Best laptops under $500: Best overall, best OLED laptop, and more

These laptops are ridiculously cheap, but still capable for tasks.

- ASHLEY BIANCUZZO

It’s important to be smart about your choices when buying a sub-$500 laptop, since, realistically, you will need to make some compromises. That doesn’t mean you can’t still get a great laptop on a budget. And believe it or not, there are actually upsides to less-expensive laptops— their low-powered processors mean you can expect good battery life, and Chromebooks are often less vulnerable to malware.

Within this budget range, Windows machines with Intel Core i3 or i5 processors or entry-level Chromebooks are the way to go. We have tested numerous inexpensive laptops and each one has its pros and cons, but those that stood out are included in this list. If you’re looking for something other than the standard clamshell design, we’ve included our favorite inexpensive tablet with a detachable keyboard as well as a convertible with a gorgeous OLED display.

If you can manage to stretch your budget a little bit further, check out our best laptops roundup (fave.co/3qL4oHf) for more suggestions. Alternatively, see our roundups of the best Chromebooks (fave.co/3HbcehN) or best gaming laptops (fave.co/3n3aNKv) for more picks in those areas.

With only a few weeks left of the back-to-school season, it’s time to take advantage of outstanding deals on laptops, MacBooks, tablets, and more. We’ll be highlighting the best bargains in our back-to-school deals (fave.co/3QZ4m7U).

BEST SUB-$500 LAPTOP OVERALL: ACER ASPIRE 5