Refurbished laptop under $500 offer an affordable solution without breaking your bank. These cheap Windows laptops provide the essential features required for everyday tasks, making them ideal for budget-conscious buyers.
Many of these Windows laptops under $500 are researched and tested, ensuring that they deliver a blend of quality and value that’s hard to beat at this price point.
And if you’re wondering how to shop for a budget laptop, start by exploring our top picks with a range of decent models.
Used laptops in this category offer surprising performance for anyone who doesn’t want to spend more than $500 on a refurbished laptop. Giving you an opportunity to save without sacrificing on essential functionality.
Our Top Picks
1. Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: Best 15-inch Windows Refurbished Laptop
Specification
- Processor: Ryzen 3 7320U
- Weight: 3.6 Pounds
- Memory: 8GB
- Screen: 15-inch 1920 x 1080 non-touch
- Storage: 256 GB or 512 GB SSD
- Battery Life time: 11.5 hours
Why we like it: If you’re looking for a budget-friendly window laptop with a large 15-inch screen, Lenovo IdeaPad is the best option. With the recommended specs, it provides ample storage for your files and applications. This refurbished laptop boasts an 8GB memory, providing smooth multitasking capabilities, and a generous 15-inch display, perfect for immersive viewing. Though it lacks touch, its IPS display is ideal.
Weighing just 3.6 pounds, it balances portability with performance, ideal for work or travel. Plus, with an impressive 11.5-hour battery life, it can power through the day on a single charge. Equipped with a backlit keyboard, this laptop ensures comfortable typing in low-light settings, making it versatile for any environment.
The large trackpad provides precise control, enhancing navigation and productivity on the go. Also a reliable fingerprint reader offers quick, secure access, while a handy webcam cover adds extra privacy, letting users work or relax with peace of mind.
Where it falls short; However, this laptop has a few shortcomings, starting with its display, which lacks touch functionality—limiting interactivity for those who prefer it. Additionally, the color accuracy falls short, making it less ideal for tasks requiring precise, vibrant visuals. For users focused on media creation or design, this display might not meet their standards for color fidelity.
2. Asus Chromebook Plus Refurbished Laptop: Best friendly-budget
Specs To Look For:
- Processor: Intel Core i3-1215U
- Screen: 14-inch 1920 x 1080 non-touch
- Storage: 128 GB or 256 GB
- Memory: 8GB
- Battery Life: 10 hours
Why we like it: The ASUS Chromebook delivers impressive speed, allowing users to quickly navigate tasks and handle multitasking with ease. Its comfortable backlit keyboard enhances productivity, especially in dim lighting, ensuring a seamless typing experience. With a long battery life, this Chromebook refurbished laptop can power through a full day’s work or study session on a single charge. Plus, its lightweight and compact body make it effortlessly portable, ideal for users constantly on the move.
Shortcomings: The ASUS Chromebook Plus has a few limitations that may affect its versatility. The absence of touch input limits interactive functionality, which some users may find restrictive for modern workflows. Its 16:9 aspect ratio, though standard, isn’t always ideal for document-focused tasks or multitasking, making screen space feel somewhat cramped. Additionally, it lacks a 360-degree hinge, so users miss out on the flexibility of a tablet or tent mode, which many hybrid laptops now offer.
3. Acer Aspire 15.6” Full HD Laptop – 128GB Storage, Intel Core i3, Windows 11 S
Specs to look for:
- Display: 15.6″ 1080p Full HD IPS display
- Memory: 8GB LPDDR5
- Storage: 128GB
- Processor: Intel Core i3-N305 processor
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics
- Operating System: Windows 11 S
Why we like it: It has a 15.6-inch Full HD display that offers vibrant, accurate colors and crystal-clear clarity. The 1080p IPS technology delivers a smooth, wide viewing angle, ensuring that each scene pops with rich, true-to-life details.
With the Intel Core i3-N305 processor, experience seamless multitasking and quick load times, designed for both everyday and intensive tasks. Its efficiency maximises processing power without sacrificing battery life. Paired with 8GB of LPDDR5 memory, this refurbished laptop smoothly handles everything from office work to multimedia streaming.
In addition, Acer Aspire laptop runs on Windows 11 S, offering quick access to your files and essential apps. Ideal for students and professionals alike, it combines efficient storage with security-focused features that protect your data and privacy.
Shortcomings: While the Acer laptop offers great value, its 128GB storage may feel limited for users who frequently work with large files or media. However, this storage level is ideal for those prioritising cloud storage or external drives, keeping the laptop light and responsive.
4. Acer Aspire 15.6” Full HD IPS Display Slim Laptop – 128GB SSD, Ryzen 3, Backlit Keyboard
Specs To Look For:
- Display: 15.6” Full HD
- Memory: 8GB
- Storage: 128GB
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 3 7320U
- Graphics: Integrated
- Operating System: Windows 11 S
Why we like it: Acer’s 15.6-inch slim laptop combines elegance with impressive functionality, offering a seamless balance of style and power.
Featuring an AMD Ryzen 3 processor and 8GB of RAM, it delivers smooth multitasking and efficient performance. Whether you’re editing documents, browsing, or streaming, it provides reliable speed with a beautiful, sharp display.
With its TNR (Temporal Noise Reduction) technology, Acer’s HD front camera delivers clearer, sharper video calls with minimal noise. Also, its Wi-Fi 6 and 2×2 MU-MIMO technology ensure faster, more reliable connections for seamless online experiences.
Shortcomings: While Acer’s 15.6-inch laptop performs well for everyday tasks, the 128GB storage may feel limited for users with extensive files or software. Also, its integrated graphics card is less ideal for demanding gaming or intensive graphic work. The Windows 11 S operating system, while secure, restricts app downloads to the Microsoft Store, which may limit software options for some users.
how to shop for a budget laptop
There are several things you need to consider when choosing a laptop to buy. Here are factors we considered:
- Performance: Every user will look for a good performing laptop. We’ve listed our top picks performing laptops with quality features and advanced functions.
- Size: The size of a laptop will depend on its portability.If you’ll have to carry it around a 12 to 14-inch display is a good fit. For those who want to use at home or in an office, a 15-inch is ideal. People who will need to use it for gaming will get a big screen display of 17-inch and above.
- Battery life: Battery life is an important factor to consider. You may not be working at home or in an office throughout the day. We’ve listed laptops that last longer and recommend a battery life that may last up to 8 hours.
- Graphics: Most users prefer Intel HD Graphics. Creative artisans and gamers may need to install more software, it would be wise to check which graphics best fit their needs.
- Reviews: Customer reviews are essential when reviewing a product. We’ve considered customer reviews while picking the best laptops.