If you’re looking for an affordable Windows machine under $500, a blazing fast gaming beast for those intense matches, or a portable 2-in-1 for school or work, you’ve got plenty of great choices right now.
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Best budget laptop deals under $500
Lenovo
Our top pick: Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, $289.43 ($140.56 off at Amazon)
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i is perfect for the basic stuff, and I’ll tell you why. Its Intel N100 processor is more than capable of handling everyday tasks like web browsing, streaming, email, and light productivity. The 15.6-inch 1080p display is also sharp enough for work and watching YouTube, and it’s got both USB-A and USB-C.
Amazon
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Intel N100 processor/15.6-inch FHD display/4GB DDR5/128GB SSD/1TB cloud storage/Windows 11/Microsoft Office included, $289.43 ($140.56 off at Amazon)
- Lenovo Chromebook 14 Touchscreen, MediaTek Kompanio 520 8-core processor/14-inch 1920×1080 FHD IPS touchscreen/4GB LPDDR4X RAM/64GB eMMC storage/WiFi 6/ChromeOS, $319.99 ($829.01 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- HP 14 Laptop, Intel N150 processor/14-inch display/4GB RAM/128GB UFS storage, $249.99 ($100 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Intel Core i3-N305 processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/8GB RAM/128GB UFS storage, $369 ($130.99 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook 3, AMD Ryzen 5 processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/256GB SSD, $373 ($406.99 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- HP 15-fd0335nr, Intel Core i5-1334U 1.3GHz processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/12GB RAM/512GB SSD/Windows 11 Home, $499.99 ($199.01 off at Adorama)
Best mid-range laptop deals
HP
Our top pick: HP OmniBook 3, $899.99 ($300 off at Microcenter)
The HP OmniBook 3’s got a little more “oomph” in the performance department. With 16GB of RAM, it’s well-equipped for seamless multitasking, while the AMD Ryzen AI 5 430 chip can chew through more demanding workloads. You’re also getting a 14-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen that’s sharp enough for streaming or productivity. At $899.99 ($300 off at Microcenter), it’s an excellent value for a capable day-to-day laptop.
Amazon
- Asus Vivobook 16, Snapdragon processor/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $640 ($159.99 off at Amazon)
- Asus Vivobook 14, Intel Core 5 120U 10-core processor/14-inch FHD display/12GB RAM/768GB storage (256GB SSD + 512GB PLUSERA Docking Set)/Windows 11 Pro/AI Copilot, $659.95 ($180.04 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- Dell Touchscreen Laptop, Intel Core i5-1334U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/8GB RAM/512GB SSD, $549.99 ($300 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i, Intel Core i5-1335U processor/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $629.99 ($270 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3x, Snapdragon X X1-26-100 processor/15.3-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/256GB SSD, $659.99 ($190 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- HP OmniBook X, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor/17.3-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $799.99 ($549.01 off at Adorama)
Best gaming laptop deals
HP
Our top pick: HP Omen Max Gaming Laptop 16, $1,700.99 ($999 off at Target)
The HP Omen 16’s got some good hardware, especially for $999 off. With an AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor and RTX 5070 graphics, it should deliver smooth, high-performance gaming. The 16-inch 2560×1600 240Hz screen also keeps visuals looking nice and crisp, while 16GB of RAM and a1TB SSD ensure fast load times and plenty of room for your library of games.
Amazon
- Asus TUF Gaming F16, Intel Core i5-13450HX processor/RTX 5050 graphics/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,234 ($65.99 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- HP Victus, AMD Ryzen 7 7445HS processor/RTX 4050 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $899.99 ($575 off at Best Buy)
- Alienware 15.3 Gaming Laptop, AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor/RTX 5050 graphics/15.3-inch 1920×1200 165Hz display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,174.99 ($750 off at Best Buy)
- Lenovo LOQ, Intel Core i7 13650HX processor/RTX 5060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,426 ($423.99 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Asus TUF Gaming A18, AMD Ryzen 7 260 3.8GHz processor/RTX 5050 graphics/18-inch 1920×1200 144Hz display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,284.99 ($40 off at Adorama)
- HP Omen Max 16, AMD Ryzen AI 7 H 350 processor/RTX 5070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,349.99 ($1,349.01 off at Adorama)
Newegg
- MSI Cyborg A15, AMD Ryzen 7 260 processor/GeForce RTX 5060 graphics/15.6-inch 1920×1080 144Hz display/16GB DDR5 RAM/1TB SSD/Windows 11 Home, $1,249 ($250 off at Newegg)
Target
- HP Omen Max Gaming Laptop 16, AMD Ryzen AI 7 processor/RTX 5070 graphics/16-inch 2560×1600 display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD/Windows, $1,700.99 ($999 off at Target)
Best premium laptop deals
Asus
Our top pick: Asus Vivobook S16, $1,089.99 ($110 off at Amazon)
Need a laptop that can keep up with work, streaming, creative projects, and everyday multitasking without slowing you down? Then you should check out the Asus Vivobook S16. It pairs an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor with 16GB of RAM and a roomy 1TB SSD, making it well-equipped for more demanding workloads. The gorgeous 16-inch 2880×1800 OLED display also offers vibrant colors and crisp detail, so everything from Excel spreadsheets to Netflix shows should look fantastic.
Amazon
- Asus Vivobook S16, AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 processor/16-inch 2880×1800 OLED display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $1,089.99 ($110 off at Amazon)
- Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024), Snapdragon X Elite (12-core) processor/13.8-inch 2304×1536 PixelSense touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,299 ($400.99 off at Amazon)
Best Buy
- HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor/16-inch 1920×1200 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/1TB SSD, $861 ($338.99 off at Best Buy)
- Samsung Galaxy Book6, Intel Core Ultra 7 processor/16-inch IPS LED touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $969 ($480.99 off at Best Buy)
- HP OmniBook X, Intel Core Ultra 7 256V processor/17.3-inch 1920×1080 touchscreen display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,099 ($400.99 off at Best Buy)
Adorama
- Dell Pro 16, Intel Core 5 120U processor/Intel Graphics/16-inch 1920×1200 display/16GB RAM/512GB SSD, $1,074.99 ($424.01 off at Adorama)
FAQ
1.
How much RAM will I need in my laptop?
You’ll want at least 8GB, though 16GB is preferable, especially if you play games. Don’t buy laptops with under 4GB of RAM or 128GB of SSD storage—though on a Chromebook or a budget Windows machine, this configuration is acceptable. Check out our article on how much RAM does a laptop need for more in-depth info.
2.
What’s the difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop?
The one big difference between a Chromebook and a Windows laptop is the operating system. Chromebooks run ChromeOS and Windows run, well, Microsoft Windows.
Chromebooks make good everyday machines because they’re designed for browsing the web, checking e-mail, and so on. They use less resources and are generally more affordable than the Windows variety. They also don’t need antivirus protection. A Windows laptop is a lot more versatile in what it can do, and not just in terms of running local programs. You can really pump a Windows laptop up with a ton of RAM, storage, and so on.
3.
When should I look for a laptop deal?
You’ll likely find the best laptop deals during Prime Day (mid-July), Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and back-to-school season (June-August). Sure, you’ll find good laptop deals throughout the year, but if you really want to save big, we’d recommend scoping out your favorite online retailers during those times.
4.
Which retailers offer the best deals?
You can find all kinds of deals across a wide range of online retailers such as Newegg, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon, and so on. However, we’d recommend checking out deals from laptop manufacturers like Lenovo, HP, and Dell. You’ll usually find many different configurations on sale and the discounts can be pretty darn steep.
For more options, check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops available right now.