Last Updated on February 19, 2018 by Tim
Choosing the right laptop can be troublesome especially if you are faced with almost similar hardware and features. While most people just for the looks, there is one thing to look for in a laptop and that is quality made by a reputable brand. Before buying a laptop, it is very important that you know what specifications you want, type, battery life and of course, your budget. So, here are the top 10 laptops you might want to consider buying.
Best Laptop Under $500
(2017 Edition)
1. Acer Aspire E5-571P
If you prefer a touchscreen laptop, then the Acer Aspire E5-571P might be your first choice. It has a 15.6 HD widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 and up to 10-finger multi-touch support. For the processor, it has the Core i5-4210U clocked at 1.7g GHz, 4GB of DDR3 Memory, 500GB of storage and runs on Windows 8. Other features include: 1 USB 3.0, 2 USB 2.0, HDMI and VGA output, Headphone output/Microphone input combo and LAN (10/100/1000). It also has a built-in SuperMulti DVD burner so you can create your own CD/DVD. Battery life is approximately 7 hours, enough power to quickly browse, watch movies and even play games.
2. Lenovo Thinkpad X140e
The Lenovo Thinkpad X140e is probably the most popular laptop for students and travelling businessmen, mainly because of its versatility and light weight. It is powered by an AMD APU A4-5000 Quad Core Processor clocked at 1.5GHz at 15 watts. The display is a 11.6″ HD WXGA (1366×768) LED Backlit, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 500GB 7200rpm Hard Disk Drive, Built-in HD 720p Webcam and runs on Windows 7 Professional. Because of its small form factor, this laptop has no Optical Drive. But you can always purchase an external USB Optical Drive just in case you feel the need to make backups on a DVD.
3. Dell Inspiron i3542-5000BK
Another decent laptop with a touchscreen display, the Dell Inspiron i3542-5000BK. Powered by a 4th Generation Intel Core i3-4030U Processor, considered to be one of the most power-efficient CPUs today. The display is a 15.6-inch touchscreen and other specifications include: 4GB of DDR3 Memory, 500Gb Hard Drive and an Optical Drive. The battery is long, so you won’t have to worry if you are using it while travelling. If you are looking for an affordable laptop, this might be the one for you.
4. HP 15-f111DX
The HP 15-f111DX is the most expensive on the list. If you’re into the performance benefits, then this might be the one for you. The CPU is an AMD Quad-Core A8-6410 APU Processor at 2.0GHz that can boost up to 2.4GHz. Other features include a 15.6-Inch Diagonal HD BrightView WLED-Backlit Touchscreen, 8GB of Memory, 750Gb of storage, SuperMulti DVD Burner, AMD Radeon HD 8210 Graphics and runs on Windows 8.1 64-bit. Because of its size, the product weighs about 7 pounds which can be troublesome for some users always carrying it around.
5. Dell i3542-6003BK
Another entry from Dell, the i3542-6003BK. Considered to be one of the most affordable laptops to date. The processor is a 4th Gen Intel Core i3-4030U with a 15.6-Inch Touchscreen display. Some features include: 4GB of DDR3 Memory, 500GB of storage, Multi-format DVD Drive, Built-in 1.0MP high-definition webcam with digital microphone and it runs on Windows 8.1. The weight is approximately 7.6 pounds which is a bit of a downside. But with an affordable laptop like this, you’ll be sure to make your money’s worth.
6. ASUS Transformer Book 12-Inch T200TA-C1-BL
If ever you want a unique-looking laptop, then the ASUS Transformer Book 12-Inch T200TA-C1-BL is the one for you. The screen is detachable which the unit itself can be used as a tablet. It has the Intel 64-Bit Quad Core 1.59GHz (Turbo up to 2.39GHz) processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB Solid-State for storage and includes a Keyboard Dock with USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 Port, and Ethernet Port, 2MP Webcam and 5MP Rear Camera. Battery life is rated up to 9 hours. With this type of laptop, you will have limited internal storage for your files, but you can always connect an external Hard Drive for your all your data storage.
7. Toshiba Satellite C55-B5287
Toshiba is also one of the best laptop manufacturers for a long time. With the Toshiba Satellite C55-B5287 you are guaranteed to get quality at an affordable price. The processor is a powerful yet power-efficient Intel Core i5-4210U clocked at 2.7 GHz. The display is a 15.6-Inch Screen coupled with Mobile Intel HD graphics, 4GB of Memory, 500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive, DVD SuperMulti drive supporting 11 formats and runs on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. This laptop only weighs 4.8 pounds which can be the best travelling companion to take with you
8. Asus Flip 2-in-1 15.6-Inch Touch-Screen Flip Book
Another unique laptop designed, the Asus Flip 2-in-1 15.6-Inch Touch-Screen Flip Book and an IceCool design keeps the palm rest comfortable. One distinctive feature of the laptop is that the screen can rotate 360 degrees. The display is 15.6″ HD 1366*768 resolution. The processor a Powerful 4th-generation Intel Core i3-4030U (1.9GHz) Haswell, with 6GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB 5400RPM Hard Drive and it runs on Windows 8.1. Other features include WiFi 802.11BGN, Bluetooth 4.0, Webam, USB 3.0 x 1, USB 2.0 x 2. Asus provides a 1 year International Warranty with 1 year Accidental Damage Protection.
9. Lenovo G50 80L000ALUS
Lenovo steps up its game with the G50 80L000ALUS. Packed with serious hardware and features, the G50 is a must for any traveler. The powerful and efficient 4th Gen Intel CoreTM i3-4030U processor featuring a 3MB cache and 1.9GHz processor speed coupled with Intel® HD graphics that provides extra graphics power. 15.6″ LED-backlit high-definition display with 1366 x 768 resolution, 4GB DDR3L memory, 1TB Serial ATA III hard drive (5400 rpm), and Multiformat DVD±RW/CD-RW drive. Microsoft Windows 8.1 operating system is preinstalled and a bonus upgrade to Windows 10 for free. For the price, its sure is a bargain.
10. Acer Chromebook 15 CB5-571-58HF
If you’re getting tired of using the Windows OS platform, then the Acer Chromebook 15 CB5-571-58HF is the one for you. It sports a 15.6-Inch Full HD Screen with Intel HD Graphics 5500, Intel Core i5-5200U 2.2 GHz (3 MB Cache), 4GB DDR3 Memory and 32 GB Solid-State Drive (SSD). Sadly there is no CD/DVD drive built-in. It is lightweight and compact. Battery is rated up to 9 hours of use. The Chromebook has Chrome OS preinstalled. With powerful specs, you will be confident to get things done on time.
