Best Gaming Laptops Under $500

10 Best Gaming Laptops Under $500 Review (2023)

Have the expensive price tags of a gaming laptop got you sweating? Then take a chill pill and sit back and relax because I am about to introduce many of the best gaming laptops that are in the market under $500.

Gaming laptops are quite costly, especially when you are looking to buy one for hardcore gaming. These notebooks have i7, or i9 CPUs come with the best quality graphic cards but also demand high investment. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t get a gaming notebook under $500. There are many gaming laptops available within this range.

However, these laptops won’t be suitable for hardcore gaming because these are quite expensive. But in case you’re into casual gaming that comes with low graphics, then there are plenty of options for you. Many top brands, such as Dell, Acer, Asus, Hp, and Lenovo, offer you some of the best laptops for decent gaming under 500 dollars.

I will be reviewing the ten best gaming laptops below $500. Not only will these laptops give you astonishing performance but also good quality graphics during your gameplay. So let’s review these gaming notebooks.

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Best Laptops 2024 for Gaming Under 500$

    1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

    Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

    Need a gaming laptop that comes under $500? Well, then the Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop can accommodate you at this price. This laptop gives you an extraordinary performance within the $500.The Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop features AMD Ryzen 3 3200u processor, which is enough for gaming. In other words, it will deliver a performance of intel core 3.

    So you can easily play games on this notebook without worrying about poor performance. The Ryzen 3 series is excellent for casual gaming but not so suitable for competitive gaming. You can also use it for daily work, so in other words, making it a multitask laptop.

    Usually, when you’re buying a cheap laptop, the body of the laptop is bulky. But with the Acer Aspire 5 Slim laptop, you’re getting a relatively thin notebook. The sleek look of this notebook can grasp the attention of many customers out there. And most of all, this design comes under $500, so you don’t have to spend extra money. Also, the body of this laptop consists of aluminum, giving it a classy look with thin bezels. So you can get excellent durability along with its aesthetic.

    In case the rotation of the notebook matters to you, then you’re in luck because the Acer Aspire 5 Slim gives you a rotation of 180 degrees. In short, its design is similar to some of the expensive gaming laptops in the market.

    Moving on to the display of this laptop, it features an HD display, which allows you to view pictures with great detail. Also, it has an IPS panel, which is known for its high refresh rate and high-quality imaging. So now you can stay in the range of $500 but also get a laptop that gives you the right amount of image quality. (Find More Laptops By Brand With Our Best Laptop Finder Tool)

    Moreover, it has brightness upto 260 nits, which is pretty good just for regular usage purposes. Besides all of this, you’re also getting a superb anti-glare screen.

    PROS

    • Good Performance
    • Good Durability
    • Lightweight
    • Dimming in Display

    The system has Windows 10 S version installed in it. And the keyboard of this laptop comes in classic Acer style. Although you might find the numeric keys a bit narrow, it has good key-travel. So typing gets much easier when you’re using this keyboard. Although the speakers of this notebook aren’t the best, you can use them for listening to music and watching youtube. Thus, it’s a good deal, especially when your budget is your priority making an Amazon Choice item.


    2. Lenovo Ideapad 100

    Lenovo Ideapad 100

    Another gaming laptop that you can buy is the Lenovo Ideapad 100 that’s available under $500. Unlike the Acer Aspire 5 Slim, this laptop has an intel core i3 processor with 4GB RAM. Although the minimum requirement for gaming laptops is intel core i5, you can use i3 for gaming purposes. You can play using this laptop but avoid the games that are a bit heavier to handle.

    LA Noire, Mafia 2, Max Payne 3, Sleeping Dogs and Assassin’s Creed: Rogue are some of the games that you can play without any troubles. So the Lenovo Ideapad 100 is a budget-friendly laptop that will provide you with the best experience in terms of casual gaming. If you are a hardcore gamer then take a look at our article Best Gaming Laptops Under $1500.

