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Do you have an under $ 500 budget and need a gaming laptop? Here’s where all your questions will be answered. You may be wondering what type of gaming laptop your sub $ 500 budget can get you. Our answer to that is the ✅2020 HP 14-inch HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop PC and any of the 6 other laptops listed here.
Read on to find out more.
Comparison Table For The Best Budget Gaming Laptop Under 500 Dollars
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| Product Name | Product Image | Specifications |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 HP 14-inch HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop PC |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Display: 14" RAM: 8GB DDR4 Storage: 256 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 10 |
| HP 15.6-inch HD Laptop |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Display: 15.6" RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 10 Home |
| Lenovo IdeaPad 3 |   | Processor: Intel i3-10110U Display: 15" RAM: 8 GB Storage: 256 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 10 Home |
| 2022 Newest Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Display: 15.6" RAM: 8 GB DDR4 Storage: 256 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 11 |
| 2019 Newest HP Premium 14 Inch Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i3-7100U Display: 14" RAM:8 GB DDR4 Storage: 128 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 10 Home |
| Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Display: 15.6" RAM: 4 GB DDR4 Storage: 128 GB SSD Operating System: Windows 10 S |
| Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K Slim Laptop |   | Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Display: 15.6" RAM: 4 GB DDR4 Storage: 128 GB Operating System: Windows 10 Home |
Compare The Top 7 On One Page
BeSt Budget Gaming Laptop Under 500; An Overview
Most gaming laptops are more expensive than conventional laptops.
This is because gaming is a high-demanding task that involves a lot of graphical processing power to function effectively.
So, it requires laptops with high-end specs to handle the graphics demands of the user’s gaming activities.
Therefore, if you are into serious gaming, you need a laptop with high-end specifications to enjoy every moment spent playing your favorite games.
On the other hand, if you are on a budget and can’t afford such, that doesn’t mean you can get any within your budget.
With 500 or less, you can get some entry-level gaming laptops that can handle casual games like Hearthstone, League of Legends, and other related games.
However, it won’t be easy, so we are here to help.
Read further.
Essential Factors To Consider When Buying The Best Budget Gaming Laptop Under 500 Dollars
The important factors you need to consider in any gaming laptop are the processor, graphics card, memory, storage, and battery life.
If the above-listed specs are powerful enough, you can enjoy the best gaming experience without compromise.
Unfortunately, a sub $ 500 budget may not get you proficient laptops with high-end features.
Irrespective of that, below are the non-negotiable specs a budget gaming laptop of under $ 500 needs to have to deliver an enjoyable gaming experience.
Processor/Graphics
The processor determines the overall performance as far as the computer is concerned.
It also coordinates and regulates the activities of other software in the system to ensure perfect delivery.
With a budget of 500 or less, you may not get the best-performing processor, such as an i7 or i9 processor.
On the other hand, a Core i5 processor will suffice for above-average gaming performance.
Sadly, what you’ll find for laptops in this price range is a multiple core Core i3 processor.
This can only run some low-end games, as we highlighted earlier.
Anything less than this will deliver a terrible gaming performance.
Furthermore, gaming requires strong graphics performance; that is why it needs a dedicated graphics card.
Although most gaming laptops under 500 do not come with such graphics cards.
Instead, what you’ll get is an integrated graphics card.
Fortunately, the latest integrated graphics from Intel or AMD can offer you the best gaming experience in most casual games.
Not only that, aside from casual games, it can execute daily computing tasks excellently well.
Precisely, an Intel Iris Xe, Intel UHD, or AMD Ryzen will give you above-average gaming performance.
RAM/Storage
The RAM and storage are also as important as the processor and graphics card.
Although, gaming does not necessarily need robust RAM.
Nonetheless, getting a good RAM for an overall hassle-free operation wouldn’t hurt.
So, a laptop with at least 4 GB RAM for your casual gaming and other basic computing tasks.
Like with most computer components, the higher, the better, except for the weight.
SDD and HDD as the two main types of storage.
The SSD stands for the Solid-State Drive, while HDD represents Hard-Disk Drive.
SSDs storage options are more reliable, faster in saving, accessing, and retrieving files.
In addition, they are quieter and lighter compared to HDDs.
This is why it is preferable to opt for an SSD with larger storage space.
With your $ 500 budget or less, you can get a laptop with at least 128 GB of SSD storage.
Display
The display is also part of the factors to consider when looking for the best budget gaming laptop under 500 dollars.
A good display will allow you to have the best visual and enjoy your favorite games.
Conversely, a poor display will be nothing close to enjoyable.
As a result, we suggest a 13-15-inches with Full HD display for vivid and bright visual output.
In addition, it should have IPS and anti-glare features to prevent reflections and deliver accurate visuals.
However, since we are under budget constraints, some of the laptops featured in this review come with HD display features, but they deliver well in their capacity.
