The best laptops under $500: Affordable options worth considering

UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2025, 5:00 a.m. EDT Due to volatility in laptop pricing, some of these laptops may be priced slightly higher than $500.
When shopping for a laptop on a tight budget — like, under $500 tight — you'll want to pay close attention to what you're buying.In the highly competitive laptop market, you really do get what you pay for. That means it can be very dangerous to buy a cheap laptop just because it's inexpensive. Choose wrongly, and you'll be stuck with a slow, outdat