The entry of the new Microsoft Surface laptop has pointed the spotlight at budget laptops. What exactly makes a laptop a budget laptop? The first thing on everyone's minds is the price. Of course, a budget laptop should be affordable. Microsoft seems to have misunderstood this concept when it made its first ever traditional laptop.
The Surface Laptop is impressive, don't get me wrong. What boggles the mind is that Microsoft claims the device targets students and the education-centric market though it is worth almost $1000, a price tag, not every student could afford. To be fair, the Surface Laptop is cheaper than the MacBook Pro. If you're looking for something really cheap, however, then you need to consider these 5 budget laptops worth under $500.
Asus F556UA-AB32
At $390, Lifewire considers the Asus F556UA-AB32 as the best over-all laptop under $500 and for good reason. The Asus laptop looks and feels good with its black matte finish. It is powered by Intel Core i3 with a clock speed of up to 2.3 GHz. It sports a 15.6-inchfull HD display and runs on Windows 10. It also comes with 4GB of RAM and an amazing 1TB of internal storage.
HP Pavilion x360
HP's $468 Pavilion x360 makes a good case for itself as the best over-all budget laptop. It comes at a smaller 13.3-inch display which may actually be a better fit for people on the move like budget-conscious students. The Pavilion x360 comes with the 6th-gen Intel Core i3 processor, 6GB of RAM, 500GB internal storage, Windows 10, and a chassis that allows it to turn a full 360 degrees to attain tablet mode.
Microsoft Surface 3
If the Surface Laptop's asking price is still a bit too steep, the Surface 3 is a logical alternative. It's very affordable at its original retail price of $499 though it sells for $350 at Amazon. Its main selling point is that it now has the full version of Windows OS, something that its predecessor did not have as CNET pointed out. The problem with the Surface 3 is its hidden expense. The 2-in-1 does not include a snap-on keyboard which is certainly a necessity. To complete the laptop experience, you need to dole out an additional $129.
HP Notebook 15
A Windows laptop for less than $300? HP made it possible with the Notebook 15. The budget laptop sports a 15.6-inch 1366 x 768 display, 4GB of RAM and 500GB internal storage. It's a bit on the heavy side at 4.74 pounds so it's better off as a home or work laptop.
Asus E402MA
If you can't believe how cheap the HP Notebook 15 is, you'll be astounded to know that this Asus laptop is worth only $199. The Asus E402MA has a 14-inch display with a 1366 x 768-pixel resolution, 2GB of RAM and only 32GB of internal storage. The specs are understandably less impressive than others but if you want a cheap laptop under $500 that can do the basic stuff, then the Asus E402MA fits the bill.
