best gaming laptop under $500

A good gaming laptop doesn’t have to cost a fortune. A $500 laptop can play the latest games, with powerful graphics and processing capabilities, if you know where to look for them in the marketplace of laptops that are available today.

We’ve compiled a list of three great gaming laptops under $500 and we’ll tell you how to get them and what makes them so good that they’re worth your money.

Things to consider before buying a gaming laptop

Do you know what you want to play? If you're looking for a budget-friendly gaming laptop, it might be worth investing in an Xbox One or PlayStation 4 instead.

Gaming on these consoles will run you less than $300, and both have access to console exclusives that can't be found on other platforms. The alternative is to build your own PC for hardcore gaming with a desktop processor (and graphics card).

This will cost you more upfront, but it gives you complete control over your specs. In any case, here's what else to look for when shopping for a cheap laptop

The more powerful your system is, and what features you can add on to make it more useful, will depend on how much money you have to spend. If you’re looking for a balance between price and power, consider these specifications when purchasing a cheap gaming laptop:

Processor (or CPU): AMD’s low-power CPUs are very competitive with Intel’s offerings; at less than half of an Intel processor’s cost, their performance is hard to ignore.

A cheaper CPU means less heat generation, so cool air can easily be used to cool your system. Graphics card (or GPU): Gaming systems often use mid-level cards with efficient cooling—so even if it doesn't produce a lot of power per se, heat may still be an issue.

1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop

The Acer Aspire 5 Slim has a price tag of less than $500. It's also light, weighing in at just over four pounds. What's more, it's incredibly portable, with a tiny footprint that will allow you to use it on the go without worrying about hitting hotkeys by accident.

This sleek little machine also sports an Intel i3 processor and 6GB of RAM for incredible performance and speed. In addition to all that it comes with Windows 10 preinstalled so there is no need to worry about getting online to download your operating system before you can start using your new computer right away!

If you're looking for a great deal on a super affordable laptop that doesn't skimp on quality or performance, then look no further than the Acer Aspire 5 Slim!

This Acer laptop has many great features for someone looking to save money. It is one of the most affordable laptops and only costs about $270.

This is a mid-tier game performance laptop, which means that it’s not suitable for high-end games such as GTA5 or Battlefield 1, but it can run other games on medium to high settings depending on your settings. The graphics card included here is an integrated graphics card made by Intel.

The Acer Aspire 5 is one of few laptops that can function as a desktop replacement and gaming machine, all for a price that won’t hurt your wallet.

At only 2.8 pounds, you’ll be able to easily bring it to work or class without straining your shoulder! With its 8th Gen Intel i5-8250U processor, it will handle simple applications and complex games with ease.

2. Acer Nitro 5 AN515-42-R5ED Gaming Laptop

Acer is a brand you know and trust when it comes to laptops. So, if you’re looking for a good deal on a high-performance machine that won’t break your budget, look no further than their Nitro 5 AN515-42-R5ED Gaming Laptop.

In terms of design, it features red accents on its hinge, lid, and logo. But what really gives it an edge over other models is its powerful specs which include the 8th Generation Intel Core i5-8250U Quad-Core Processor.

2GB DDR4 Memory, 256GB Solid State Drive + 1TB Hard Drive, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Graphics card with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM!

As we've noted, finding a quality budget gaming laptop isn't easy. This Acer Nitro 5 is a very affordable, entry-level machine that still packs enough punch to run graphically demanding games with ease. 

The 1TB hard drive and 8GB of RAM will make sure you have plenty of space for all your favorite games.

Coming in at just over $500, and weighing less than five pounds, Acer’s Nitro 5 is a nifty little machine. Although it comes with an Intel Core i5-7300HQ processor, its true strength lies in its graphics processing unit:

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 allows for smooth frame rates even in demanding games like Far Cry 5 or Rise of the Tomb Raider. Better yet, you can easily upgrade to a GTX 1060 GPU on your own.

3. Asus VivoBook 15.6

If you're looking for a cheap, reliable laptop that doesn't have any major flaws and does most things well, then we recommend picking up an Asus VivoBook.

They aren't as flashy as some of its competitors (like Dell's G series), but they pack more than enough power for everyday activities—and at a price that won't break your bank. Prices range from $350 to about $400, with models available in 15-inch and 17-inch sizes.

The 15-inch is fine if you just need to surf the web, write documents, and watch Netflix; if you plan on playing games or editing videos with it regularly, though, go for a bigger screen.

The Asus VivoBook 15.6 is a solid mid-range gaming notebook that won’t break your bank. It comes with a 7th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB hard drive for storage.

It has an integrated graphics card, which means you won’t be able to play modern games on high settings. However, it has enough power to run most AAA titles on medium graphics at 1080p resolution.

This lightweight, 15.6 Asus is perfect for playing games on the go without breaking your wallet. It’s powerful, efficient, and boasts a battery life of up to 5 hours!

