Gone are the days when fancy tech gadgets were just for people who had very big bucks to spend. These days, you can almost always find something that will agree with your pocket. If you are looking for a bargain, we have researched and provided some of the best cheap laptops under $500 that you can buy right now. Not just cheap options, but quality enough for the prices they come at.
Note that we have made sure to choose only new versions of these units. While you may be better off with a second-hand unit or a bigger laptop you’d love to have, it is always much safer to get it brand new.
For those who would want to own a laptop within their budget, let’s look at the top picks.
Best Cheap Laptops under $500 Available Right Now
1. Acer Aspire 3
Acer is one of the manufacturers with a penchant for offering high-end technology to mid-level users at affordable prices. They have pronounced that commitment with the Acer Aspire 3 which promises at least 8GB of RAM to go with up to 512GB SSD.
The latest models run on 12th Generation Intel Core processors with either UHD Graphics or Iris Xe Graphics providing the performance you need for productivity at work, home, or school. This is one of the best cheap laptops that can handle both business, professional, and personal use.
There are three display sizes to pick from: 14-inch, 15.6-inch, and 17.3-inch. The screen is brilliant browsing the web and streaming videos. For connectivity, you get Wi-Fi 6, a USB Type-C port, and an HDMI 2.1 port. The latest models run on Windows 11. The price starts at around $349.99. Price in Nigeria starts at around ₦575,000.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 1i (14-inch, Intel)
When it comes to a simple, elegant, performance-oriented yet, affordable laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i knows how to juggle. The lightweight unit stands at 14 inches, delivers a brilliant view for web browsing and video streaming, and is a product of some solid engineering.
The unit is powered by an Intel Celeron N4020 processor. Under the hood is also an integrated Intel UHD 620 Graphics card wrapped around the 4GB of RAM. We agree that 128GB of SSD-based internal storage space might be small for some people, but you can expand it with an external drive or an SD card as you see fit.
Going on, the laptop comes with the new Windows 11 Home Mode S software out of the box, an HDMI port, two USB Type-A ports, a USB Type-C port, and Bluetooth 5.2 + Wi-Fi 6 connectivity options.
However, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1i is not for everyone. Its limited memory, storage, and processing capacity as well as the restrictive S mode Windows 11, means it is for users who engage in light tasks on their laptop. Like Bloggers and Journalists. Students (excluding Engineering or Science students) will also find the laptop helpful. Price starts at $199.99.
3. HP 250
HP 250 is the cousin of the HP 255. The major difference between the two is that while the 255 series runs on AMD processors, the 250 series runs on the more prestigious Intel processors. The HP 250 series has some of the best cheap laptops for business.
While the latest generation of this laptop is the 250 G10 series, you can get a bargain in the 250 G9 or older models. The HP 250 G9 offers up to Core Processors up to Intel Core i7. However, the more affordable models with the best value will offer a Core i3 processor.
The 250 G9 also comes with a touch of AI with CoPilot in Windows 11. Price starts at $399.99. In Nigeria, the HP 250 G8, 250 G9, and 250 G10 starts at ₦435,000, ₦495,000 and ₦592,000 respectively.
4. Dell Inspiron 15
The Dell Inspiron 15 series is where you will find some of the best cheap laptops from Dell. Some of the best bargain laptops from Dell offer 12th-generation Intel Core processors with Windows 11, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD.
The display size of the laptop is as evident from the name, measuring 15.6 inches with full HD resolution. This offers a brilliant and sharp view for browsing the web and watching movies.
Depending on where you are getting yours from, you should also be getting a 1-year warranty package with the laptop. This a good general-purpose laptop that comes with all the essentials. Price starts at $249.99. In Nigeria, the price of the Dell Inspiron 15 starts at around ₦550,000.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad 1i (15-inch, Intel)
Making the list for the second time is Lenovo, and this time, they do so with the 15-inch version of the IdeaPad 1i. This unit offers more power and performance than the 14-inch model.
This is because you can get 12th generation Intel Core processors on this series. You also get 8GB of RAM, and internal storage having up to 512GB SSD.
The 15.6-inch display offers full HD resolution with enough room to get your work done or just to enjoy your movies and entertainment.
6. HP 240 G8
HP will always be that brand that knows how to treat every market – starting from the high end to the entry-level – just right. The 8th generation of the 240 laptop family is on good place to start.
Though the HP 240 has an option for 4GB RAM, I will advise you to start with the model that offers 8GB of RAM paired with an internal storage space of 256 GB. This configuration starts at around 420,000 Naira in Nigeria with 11th Generation Intel Core i3 and FreeDOS, which makes it well-placed in our listing of the best cheap laptops.
HP 240 G8 comes with a 15.6-inch display and Intel UHD Graphics 630 card, and ships with Windows 10 software.
The HP 240 is targeted at the business crowd. So, if you are buying a laptop for the office or a laptop for both work and play, the HP 240 is a good buy. This is one of the best cheap laptops for Business.
Note that while the latest generation model is the HP 240 G10, you can get a bargain by buying an older generation model like the HP 240 G8, G9, G7, etc. The major difference is that newer generation models come with newer, faster, and more efficient processors, which could mean longer battery life and improved user experience.
You may also be interested in the Best Laptops for Business and Personal Use.
7. HP Stream Laptop
The HP Stream series is targeted at users in the education sector making them great for students. They run on Intel Celeron processors and come in 11-inch and 14-inch variety. It is one of the best cheap laptops for students on a very tight budget.
Need a laptop for typing those assignments and term papers, the HP Stream 14 or the smaller and lighter HP Stream 11, and HP Stream 11 Pro will be good buys.
The laptop runs on Windows 10 with options for 2GB RAM and 4GB RAM (both below 200,000 Naira). The downside of this laptop is its low storage capacity with only 32GB and 64GB as options, but you could get an external drive to augment it.
Where to Buy Laptops
Amazon.com – See Offers
That is our lineup of cheap best laptops you can buy right now. Note that these laptops have limited capabilities and will not be recommended for high-performance tasks as is required in graphic design, software development, simulation, CAD, etc. Have a good laptop under $500 or 650,000 Naira that you think should be on this list, share it with us via our social media pages.
