Best laptops under $500 2023

The best laptops under $500 that offer a great balance of power and performance at budget-friendly prices

best laptops under $500 2023
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(Image credit: Asus)

The best laptops under $500 you'll find in our guide are some of the best budget-friendly machines that prove you can get a really great notebook without breaking the bank. Every laptop in this guide punches well above its price tag, delivering a reliable, solid computing experience, without cutting any crucial corners. 

While it’s never a bad idea to spend as much as you can afford on a new laptop, the truth is that for most people and the majority of general use cases, a sub-$500 will meet your needs just fine. For a cheaper price, you'll have to make some sacrifices somewhere, but it's just a case of figuring out which features aren't important to you.

As for pricing, of course our list covers everything under $500 but there's some good news on the horizon. Throughout the year, many higher priced laptops with more features will drop below this threshold, giving eager students a chance to grab a great student laptop cheap.

Buying an affordable laptop doesn’t mean being stuck with dull design from no-name brands either. All the big players are here: Microsoft, HP, Dell, Acer, Lenovo, Asus and more. So with all that covered, let's kick off our list of the best laptops under $500.

The best laptops under $500 for 2022

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asus vivobook 15 blackT3 Award

The Asus VivoBook 15 is the best laptop under $500 for most people.

(Image credit: Asus)

1. Asus VivoBook 15

The best laptop under $500 for most people

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i3 1005G1
GPU: Intel UHD 620
Screen: 15.6-inch Full HD
RAM: 4GB
SSD: 256GB SSD NVMe
OS: Windows 10

Reasons to buy

+
Spacious, tiny bezel screen
+
Strong internal hardware
+
Full fat Windows 10 OS
+
Webcam included

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor battery life
-
Basic CPU

The best cheap laptop for most people, right now, is the stunning Asus VivoBook 15. Not only does this laptop come with a capacious display that, thanks to tiny bezels, seems far bigger than it actually is, but backs up those looks with a strong all-round hardware and software showing. You get a full-fat version of Windows 10, of course, and that is powered by a combination of Intel Core i3 CPU, Intel UHD 620 GPU, 4GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD NVMe. Oh, and for those who find themselves taking more video calls and meetings than before, the VivoBook 15 also delivers an integrated webcam.

Solid battery life, a decent selection of ports, and an included 1-year warranty complete the package. For the money, this is a great system, and in T3's eyes one of the very best laptops under $500 on the market today. See how it compares to our number 2 pick in our Asus Vivobook 15 vs Acer Aspire 5 head-to-head. 

microsoft surface go 2 blackT3 Award

In terms of flexibility and hybrid functionality, the Microsoft Surface Go 2 delivers and fantastic package.

(Image credit: Microsoft)
The best 2-in-1 laptop under $500 for hybrid functionality

Specifications

CPU: 8th-gen Intel Core m3
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 10.5-inch 1920 x 1280 pixels (220 ppi)
Storage: 64GB / 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Feels much more expensive
+
Great hardware package
+
Compact and lightweight

Reasons to avoid

-
Not a powerful laptop

Microsoft’s Surface laptops are consistently excellent, and the Microsoft Surface Go 2 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops right now, as well as being an excellent laptop under $500 in general. It takes everything that was good about the original – its sleek design, its excellent build quality, its go-anywhere do-anything versatility – and makes it even better. 

The screen is bigger and has a higher resolution than before, and the specification has been improved for better performance. The bigger screen doesn’t mean a bigger device, though: the bezels around the display are smaller so Microsoft has been able to make the screen bigger without also making the Surface Go bigger. As with its predecessor, it looks and feels like a much more expensive machine.

With a very respectable five hours of active use between charges it’s good for on-the-go computing, but remember that the sticker price doesn’t include the Type Cover keyboard, which you'll need if you’re going to be doing a lot of typing (at time of writing, that’ll set you back just under $100).

To see how this system compares to our number one choice of best laptop under $500, be sure to check out T3's Asus Vivobook 15 vs Microsoft Surface Go 2 comparison feature.

acer apsire 5 blackT3 Award

The Acer Aspire 5 is the best premium laptop under $500 you can buy today.

(Image credit: Acer)
The best premium laptop under $500

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U Processor
GPU: Intel UHD 620
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB
Screen: 15.6-inch, 1920 x 1080
Dimensions: 17.9 x 363.4 x 250.5 mm (H x W x D)
Weight: 1.9 kg

Reasons to buy

+
Affordable
+
Strong hardware spec
+
Good battery life
+
Webcam included

Reasons to avoid

-
Dowdy styling and big bezels
-
Mediocre trackpad and keyboard
-
No USB-C charging

There's plenty of reasons why the Acer Aspire 5 sits so high in our best laptop under $500 buying guide, and its affordable cost is just the first. It also delivers a really strong and capable all-round specification, including an AMD Ryzen 5 4500U, Intel UHD 620 GPU, 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. This is combined to deliver zippy performance in all light and medium computing tasks, and when combined with the Aspire 5's 15.6-inch, 1080p IPS LCD screen, delivers plenty in terms of entertainment and gaming clout, too.

Battery life tops out at a respectable 10 hours, too, and it has a strong selection of ports as well, meaning you can hook it up to a larger monitor or TV. You also get an integrated HD webcam, which is perfect for video meetings. Overall, the Acer Aspire 5 is a really strong all-round laptop that delivers great value. 

lenovo ideapad 3 blackT3 Award

(Image credit: Lenovo)
For portability and affordability, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a great cheap laptop

Specifications

CPU: Intel Celeron 1.1GHz
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 11.6 Inches
Storage: 32GB

Reasons to buy

+
Incredibly affordable
+
Light and compact

Reasons to avoid

-
Screen could be brighter
-
Average battery life
-
Low-powered components

If you are looking for a cheap laptop for light computing experiences and don't need a large screen, then the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a great choice. It's compact 11.6-inch screen makes it incredibly bag-friendly, as it's one of the best lightweight laptops around too, weighing only 1.12 kilograms. 

This system is a Chromebook, meaning that it runs Google's online-focussed operating system, which is designed to be used while online. Google's G-Suite of services like Google Calendar, Google Docs and GMAIL are perfect partners. Despite its budget spec, this OS means that it runs very fast and with built-in HD Audio and a crisp 11.6-inch screen, it still offers plenty when it comes round to web-browsing, video streaming and basic image editing. Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is a basic system for lightweight computing needs, but that's precisely what many people need. After all, what's the point in spending £700 on a system when you're not going to use its full power?

Head to our full Lenovo IdeaPad 3 review for more info, or see how it matches up against our #1 pick in our Asus Vivobook 15 vs Lenovo IdeaPad 3 showdown.

hp stream 14 whiteT3 Award

The HP Stream 14 offers a compact system for basic computing at a very low price point.

(Image credit: HP)

5. HP Stream 14

A thin and stylish laptop with huge cloud storage included

Specifications

CPU: AMD A4-9125 Dual Core
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1366 x 768 pixel resolution
Storage: 64GB eMMC | 1TB OneDrive
OS: Windows 10 S

Reasons to buy

+
Thin and light design
+
1TB OneDrive storage
+
MicroSD card slot
+
Webcam and MicroSD card slot

Reasons to avoid

-
Not for more advanced tasks
-
Low screen res

If you really don't want to spend much money at all but do want to land a stylish, lightweight laptop under $500, then you should definitely consider the HP Stream 14, which retails for a bargain price point. You get a solid all-round spec for your money, with an AMD 2.3GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, 64GB eMMC storage, and 14-inch 1920 x 1080 resolution screen partnered with a Windows 10 S operating system. The HP Stream 14 also comes with a 1-year subscription to Office 365 and a 1TB OneDrive account, too, so you're set for office and study. The system also features a built-in webcam, meaning video meetings and calls are sorted, as well as MicroSD card reader.

dell inspiron 14 3000 blackT3 Award

(Image credit: Dell)