At just 4.4 pounds, it’s lighter than most other 15.6-inch laptops in its class – meaning you can take it with you wherever you go and still have plenty of room in your backpack or carry-on!

4. Flagship HP 14” Laptop

This HP 14 Gaming Laptop is a lightweight but powerful option for those looking to game on the go. It features an Intel Core i7-8550U processor, 256GB SSD drive, and 8GB of RAM. It has great graphics processing capabilities with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 graphics card.

In addition, it has built-in dual-array microphones and stereo speakers with sound effects that put you right in action or turn it up for music entertainment.

The large memory capacity allows users to use additional applications at once without experiencing any lag time or slowdowns from their device. The HP 14 Gaming Laptop has a sleek design that is optimized for ease of use and quick movement around campus or work areas.

The HP 14′′ is a great laptop to get if you are on a budget, only costing around $400. It has an Intel HD graphics card, meaning it’s not great for playing new games with high graphics.

It does, however, still allow for some newer games to run smoothly at low settings. With 4GB of RAM and 500GB of HDD space, it’s a fantastic starter laptop that allows you to do everything you need on a daily basis.

This laptop is lightweight and powerful. The HP 14 Flagship Laptop comes with an i5 processor and 8GB of RAM. This means that it can handle almost any tasks you throw at it, from video editing to writing documents and checking email.

It has a nice HD screen for graphics-intensive apps, but also comes with VGA output so you can plug it into an external monitor if you need more space or better resolution.

5. ASUS VivoBook 15 Thin and Light Laptop

For just $500, you can get a thin and light laptop with an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 1TB hard drive. What's more, it comes in multiple colors so you can pick one that suits your style.

If your budget is closer to $400, check out our list of affordable laptops for some good options there. You can also check out our other buying guides for more money-saving tips before you make your purchase.

If you’re looking for a gaming laptop under $500, consider ASUS VivoBook 15. This model features a 6th generation Intel Core i3-6100U processor and NVIDIA GeForce 940MX graphics with 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM.

In addition, it comes with 16GB DDR4 memory and 256GB solid-state drive storage. More importantly, ASUS VivoBook 15 boasts a 15.6-inch Full HD display with 1920 x 1080 resolution.

The ASUS VivoBook 15 is a great laptop for students and/or anyone looking for a budget-friendly gaming machine. This particular model features an Intel Core i7 7th generation processor, 8GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 15.6-inch 1080p display.

The build quality on these laptops is great—and it’s worth noting that these laptops are built-in in Taiwan, not China.

6. Lenovo IdeaPad S145 15.6

The Lenovo IdeaPad S145 is a Windows 8 tablet that comes in at just a little more than $500. That makes it one of the cheapest touch-screen laptops you’ll find, and for good reason:

The low price gets you a modest 1.8GHz Intel Celeron processor and integrated graphics, which are definitely on the slower side of things. 

Still, if you need something basic for web browsing and office tasks that also has some level of portability (thanks to its 10.1-inch screen), then it might be worth looking into if you’re trying to keep costs down.

At a mere 3.9 pounds, Lenovo’s IdeaPad S145 is one of the lightest and slimmest machines on our list. Despite its ultra-light frame, it also comes packed with a surprising amount of power:

Its Intel Core i7 processor and 8GB RAM provide great performance, while its 256GB solid-state drive allows you to load up your favorite games at lightning speed.

The Lenovo IdeaPad S145 is a good cheap laptop for gaming that comes with a 6th generation processor and 8GB of RAM. It has decent specs in comparison to laptops around its price range.

But it won’t be able to run high-end games on top settings without experiencing lag. Despite having a few extra features, it still makes an excellent budget option for students who aren’t ready to make their first investment in a new laptop.

7. Dell Inspiron 15.6 Inch

This Dell Inspiron 15.6-Inch is one of the most popular and great-looking models and has decent battery backup with the dedicated graphics card.

This gaming laptop has an Intel Core i5 processor which makes it very fast in performance and can be used for multiple purposes like entertainment, editing, coding, etc.

It comes with a DVD RW drive which makes it easy to watch movies on the big screen or even on your PC monitor. With enough storage space, you can save hundreds of movies and music files into your system.

If you are looking for the best Windows 10 laptops then go with 8GB RAM options because it gives better performance but if budget is not a constraint then go with 16GB RAM to get a faster working experience.

The Dell Inspiron 15.6-Inch Laptop is available on Amazon for around $350.00 and comes with a 1TB hard drive, 8GB of RAM, and an AMD A8 processor.

It’s fast enough to handle most computer games and can do pretty much anything you throw at it without overheating or slowing down too much.

You can have your cake and eat it too when it comes to budget-friendly laptops. The Dell Inspiron 15.6 Touchscreen 2-in-1 Gaming Laptop will run a full version of Windows 10 without breaking your bank, but you don't have to sacrifice power or functionality.

As a matter of fact, with its latest Intel i5 processor and extra 8GB of RAM, you'll find yourself playing at much higher settings than before.