You have set a budget of $500 for buying a cheap gaming laptop? We are here to discover the best gaming laptop under this price range. With a budget of 500 dollars, you can get balanced hardware and good battery life. The most important component for a gaming laptop is a dedicated graphics card, which is impossible in this price range. All of the laptops arrive with an integrated GPU. We have also covered Best Cheap Prebuilt Gaming PC under $500 if you want a PC build. The PC counterpart can provide you with a dedicated GPU and other powerful components. But you have to negotiate with mobility.
Typical gaming laptops do cost more than that. But if you are a casual gamer, this budget is okay. But don’t expect high-end performance and most of the AAA titles are almost unplayable. Besides, if you are approaching with general-purpose, you are good to go with this price. In this article, we will try to find out the best gaming laptops under 500, and this is literally a tough job. But we have tried our best to find you a cheap gaming laptop. So, without any further delay, let’s get started!
Recommended: Best Laptops Under $500
Compare Best Gaming Laptops under 500 dollars
This section compared the top 3 gaming laptops named Acer Swift 3, Acer Aspire 3, and Lenovo Ideapad 3, respectively. All of them, Acer Swift 3 is our primary recommendation with the most powerful Ryzen 5 4500U chipset followed by Acer Aspire 3 with 10th generation i5 processer.
You can also consider Ideapad 3, which arrives with a slightly older Ryzen 5 3500 processor. All three laptops are loaded with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage. These laptops accumulate 15.6-inch Full HD panels at the front. Let’s check out a quick comparison between the top 3 laptops:
Best Cheap Gaming Laptops under $500 in 2025
Here is the list of best gaming laptops available for under 500 dollars, which can buy in 2025:
1 Acer Swift 3 – Overall Best Gaming Laptop under 500
Acer Swift series is our first choice for the best gaming laptops under $500. The Acer Swift 3 belonging to the same series is a power-packed device bringing AMD Ryzen 5 4500U processor under the hood. This is a Hexa-core processor manufactured on 7nm FinFET technology, making it a perfect choice for gamers. The CPU can handle casual games at higher settings or high-end games at low to medium graphics. The CPU is integrated with AMD Radeon RX Vega 6 GPU, a competent graphics card for gaming.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 4500U
- Graphic: AMD Radeon RX Vega 6
- RAM: 8GB LPDDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
Moreover, the laptop adopts 8GB LPDDR4 RAM coupled with 256GB SSD storage. This is a good combination considering the budget segment. You can additionally use external storage if you want to store large files. The computer is made of a strong aluminum design and is lightweight weighing only 2.65lbs. The body construction is solid and durable. It further adds a backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor to enhance usability.
Besides, it features a 15.6-inch Full HD panel at the front, offering a traditional 60Hz refresh rate. All the basic connectivity ports are present on this device, and it supports WiFi 6 to make the connectivity more efficient and faster. The battery life is impressive either as it can last 6-8 hours in normal usage and 4-5 hours while gaming. Overall, it is a perfect device for gaming if your budget is limited to 500 dollars only.
2Acer Aspire 3 – Runner Up
Acer Aspire 3 is another powerful device suitable for gaming with a limited budget. With a price tag of fewer than 500 dollars, it offers great value with compelling hardware. The laptop boasts the latest 10th Generation Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor, clocking at a basic clock speed of 1.0GHz. But Intel’s Turbo Boost technology helps it go as high as 3.6GHz while performing demanding tasks. Undoubtedly, it is a potent processor to handle power-hungry games combined with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics G1 GPU.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Graphic: Intel UHD Graphics G1
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
The provided internal storage is up to 256GB offering a faster SSD coupled with 8GB of DDR4 RAM. It is worth noting that RAM is upgradable up to 12GB, which is a good thing to take care of heavy tasks such as gaming. There are appropriate I/O ports, such as 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 1xHDMI, 1x headphone jack, and a standard non-backlit keyboard with a 10-key number pad. The front side is surrounded by a 15.6-inch Full HD display at 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.
