get other hot new features like keyboard backlighting which is a good thing because those things are distracting during business meetings! This model comes standard with a fingerprint scanner, which is a critical security feature for nearly any kind of business. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Excellent touch screen and flip mechanism, Massive bezels drastically reduce actual screen size. While overall hardware specs are often similar between models, you should pay close attention to the extra features that set each contender apart. Dell’s Inspiron is our pick for the top high performance laptop nearing the $500 price on the market. These budget portables will be able to deliver for most users while saving them quite a bit of their hard earned cash. Since there are so many options out there, especially in the more budget-friendly range, we’ve put together our list of the best laptops under $500 for you here. Laptops come in a huge array of sizes and weights, and some are better for transporting to different locations than others. He'd like to share that knowledge with all of you through his work at NetbookNews.com, whether you need a business machine, college laptop, or killer gaming computer. Your specific battery needs may vary depending on how often you are away from an outlet, but there are some general guidelines to follow to get the most out of your mobile computer. Its very crazy to think that a laptop like the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is just under $500. If you’re looking for the most powerful laptop on this list, then look no further from the Lenovo IdeaPad 3. Without a dedicated GPU, instead look for the most RAM and most powerful 8th gen CPUs if you intend to play games. By Michelle Rae Uy 18 November 2020. We’re starting with our top-of-the-line pick that offers a ton of power under the hood for a very affordable price. While it is far from the most powerful Chromebook available, it's exactly what people need it from it: budget-friendly, easy to use and able to hold up to abuse. Looking for a device that focuses on portability but won’t break your bank account? Dell even managed to put a touch screen on this Inspiron model, making it one of the top overall choices for any kind of buyer. Recommended Configuration For Acer Swift 3, CPU: AMD Ryzen 7-4700U| Graphics: AMD Radeon Graphics| RAM: 8GB RAM | Screen: 14-inch 1920×1080 FHD IPS display| Storage: 512GB SSD| Operating System: Windows 10| Battery Life: up to 11.5 hours | Weight: 2.65 lbs.