    Considering the picture quality of the Lenovo Ideapad 100 will be satisfying at this price with a resolution of 1366×768 pixels. Also, it has excellent color accuracy but not as high as the Acer Aspire 5 Slim as it makes use of the TN panel instead of an IPS panel. Although TN might not provide you with the perfect image quality, it’s good enough for a laptop display.

    Also, IPS panel displays are costly parallel to IPS panels, so it’s not much of a problem. Moreover, the laptop has a brightness up to 246 cd/m², which is again workable. The best feature of the Lenovo Ideapad 100 is there is no PWM flickering.

    After getting familiar with the performance of this laptop, you might still be thinking about its design. The Lenovo Ideapad 100 has a high built-up quality. It is black and has a slim body. The hinges of this laptop are stiff, so consider extra care when you’re opening or closing your notebook.

    Also, it’s very light in weight so you can take it wherever you want. So it has excellent portability. In case you enjoy a large display, then you are going to like the Lenovo Ideapad 100 15.5 inches display.

    PROS

    • Highly Affordable
    • Good Storage
    • Sturdy Design
    • Low Battery
    • Life Overheating at Palm

    It has a fantastic keyboard and key-travel. Thus, giving you better productivity. Although the speakers come with average quality, you can still use them for listening to music and watching videos. Not only does this laptop feature a sleek body, but it also delivers adequate performance for gaming. Make sure you consider this laptop when you’re looking for laptops under $500. But in case your priority is image quality within the same budget, then I will prefer the Acer Aspire 5 Slim.


    3. Lenovo IdeaPad 330

    Lenovo IdeaPad 330

    Need a break from work? Playing games on your laptop is one of the best ways to kill your time is gaming. For playing games, you do require an excellent gaming PC or gaming laptop. Although gaming laptops are costly, there are plenty within an affordable range. For instance, the Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is a laptop below $500.

    The laptop has an AMD A9-9425 processor instead of a Core i3 processor in Lenovo Ideapad 100. Although core i3 gives you faster performance, the AMD A9- 9425 chip with 8GB gives a satisfactory game performance with a combination of AMD Radeon R5 Graphic card. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, PUBG Lite, Resident Evil, Rocket League, and Tomb Raider are the games you can play using this notebook.

    With the Lenovo IdeaPad 330, you will get fantastic picture qualitative parallel to the Lenovo IdeaPad 100. The Lenovo IdeaPad 330S allows you to choose between the IPS panel and the TN panel. The color contrast ratio gives a vibrant color display on your screen. So you will like playing games on the Lenovo IdeaPad 330. It also has superb resolution with precise color accuracy.

    Further, this notebook has Windows 10 Home, which makes it suitable for home, professional, commercial, student, and gaming. Also, it has many additional features, such as a DVD slot. So you have good entertainment just by inserting a DVD CD into the computer.

    PROS

    • Multitask Laptop
    • Easily Portable
    • Good Performance for Gaming
    • Low Battery Life Poor Speakers

    The crispy red color is perfect for catching the customer’s eye. Also, its design is sleek and premium, giving it an appealing look. The keyboard is comfortable to use, along with its keypad. So it is one of the best gaming laptops available under $500.


    4. HP 14

    HP 14

    Do you prefer an HP brand for gaming laptops, then HP 14 is one of the best gaming laptops available under $500. It makes use of the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Processor for fulfilling gaming performance for the gamers. Moreover, it has 8GB RAM, which is far more than the minimum requirement making it fantastic for gaming.

    Although you can’t enjoy the games that require the highest settings, there are many other decent games that you enjoy. These games include Mass Effect 2, Dead Space 2, GTA V, Fortnite, The Witcher 3, and Resident Evil 3. So it’s worth the compromise, especially when the budget is your utmost priority.

    It features a simple, decent design that is black from the inside and grey with the HP logo. The bezels are thin in size, so you’re getting a magnificent display for viewing pictures. The built quality is high, so this laptop is durable. In addition to this, it’s not bulky in size as the other cheap laptops. Also, it’s lightweight, which makes it portable all you have to do is place it inside your laptop bag, and you’re good to go as it will be light on your shoulders.