Further, it comes with Stereo speakers to produce adequate sound output. There are some drawbacks as it doesn’t offer an SD card reader and no optical drive. As far as gaming is concerned, it is a good combination to deliver an optimal gaming experience under the price tag of $500. Being a Windows machine, you can access all the advanced gaming features running on Windows 10 Home out of the box.
3Lenovo Ideapad 3 – Value for Money
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 is another cheap gaming-focused device with decent hardware loaded inside. It is powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U, which is the predecessor of the 4500U. But it can handle games pretty well. The chipset employs a quad-core CPU clocking at 2.1GHz, which can be overclocked to 3.7GHz using the Turbo Boost technology.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- Graphic: AMD Radeon Vega 8
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
There is no compromise made in graphics performance as it has integrated Radeon Vega 8 GPU running on eight cores structure. As you might be aware, the graphics card is crucial for smooth gameplay. Furthermore, it features a 14-inch Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution display with thick bezels. It is a good-looking computing machine, and a backlit keyboard makes it more user-friendly.
Speaking of the memory, it packs 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage. A webcam comes with a physical shutter to avoid security concerns and a fingerprint scanner for conventional single-tap unlocking. It has all the basic ports and connectivity ports, including WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.1. This could be an easy pick if you do casual multitasking and some light gaming. That is what you can expect from a laptop under $500.
4Acer Aspire 5 Slim – Best Selling Gaming Laptop
Acer Aspire 5 Slim is a widely popular device in the budget segment. Indeed, it is best selling laptop on Amazon with a rating of 4.6, which determines the popularity of this device. The good thing is that it can be used for gaming due to its compelling hardware. Hence, this machine can get you decent gameplay. If you love to play games, this is one of the best choices at the price of $500. It is also powered by the AMD Ryzen 5 3500U Quad-core Processor.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 3500U
- Graphic: AMD Radeon Vega 8
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
This is a powerful chip from AMD with up to 3.7GHz clock speed. It further integrates the AMD Radeon Vega 8 graphics card. The collective combination of hardware produces excellent performance. Plus, it packs 8GB DDR4 RAM and 256GB SSD storage. The memory alliance is good enough to escape any potential bottleneck. The laptop further appends a backlit keyboard with a durable design.
There is a 15.6-inch Full HD display at 1920 x 1080p resolution with decent viewing angles and clear visuals. The battery life is average, which can last for 3-4 hours. But that is the problem with most of the laptops under this price range. Moreover, the laptop is surrounded by a Webcam, which can be useful for video conferencing and live streaming. All in all, it is a durable gaming machine under 500 dollars and beats the expectations of a casual user.
5HP 15 – Best from HP
HP is a well-known laptop manufacturer, and this list won’t be completed without HP Laptop. The HP 15 is a budget-centric laptop available for under $500. This is powered by the AMD Ryzen 3 3200U processor, a dual-core chip offering base clock speed up to 2.6GHz and overclocked up to 3.6GHz. The chipset absolutely seems to be very well positioned for light gaming. On top of it, there is an integrated AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 GPU at 3200Mhz.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1368 x 768p HD
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 3200U
- Graphic: AMD Radeon RX Vega 3
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 256GB NVMe SSD
Both CPU and GPU deliver optimal performance, and you can easily run low-power-consuming games. In addition, the memory capacity is 8GB DDR4 coupled with 256GB of SSD storage. Thus, it is a good addition given the price range. However, the device is made of plastic, but, there shouldn’t be any problem with durability as the construction is very well maintained. As we know, HP is famous for producing durable laptops and no exception with this device either.
Moreover, a 15.6-inch panel is present at the front portion with a 1366 x 768p screen resolution. It would have been better if the company had provided a Full HD display. Another drawback of this laptop is that memory is not upgradeable, which means you have to bear only installed RAM. HP fans can definitely consider it with crossed fingers. There are batter options available in the market, but this is the best offering from HP.
