When looking for a laptop within a limited budget — below $500 — it’s essential to be mindful of your purchase.

In the competitive realm of laptops, the saying often holds true: you receive what you pay for. Opting for a low-cost laptop solely due to its price can lead to unfortunate consequences. An uninformed decision may result in a sluggish, outdated machine that creates more problems than it addresses. Mashable routinely evaluates budget laptops, yet for those capped at $500, some options may remain out of reach. Luckily, we suggest a range of computers that align with your financial plan.

A brief overview of laptop pricing

You can find a budget Chromebook for as low as $100, while our top gaming laptop exceeds $3,000. In our comprehensive guide to excellent laptops, you’ll discover devices spanning a broad price spectrum. With a limit of $500, Ultrabooks, MacBooks, and the majority of gaming laptops might be unattainable.

Generally, laptops can be classified into these categories:

• Chromebooks ($100 to $650): These devices feature limited storage and are tailored for web-based applications. They are lightweight, portable, and economical. Cloud-gaming Chromebooks provide an alternative to traditional gaming laptops.

• Budget laptops ($250 to $750): While the finest budget laptops won’t boast high-end specifications, they should have adequate RAM and storage to handle typical daily tasks at school or work.

• MacBooks ($850 to $3,500): The most affordable MacBook (the M4 MacBook Air) retails at $999 full price (or $850 when discounted), whereas a fully equipped <