    Also, in case you’re wondering about its picture quality, then the Hp 14 comes with an HD panel with a resolution 1366×768. That’s an excellent resolution when you’re purchasing a laptop under $500. In addition to this, the HD display allows you to view pictures with detail.

    Thus, making it one of the best affordable light gaming laptop. While the other laptops don’t have touch screens, this one does. In short, the display of this notebook allows you to perform multitasking at your fingertips.

    Further, it uses the Windows 10 Home 64-bit software for running the notebook. The Window 10 Home is premium for daily usage and is known for its universal app support. The touch screen makes it a multitask notebook so you can get a lot of workout without emptying your wallets.

    PROS

    • High Performance
    • Suitable for Light Gaming
    • Multitask Notebook
    • Small Storage Capacity
    • Freezing Issues

    In addition to this, it also comes with great quality speakers. So with an HD Panel and such good-quality speakers, you take your entertainment to a whole new level. There are three USB ports for connectivity. By using its AMD Radeon Vega 3 graphic card, you can play non-demanding games at ease. So consider this one when you’re buying a new gaming laptop below $500.


    5. Lenovo IdeaPad 3

    Lenovo IdeaPad 3

    Need a fantastic gaming laptop that can deliver you the right amount of performance during gameplay? Then the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is what you need. Although it’s a bit high priced, it is within the 500 dollars range. It can give you fantastic speed performance due to its AMD Ryzen 5 3500U.

    In other words, the performance is equivalent to the intel core i5. In addition to this, it also has an integration of AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics. Thus, this combination gives the best graphics for decent and casual gaming. Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Inside, PUBG, Life Is Strange 2, FIFA 19, and the Shadow of the Tomb Raider are the games you can play on this notebook.

    Next comes the display quality of this laptop. Since this notebook features a TN panel, you might have to compromise on its image quality. So when you view the picture from different angles, it will lose its accuracy. But that is not a problem in case you’re a gamer with the budget as the utmost priority over the image quality. Also, it has 200 nits of brightness, which is adequate for comfortable working. Plus, there is no PWM flickering on the screen, so it’s easy on the eyes.

    Design matters as much as the performance and picture quality for many customers. In case your one of them, then the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is fit for you. With its sleek and slim body, it has thin bezels, just like the other laptops. The thing that makes its design different from others is the Abyss Blue color, which is rare when it comes to laptops. Further, it is a rectangle shape notebook that consists of plastic, so there is no aluminum in its design. But it has a nice build-up so overall it has a beautiful design.

    PROS

    • High Performance
    • Multitask Laptop
    • Affordable
    • Dimming in Display

    Lenovo is known for giving you the softest keypads, and the same is the case with its Lenovo IdeaPad 3. It is a comfortable keypad to work with, and it won’t irritate you again because it will get a good response with it. The keyboard is just as amazing with stylish big keys. Moreover, it has good battery life when you set the brightness at 120 nits. So you can browse the web and watch videos for long hours. Most of all, it also has gaming compatibility for entry-level gaming.

    Read Our Latest Reviews: Best Gaming Laptops Under $2000.


    6. ASUS VivoBook 15

    ASUS VivoBook 15

    Besides Lenovo, Hp, and Acer, you can also find some cheap gaming laptops from the ASUS. The ASUS VivoBook 15 notebook is available under $500. Although this notebook doesn’t have Intel core processors that are known for their fast performance, the AMD Quad-Core r5-3500u is excellent for casual gaming purposes.

    The AMD processor can allow you to play multiple games, including the League of Legends, Quake Champions, and Dota 2. Further, the Radeon Vega 8 graphics card comes with a high benchmark score for videos, so it gives you smooth graphics for gaming purposes. In other words, it is excellent for gaming purposes.