6Asus Vivobook 5 – Stylish Design
Asus Vivobook arrives with a slim form factor and attractive-looking design as well as a decent pair of hardware. However, it is not as powerful as the above-mentioned laptops but sufficient for light gaming. You can also avoid this if you are a regular gamer. Speaking of the configurations, it houses a comparatively less powerful 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 CPU, a dual-core processor with a base clock speed of 1.2GHz, and a Turbo frequency of 3.4GHz.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p
- Processor: Intel Core i3-1005G1
- Graphic: Intel UHD G1
- RAM: 8GB DDR4
- Storage: 128GB NVMe M.2 SSD
The chipset is manufactured on a power-efficient 10nm processing node delivering an evenhanded performance. The integrated GPU is Intel UHD G1, which stands behind Radeon Vega 8 and Intel Iris Plus graphics. However, it is not a powerful gaming laptop, but games are playable with low to medium graphics. It further packs 8GB DDR4 RAM and 128GB of SSD storage. The front portion sports a 15.6-inch Full HD display with great viewing angles.
It has a sturdy design with an 88% screen-to-body ratio. The keyboard is also backlit, making it easy to use in dark conditions. the Windows 10 Home operates this device in S Mode. Unfortunately, it lacks the optical device, which is an uncommon feature most modern laptops avoid nowadays. Wrapping it up, this is even a more affordable gaming option under 500 dollars.
7Dell Inspiron 15 3593 – Best from Dell
If you are a dell fan, this is for you. However, it doesn’t match the criteria of a gaming laptop, but some games are playable. So, if you are hardcore games, batter to consider other laptops with more powerful gaming options. This laptop uses 10th Gen Intel Core i3-1005G1 combined with Intel UHD graphics. This chipset offers a dual-core CPU clocking at 1.2GHz, expandable to 3.4GHz in Turbo Boost mode.
No products found.
The good thing about this laptop is that it has enough space to store important files. Because it offers 256GB SSD storage, which can be upgraded with the provided M.2 slot. An 8GB of memory helps to process data efficiently. Speaking of the design, it is a typical dell look with a plastic body. Being a plastic design, it doesn’t seem that attractive, but it is durable. Additionally, the laptop runs on Windows 10 Home out of the box.
There is a 15.6-inch HD panel at 1366 x 768p resolution. Where most of the other laptops offer Full HD display, it lacks behind with HD panel. All the necessary connectivity ports are available. The company is also offering a Mousepad in the package. It weighs 4.85 lbs on the heavier side compared to the laptops in the same segment. This device is suggested to the particular audience that loves to use Dell laptops. Otherwise, there are much better options available mentioned above.
8HP 17 (renewed) – Optional
If you are fond of using HP laptops, HP 17 is there to serve you. It has the largest display and potent processor, the best combination for gaming under this price range. The laptop is a beast performer packed with an Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor and Intel UHD G1 graphics. There is a 17.3-inch Full HD display at 1920 x 1080p resolution. The bigger display means you have more space to access the content.
- Display: 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080p
- Processor: Intel Core i5-1035G1
- Graphic: Intel UHD G1
- RAM: 12GB DDR4
- Storage: 1TB SATA HDD
It offers more than enough storage of 1TB at the storage front, offering an HDD drive. Comparatively, HDD is slower storage compared to SSD. The RAM offering is 12GB, which will never let you feel the memory shortage while playing games. It runs on Windows 10 operating system, which is pre-installed, and a backlit keyboard gives more flexibility to use at night. There are necessary ports available and fast charging support to change this device rapidly.
However, it is not a brand new device, but an Amazon renewed machine. So, you have to compromise if you want great gaming performance. This could be an ideal gaming choice under $500 if you want a bigger display and strong performance. The only downside is that it is a used laptop but in acceptable condition. Because Amazon manages refurbishment, we should expect great quality control.
