Gaming laptops are not at all cheap. Even the cheapest gaming rigs will cost you a bomb. That is why it is important to invest in these gadgets only with enough money that you have at hand. Now, what if I told you that there are some good gaming laptops available for less than $500? Okay, don’t get me wrong here—there are no gaming laptops under $500 that can be used to play high-end games with your buddies. But there are some laptops from the top brands available only for you.
In this article, we will tell you all about these cheap but powerful machines and how they fare in comparison to other models available in the market.
Best Gaming Laptops under $500 for Students in 2022 – Top Picks
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Alright, without any further ado, let’s get right into it.
Check out the comparison table below to know about our top picks. We have compared all of these laptops on some specific parameters so that you can choose the best one among them with ease.
What to Expect from a Gaming Laptop under $500
So, now that you have seen the comparison table above, let me tell you what you can expect from these machines. Even though these laptops are cheap, their performance is quite good. However, I won’t say that they can be used for high-end gaming purposes. These laptops are good for medium-level gaming purposes. Also, they will work fine with most of the games from the previous generation.
These laptops have a very sleek and lightweight design which makes them look more expensive than they actually are. These machines do not get too hot during their operation which is a great thing considering that high temperatures can damage the motherboard inside it in no time.
The only problem with these machines is probably the fact that these models have some downgraded features when compared to other devices available in this price range. For instance, you won’t find a dedicated graphics card or a backlit keyboard in any of these models. But if you think about it, it is pretty difficult to add all those things without increasing the manufacturing cost of the laptop.
So, what things should you keep in mind when purchasing a gaming laptop under $500? Let’s take a look at the main points now.
What to Look for in Gaming Laptops Under $500
The first thing you should think about before buying any gaming laptop is whether it has all the essential hardware inside. The hardware includes the central processing unit (CPU), graphics processing unit (GPU), and random access memory (RAM). These are extremely important elements that can determine how well your device will work with various games. Good quality CPUs like Intel i3, i5, or i7 processors along with powerful GPUs don’t come within this price range. For instance, if you see an Intel i3 processor with 4GB DDR4 RAM, don’t buy it. There are many models available out there that have much better hardware specs inside them. So, you should devote some time to comparing the hardware before making a final purchase decision.
What Operating System do Laptops Under $500 Use?
Most of the laptops under this price range come either with Windows 10 or DOS as their operating system. Users have reported problems with Windows 7 and Windows 8 as well but those aren’t as popular as the other two options listed above. So, if you think that you won’t be able to adjust yourself with a new operating system, stick to Windows 10 or opt for a laptop featuring DOS instead.
The last thing you should consider is the battery life of the laptop. With time, laptops have gone from being heavy machines to devices that can be carried around easily. Since these are gaming laptops, don’t expect them to have a good battery life similar to smartphones or tablets. Even though most of these models feature 4-cell Li-ion batteries, they will likely last for only 2 hours which is far less than what other electronic devices manage to provide. So, look at your daily usage requirements before making a purchase decision. If you are mostly out of your home with no access to power sockets for most of the day, maybe look for some other model that offers better battery life as well.
So now that you know pretty much everything you need to about these laptops, it is time to give you some options.
Top 3 Gaming Laptops Under $500
1. ASUS VivoBook E203NA-FD026T Laptop
Key Specifications: Intel Celeron N4000 processor (Turbo up to 2.6 GHz) 4 GB DDR4 RAM 32 GB eMMC storage 1 x USB 3.1 Type C port, 1 x USB 2.0 port, and a full-sized HDMI output HD Webcam Bluetooth 4.2 802.11ac wireless connection Operating system: Windows 10 Home Single Language Price Range: $$ Editor’s Rating:
Pros: Cheap price tag.
Cons: The screen resolution might not be the best for gamers who are used to gaming on Full HD monitors.
2. Lenovo Ideapad 110 80TJ00XUS Laptop
Key Specifications: AMD A4-9125 processor (Quad-Core, 1.6 GHz) 8 GB DDR4 RAM 500 GB HDD 15.6 in display resolution 1366 x 768 Operating system: Windows 10 Home Single Language Price Range: $$ Editor’s Rating:
Pros: Low price tag makes it a good option for college students on a tight budget. It has an optical drive if you are still into DVDs or CDs that can be read by the machine with ease so no need to buy an external DVD/CD drive particularly if you have one already.
Cons: No backlit keyboard which is something that many gamers look for in a gaming laptop. Also, the screen resolution might bother some gamers who play games on Full HD monitors.
3. ASUS F510UA-AH51 15.6-Inch Laptop
Key Specifications: Intel Core i5 8250U Processor (Up to 3.4GHz) 8 GB DDR4 RAM 1 TB HDD 15.6 in display resolution 1920×1080 Operating system: Windows 10 Home Single Language Price Range: $$ Editor’s Rating:
Pros: Low price tag makes it a good option for those looking for an affordable gaming laptop under 500 dollars as well as college students on a tight budget since they will get all of their office work done efficiently with this machine. It also has an optical drive if you are still into DVDs or CDs that can be read by the machine with ease so no need to buy an external DVD/CD drive particularly if you have one already and don’t want to carry it around all the time.
Cons: Screen resolution isn’t as good for gamers who play games on Full HD monitors. Additionally, there is limited storage space so if you plan on storing a lot of files and documents, this might not be the best choice out there.
So what are your thoughts? Do you think these laptops are options worth considering or do you know other devices under 500 dollars that could meet your budget requirements? Let us know in the comments section below! If you liked reading our article, make sure to follow us.