    In case you’re a big fan of IPS panels, then the ASUS VivoBook can accommodate you on that. The book comes with an IPS, which gives you a wide range of viewing angles. Also, it makes your picture much more vibrant than the VA or TN panel. Also, it has a resolution of 1080p and a 15.6-inch full display. So you will get excellent image quality with this notebook, which is just perfect for watching movies due to the HD display.

    Further, it has anti-glare, so no more distractions for you when you’re playing games or just working. The brightness of this notebook allows you to work even when it’s sunny. With so many amazing features, I wouldn’t want to miss this one out.

    Say goodbye to the silver aluminum when you can get a slate grey coat with the ASUS VivoBook 15. Moreover, it also comes with the thinnest bezels parallel to all other laptops in this list. Thus, giving it a nano edge display. In addition to this, it also features high quality built-up giving it an expensive look. And all of this comes with easy portability. So you can take this laptop with you whenever you’re traveling from one place to another.

    PROS

    • Suitable for Light Gaming
    • Excellent Built
    • Good Ergonomics
    • No Support for Thunderbolt 3

    Another thing that makes it exclusive from all the other laptops that I have mentioned is its fingerprint scanner at the corner of the keypad. The fingerprint scanner is useful for logging into your notebook in no time. Also, the keypad is quite pleasant to use; you can easily glide your fingers on this keypad with the fast response time. Further, it has a keyboard with a design that allows you to do uplifted typing. After all, it is one of the best gaming laptops under $500.

    Read Also: Best Gaming PC under $500


    7. Dell Latitude 14 7000 7480

    Dell Latitude 14 7000 7480

    Need an Intel Core i5 that has a price tag below 500 dollars? Well, then I have got some good news for you. Dell has come up with a laptop thats available within this price range, the Dell Latitude 14 7000 7480. The laptop comes with a Core i5-6300U with 8GB RAM, which is the minimum requirement of gaming notebooks. This processor is faster than any other processor in different such as the core i3 or Ryzen 3. So it also gives you so many options for playing several games. League of Legends, Counter-Strike GO, GTA V, and Battlefield 4are some of the games you can play due to its 8GB RAM.

    The Dell Latitude 14 7000 7480 features classic dell design. Its body consists of aluminum metal with a rubberized matte coating for better grip. Also, it has high built-quality, so it’s highly durable. In addition to this, its light in weight, making its portability a lot easier than you could imagine.

    You can also rotate this laptop upto 180 degrees in order word it offers you a proper rotation. You can use it as a Tablet also. The design also features some cooling vents which will prevent the overheating of the device. Further, it has rubber feet at the bottom, so it doesn’t slip when you’re using it.

    Along with this, Dell also has a superb image quality as it makes use of the IPS panels that give high image accuracy at different angles. The IPS panel is also responsible for providing you with vibrant colors. Also, it has an HD resolution of 1366×768 with a 14 inches wide display. With 320 nits of brightness, you can use it outdoors without any problem. The anti-glare screen reduces reflection so you won’t be distracted when your working with it.

    PROS

    • Extra Fast Performance
    • Highly Durable
    • Good Battery Life
    • Supports Thunderbolt 19
    • Lacks Certain Navigation Keys

    Overall it is fantastic in the world of computer laptops. It meets the minimum requirements for gameplay. Besides playing games on it, you can also use it for picture and video editing. As its for business users, it’s comfortable for office usage. The best part is it has an i5 processor and is also less costly as compare to others. So why miss such a great deal. Check it out today.


    8. Dell Latitude E7470

    Dell Latitude E7470

    Do you need a laptop that can at least fulfill the basic requirements? Then look no further because the Dell Latitude E747 has the basic features necessary for gaming. In other words, this computer device comes with an intel core i5 processor with 8GB RAM. It gives you a speedy performance, which adds that extra thrill to your game.