6. Dell Inspiron 14 3000

The best laptop under $500 for strong computing basics

Specifications

CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N5000
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1,366 x 768 pixel resolution
Storage: 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Solid construction
+
Secure OS
+
Highly portable

Reasons to avoid

-
Not for gaming
-
Limited app installs

Dell is making some excellent budget laptops at the moment, with the Inspiron 14 3000 a case in point: fair enough, you're not going to be doing much video editing or gaming on this, but it'll take care of all the computing basics for you very capably indeed. This being a Dell machine, it's extremely well built and should last you a long time. The 14-inch display gives you plenty of room for spreadsheets and movies alike, while you get three USB ports and an HDMI out port for connecting up peripherals. It's also very portable, perfect for throwing in a backpack.

Windows 10 S Home is on board – that's the stripped-down, super-secure version of Windows 10 that limits app installs but keeps you very well protected. If you're not a fan then you can unlock the laptop to get the full version of Windows 10 at any point.

asus c433 chromebook silverT3 Award

If you are happy using Chrome OS, then the Asus C433 is a great laptop that costs under $500.

(Image credit: Asus)

7. Asus C433 Chromebook

The best sub-$500 laptop for mixing Chrome OS and style

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core M3 8100Y
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution
Storage: 64GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great design
+
Aluminium-alloy finish
+
Android app support

Reasons to avoid

-
Chrome OS not to everyone's needs
-
Build quality not as good as the C434

Simply one of the best Chromebooks we've ever laid eyes on (look at that display, for instance), the Asus C433 will get you around the web and run Android apps with aplomb. You don't need to worry about being disappointed if you pick this as the best cheap laptop for you.

Chrome OS is the same here as it is on any other Chromebook, and it's getting better all the time, as are the web apps that run in your browser. Now that Android apps are supported as well, you can run the mobile versions of programs like Spotify and Microsoft Word as well. With a big, bright 14-inch screen and enough power to do everything you need to do, the Asus C433 is a fine choice. The display can flip over into tent and tablet modes as well, making this laptop even more appealing.

acer cb3-431 chromebook silverT3 Award

The Acer CB3-431 Chromebook is not just insanely light and portable, but it is also one of the best laptops under $500 going. 

8. Acer CB3-431 Chromebook

Stunningly light, this is the best laptop under $500 for portability

Specifications

CPU: Intel Celeron N3160 (1.6GHz quad-core)
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution
Storage: 32GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Speedy, secure, low-maintenance OS
+
Big, high-resolution display

Reasons to avoid

-
No SD card slot
-
Display lacks vibrance

If you can do all your computing on the web – watching Netflix, working in online office apps and email clients, checking social networks – then Chromebooks represent excellent value for money, and this one is a worthy entrant in our best laptops under $500 list. You can't install desktop programs on them, but you don't need to worry about large software updates, or antivirus software, or your system slowing over time.

The 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage you get with this Acer laptop should be enough for Chrome OS, as all you're doing is running a web browser. Meanwhile, the screen is relatively large, and offers a higher resolution than many other laptops at this price point.

lenovo ideapad s145 blackT3 Award

(Image credit: Lenovo)

9. Lenovo IdeaPad S145

The best laptop under $500 for affordable, big-screen Windows 10

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i3-1005G1
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution
Storage: 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Large 15.6-inch display
+
Respectable specs
+
Lightweight, quality build

Reasons to avoid

-
Fairly low res screen
-
Average battery life

Be prepared for some looks of disbelief when you tell people that the Lenovo IdeaPad S145 can be had for under $500 – it looks like a laptop that costs double the price, with sleek lines, thin display bezels and a rather nice black granite finish. There's a lot to like here – the 15.6-inch display, an abundance of ports, Windows 10, the Intel Core i3 processor that's on board. We like the lightweight construction as well, and the audio performance is decent. Whether you need to get some work done on the go, or you want to kick back and watch some movies, the Lenovo IdeaPad S145 has you covered. This is one of the best value laptops around right now; you'll struggle to get more bang for your buck.

apple ipad 8th gen whiteT3 Award

The iPad is something we all know and love at this point and its definitely worth considering as a laptop.

