Gadget Gaming Laptop

Best Gaming Laptop Under 500

Written by Henry Jackson

Best gaming laptop under 500 sounds imaginary right? Well, for the most part, it should be because games of the modern world have become more and more advanced therefore, sometimes the mediocre technology that an average person possesses does not have the ability to pull the best of the gaming experience.

The reason is that modern games require a powerful machine with high resolution to ensure smooth visual display and fast refresh rate so that the games do not feel laggy and all the actions are synced. The other major specs are that a good gaming laptop needs an advanced graphics card and CPU to make sure the system picks up every aspect of the game.

However, we can not deny the fact that laptop companies are aware of the money problems that an average game lover faces when they plan to buy a gaming laptop. Therefore, many high-end companies are trying their best to put most of the required latest specs in relatively cheaper options.

Therefore, you will we many cheaper gaming options in the market that can not be the ultimate gaming gadgets yet still provide an excellent experience to gamers. Below are the best gaming laptops under $500 that can bring joy to your passionate gaming desk with no additional economic strain.

1.    Acer Aspire 5 Slim

Acer Aspire 5 Slim is our first choice for a great option with an affordable price for gaming. The exciting specs of the laptop are as follows.

Best Gaming Laptop Under 500
1.: Acer Aspire 5 Slim
  • Display: 15.6 FHD
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 3 3350U
  • GPU: Radeon Vega 6
  •  Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Ports: USB-A, HDMI, UBS-C
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.1, WiFi 6
  • Dimensions: 14.31*9.74*0.71 inches
  • Weight: 3.97 Pounds

Even though Acer Aspire 5 Slim is not very expensive, it does have some exclusive features. Especially the AMD Ryzen 3 3350U quad-core processor and a Radeon Vega 6  integrated Graphics. Due to these two specs, the laptop is a good multitasking machine and an incredible presenter of game graphics.

The 8 GB RAM which you can increase to 12 GB by paying a little more will let you open a dozen tabs and when paired with a storage of 256 GB, the games load pretty well.

The display is also remarkable with a wide 15.6-inch FHD IPS screen that lets the gaming visuals flow effortlessly and gives a very good 82.58% screen-to-body 16:9 aspect ratio.

With plenty of port options, including a USB type-A gen 1/ 2, USB type-C 3.2 gen1, and an HDMI 1.4b, it is a full package to connect external hardware or game consoles.

Although Acer Aspire 5 Slim is enough for casual gaming, still if you want a more high-end configuration and have more money to spend, you can go for 12GB RAM/1TB SSD, 20GB RAM/ 1 TB SSD, or learn about more options on the official website of the company.

2.   HP Pavilion 15

HP Pavilion 15 is another laptop that made it to our list of best under 500$. This laptop is available with a good amount of specs including the following.

Best Gaming Laptop Under 500
1.1 :HP Pavilion 15
  • Display: 15.6 FHD
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen
  • GPU: AMD Radeon
  •  Storage: 512GB SSD
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi 802.11a
  • Dimensions: 14.11*9.53*0.78 inches
  • Weight: 3.7 Pounds

A good option for casual gamers with reasonable specs. The first thing you will notice while unboxing the laptop is its plastic yet sturdy build. The laptop screen also fits well in an 82% screen-to-body ratio and has a 1920*1080 micro-edge panel. The games look pretty sharp on the screen with a great pixel density and the 15-inch screen looks wide enough because it does not have an overwhelming bezel.

The hp gaming laptop has a refresh rate of 60 Hz which gives a bit of ghosting while high-end games are running still, if you are planning on cheap options, you must compromise a little on quality. However, if you are into very competitive gaming we suggest the sibling model with a 144 Hz refresh rate.

The configuration that costs less than 500 has an AMD Rzyen CPU, 16 GM RAM in 759$, and AMD Radeon Graphics which renders a reasonable speed, impactful graphic experience, and multitasking to the table.

Moreover, the 512 GB SSD hard drive seems fairly snappy to launch systems. HP Pavillon 5 is the best overall laptop for most AAA games so you can spend the money without hesitation.

3.  Dell Inspiron 15

Dell Inspiron 15 also happens to be a gamer’s choice for best gaming laptop under 500. The compelling specs of the laptop are as follows.

