The Best Gaming Laptops Under 500 – A Quick Glance at Top 10 Picks

I know that you are here to find the best gaming laptops under 500 and I’ve got some good news for you in this regard. But let me elaborate something here:

500 bucks aren’t enough to land you a highly-functional gaming machine. However, this budget will allow you to get a laptop with sophisticated design, ample amount of storage, and a vivid display. Hence, you could easily enjoy playing multiple FPS or MMO games.

Well, I’ve got you covered in these tough times as I’ve already carved off a list of some of the top-rated affordable gaming machines. You’d surely make a wise decision by going through that list thoroughly.

You may also check Best Gaming Laptops Under 800.

Take a look as follows:

Top 10 Best Gaming Laptops Under 500 in 2021 – An Updated List

1. ASUS ROG GL551 – Best Gaming Laptop Under 500

I’ve already mentioned above that you won’t be getting premium specs from a cheap gaming laptop. But ASUS Rog GL551 is here to meet all your demands within an extremely affordable price tag. Yeah, you heard it right. This gaming machine is specifically designed to play all latest games, be it PUBG or Fortnite on medium to high specs without any worries. With a sleek and slim gaming design, this laptop already gives vibes of a powerful gaming rig. You can game with style and all the ergonomics while utilizing it. Apart from that, even with such an affordable budget, ASUS has managed to include all premium features in this laptop which is simply astounding. If I were to describe this laptop in one word, it would be simply MARVELOUS!

Now coming towards some main features, one of the best gaming laptops under 500 is backed by a powerful and superfast core i7, 4th gen. processor. This CPU easily manages to offer optimal performance to the laptop so that you can easily play all the games without any lag or glitches.

Besides, the presence of Nvidia GTX 960M makes a big difference. This graphics card enables you to play games like PUBG, Fortnite, Tekken 7, CS:GO, and Need For Speed series on an average 50 to 60 fps rate. Considering how affordable this machine is, this feature is simply exceptional.

ASUS ROG gaming laptop also has an ample amount of random access memory along with improved storage space. 16GB DDR3 ram along with a 1TB HDD improves multitasking and allows gamers to store large gaming files and setups on this laptop with ease.

Lastly, there is no compromise from ASUS on the overall durability and ergonomics of the laptop. In this regard, the laptop is made from premium materials. Plus, the keyboard is extremely responsive to a better gaming experience.

Final Views:

With some minor tweaks, ASUS Rog GL551 is something I’d put all my money on. With all the premium features and qualities, this gaming beast should be a priority for you especially if you are low on budget.

 

2. Acer Aspire 5 – Best Laptop for Sims 4 Under 500

No matter how lower your budget is, Acer Aspire 5 is something on which you can rely without any other thought. Although the specs it has got are not as powerful as compared to ASUS ROG laptop that we mentioned above, it could still prove to be a perfect gaming option within an affordable budget. The most affordable laptop under 500 comes with a thin and slim body. Hence, it’s compact and portable enough to be carried around from one place to another without any hassle. Besides, with the specs that this laptop offers, playing games like Minecraft, League of Legends, and Need for Speed – Most Wanted are easily playable with a normal fps rate. Acer Aspire 5 isn’t going to disappoint you especially when you are that low on budget.

Coming towards some important features, one of the best gaming laptops under 500 has been powered by AMD Ryzen 3 processor. Mind you that this processor is extremely fast and it helps the laptop to run almost all heavy programs without causing any lag.

In addition to that, what intrigued me the most about Acer Aspire 5 is its vivid display. The 15.6″ full HD screen already enhances your gaming experience. Besides, it also helps you to remain concentrated on the game you are playing for a long time.

Although the random access memory is not much, it’s DDR4 variant is extremely fast. Yeah, you heard it right. The 4GB DDR4 ram offers performance equal to that of an 8GB DDR3 ram easily. Thus, you can enjoy different multitasking activities with this laptop easily.

In the end, the storage space of around 128GB is not enough and that’s maybe one of the downfalls of getting a low-budget laptop. However, this storage space is still fast enough when it comes to readability and downloading speed. So, it isn’t a bad thing as far as I’m concerned.

Final Views:

Acer Aspire is the laptop that I always suggest to students, beginner gamers, and those who want to kill their time by playing games all day long. Better check it out before it’s too late.