(Image credit: Apple)
While it's not technically a laptop, for light computing users it is worth considering

Specifications

CPU: Apple A10 Fusion Chip
Screen: 9.7-inch 2048x1536 Retina Display
Storage: 32GB or 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Great portability
+
Enormous app selection
+
Long battery life

Reasons to avoid

-
32GB of storage isn't much
-
No landscape stereo speakers or True Tone screen
-
Apple Pencil is the more awkward first version

Now... this starts with the obvious caveat that, unlike the others on this list, the iPad is not actually a laptop in the true sense of the term. However, for some people – especially those who only need to perform lighter tasks – it might just suffice. Apple also sells larger iPads (like the Pro) but those are more expensive. 

The base-level iPad starts at $329 for the 32GB model and goes up to $429 for the 128GB model (both WiFi-enabled). The rub is that, to get any actual work done, you'll need a third-party keyboard, which adds $50+ to the overall price. The Apple Pencil, which is useful for drawing, is another $99. So it's all about tradeoffs. 

At the end of the day, if your needs are more geared towards light text editing, drawing, emails, browsing the web, and watching Netflix, it's worth considering an iPad (and if we've sold you on that idea, it's worth checking out our pick of the best tablets around).

acer swift 3 black

Being on a low budget doesn't mean bad hardware and the Switch 3 is a testament to that. 

(Image credit: Acer)
Great battery, a nice design, and more, all for around £450.

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i3-8130U 2.2GHz
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch LCD, Full HD
Storage: 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Good trackpad
+
CPU and SSD mean it's quite fast
+
Good connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited integrated graphics
-
Ordinary battery life
-
A little on the expensive side

Like the Switch 3 above, the Swift 3 – somewhat confusing, we admit – offers a larger display and slightly improved specs for about the same price, minus the 2-in-1 form factor and touch screen. The i3 CPU, combined with the SSD, offer good performance for a cheap machine, crunching less processor-intensive tasks with ease while providing good battery life. 

Unlike some other cheaper laptops, the touchpad on the Swift 3 is actually nice to use, offering smooth scrolling and mouse movements, which is important due to the lack of touchscreen. The port selection is good, too, boasting an HDMI, three USB-A, one USB-C, and more. All in all, this is a good budget pick.

Acer Swift 1 cheap laptopT3 Award

If you need something lightweight and portable, but you don't want to spend much, the Acer Swift 1 is worth considering. 

(Image credit: Acer)
The best lightweight laptop under £500

Specifications

CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N6000
Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 615
RAM: 4GB / 8GB
Screen: 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
Storage: 64GB / 128GB / 256GB
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 720p
Weight: 1.3kg
Dimensions: 15 x 323 x 212 mm

Reasons to buy

+
Sturdy, attractive design
+
Fantastic battery life
+
Fingerprint sensor for extra security

Reasons to avoid

-
Screen isn't particularly bright
-
Disappointing performance

Often spending so little on a laptop means you’re restricted to clunkier computers with thick bezels, that’s not the case here. The Acer Swift 1 only weighs 1.3kg and it’s super slim, making this a super-portable PC that you can take with you anywhere whether that’s to uni, the library or to a cafe. 

Considering how cheap it is, you get a lot for your money including a decent 14-inch Full HD screen, long-lasting battery life and there’s even a fingerprint scanner to keep it secure. 

You do lose out somewhat on performance because the internal hardware is basic, but for light everyday tasks that won’t matter. Just don’t expect to use this for hardcore gaming or intricate video editing. 