Buying Guide – Essential Things to Consider Buying a Gaming Laptop under $500
A Powerful Processor
The processor is a very crucial part you should give importance to buying a gaming laptop at any price range. Most high-end games require a powerful CPU in order to deliver a smooth game. With the price range of $500, you have limited options available, but still, you can get a decent processor. We recommend you to go for at least an i5 10th generation processor, which is suitable for lag-free gaming.
But if you are looking for an AMD chip, you should pick AMD Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7 chipsets. There is the latest 4000 series available if you can slightly stretch your budget. It provides flawless gaming and multi-tasking. I am pretty sure you won’t regret paying those extra bucks once you start using Ryzen 4000 series-powered gaming laptop.
Graphics Card
The Graphics card is another important part of any gaming laptop. If it is a dedicated one, it works like a charm to enhance the gaming performance. Unfortunately, no laptop under $500 offers a dedicated GPU. All of them rely on the integrated graphics card, which is good for casual gaming.
But AAA titles are nearly unplayable on these laptops. The budget laptops mostly rely on the CPU rather than the graphics card. If you have a heavy gamer, you should increase your budget to at least $700 to $800 for a decent laptop to fulfill the demand for intensified gaming. Altogether, it is recommended to pick a laptop with a powerful processor if you want to buy a decent gaming laptop for under 500 dollars.
RAM & Storage
The Random Acess Memory, AKA RAM, is another important component that helps to process data. It becomes essential to buy a laptop with more RAM. Most of the laptops under $500 offer 8GB RAM, which is sufficient to avoid any bottleneck. But you can look forward to more RAM if you are thinking of purchasing a laptop for a long time. With the evolution of the tech industry, usage of memory is increasing significantly.
Modern games consume more memory due to the imposition of heavy graphics. If there is an option available with more, you should prioritize it but don’t compromise with the processor. The storage helps to store data. We recommend going for at least 256GB, and it should be SSD, which offers a faster transfer rate. You can additionally buy an external drive to solve the problem of storage. Since the budget is minimal, most laptop manufacturers offer subordinate storage.
Frequently Asked Questions – (FAQ)
Is it essential to have a dedicated GPU for a gaming laptop?
Yes, a dedicated GPU is very important for heavy gaming. But if you are a casual gamer, integrated GPU is more than enough. Most high-end gaming laptops are expensive. Hence, if your budget is $500, you should rely on the CPU for gaming.
What is the best cheap gaming laptop?
There is no such thing exists as the “cheapest gaming laptop.” The more money you spend, the more powerful gaming laptop you will get! But if you are talking about value for money, Acer Aspire 3 could be a good choice. If you can slightly stretch your budget, Acer Swift 3 might offer a better value.
Can you use a gaming laptop for everyday use?
Yes, why not! All the mentioned laptops are pretty much proficient in handling day-to-day tasks. In fact, most of the mentioned laptops are designed for casual multitasking. Subsequently, you can do informal gaming on these laptops.
Conclusion – Which is the best gaming laptop under $500?
Given a minimal budget of $500, there are only a few options available that fit in the gaming category. Even those options offer conservative hardware, which is not sufficient for intensive gaming. But we have tried out best to find you the best gaming laptop for under 500 dollars. Hopefully, it will help you to make your decision. If you are still confused, we suggest you go for at least Acer Swift 3, which offers a very powerful Ryzen 5 4500U.
It slightly positions above 500 dollars, but those extra bucks are worth spending on a budget gaming laptop. But if you say you have a very tight budget, you can go for Acer Aspire 3 available under the suggested price range. It has the latest 10th generation i5 processor, which will help you with casual gaming. Apart from that, there are other options available, which can be considered for light gaming.
In conclusion, the suggested budget is not ideal for gaming. Either you can increase your budget, or you have to bear with casual gaming. But if you occasionally do gaming, you can pick the laptops mentioned above. Overall, you have to make the final decision. We have listed those devices which we find worthy of under $500. If you think we have missed a laptop that deserves to be a part of this list, you can definitely name it in the below comment section.
You May Also Read:
