Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023: Best Budget Laptops Under £500 You Can Buy Today

We know what we're talking about when it comes to high-quality products. infospa only gives you the best recommendations and buying advice to guarantee you make the best investments, but it doesn't mean we don't know about the cheaper options as well.

Laptops can be expensive, so buying something at a cheaper price can be problematic if you don't know what to look for. Fortunately for you, we've compiled a list of the best laptops under £500 (or close to it) that are nonetheless high-spec and excellent value for money. 

While not all of the options have the most up-to-date capabilities, they do offer powerful functionality that makes them dependable and ideal for everyday jobs. We've selected alternatives to meet everyone's demands, from Windows to Chromebook, and at a variety of price points, so you'll discover one of the Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023 for you in this list. 

You may also want to invest in one of the finest laptop cooling pads to keep your new laptop working smoothly for years to come.

If you only want our top three selections for the best laptop under £500, see below:

For most people, the best laptop under £500 is the Asus VivoBook 15. With smooth performance and beautiful style, this laptop clearly acts more premium than its price tag. It's a value deal you can rely on.

The Acer Aspire 5 is the best premium laptop under £500. This laptop, at the higher end of our pricing range, features a huge 15-inch screen, excellent battery life, and enough storage space, making it an excellent choice for daily usage. 

The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is our lowest-priced option. While it lacks in functionality, it is the best budget laptop under £500 that is portable and reliable on the go.

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Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023: Best Budget Laptops Under £500 You Can Buy Today

Best Laptops Budget Under $500 You Can Buy Today

If you want a cheap laptop for light computing and don't need a large screen, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a great option. Its small 11.6-inch screen makes it ideal for carrying in a bag, and it's also one of the lightest laptops available, weighing only 1.12 kilograms.

This system is a Chromebook, which means it runs Google's online-focused operating system, which is designed to be used while connected to the internet. Google's G-Suite suite of services, which includes Google Calendar, Google Docs, and GMAIL, are ideal partners. Despite its low-cost specifications, this OS is very fast, and with built-in HD Audio and a sharp 11.6-inch screen, it still provides plenty of web browsing, video streaming, and basic image editing. Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a basic system designed for lightweight computing needs, which is exactly what many people require. After all, what's the point of spending £700 on a system that won't be used to its full potential? Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023.

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The Acer Aspire 5 ranks highly in our best laptop under £500 buying guide for a variety of reasons, the most obvious of which is its low price. It also features an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, Intel UHD 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, making it a very powerful and capable all-around machine. This combines to provide zippy performance in all light and medium computing tasks, and when combined with the Aspire 5's 15.6-inch, 1080p IPS LCD screen provides plenty of entertainment and gaming clout as well.

The battery life is also respectable at 10 hours, and it has a good selection of ports, so you can connect it to a larger monitor or TV. You also get a built-in HD webcam, which is ideal for video meetings. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a fantastic all-around laptop that offers excellent value. More information can be found in our Acer Aspire 5 review, which focuses on the A514-52-582Y model, or in our Acer Aspire 5 vs Lenovo IdeaPad 3 comparison. You can also compare it to its less expensive sibling in our Acer Aspire 3 vs Aspire 5 comparison. best laptops under £500

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The Asus C433 is simply one of the best Chromebooks we've ever seen (look at that display, for example), and it'll get you around the web and run Android apps with ease. You will not be disappointed if you choose this as the best cheap laptop for you.

Chrome OS is the same here as it is on any other Chromebook, and it, like the web apps that run in your browser, is improving all the time. Now that Android apps are supported, you can run mobile versions of programs such as Spotify and Microsoft Word. The Asus C433 is a good choice because it has a large, bright 14-inch screen and enough power to do everything you need to do. The display can also be switched between tent and tablet modes, making this laptop even more appealing.

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The stunning Asus VivoBook 15 is the best cheap laptop for most people right now. This laptop not only has a large display that appears much larger than it is due to tiny bezels, but it also has a strong all-around hardware and software show. 

Of course, you get the full version of Windows 10, which is powered by an Intel Core i3 CPU, an Intel UHD 620 GPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD NVMe. Oh, and for those who are taking more video calls and meetings than usual, the VivoBook 15 includes an integrated webcam. best laptops under £500

A great battery life, a good selection of ports, and a one-year warranty round out the package. This is a great system for the money, and in infospa's opinion, one of the Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023 on the market today. See how it stacks up against our number two pick in our Asus Vivobook 15 vs Acer Aspire 5 comparison.