    You can play Run Grand Theft Auto V, Fortnite, and Apex Legends games at the lowest settings. At the same time, other games include the Cyberpunk 2077 and Microsoft Flight Simulator. This laptop is highly suitable also for business purposes with the minimum lags so you can get a lot out of this piece.

    Also, the design of Dell Latitude E747 is very much similar to other laptops of Dell. It’s all black, which makes it premium. The use of the magnesium alloy in the frame of this device gives it a luxurious touch. In other words, it has an elegant body with a softer feel but also has superb durability. Another thing about this laptop is that it’s portable and easy on your shoulders due to its lightweight. In short, the Dell Latitude E747 is a sleek notebook with the most appealing design.

    The Dell Latitude E747 features an IPS panel with HD support. So you will get a fantastic picture quality. Imagine how nice it would when you vibrant colors on your displays with a resolution of 1080p. Also, it has a brightness level of 338 nits, which makes it highly suitable for outdoors. In addition to this, it features split-screen, so multitasking is more effortless than it seems. Although the touch screen is not that necessary, it’s beautiful to have it for comfortable use.

    In addition to all of this, it has a good battery life, so you won’t have to stick to your laptop table. So, you can ditch the table-chair set up. It also has an attractive keyboard design with a key-travel of 1.94mm, which close to the idea.

    PROS

    • Appealing Design
    • Good Battery Life
    • Suitable For Casual Gaming
    • Poor Speaker Quality

    Besides Lenovo, Dell is also giving you one of the most comfortable keyboards and keypads with smooth response time. Also, it goes the extra mile for your security by using the Trusted Platform Module, which keeps your files encrypted. So why not pick the Dell Latitude E747 when you’re looking for a gaming laptop within the $500 range.


    9. HP 17-X114dx

    HP 17-X114dx

    In case if you want a core i5 laptop for gaming but prefer Hp over Dell than the HP 17-X114dx will the best gaming laptop you ever bought within the rage of $500. With its intel processor i5-7200U and 6GB RAM, you will get much better performance other laptops with core i3.

    After all, core i5 is the most demand when it comes to the gaming world. Death Stranding, Grand Theft Auto VI, and Halo Infinite are few of the games that you can play using the HP 17-X114dx notepad. You can also play Minecraft, Counter-Strike and League of Legends on it. Thats a lot of games you can play. For GTA V players, we have listed the compatible laptops under our article best gaming laptops under $700.

    The HP 17-X114dx is entirely black. Further, the lightweight of this laptop makes it easy to carry when you have to take it along with you. There is nothing flashy about it, so it has a decent design. If you find simplicity attractive, then this notebook is definitely for you. Also, it has strong durability due to its sturdy built up.

    Moreover, it comes with a fantastic display due to its 1600×900p resolution. The large screen of 17 inches makes it even better. So not only are you getting rich and vibrant colors but also a large screen which will be an excellent comfort for your eyes.

    Moreover, it has an Intel HD Graphics 620 card for giving the best graphics it possibly could. This graphic card allows you to edit your videos as well as pictures, also favoring transcoding of the videos, minute level of 3D designing. But you will need to upgrade its memory upto 8GB for high-level tasking. You can also play modern games such as the Call of Duty Infinite Warfare, FIFA 17, and Battlefield 1.

    PROS

    • High Performance
    • Superb Battery Life
    • Good Quality Display
    • No Support for USB C-Type

    In addition to all of this, it has a good battery life so you can use this laptop for a long duration of time. You can also enjoy listening to music or even watching movies due to its superb speakers and the HD display. Also, it is a multitask laptop that not only gives an excellent gaming experience but can also be great for other purposes as well as such as photo and video editing. In short, its i5 processor comes with delivering faster clock time. All of this is within the 500 dollar range. If I were you, I would consider this HP 17-X114dx.