Dell Inspiron 15 3000 laptop under £500T3 Award

(Image credit: Dell)

13. Dell Inspiron 15 3000

A strong contender for everyday work and play

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
RAM: 8GB DDR4 2400MHz
Screen: 15.6” Full HD LED
Storage: 256GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Solid construction
+
Secure OS
+
Highly portable

Reasons to avoid

-
Uninspiring design

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

This laptop is powered by a quad-core AMD Ryzen 5 3500U processor (Intel processors are available too) backed with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, the full HD screen (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) is sharp and bright and the battery life is a quoted 8.5 hours. It comes with Dell Mobile Connect, which enables you to connect your PC to your phone and get notifications of texts and calls on your laptop.

You wouldn’t want to render a 3D CGI movie on one of these, but for Microsoft Office, Netflix and other everyday tasks it’s a solid performer. Just make sure you’re getting one of the Full HD models: previous versions had a lower resolution display that we found unimpressive.

ASUS Touchscreen VivoBook Flip laptop under $500T3 Award

(Image credit: ASUS)

14. ASUS VivoBook Flip

A quality 2-in-1 laptop for well under $500

Specifications

CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N5030
RAM: 4GB
Screen: 14-inch 1366 x 768 touchscreen
Storage: 128GB SSD

Reasons to buy

+
Touchscreen 360-degree display
+
Respectable specs
+
Lightweight, quality build

Reasons to avoid

-
Processor isn't top shelf

If you like the sound of 2-in-1 laptop functionality and have under $500 to spend on a laptop then the Asus VivoBook Flip is a great choice.

You get solid core specs, which include 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 one year free of Microsoft Office 365, too.

The reason you'll opt for this laptop, though, is its 14-inch rotating screen with 360-degree metal hinge, which can flip all the way over to provide a slate experience. This means this system can act as both a laptop and a Windows tablet.

The fact that the display is a touchscreen also means you can use a digital stylus on it, which will be great for illustrators. Importantly, the Flip does not come with a stylus, though, which is disappointing but understandable at this price.

Throw in a good battery, thin design and in-built webcam, and you've got a strong all-round package – but one with a 360-degree rotating party piece.

Acer Aspire 3 A315-51 cheap laptopT3 Award

Another cracking laptop under $500 deal, the Acer Aspire 3 A315-51 delivers a robust design and plenty of connectivity options.

15. Acer Aspire 3

A strong budget laptop with a sprinkling of premium in terms of build quality

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor
Memory: 8 GB DDR4 (2133 MHz)
Storage: 1TB HDD (5,400 rpm)
Screen: 15.6” Full HD display
Connectivity: 2xUSB 2.0, 1xUSB 3.0, 1xHDMI, 1xEthernet, 1xSD Card Reader

Reasons to buy

+
Robust design
+
Huge 1TB hard drive
+
Myriad connectivity options

Reasons to avoid

-
Poor battery life

Just because your budget has topped out at $500 doesn't mean you're bound to low-end components. That  AMD Ryzen 5 2500U Processor means the Acer Aspire 3 can handle any casual task, and even deal with some light (and we mean light) gaming, too. That 15.6-inch Full HD display is very generous for a laptop in this range, and its surprisingly sharp too, while that 1TB HDD, despite not being as fast as an SSD, is huge and provides loads of storage space. 

The only thing that isn't ideal is the system's battery life, which at just 4.5 hours is definitely not use-all-day-off-one-charge capable. Providing you're happy carrying your charger with you, or you're using the system primarily from a desk plugged in, then this negative point can be mitigated. For more info, head to should I buy the Acer Aspire 3?

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 laptop under $500

(Image credit: Lenovo)

16. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5

An affordable laptop with flexible screen

Specifications

CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Processor
RAM: 4 GB
Storage: 128 GB SSD
Screen: Full HD touchscreen
Battery: 12 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Flexible touchscreen
+
12-hour battery life
+
Dolby Atmos audio

Reasons to avoid

-
Windows 10 S operating system

The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14-inch laptop delivers a slim and lightweight laptop (1.5kg) that comes with a flexible, rotatable, Full HD touchscreen display. This means this laptop can offer both a laptop and tablet mode, which is good in terms of value for money.

It also comes with Dolby Atmos audio, too, which means that it is good for those users who like to stream movies, TV shows and music from their laptop.