Weight/Battery Life
Speaking of weight, one major determinant of any laptop’s weight is its screen size.
Most laptops with bigger ones often weigh heavier than others.
As a result, a decent screen size will offer a proper weight.
That is why we recommend laptops of not more than 15-inches so you can easily move around with them.
However, since we are talking about casual gaming laptops, we know they won’t be as heavy are real gaming laptops.
Given so, any laptop weighing more than 4 pounds is considered heavyweight.
Finally, you need to check the battery life of any laptop you desire to buy to ensure it lasts for long.
At least a minimum of 6 hours of battery life can take you far while playing or working on different tasks.
That brings us to the end of this section.
Next is a breakdown of all 7 laptops.
Our Top 7 Best Budget Gaming Laptops Under 500 Dollars.
1. 2020 HP 14-inch HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop PC
The 2020 HP 14-inch is the overall best budget gaming laptop under 500 dollars in this list.
Design/Display/Weight
This is one of the lightweight laptops that can handle less-demanding games and other related functions.
It measures 12.76 x 8.9 x 0.78 inches and weighs 3.25 pounds.
Furthermore, it has 1 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2 USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 HDMI 1.4, 1 RJ45, and 1 Headphone/Microphone combo for all-around connectivity.
It also features an ergonomic keyboard that will deliver a snappy and comfortable typing experience.
However, the keyboard lacks a back-light feature, meaning you can’t work in a low-lit environment with this.
Away from that, it features a 14″ HD display for clear and vivid details.
This may not be as great as an FHD display.
Nonetheless, images will still appear clearly on this HD screen.
Performance
The laptop has an AMD Dual-Core Ryzen 3 3200U processor with a 3.5 GHz boost clock speed 4 MB cache, and 2 cores.
In addition to that, it comes with AMD Radeon Vega 3 Graphics, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and 256 GB SSD storage.
Overall, these will deliver excellent performance without issues.
Operating System/Battery Life
It has a Windows 10 OS, and it is powered by 1 Lithium-ion battery.
Pros
- It is portable.
- It comes with enough RAM.
- Decent storage space.
- Excellent performance for its price range.
Cons
- HD display.
- It has no back-lit keyboard.
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2. HP 15.6-inch HD Laptop
This is another budget-friendly laptop with mid-range specs for your everyday task and pleasure.
It is also a suitable budget-friendly gaming laptop for under $ 500.
Design/Display/Weight
This laptop is designed to offer you full hours of productivity without delay.
It is thin and light, suitable for travel.
Also, it features an ergonomic full-sized keyboard, a responsive touchpad, and a numeric keypad.
It also features a 6.5mm micro-edge bezel display.
The display features a 15.6-inch screen size with an HD resolution (1366 768), micro-edge, BrightView, 82% screen-to-body ratio, 60Hz refresh rate, and a WLED back-lit display.
Overall, this will offer clear and vivid output but not as clear as an FHD laptop.
Unfortunately, the laptop has no optical drive and Ethernet connection, but it comes rich with every other port for easy connection.
Performance
As for its performance, this HP laptop possesses a dual-core AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor having a 2.6 GHz – 3.5 GHz clock speed.
It also features an AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphics card that can handle games like Minecraft and League of Legends at a low setting combined with the processor.
More so, it has an 8 GB RAM size and 256 GB SSD for storage.
Operating System/Battery Life
Lastly, it has the Windows 10 Operating System and 10.75 hours of battery life.
Pros
- Sleek in natural silver.
- Wide-angle view.
- It looks and feels compact.
Cons
- It has no Ethernet port.
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3.Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop
In the third position of the best budget laptop under 500 is Lenovo IdeaPad 3.
Design/Display/Weight
This is a notebook with a simple design feature.
It comes with a distinctive Abyss Blue color which is not rampant among other laptops.
With its rectangle and rounded canners, the laptop looks so unique.
Also, there’s a Lenovo logo beautifully placed in one of the canners for easy identification and attractiveness.
Overall, the laptop is made portable with a fine plastic chassis, and it weighs just 1 pound.
Moving on, this Lenovo laptop features all other ports that can help you connect your devices except USB Type-C.
Specifically, it comes in handy with 2 USB 3.0, 1 USB 2.0, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an HDMI.
In addition, there are two 1.5w speakers and a webcam for exclusive sound and quality videos.
Like the previous HP laptop, this also comes with a 15.6″ display with an HD 1366 x 768 resolution.
Overall, you will not have anything to lose having this laptop.
Performance
From its performance side, it runs on the 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10110U Dual-Core Processor and 4.1 GHz boost clock.
Following this processor are Intel UHD Graphics, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and 256 GB SSD storage.
On the whole, you can efficiently multitask as you play basic games at a good refresh rate.
Operating System/Battery Life
Windows 10 Operating System won’t hinder you from running any application of your choice.
