We examine a lot of the finest laptops running Windows 11 Home and other versions of the OS every year at Engadget, but the cheapest among them generally slip to the bottom of the list. Unlike our top recommendations for best Windows laptop, or even more niche products like the best gaming laptops, these computers don’t feature pricy OLED displays, high-powered graphics cards or incredibly thin-and-light designs. But it doesn’t mean you should write them off. Besides, not everyone needs a pro-level laptop – they simply need the greatest computer that will match their budget.
Sub-$500 laptops offered by Acer, Dell, Lenovo and other firms can be fantastic matches for folks who only use a computer to check email, buy online and occasionally video chat with friends and family. They’re also arguably the greatest alternative for kids who have no business touching their parents’ costly daily car. We’ve evaluated a number of budget-friendly Windows notebooks – these are our favorites below, and we offer some buying recommendations for anybody searching for a cheap Windows laptop that blends functionality with economy.
What About Chromebooks And Tablets?
You may be inclined to offer a Chromebook or a tablet to anyone contemplating a cheap Windows laptop. Those instincts aren’t incorrect, but Chromebooks and tablets aren’t the greatest buy for everyone. Tablets offer the most mobility, but they will only work for the most mobile-competent users like youngsters who have been pulling cellphones out of their parents’ hands since they’ve been dexterous enough to do so. Tablets may also be just as pricey as some of the cheapest Windows laptops, and that’s without a mouse or keyboard.
Chromebooks are an excellent alternative for individuals that virtually live in a browser, the trade-off being you must give up the “traditional desktop.” And Chrome OS is a more constrained operating system than Windows when it comes to the apps you may install and execute.
What Windows Laptops Do Well
What can you truly achieve with an inexpensive Windows laptop? Quite a deal, especially if you’re doing one item (or a limited number of things) at a time. They’re perfect for regular chores like online surfing, checking email, video streaming and more. All of those things can be done on Chromebooks as well, but Windows laptops have a major edge in Microsoft Office. While true, there is a browser based version, the native, desktop programs are considered a must have for many and will work flawlessly on even the most bare-bones budget laptop. The only exception is that you may run into some lag on low-powered devices if you’re multitasking or dealing with huge data sets in Excel or a lot of photographs and graphics in Powerpoint.
When it comes to specifications, a bright light for Windows laptops is storage. Even the most cheap gadgets tend to contain at least 128GB SSDs. That will come in useful if you wish to retain your most crucial data saved locally on your laptop's hard disk. on contrast, inexpensive Chromebooks frequently offer less storage since they’re created on the idea that you’ll keep all of your work on the cloud. Not only is it less convenient when you need to work offline, but it also restricts the size of apps and data that you may download. So, Chromebooks aren't the ideal for storing Netflix episodes before a lengthy journey or for use as a gaming laptop.
Windows also offers thousands of programs that you can download from its app store. Chromebooks offer some Chrome apps, various browser extensions and the ability to download Android apps, but quality control is… uneven. Android applications, in particular, typically haven’t been optimized for Chrome OS, which makes for a wacky user experience. Windows may not have as many apps as Android, but at least the experience is fairly uniform across the board.
What To Look For In A Budget-friendly Windows Laptop
While you may achieve a lot even while spending little on a Windows laptop, you must calibrate your expectations properly. The main problem of choosing a cheap laptop (of any sort, really) is restricted power. Many Windows laptops under $500 operate on Intel Celeron or Pentium processors, but you may find some with Core i3/i5 and AMD Ryzen 3/5 CPUs at the higher end of the pricing spectrum.
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Specs to look for in a sub-$500 Windows laptop
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Intel Core i or AMD Ryzen 3 processors
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At least 8GB of RAM
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An SSD with at least 128GB of space
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1080p display
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Mostly metal designs
We recommend choosing the highest powerful CPU you can afford because it will define how quick the computer will seem overall. RAM is also significant since, the more you have, the simpler it will be for the laptop to manage things like a dozen internet tabs as you write a Word document and stream music in the background. However, with sub-$500 laptops, you’re better off getting the best CPU you can afford rather than a laptop with a ton of RAM because the CPU will have enough power to handle most everyday tasks that cheap Windows laptops are designed for (If you’re editing RAW images or 4K video, you’ll want to invest in more RAM… and a laptop well above $500).
When it comes to storage, evaluate how much you want to preserve locally. If you mostly work in Google Docs or store most items in the cloud, you may not need a computer with a ton of internal storage. Just remember that your digital space will also be filled up by apps, so it may be worth acquiring a bit additional storage than you think you need if you know you’ll be installing huge programs. A final side note: SSDs are common at this moment, not to mention quicker and more efficient than HDDs, therefore we recommend choosing a laptop with that form of storage.
Read Also: Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra
You also don’t have to settle for an all plastic notebook either. There are choices in the sub-$500 price range that are made, at least in part, using metals like aluminum. Those will not only be more appealing but also more durable. As for displays, there’s a fair mix of HD and FHD alternatives in this price range and we recommend paying for a notebook with a 1080p display if you can. Touchscreens aren’t as ubiquitous in the under-$500 area as regular displays, but you’ll only really miss one if you choose a 2-in-1 laptop.
It’s critical to prioritize what’s important to you. But at the lower end of the budget, a decent laptop may not give all you need, but a fantastic one may. Although most computers come with capabilities like Bluetooth, built-in Wi-Fi and other ports, you could find not all of them come with the details you desire, such an SD card slot, camera, charger, and so on. Be careful to read the spec sheet of any laptop you’re considering before you buy, especially if you require certain connectors and capabilities.
A final word before we get to our picks: The greatest affordable laptop models vary all the time. Unlike more costly, flagship devices, these laptops can be upgraded a couple times per year. That can make it hard to search down a certain model at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart or any other shop. Also, we’ve noticed costs fluctuate greatly based on the setup and shop you’re looking at. We’ve included some of our current favorite models below, but if you can’t find any of them accessible near you, simply bear in mind our list of specs to look for in a cheap laptop - they’ll take you to the finest laptops available at the time.