 

3. ASUS VivoBook F510QA – With Antiglare Display:

I often get complaints from my gamer friends that they are unable to look at the screen of the laptop continuously. It’s a fact that with typical laptops, eye problems like weak eyesight and eye-strain becomes a new norm. However, Asus VivoBook F510QA is there to eliminate all these problems for the gamers and that too within an affordable budget. One of the thinnest gaming laptops comes with a special antiglare display to ensure a long-lasting gaming experience. So, all in all, within a 500-dollar budget, you’d be getting a laptop that can be utilized for a long time without jeopardizing the health of your eyes at all.

Now, mentioned some notable features, one of the best laptops for Sims 4 under $500 comes with a 15.6″ full HD and antiglare display. It won’t add any burden on your eyes even if you are playing a game for more than 5 hours.

Besides, the presence of AMD A12, quad-core processor also spices up the things pretty much well. You’d be able to play multiple games such as Minecraft or Sims 4 without any lagging issues.

One thing that is quite noticeable within Asus VivoBook is that it comes with an integrated AMD Radeon R7 graphics card. So, you’d be enjoying a smooth gaming interface while playing FPS or MMO games.

Finally, the laptop is compact and portable at the same time. It has a lightweight, sleek, and slim body. So, you can easily carry it around from one place to another without any worries.

Final Views:

VivoBook from Asus has gained the attention of many low-budget gamers. The features and specs it offers are on par with many premium gaming machines. So, better get it before it’s too late.

 

4. Lenovo IdeaPad 330 – Best Laptop Under 500

IdeaPad 330 is the latest gaming laptop introduced by Lenovo specifically to meet the demands of gamers within a low-budget range. Having said that, this laptop has got a stylish look and it gives an aesthetic vibe to the gamers respectively. Apart from that, the specifications are powerful. I mean, I’ve tested this laptop with multiple games i.e. CS:GO, PUBGM, GTA IV, and Need for Speed – Rivals. As per my experiments, the laptop performed exceptionally well. I was getting an fps rate of around 30 to 40 on all the games that I mentioned above. So, the laptop is pretty much ideal for those who are suffering from low budget issues and that’s the main reason it’s already trending among the gaming community.

First things first, one of the best gaming laptops under 500 comes with a powerful AMD A9, 7th gen. processor. The CPU works like a charm and increases the overall performance of the laptop at the same time.

One other thing that is quite noticeable regarding Lenovo IdeaPad laptop is that it comes with an 8GB DDR4 memory. The ultrafast speed offered by this ram is perfect for playing latest games without any lag or glitches.

Lenovo has added Radeon R5 graphics card in IdeaPad 330 to maintain a smoother gaming experience. That’s the main reason you’d be getting almost 30 to 40 fps on latest AAA titled games.

What matters the most, in the end, about this laptop is that it is equipped with a 256GB SSD storage. The solid-state drive is fast enough to store large gaming files and reduce loading screens as well.

Final Views:

IdeaPad 330 is a beast when it comes to playing games, running heavy applications, or multitasking. I’d suggest you to purchase it especially if you’ve got around $500 in your pocket.

 

5. HP 14″ Touchscreen – Best HP Gaming Laptop of 2021

The touchscreen laptop from HP as compared with the laptops I mentioned above has a better performance rate when it comes to gaming and multitasking. That being said, one of the best HP laptops for gaming has got a sleek design. Along with that, what I liked the most in this laptop is the presence of an extra-large touchscreen display. It ensures an optimal gaming performance and helps you to utilize multiple apps at the same time. On the other hand, you won’t have any issues while playing games like CS:GO, PUBGM, or GTA IV on medium to high settings. Considering this quality, it’s fair enough to say that HP has made a place right in the heart of gamers who are facing low budget issues.

Talking about the first notable feature, HP laptop is backed up by a powerful AMD Ryzen 3 processor to ensure a smooth gaming and multitasking experience. It allows gamers to enjoy super-fast loading screens while gaming.

In addition to that, the presence of 8GB DDR4 ram also has an impact on the overall performance of laptop. It enhances the random memory to ensure a better multitasking experience.

The laptop by HP, at last, comes with an extra large display with a touchscreen interface. The touchscreen is responsive enough and works just like you are using a tablet. So, it can be utilized accordingly.

Final Views:

Even with some minor tweaks, you can enjoy the class and aesthetics of playing different games on HP touchscreen laptop. You can purchase an external keyboard and mouse if the trackpad or the keyboard is built poorly.

 

6. Lenovo IdeaPad Premium – A Gaming Beast in 2021

If I had to describe IdeaPad Premium in my own words, I’s say that it’s a GAMING BEAST within an affordable budget. Yeah, you got it right. Lenovo has made sure that this laptop can easily play almost all latest games with an improved fps rate. Therefore, some powerful specs are included within the laptop to ensure an indulging gaming experience. As for the overall design, it’s simple and sleek. However, I liked the placement of keyboard along with the softness of keys. All in all, it’s yet another option that you can consider within a $500 budget for a perfect gaming experience.

Stating the main features, the presence of an integrated AMD Radeon graphics ensure a smooth gaming experience. There won’t be any lag or bottle necking problems even if you are playing graphically optimized games.

Additionally, one of the best laptops under 500 comes with 8GB DDR4 memory running at around 2133 MHz speed. It’s more than enough to support heavy games like CS:GO or PUBG.

Last but not the least, along with a powerful AMD A9 processor, the laptop also has a 1TB storage space option. So, storing large gaming files on this laptop won’t be a problem for you.

Final Views:

Lenovo IdeaPad offers a big opportunity to enjoy full HD gaming at an affordable rate. Some minor cons are there but they could easily be ignored with proper care and maintenance.

 

7. ASUS VivoBook 15 – Best Gaming Laptop for Beginners

VivoBook 15 is a ditto copy of Apple MacBook Pro when it comes to the overall design, shape, and body of the laptop. Imagine getting a laptop that has a shape similar to Apple MacBook pro within a $500 budget. Sounds amazing, isn’t it? Well, the spice doesn’t just end here. VivoBook 15 won’t disappoint you when it comes to running multiple popular games. Having said that, I’ve tried Project IGI, GTA Vice City, GTA IV, and CS:GO on this laptop and it didn’t disappoint me. The battery, however, was not so long-lasting and it’s normal considering how affordable and thin this laptop is.

The presence of a 10th gen, core i3-1005G1 processor ensures super-fast performance and allows you to run heavy applications and programs as well.

Besides, what I adored the most in one of the best gaming laptops under 500 is the presence of an extra-large, full HD, and thin-bezel display. It allows you to get indulged in a particular game for a long time.

Lastly, you’d surely love the combo of 8GB DDR4 ram along with a 128GB SSD for improved overall performance. Although the SSD storage is less, it could be utilized to reduce the loading time while playing games.

Final Views:

I’d suggest y’all gamers to get this awesome gaming laptop as soon as possible as it’s already getting out of stock. So, hurry up before the stock ends.

 

8. Lenovo 320-15 – With Windows 10 Operating System:

The main reason I’ve listed so many laptops from Lenovo is that it’s the only brand that seems to care enough for all types of gamers. Not everyone can afford a $2000 gaming rid and Lenovo knows it very well. So, the brand new 320-15 model, being introduced by Lenovo is offering optimal specs to play latest games without spending a lot of money. Don’t believe me? Take a look at the features I’ve mentioned below:

Lenovo gaming laptop is backed by a powerful AMD A12 processor which is comparatively faster than AMD A9 and helps to increase the overall efficiency of the laptop as well.

Besides, the availability of integrated graphics card along with Windows 10 operating system ensures a smooth gaming experience. Windows 10 can also be utilized to enjoy better updates from Microsoft monthly.

Final Views:

Consider getting Lenovo 320-15 if you are unable to find an affordable laptop that can play most of the FPS games at an improved fps rate.

 

9. ASUS VivoBook F512DA – With Long-Lasting Battery:

I know the pain ruthlessness and angriness when you are playing your favorite online game and suddenly the battery timing runs out. Well, if you don’t want to go through this agonizing pain, then you must consider getting VivoBook F512DA as it offers powerful specs along with a long-lasting battery respectively.

The first important feature you need to know regarding the best budget gaming laptop is that it is powered by AMD Ryzen 3 dual-core processor for a fast gaming experience.

The availability of integrated graphics card, on the other hand, also prove to be crucial for playing games like GTA IV, CS:GO, PUBG, Minecraft, and Sims 4. You could easily play latest games on 30 to 40 fps rate which is not bad considering how affordable the laptop is.

Final Views:

VivoBook F512DA is specifically introduced by Asus to solve the low-battery problems for low-budget gamers. So, I’d recommend you to get it if you don’t want your laptop to drain battery at a fast rate.

 

10. 2020 Newest Lenovo IdeaPad – With Radeon R5 Graphics Card:

We’d be ending our discussion of the best gaming laptops under 500 with the newest IdeaPad as introduced by Lenovo in 2020. This laptop is also based on some powerful features and qualities to facilitate a perfect gaming experience for gamers. Besides, it has got a large, full HD display at the same time. Hence, playing Minecraft and Sims 4 or any other game becomes more fun and entertaining at the same time.

With the availability of a dual-core AMD A9 processor, you can easily run multiple games without any lagging or screen freezing issues.

Finally, the laptop is equipped with a Radeon R5 graphics card for a better gaming experience. Besides, the presence of 8GB DDR4 ram along with 256GB SSD also ensures a better user interface from a gaming point of view.

Final Views:

Get the 2020 Newest Lenovo IdeaPad if you want to enjoy a relentless gaming experience at an extremely reasonable rate.

 

Tip: You can also read how to build the perfect gaming laptop setup.

Top 3 Recommendations:

Based on my personal experiments and reviews from customers, the top 3 picks are as follows:

1. ASUS ROG GL551 as it’s the best gaming laptop under 500 with some beast specs.
2. Acer Aspire 5 as it’s my personal favorite when it comes to gaming and multitasking.
3. Lenovo IdeaPad Premium as it’s already a gaming beast for those who are low on budget.

Buying Guide: Choosing the Best Gaming Laptop under 500 in 2021

Now that you have gone through all of these laptops, you need to finalize one for yourself while keeping in view your requirements. You need to make sure that the laptop that you are getting for you has all the features that are required by the games that you are going to play on it. Following are some of the basic features that you are supposed to consider while deciding on a gaming laptop;

GPU or a CPU:

Most high-end games work better with a GPU rather than a CPU because they are built to support heavy software. But, if you are planning on playing lighter games such as GTA Vice City or ones that do not require heavy features, you can do just fine with a CPU.

Storage:

Get yourself more than enough storage if you want to have a lag-free experience. Your performance in the game and our game’s performance depends a lot on the RAM and SSD of your laptop.

Laptop Battery:

The longer the battery life of a laptop, the lesser you will have to worry about your laptop running out on you. The longer a laptop can go without charge, the longer you can use it outside, for example, while traveling or while outside in a park or a hotel.

Resolution:

Now, you do not need to go for a very high-resolution laptop like 4K, etc., you can get a good gaming display on laptops that have screens supporting 1080p resolution.

Refresh Rate:

The higher the refresh rate, the better your game quality and the better control you have over it. A refresh rate of 60Hz is more than enough for many gamers and will surely be more than enough for you since you are looking for a gaming laptop under a tight budget.

Backlit Keyboards:

Backlit keyboards come in very handy. This is because gamers usually prefer playing while having lights off in their rooms to better focus on the screen and this is where backlit keyboards come in.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I get an SSD or an HDD?

SSD is an upgrade over the standard HDD. An SSD is lighter in weight and sleek in design as compared to an HDD. This enables the gaming laptop to have a larger memory as well as be slimmer in design at the same time.

2. What matters the most in a gaming laptop?

The most important aspect of a gaming laptop is its graphics card. However recent developments in addition to the introduction of GPU have made this a bit more complicated. Since the performance of a GPU depends a lot on the cooling of the system, you need to know what wattage the graphics card uses and what kind of a chassis is covering it.

3. Are branded laptops better?

No, bigger and more famous brands charge more for their brand name and logo on their products. This means that you might be paying more for a laptop with features that you will be easily able to find in a cheaper laptop.

Summarizing Things Up:

Well, I’d be saying goodbye to all my fellow gamers now as I’m done with listing down some of the best gaming laptops under 500. Now, it’s your turn not to let me down. You can do so by choosing the best laptop from the list I’ve mentioned above.

If you have low budget you may also check Best Gaming Laptops Under 400.

Good Luck!!