Acer aspires 5:
This is the best pick under 500 dollars. It has the hardware specifications that can be upgraded to your requirements. However, if you are a university student or an office employee. You can work on the stock version and it will give you a smooth run. This will be available to you at a price point of under $400. With an 8th gen core-i3, 4GB RAM, and 128GB SSD. This will ensure that you can multitask while doing your projects and the CPU won't be sluggish. Lastly, it has a good battery life of 9 hours. So you will get a really good bargain with a good performance, high-quality display.
HP 15t:
Next on our list is the HP 15t. Available in just under $500, this is the most cost-efficient laptop you could get your hands on. It comes with a 10th gen core i5 processor and a 12GB RAM. With such a strong processor it can support some high-end games, sadly running them on the low graphic settings. It also has a preinstalled windows 10 and Intel UHD graphics with a high resolution. Hence it is a great choice for photo/ video editing. Lastly, it has a decent 7hr battery life and it is scratch-resistant, therefore making it excellent for daily use.
Acer Swift 3:
The next one on our list is the Acer Swift 3. It has a recommendable 14-inch display. It has a dual-core i3 processor and a 4GB RAM. It may not support heavy computer games but it provides decent speed for a modern laptop within this range. For offices and student usage, it is an exemplary system. You can find this system within $400, plus add in a few more dollars and you can even upgrade it to core i5.
Dell Inspiron 3593:
If you are in search of something sturdier because your life is always on the run. Dell's inspiring can be your best shot at a good investment. This is a system that is both sturdy on the outside and efficient on the inside. With a processor of
10-gen core i5, 8GB RAM and an Intel UHD graphics it can support heavy applications and computer games alike. You also get a battery life of up to 6hr and a storage of 256GB SSD. Thereby making it perfect for university students who work as graphic designers or just want to be able to play a less demanding game like FIFA 19 on your commute.
Dell Inspiron 3000:
Dell can be counted on to provide a sturdy laptop. This model falls in the same category, the outer body is made of plastic. However, the spec provided can compete with many sleek laptops. It comes with an Intel Core i5 quad-core processor and
8GB RAM. It also has a 1TB HDD that can support light photo and video editing. Meanwhile, it also has a good resolution of 1920x1080. But sadly all good things come with a cost, hence this laptop can give only up to 5hr battery time that is much lesser than any of our other options.
Lenovo idea pad S340:
If it is office work that needs to be done then the Lenovo idea pad S340 should be your selection. It is reminiscent of the other idea pad series in terms of appearances. However, it has a significant upgrade in its processing and configuration. It comes with a 10th gen Intel Core i5 quad-core processor, coupled with an 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. This, in particular, makes it a rather efficient and fast working system. It comes with a bit of disadvantage, its 14-inch full HD IPS display is not impressive at all. However, it has dual Dolby speakers that are great for watching movies and it gives up to 10hr battery time.
HP Pavilion x 360 15:
When it comes to 2 in 1 HP pavilion 15 should be your first choice. With sleek metal chassis, it provides just the right specs that are useful for college students, office usage, and Photoshop usage alike. It comes with a Core i3 dual-core processor coupled with 8GB RAM and 1TB HHD. Furthermore, it has integrated Intel UHD graphics that can support some old pc games as well as Photoshop programs. Overall you get an efficient processor with a high-resolution display in just $500.
HP Chromebook 15:
As far as 2 in 1 laptop go, the HP chrome-book 15 is your best bet. In just under $500 you get a sleek and modern looking laptop/tablet. With a processor of Intel core i3, 4GB RAM, and a storage of 128GB. This hybrid gives a rather good performance as compared to other chrome books. Along with a 15.6 inches display and a remarkable battery life of almost 10hrs. At an astonishing price of $470, you get a better than average 2 in 1 laptop.
Microsoft Surface Go:
If you are in search of a 2-in-1, the Microsoft Surface is a good option. Staying within the price range it offers a remarkable laptop and tablet experience. It may not support many heavy applications so it is a good choice for office and university usage. Furthermore, it has decent battery life. So it will come in handy when you need to put in some extra hours at the last moment. Later on, if you decide to upgrade to a heftier working system this laptop can easily be upgraded.
Acer Chromebook 13:
Looking for something a bit sleeker in appearance. Acer chrome-book 13 may be the one for you. You get a good 13.5inch display and a good performance without the processor heating up. It has an aluminum chassis. The drawbacks include; less than average battery life as compared to other chrome-books.
All in all, you can get a laptop under 500 dollars. Bear in mind that we are talking about laptops that are suitable for office and university work only. If that is the purpose of your purchase then go pick any of the above which is best suited to your needs. However, these laptops are not recommendable if you intend to play high-end games or tinker with video editing apps that require a heavy-duty processor.
