10 Best Laptop For 500 Dollars 2022 – Reviews & Guide
Chromebooks are everywhere these days. From students to business users, people looking for a budget laptop have been turning to the ever-expanding range of Chromebooks that are available on the market.
In 2015, we saw the first Chromebooks start breaking the $500 price point and show that you could get a more premium experience out of Chrome OS if you were willing to pay for it. I would argue that it’s one of the biggest reasons why Chromebooks have become so popular in recent years.
Today, that trend has continued with a variety of new models coming out each year at various price points and with ever-increasing capabilities. For those who want a reliably good experience and something that will last through several years of use, this list is going to show you some great options.
I’m not going to focus on what we consider ‘budget’ Chromebooks here. You can find many good options under $300 and even some good ones under $200 these days but there is a drastic difference between those Chromebooks and anything above. The models here will be more durable, more powerful, better-made, and certainly a lot nicer overall if you’re looking for a quality device for work or school.
1. Acer Aspire 5
| Brand | Acer |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Human Interface Input | Keyboard |
| CPU Manufacturer | AMD |
The Acer Aspire 5 is an affordable 15.6-inch laptop that offers a great combination of portability, performance, and design for a well-rounded ultraportable laptop. Its 8th Gen Core i3 CPU will run mainstream apps smoothly at mid-level graphical tasks, and it features a bright Full HD display that’s great for gaming and everyday use. The Aspire 5 is also surprisingly durable for a budget gaming laptop, meaning you can bring it with you to class or on road trips without worrying about the chassis caving in – although its battery life isn’t as impressive as what you’d find on other budget laptops like the Asus VivoBook S15. Plus, the Aspire 5 is available in white — which might be better
2. Acer Aspire E 15
| Series | Aspire E series |
| Brand | Acer |
| Specific Uses For Product | Business, personal |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
For just under $400, the Acer Aspire E 15 can rock your world with a powerful 8th Gen Core i3 processor and plenty of ports. Despite the upgrade in power, the battery life actually lasts a bit longer than last year’s model at just under 9 hours. The laptop’s smooth black deck is made of chunky plastic, but a brushed metal texture gives it a deceivingly premium appearance. It’s not quite as thin or light as other contenders, but its body is easier to open up for maintenance than the average clamshell computer.
3. HP Stream 11
| Series | HP Stream 11 |
| Brand | HP |
| Specific Uses For Product | Multimedia, Personal |
| Screen Size | 11.6 Inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 S |
To start with, this Stream 11 is one of the most affordable Windows laptops I’ve tested in recent memory. Our $200 model features a low-power Intel Celeron N2840 processor with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage (also available for $50 less). Though the Stream 11 is hampered by its lackluster processor, it’s hardly noticeable when firing up basic programs like Chrome or Office 2013. The sleek underside offers ample room for most peoples’ hands, though my larger mitts were too big to hit all of the keys on the keyboard.
4. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
| Series | Lenovo Chromebook Duet |
| Brand | Lenovo |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal, Business |
| Screen Size | 10.1 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
As someone who has used a Chromebook for a year now, I was delightfully surprised to find that the Lenovo Chromebook Duet had almost no noticeable performance issues. The laptop boots up quickly with its Intel Celeron N3060 processor, and the 4GB of memory is decent. The device comes with all the necessities you’d expect in a laptop, including USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, and Lenovo’s signature red TrackPoint nub. Surprisingly, this $279 Chromebook also beats its competition in both display quality and battery life.
5. HP Chromebook x2
| Series | HP Chromebook |
| Brand | HP |
| Screen Size | 12.3 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Human Interface Input | TouchPad |
The HP Chromebook x2 is an affordable Windows laptop. The Chromebook x2 appeals to people who want to spend less than $500 on their next notebook, but don’t want to compromise performance or design. The original HP Chromebook x2, which debuted in February 2018, remains our top pick because it’s even more affordable at $449.99, but the new model ranks as a strong runner-up because of its better size and features.
6. Acer Swift 1
| Series | SF114-32-P2PK |
| Brand | Acer |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal |
| Screen Size | 14 Inches |
| Operating System | Windows 10 |
The Acer Swift 1 is a sleek and lightweight 14-inch laptop with a full aluminum chassis featuring a healthy amount of ports all for less than $400. Now combine that great price with a battery that can last 10 hours and 14 minutes on a charge and a 14-inch display that ditches the mediocre 768p resolution for a full 1080p. Under the hood you’ll find an Intel Core M hardware platform but not without compromises like limited performance and support for an SSD + HDD combo. Even at the base configuration that sells for only $399, you still get 8GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and two USB 3.0 ports. The IPS display has 178-degree viewing angles.
7. HP Chromebook 15
| Series | HP Chromebook 15-de0010nr |
| Brand | HP |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal, Gaming, Business |
| Screen Size | 15.6 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
If you’re itching for a Chromebook with a bigger, sharper display for an affordable price, then your best bet is the HP Chromebook 15. For just $469, you get a Chromebook with Core i3 performance and a comfortable keyboard packed into a refreshing design. The white, metal hood bears a glossy, silver HP logo and a blacked-out Chrome logo in the top left corner. The base is the same white metal color as the lid, but curves at the edges to give it some visual appeal. It’s lightweight, but not so much that it feels cheap. And though it looks good, I actually prefer the design of its competition, Lenovo’s Chromebook 300 .
8. Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5
| Series | ChromeBook Flex 5 13″ |
| Brand | Lenovo |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal |
| Screen Size | 13.3 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
The Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook (reviewed at $409) is easy on the pockets, but let us tell you, it doesn’t feel, look or act cheap. This Chromebook may have “Flex ” in its name, but ironically, its solid metal chassis is stalwart with a premium-feeling, part-aluminum body. At first glance, you may dismiss the Lenovo Flex 5 Chromebook as another gray, clamshell laptop, but this shape-shifting 2-in-1 can flex into whatever shape you need with wide hinges that bend almost 360 degrees. Although it is thick and heavy for a 2-in-1 Chromebook (3.5 lbs), you will stretch your wallet thin to get this hybrid priced.
9. Samsung Chromebook 4
| Series | Chromebook 4 |
| Brand | SAMSUNG |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal |
| Screen Size | 11.6 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
If you’re looking for a ridiculously cheap Chromebook, you won’t find anything better than the Samsung Chromebook 4 ($229). It survived a whole 10 hours and 36 minutes against our battery test, making it the best laptop under $500 with the longest battery life. With curved edges and a silver hue, the Samsung Chromebook 4 looks a lot like the many MacBook copycats we’ve seen over the years.
10. Lenovo Chromebook Duet
| Series | Lenovo Chromebook Duet |
| Brand | Lenovo |
| Specific Uses For Product | Personal, Business |
| Screen Size | 10.1 Inches |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
If you’re looking for a good budget laptop and don’t mind the idea of a hybrid tablet/Chromebook, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet could be for you. At $279 you can get both the tablet and the detachable keyboard, rather than needing to pay for them separately as is the case with the Microsoft Surface Go — though that hybrid Windows 10 machine does offer a more premium experience.