    10. Acer Aspire 3

    Acer Aspire 3

    In case the budget is your top priority, then the Acer Aspire 3 can accommodate you. It comes at an affordable price available under $500. Not only is it cheap, but it also gives you adequate gaming performance. It comes with the AMD Ryzen 3 2200U processor, which will allow you to play the games that don’t have high demand settings. For instance, you can play Resident Evil 2, Tomb Raider Fortnite, Dota 2, and CoD: Black Ops 2.

    Moreover, this laptop has an average picture quality. In other words, it’s just workable. This because the Acer Aspire 3 has a TN panel in it. However, these panels provide adequate performance but fail to deliver in terms of the picture quality. But again, it’s not that much of a compromise when your purchasing budget-friendly notebook. Also, keep in mind that you cannot use this laptop outdoors due to its minimum brightness levels, but it’s suitable for rooms.

    The Acer Aspire 3 is bulkier in size as compared to the other laptops, but it’s not that heavy. In other words, it has excellent portability. Also, it has unique airflow vents, so your notebook won’t be heating up always when your working with it. Like other laptops, it comes with a keypad thats user friendly, so typing gets a lot easier with this laptop. Moreover, it’s black and features a simple design.

    PROS

    • Good Graphics at Price
    • Upgradable Storage
    • Affordable
    • Low Battery Life
    • Poor Resolution

    Overall it is an excellent laptop for regular uses as well as for gaming purposes. The Vega 3 delivers some right amount of graphics, and it has an excellent memory speed upto 3.4GHz. In order words, it gives you a good response. Plus, you can upgrade its storage in the future. I would highly recommend this laptop, but only if you’re running on a low budget.


    FAQs

    What’s the best gaming laptop under 500?

    HP 17-X114dx is the best laptop available under 500 dollars.

    What is the best laptop for gaming under $500?

    The Dell Latitude E7470 from Dell is one of the best for $500. It meets the basic requirements for playing games.

    What are the best affordable gaming laptops?

    The Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop is the best affordable gaming laptop. That is the reason why it’s one of the best selling products of Amazon.

    How much should I spend on a gaming laptop?

    It mainly depends on your needs; for instance, if you’re only its casual gaming, then $500 is enough investment. But in case you’re a hardcore gamer, then consider your budget upto 800 dollars. Is Acer or ASUS better? In terms of gaming laptops with excellent performance, Acer is the preference over Asus.

    Conclusion

    In sum, you don’t make a massive investment in purchasing gaming laptops. Although gaming laptops are quite costly, there many best gaming laptops; you can find under 500 dollars. So before buying any computer before you know your priorities because your preferences will help you in obtaining the right gaming laptop. Also, I have covered all the essential factors when you set out to buy a new laptop for gaming purposes. Based on the three different factors, I am picking the three best gaming laptops.

    • Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop because it is an Amazon Best Seller product, highly affordable, delivers excellent performance, and sound quality display.
    • Lenovo IdeaPad 3 because it has AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics with AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, which is perfect causal gaming, appealing design, and comfortable keypad and keyboard.
    • Dell Latitude 14 7000 7480 because it has intel core i5 with 8GB RAM, which meets the basic demands in terms of a gaming laptop, exclusive design, high performance with excellent durability.

    I am hoping that you will find this review helpful as I have reviewed all the products in great detail. After reading this review, you will no longer be confused or stressed out. So buy your gaming laptops today and enjoy the thrilling experience that comes with gaming. But also stay in touch with our website. I will be uploading some fantastic content just for you. Happy Shopping.

    Take a look at these products from the same price range, that are available right now on Amazon:

    ASUS VivoBook F512 Thin and Lightweight Laptop, 15.6” FHD WideView NanoEdge , AMD R5-3500U CPU,...
    • 15.6 inch FHD 4 way NanoEdge bezel display with a stunning 88% screen-to-body ratio
    • Powerful AMD Quad Core Ryzen 5 3500U Processor (2M Cache, up to 3.6 GHz)
    • AMD Radeon Vega 8 discrete graphics with Windows 10 Home
    • 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
    • Ergonomic backlit keyboard with fingerprint sensor activated via Windows Hello