Best laptops under $500: Affordable picks that will satisfy your needs

You don’t have to drop $1,000 to get a laptop that can handle everyday computing, you know. That said, spending $500 wisely matters here. At this price, some laptops make reasonable compromises while others cut way too many corners. For most folks, I’d recommend opting for a laptop with a 1080p display and at least 8GB of RAM (16GB is always better if you can swing it).