Also, with 1 Lithium Metal battery, your work won’t stop halfway.
Pros
- It has solid construction.
- It’s quite affordable.
- Convenient keyboard.
Cons
- HD display.
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4. 2022 Newest Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
This is also one of the best budget laptops for gaming for under $ 500 with the best display feature; here is a good chance to have one.
Design/Display/Weight
This Acer laptop comes sophisticated with amazing features that allow you to perform your duties easily.
As such, it features an amazing 15.6″ screen with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) widescreen, LED-backlit, and an IPS display.
Further, it has a back-lit keyboard with a numeric keypad.
This will offer you stress-free typing and swift navigation.
For the connection, you can connect to an external source with the help of an Ethernet port, HDMI, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi connections.
Also, it has USB 3.1 Type-C and USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A for easy transfer of files.
Performance
This Acer laptop also features an AMD Ryzen 3 3350U Quad-Core Processor with AMD Radeon Vega 6 Graphics to deliver satisfactory performance.
In addition, it has 8 GB DDR4 RAM which can be upgraded to 32 GB DDR4, and 256 GB SSD, which can be expanded to 2TB.
Operating System/Battery Life
It also has a Windows 11 OS, and its battery can last for up to 8 hours on a single charge.
Pros
- There’s a fingerprint reader.
- Quality dual-speakers.
- Built-in webcam.
- Its RAM and storage are upgradeable.
- Excellent performance.
Cons
- Non-touchscreen.
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5. 2019 Newest HP Premium 14 Inch Laptop
This is also a worthy contender for the best budget gaming laptop under 500 dollars.
Design/Display/Weight
The laptop has a touchscreen gesture that supports easy navigation and stress-free performance.
The outer casing is painted with Ash silver, and the interior is all covered in black color.
With a front-facing HD webcam, you would have quality time video-chatting with clients, families, and friends.
Also, a digital microphone ensures the sound is crystal clear.
Then, you can receive clear and brightly-colored visual feedback on its 14″ HD (1366 x 768) display.
This laptop weighs 4.4 pounds.
Performance
It delivers good performance with the 8th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, Intel HD Graphics 620, 8 GB DDR4 RAM, and 128 GB SSD.
Above all, you’ll enjoy an above-average performance for all your basic games.
Operating System/Battery Life
This laptop functions with Windows 10 OS, which is user-friendly compatible with most applications.
Lastly, it is powered by 1 Lithium-ion battery.
Pros
- It has an SD card reader.
- Multi-touchscreen gesture.
- Good arrays of ports.
Cons
- Slightly heavy.
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6. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop
We have Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop on our list.
Design/Display/Weight
At 3.97 pounds, this is thin and lightweight for a 15″ laptop
It measures 14.31 x 9.74 x 0.71 inches.
Furthermore, it has a 15″ Full HD display to deliver crisp and clear visuals.
On the weight, the laptop is carriable at 3.97 pounds.
Performance
This laptop is well-equipped to handle basic gaming and other computational tasks.
All these are made possible by the following hardware components- AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Dual-Core Processor, AMD Radeon Vega 3 Mobile Graphics, 4 GB DDR4 RAM, and 128 GB SSD storage.
Operating System/Battery Life
It features a Windows 10 OS.
Lastly, it offers up to 7.5 hours of battery life on a single charge.
Pros
- The battery life is encouraging.
- Amazing display quality.
- Strong performance.
Cons
- RAM size could be better.
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7. Acer Aspire 5 A515-46-R14K Slim Laptop
Design/Display/Weight
This is the last laptop to be featured in this article, and it’s a different model from the Acer Aspire 5 series.
So, if the first one didn’t do it for you, maybe this would.
Features
The laptop looks good in its silver aluminum chassis.
It also has a full-sized and evenly spaced back-lit keyboard for convenient typing.
In addition to that is a 15″ full HD display with an 82.58% screen-to-body ratio and narrow bezels.
Overall, you can view the screen from all directions and have immersive visual output.
Performance
Mid-range games will play well at medium settings on this device, thanks to AMD Ryzen 3 3350U processor and AMD Radeon Vega 6.
Likewise, its 4 GB DDR4 RAM and 128 GB SSD storage will also enhance its performance and ensure the smooth delivery of all your computational tasks.
Operating System/Battery Life
It comes in handy with the Windows 10 S Operating System and offers up to 10 hours of battery life.
Pros
- It can easily be lifted.
- Sleek in aluminum silver.
- Full-sized and back-lit keyboard.
- FHD display.
- Good performance.
Cons
- The RAM could be bigger.
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Conclusion On The Best Budget Gaming Laptop Under 500 Dollars
Conclusively, the laptop in this review are all budget-friendly and can play most casual games.
The ✅2020 HP 14-inch HD Touchscreen Premium Laptop PC stands out as the best, and we recommend you get it.
Tap the link above to get it on Amazon.
