10 of The Best Laptops for Under £500
Laptops have overtaken desktop computers as best the way to work at home, at school or in the office. With a lightweight, sleek appearance, high-resolution screen and huge storage space, arming yourself with a great laptop is essential and easier than you might think.
Whilst you might benefit from high-end products or even brand name alone, there are plenty of incredible laptops on the market for under £500. These models still offer high-level specs without the price tag.
These lower-priced laptops may not provide you with the ultimate gaming experience you might gain from a specialist PC, but they will still help keep you productive and connected.
Today, we are listing our view of the top 10 best laptops currently on the market for under £500.
1. Asus Vivobook 15
With a whopping 512GB SSD, this laptop can not only hold all your most important documents but also boasts plenty of space for games, photos and film downloads. With a similar screen to the second-place Acer Aspire, this one only appears smaller due to the larger bezels that surround it. A powerful battery provides you with 10 hours of charge too, so you’ll never fall short during the workday.
Multiple ports mean when you do venture into the office, you can attach a larger monitor without requiring any adaptors or docks, helping to showcase your work and boost your productivity.
The speedy processor also means rapid functionality. Add the integrated webcam, and you have a fantastic all-round laptop to meet all your needs.
Expect to pay £480 at Asus
2. Acer Aspire 5
We love this laptop in the office. It boasts a fantastic battery life, so you can complete a working day on just one charge. You’ll get 9 hours of power from this model, meaning you can also work remotely without fear of missing an important video call.
This laptop has a 1080p screen, which is only sometimes let down by slightly lower quality graphics. There is a 128GB SSD for you to store all your presentations and documents, as well as a 15.6-inch screen to view them on. Factor in the ports that allow you to connect other devices, too, and this laptop will tick all your boxes.
You can pick up an Acer Aspire 5 direct from Acer with a host of upgrade options available.
3. Lenovo Ideapad 5
Lenovo products tend to be a popular school or workplace range of choice, with a large list of models available. Sturdy but not too heavy, this particular model fares well both at home and in the classroom. With an HDMI output, USB-C connector, SD card slot and 2 USB ports, the connectivity options with this laptop are huge. Great for work and play, this is probably one of Lenovo’s best for multi-purpose use. 10 hours of battery, a fingerprint reader for added security and decent memory all add to its advantages. Our only negative would perhaps be the sound quality.
With some models available for as little as £399 it is a bargain!
4. Acer Swift 1
Acer makes another appearance on our list and this time with one of the lightest laptops on the market for its price point. Running with an Intel Pentium Silver N6000 CPU, this workplace wonder weighs just 1.3kg. It incorporates a full HD screen and utilises a long battery, although neither can be optimized for gaming or video editing due to the relatively basic internal hardware. Available with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB storage, for day-to-day work, the Acer Swift 1 is a great, take-me-anywhere laptop.
Acer have them available from as little as £349.99
5. HP Stream 14
The HP stream models have long been popular, and the 14 is no different. A 1080p 14-inch screen offers a clear and concise display, whilst the inbuilt slots for SD cards make file transfer from non-USB devices simple. A built-in webcam makes your home working video calls smooth and seamless, whilst the 1-year subscription to Office 365 gives you access to the full Microsoft family of products, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more.
This popular HP model will cost you an incredibly low £259!
6. Dell Inspiron 15 3000
Its slightly basic finish is more than compensated for with its healthy 8.5-hour battery life and 256 GB SSD. The vibrant screen also gives you HD quality streaming. The robust battery life means that negotiating spreadsheets and presentations is an easy remote working option.
Built-in with Dell Mobile Connect, this laptop can be linked to your phone, so you never miss a call or message.
This incredible Dell can be yours for as little as £289 on certain specs and as high as £499 on others
7. Asus Vivobook Flip
The next of the Vivobook range featured in this list is a great option for creative types and illustrators, but it is certainly not limited to just these users. A 14-inch rotating screen has a 360-degree hinge that allows you to literally flip the screen and use the device, either as a laptop or a Windows tablet. Impressive specs make for a versatile device that’ll prove popular for all elements of the workplace. A 128GB SSD and 1-year Microsoft Office 365 subscription make for a great laptop. Add in the integrated webcam, and you have a great device ready for the workday. The only minor disadvantage of this model would be the slightly slower performance.
Currently, with £150 off RRP on the Asus website, this is a bargain at just £329
8. Microsoft Surface Go 2
A laptop list would not be complete without a Microsoft device, and the Surface models are extremely on-trend as well boasting great quality. On looks alone, Surface devices come across as premium, but without the high price tag. Factor in the incredible hardware and sturdy build, and you have a laptop that works perfectly for those in creative roles. Utilising touchscreen technology and incorporating a built-in HD camera, this laptop is compact and lightweight. It all makes for a perfect on-the-go laptop.
The only drawback – if you do lots of typing, you will need to buy the keyboard separately.
Starting from as little as £299 you can pick up this stunning piece of kit from Microsoft now!
9. Acer Aspire 3
The Aspire 3 is the best of our models for storage, boasting a tremendous 1 TB hard drive. Unfortunately, its battery power means you will need to be using a robust power bank or be connected to the mains to keep going throughout the day. It won’t run as fast as other laptops, but it does allow you to complete standard work tasks with ease. It also won’t handle a gaming environment very well should you wish to unwind after work, but for casual tasking and storing your documents, this is a great option. Factor in the 15.6 inch HD screen and this isn’t a bad option at all for slightly more limited use.
Available direct from Acer for just £499
10. Asus C433 Chromebook
The Chromebook strays away a little from the traditional laptop, but this model from Asus is great for online working.
A stylish appearance, compatible with Android apps and with a respectable 64 GB SSD, working with your team from home has never been simpler. The display can completely flip, so this device can be used as a tablet or laptop. In addition, a 14-inch screen means that visuals can be accessed with the greatest of ease. As long as you keep in mind that the popular programmes on this device are mobile rather than desktop versions, you should have no problem navigating your way around this system.
This Asus is a great little item and comes in at around £329
Like what you see? These are our favourite laptops that will facilitate you working remotely and in the office.
Also, don’t forget that we supply hyperfast broadband, meaning that work, gaming, streaming, and shopping can all be done much quicker than before. With speeds of up to 900 Mbps, contact us today to see how we can make your home a digital home.