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Microsoft's Surface laptops are consistently excellent, and the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is currently one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, as well as an excellent laptop under £500 in general. It improves on everything that was good about the original – its sleek design, excellent build quality, and go-anywhere, do-anything versatility.

The screen is bigger and higher resolution than before, and the specifications have been improved for improved performance. The larger screen, however, does not imply a larger device: the bezels around the display are smaller, allowing Microsoft to increase the screen size without increasing the size of the Surface Go. It looks and feels like a much more expensive machine, just like its predecessor. 

With a very respectable five hours of active use between charges, it's ideal for on-the-go computing, but keep in mind that the price does not include the Type Cover keyboard, which you'll need if you plan on doing a lot of typing (at the time of writing, that'll set you back just under £100). 

Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023: Best Budget Laptops Under £500 You Can Buy Today

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Spending so little on a laptop usually means you have to settle for clunkier computers with thick bezels, but that's not the case here. The Acer Swift 1 weighs only 1.3kg and is extremely thin, making it a super-portable PC that you can take with you anywhere, whether it's to university, the library, or a cafe.

Given its low price, you get a lot for your money, including a decent 14-inch Full HD screen, a long battery life, and a fingerprint scanner to keep it secure.

Because the internal hardware is basic, performance suffers slightly, but this is insignificant for light everyday tasks. Just don't expect to use it for intense gaming or complex video editing.

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If you don't want to spend much money but still want a stylish, lightweight laptop under £500, the HP Stream 14 is a great option. With an AMD 2.3GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB eMMC storage, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen paired with a Windows 10 S operating system, you get a good all-around spec for the money. 

The HP Stream 14 also includes a one-year subscription to Office 365 and a 1TB OneDrive account, so you're ready for work and school. The system also includes a built-in webcam, allowing for video meetings and phone calls, as well as a MicroSD card reader.

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Just because your budget is limited to £500 doesn't mean you have to settle for low-end components. Because of the AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor, the Acer Aspire 3 can handle any casual task and even some light (and we mean light) gaming. That 15.6-inch Full HD display is very generous for a laptop in this price range, and it's also surprisingly sharp, while the 1TB HDD, while not as fast as an SSD, is massive and offers plenty of storage space. 

The only drawback is the system's battery life, which at 4.5 hours is far from adequate for a use-all-day-on-one-charge. If you don't mind carrying your charger around with you, or if you use the system primarily from a plugged-in desk, this disadvantage can be mitigated. More information can be found at Should I Buy the Acer Aspire 3? 

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The Inspiron is a regular visitor to our best buy guides, and the Inspiron 15 takes its rightful place thanks to a solid specification, good battery life, and a price tag that falls just short of our £500 limit.

This laptop is powered by a quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor (Intel processors are also available), 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. The full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) screen is sharp and bright, and the battery life is rated at 8.5 hours. It includes Dell Mobile Connect, which allows you to connect your PC to your phone and receive text and call notifications on your laptop.

You wouldn't want to render a 3D CGI movie on one of these, but it's adequate for Microsoft Office, Netflix, and other everyday tasks. Just make sure you get a Full HD model; previous versions had a lower resolution display that we found unimpressive.

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If you like the idea of 2-in-1 laptop functionality and have less than £500 to spend on a laptop, the Asus VivoBook Flip is an excellent option. You get solid core specifications, such as an Intel Pentium Silver N5030 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB SSD for storage, as well as a full-fat version of Windows 10 Home and a year of Microsoft Office 365 for free. 

The 14-inch rotating screen with a 360-degree metal hinge, which can flip all the way over to provide a slate experience, is why you'll choose this laptop. As a result, this system can function as both a laptop and a Windows tablet.

Because the display is a touchscreen, you can use a digital stylus on it, which is ideal for illustrators. However, the Flip does not include a stylus, which is disappointing but understandable given the price.

Add a good battery, a thin design, and an in-built webcam, and you've got a solid all-around package – but one with a 360-degree rotating party piece.

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Okay, we know. The Acer Swift 3 costs slightly more than £500, but we believe it is such a good system that we've included it here.

The Swift 3 – somewhat confusing, we admit – offers a larger display and slightly improved specs for about the same price as the Switch 3, minus the 2-in-1 form factor and touch screen. The i3 CPU, combined with the SSD, provides good performance for a low-cost machine, easily handling less processor-intensive tasks while providing long battery life. 

Unlike some cheaper laptops, the Swift 3's touchpad is actually pleasant to use, with smooth scrolling and mouse movements, which is important given the lack of a touchscreen. The port selection is also good, with an HDMI, three USB-A, one USB-C, and other options. Overall, this is a good budget option.