It's powered by an AMD Ryzen CPU  and comes with a perfectly acceptable 4GB of RAM and 128GB SSD storage drive.

The system does, though, come installed with a copy of Windows 10 S as an operating system, which is a stripped down version of the full OS. It's something to consider as, if you do want a full-fat version of Windows 10, then you'll have to install it yourself.

For casual and more lightweight computing, though, the Flex 5 is a good fit, and crucially it rings in for under $500.

MSI Modern 14

(Image credit: MSI )

17. MSI Modern 14

Stylish, speedy and affordable

Specifications

CPU: Intel Core i3-10110U Dual Core (2.1GHz, 4MB Cache, Intel Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz)
RAM: 8GB (DDR4)
Storage: 512GB M.2 NVMe SSD
Screen: 15.6" (1920x1080 Full HD Resolution, IPS Screen)

Reasons to buy

+
Large storage 
+
Backlit keys 
+
Smooth processor 

Reasons to avoid

-
Slightly over £500

 The MSI Modern 14 is a sleek and stylish laptop, offering a powerful Intel i3 processor and plenty of RAM to allow you to do every day tasks quickly and efficiently. It has a large SSD which means it’s speedy when moving from task to task and it’s finished off nicely with a backlit keyboard that makes it look impressive considering its price. A great option for those who want something both reliable and affordable.

Buying Advice

How to buy the best laptop under $500 for you

Buying a new laptop can be a daunting task – even more so when you're trying to shop under a specific price limit, as we are here. A lower price range often means less powerful components, but it doesn't mean you have to settle for a cheap, throwaway product.

With very decent components continuing to drop in price, affordable laptops are boasting far more powerful specs, so your money goes further. It's not going to be a portable gaming beast or a media powerhouse, but you'll have enough grunt under the hood for surfing, editing documents and video streaming.

Apple MacBooks are out of the question at this sort of price, but fortunately, Windows 10 has evolved to run very well indeed on less high-end hardware. We've also included a couple of our favorite Chromebooks in the list (just remember Chrome OS requires everything to be done on the web).

Down at this end of the market, prices fluctuate regularly, and retailers will often throw in special deals to tempt 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.

Bear in mind that you're not going to be getting the most powerful or the most feature-rich of laptops, but we think you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you can bag at an affordable price point.

From vibrant displays to surprisingly robust CPUs, our list of the best laptops under $500 for 2022 has plenty of choices to offer buyers with less money to spend. Design and build continue to get better and better as well.

So as you browse around the various deals and offers that retailers have made available, take a look at some of our helpful tips and advice on buying a new laptop, then dive straight into our very best picks. Enjoy browsing!

What is the best laptop under $500 right now?

Right now, our choice for the best laptop under $500 in 2022 is the excellent Asus VivoBook 15, but that might not be the best cheap laptop for everyone. For that reason, we've covered a range of options in this guide to suit every kind of person and every type of environment.

Whether you’re looking for a laptop to help you work efficiently from home, or just to use to tune in to a Zoom chat, there’s a laptop under $500 for you. (Note: Chromebooks are often very low priced, and it's worth heading to our best Chromebooks guide if you think that might be a good option for you.)

All of these machines offer great value for money and will cope comfortably with web browsing, Office applications, Zoom calls and online shopping. If you need your PC to do some seriously heavy lifting – such as playing the most demanding games at their maximum settings or making your own animated movies – head to our general best laptops and best gaming laptops guide instead.

Dell is one of the biggest laptop makers in the world and has a suite of systems that retail at affordable price points. Be sure to scope them out in our best Dell laptops if you like the brand.

Robert Jones

Rob has been writing about computing, gaming, mobile, home entertainment technology, toys (specifically Lego and board games), smart home and more for over 15 years. As the editor of PC Gamer, and former Deputy Editor for T3.com, you can find Rob's work in magazines, bookazines and online, as well as on podcasts and videos, too. Outside of his work Rob is passionate about motorbikes, skiing/snowboarding and team sports, with football and cricket his two favourites. 

With contributions from