Dell Inspiron 15
2.1 : Dell Inspiron 15
  • Display: 15.6 FHD
  • CPU: Intel i3-1115G4
  • GPU: Intel UHD
  •  Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Ports: USB-A, HDMI, SD card
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi
  • Dimensions: 14.11*9.27*0.74 inches
  • Weight: 3.82 Pounds

We really admire the build of the laptop with an expensive look and and narrow bezel which makes the screen look even wider. The 15.6-inch screen also comes with an ergonomically fitting angle to make sure you are comfortable while playing games.

Dell gaming laptop is an excellent choice for routine use and enetry level gaming. Obviously, it is a cheaper option so you can not expect a very high-end performance with some next-generation games but other video games such as Rocket League go well here.

Dell Inspiron 15 has an Intel Core i3 processor and a UHD graphics card which performs well for routine gaming. The 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD ensure to launch systems fast and perfect multitasking.

Dell gaming laptop is also abundant with USB-A ports but we would like it to have a USB type-C port as included in most of the other competitors.

4.  Lenovo IdeaPad 3i

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i is just great for making your gaming session more exciting with its fantastic line of specs that includes.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
3.1 : Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
  • Display: 15.6 FHD
  • CPU: Intel i3-1115G4
  • GPU: Intel Iris Xe
  •  Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Ports: USB-A, HDMI, SD card
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi 5
  • Dimensions: 14.26*9.98*0.78 inches
  • Weight: 3.75 Pounds

You can not get the pro level of gaming performance from Idealpad 3i but the engaging routine gaming is certainly at your disposal. This laptop Has a 15.6-inch Full HD LED Display with a narrow body that shines the visual presentation on the screen. The colors and brightness come out sharp and vivid so you do not have to worry much about the graphical performance.

Moreover, getting an Intel 13 processor and Iris Xe graphics gives justice to the price it comes with and provides a good form of gaming. You can play most AAA games on this system and can have a pack of USB A ports.

The 8 GB RAM is rather standard in most gaming laptops at this price range but it works well when you want to open a dozen tabs without expecting much heat. The 512 GB SSD is yet another spec that makes Lenovo IdeaPad 3i snappy to launch and load most games.

Lastly, the battery timing of the 45 Wh battery is not poor as it gets you through the full day if you are working on docs, watching, and scrolling around with Spotify playing your favorite music. However, you can not get a full day of battery life with constant gaming as it’s something that even the most expensive gaming gadgets can not offer.

5.  ASUS Vivobook 15

Lastly, we have ASUS Vivobook 15 which doubles as a gaming and video editing laptop. The amazing specs of the laptop are well established to handle most of the load.

Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
4.1 : Lenovo IdeaPad 3i
  • Display: 15.6 FHD
  • CPU: Intel i3-10054G1
  • GPU: Intel UHD
  •  Storage: 128 GB SSD
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Ports: USB-A, HDMI, microSD card, USB C
  • Connectivity: Bluetooth, WiFi
  • Dimensions: 14.1*9.1*0.78 inches
  • Weight: 3.75 Pounds

First the build of asus gaming laptop seemed pretty classic with slate gray finish and a backlit keyboar. Most of the users will enjoy working, editing and gaming on this piece of equipment.

Secondly, the 15.6 Full HD display is pretty impressive with a 88% screen to body ration which makes it wide and sharp. The colors pop out just fine of the dispaly so you can enjoy everything.

The Performance of the Asus gaming laptop is good as a mid level device. You will get a i3-1005G1 processor and a Intel UHD graphics which works well for routine gaming and low level editing. The touchpad and USB type C adds a little advance touch to the specs so you can make the most out of this device.

Lasty, The 8 GB RAM is just perfect for all kind of browsing and multitasking but the 128 GB SSD is a little low when compare to other laptops of similar price. However, the systems and most video games load just fine.

The Best Gaming Laptop Under $500 in 2022 by @ZachsTechTurf

Final Analysis

Every laptop we listed above can give a remarkable experience when it comes to day to day gaming. Obviously, you can not get a very high end performance with these devices, still they are the best laptop for gaming under 500$ that can be your reasonable gaming partners.

However, if you are a pro gamera and like more constant gaming, you can spend a little more money to get your hands on exclusive gadgets for utmost performance.   

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Henry Jackson

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