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The MSI Modern 14 is a stylish laptop with a powerful Intel i3 processor and plenty of RAM to help you get through your daily tasks quickly and efficiently. It has a large SSD, which means it's quick when switching between tasks, and it's nicely finished off with a backlit keyboard, which makes it look impressive for the price. A great option for those looking for something both reliable and reasonably priced.

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The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14-inch laptop is a slim and light (1.5kg) laptop with a flexible, rotatable, Full HD touchscreen display. This means that this laptop can function as both a laptop and a tablet, which is a good value for money. 

It also includes Dolby Atmos audio, making it ideal for users who enjoy streaming movies, TV shows, and music from their laptops. It's powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU and comes with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD storage drive.

The system does, however, include a copy of Windows 10 S as an operating system, which is a simplified version of the full OS. It's something to think about because if you want a full-fledged version of Windows 10, you'll have to install it yourself. However, for casual and lightweight computing, the Flex 5 is a good fit, and it is crucially priced under £500. 

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HOW TO SELECT THE BEST BUDGET LAPTOP UNDER £500 FOR YOU

Buying a new laptop can be a daunting task, especially when you're trying to stick to a budget, as we are. A lower price range often means less powerful components, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for a low-quality, disposable product.

With the cost of high-quality components continuing to fall, low-cost laptops now have far more powerful specs, allowing your money to go further. It won't be a portable gaming beast or a media powerhouse, but it'll be fast enough for surfing, document editing, and video streaming. Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023

At this price, Apple MacBooks are out of the question, but fortunately, Windows 10 has evolved to run very well on less powerful hardware. In addition, we've included a couple of our favorite Chromebooks in the list (just remember Chrome OS requires everything to be done on the web).

Prices fluctuate frequently at this end of the market, and retailers frequently throw in special deals to entice buyers, so don't be surprised if some of these prices go up and down – spend some time comparing prices to figure out who's offering the best cheap laptop for you. 

Keep in mind that you won't be getting the most powerful or feature-rich laptops, but we think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can get at such a low price.

From vibrant displays to surprisingly powerful CPUs, our list of the Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023 has plenty to offer buyers on a tight budget. Design and construction are also getting better and better.

So, as you browse the various deals and offers made available by retailers, take a look at some of our helpful tips and advice on buying a new laptop, then dive right into our top picks. Have fun browsing!

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BEST LAPTOPS UNDER £500 UK 2023: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO CONSIDER

If you're unfamiliar with Chromebooks, they're Google-powered laptops that are frequently extremely inexpensive. If you want to see the best Chromebooks, we've put together a dedicated best Chromebooks guide.

All of the laptops in our guide are good all-rounders. They'll be fine with web browsing and Office applications, Zoom calls, online shopping, and casual gaming. If you're a power user looking to play the latest games at the highest possible speeds and resolutions, or if you need to perform extremely demanding tasks like video rendering, look at our best laptops and best gaming laptop guides instead. And, if you're a Dell fan, like us, we have a dedicated guide to the best Dell laptops.

If you're looking to spend under £500, you might be better served for your computing and reading needs with one of the best Kindle e-readers or best tablets, so be sure to look into those as well.

Dell isn't the only well-known brand available here. Purchasing a low-cost laptop does not necessitate purchasing a no-name cheapie from someone you've never heard of. All of the major players are present, including Microsoft, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Asus, and many others.

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HOW WE TESTED THE BEST CHEAP LAPTOPS UNDER £500

Testing budget laptops is very similar to testing any laptop, with the exception that the system's value proposition is given more weight than usual, and the lack of features is given less weight.

This is due to the fact that these systems are intended to provide solid core functionality first and foremost at a price that the vast majority of people can afford. These are systems that, despite their low price, are ideal for students and professionals who cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on a system. 

So, if a laptop under £500 lacks a touchscreen or a biometric sign-in option, we don't hold it against the system because it's not in its wheelhouse. Budget laptops should have strong and solid core functionality, as well as decent build quality and performance.

That said, this doesn't mean that budget laptops get a free pass on things like build quality, and if a competitor system offers more for the same price, we'll be sure to let you know. 

Our testing procedure entails evaluating a system's built quality and design, performance and features, screen and software, and, most importantly, price in relation to other similarly specced systems.

Only after we have rated all of these factors do we proceed to assign a star score to a budget laptop, with high-ranking systems being considered for our Best Laptops Under £500 UK 2023 buying guide.