The best laptops under $500 that we'd actually buy

Who it's for:

If you don't mind giving up some of the functionality of a proper laptop and are willing to sacrifice a large amount of storage space, the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 will probably be a good match for you. Chromebooks are great at what they're meant to do: Handling simple tasks like web browsing, streaming, and document editing with minimal fuss and impressive speed. If that's all you need, definitely give this zippy productivity machine your consideration.

Why we picked this:

While we haven't personally gotten our hands on the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 yet, our friends over at PCMag (owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) have, and they thoroughly enjoyed their time with the budget laptop.

Asus Chromebooks just keep getting better, especially with the improved specs of their "Plus" line of devices. The Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 is a great example of those recent strides, featuring speedy and responsive performance (and much more) at just $399. Even aside from processing power, the experts at PCMag also noted the laptop's display, durability, and port selection as high points in their review.

The CX34 comes with a 14-inch, Full HD NanoEdge anti-glare display that looks as vibrant as the screens you'd find in more expensive models. Unfortunately, it doesn't have touch capability, but that may be something you're willing to sacrifice considering the low price of admission. The device's build quality is impressive and even features an antimicrobial guard to help keep your computer sanitary — a bonus that we didn't even know we wanted. You'll also get access to Google AI features, noise cancellation, and video call enhancement tools that improve clarity and lighting.

As for the could-be-betters, PCMag reviewers said that the battery life was OK, but not as great as similarly priced budget laptops. They also didn't love the UFS storage, which is usually reserved for smaller devices like mobile phones, calling it merely "adequate."

Who it's for:

Gaming Chromebooks are an interesting type of laptop to tackle because they aren't exactly what you'd think of when you hear the words "gaming laptop." In fact, they're in a category of their own — gaming Chromebooks are pretty much solely used for cloud gaming, as they don't have the specs to run performance-heavy games or software natively. The tradeoff, though, is that you can get one for a great price.

Case in point: The Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16. This laptop is a fantastic value at just $429 if you don't mind using it only for cloud gaming in addition to regular web browsing and streaming.

Why we picked this:

During our testing, we had no issues booting up Xbox Game Pass and hopping into games like Starfield and Sea of Thieves (they ran decently well, too). Controller setup was quick and painless via speedy Bluetooth connection. Besides its cloud gaming capabilities, the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming Chromebook 16 also made a good impression with its keyboard, which feels really nice to type on and build quality that hardly feels budget-level. The display isn't anything to write home about, but it's not bad either. We appreciated the 120Hz refresh rate, but we wished the max brightness was just a little bit brighter.

Battery life is about average for a Chromebook, which is to say that it's pretty darn good. During testing, we got about 10.5 hours out of the device before needing to recharge. The Chromebook's bonus perks sweeten the overall package, which includes three months of YouTube Premium, a year's worth of Google One cloud storage, and a month of access to Boosteroid.

As for cons, there aren't many, and it's hard to harp on them when you're getting such a stellar value. They really come down to the audio features — at max volume, the speakers sounded a bit tinny and lacked depth overall. The microphone isn't a strong point, either, and didn't sound very good on the other end of voice calls. And like we said, it's not a full-on powerhouse gaming laptop, but as long as you know what you're getting (a cloud gaming machine), you can't beat that price.

Who it's for:

If you're looking for a budget 2-in-1 laptop that doesn't sacrifice much in the way of specs, the Acer Chromebook Spin 514 is a great option, whether you're need a device for school, work, or your regular web surfing and streaming. Our friends over at PCMag are big fans of the Chromebook Spin 514, citing its AMD Ryzen processor, battery life, build quality, and overall value for your money as highlights.

Why we picked this:

AMD's Ryzen line of CPUs is no joke — more often than not, they're used to power high-end gaming rigs, so you can imagine the amount of processing power you'll get out of it when it's housed in a budget-level Chromebook. On top of speed and power, the Spin 514 also impresses in the battery life department, offering about 13 hours of use on a single charge. Don't think that this Chromebook is cheaply made just because it's inexpensive, by the way. The quality of its construction is actually really great for the price, so you won't have to worry about accidentally snapping it in half when converting between its two modes (yes, it's a 2-in-1, so you're getting a laptop and a tablet for under $500).

Just note that the computer doesn't come with a stylus, and you're not getting the best storage format (eMMC versus the usual SSD you'd find in a Chromebook).

Read Mashable's full review of the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch.

Who it's for:

The HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch is a budget laptop for those who prioritize visuals over everything else. This device's display is detailed, bright, vibrant, and a well-made match for those who like to watch entertainment on their computer, cloud game, or even edit photos and videos. The cool, quiet performance and additional Chromebook Plus software features make this deal an even sweeter one.

Why we picked this:

We're suckers for a good display, and the HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch has a great one. Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel reviewed the laptop for Mashable, calling the display "distractingly nice," and referring to it as her favorite feature that the Chromebook has to offer. "The colors are intense, with good contrast and rich blacks, and an anti-reflective panel preserves that quality at most viewing angles, even in direct sunlight," she wrote. "It also feels huge despite some moderately thick horizontal bezels. It really has no right looking as good as it does."

The pros don't end at the display, though. This HP Chromebook also boasts solid performance for a budget laptop and ran cool and quietly throughout our testing period. We also love the numerous Chromebook Plus software improvements, including File Sync, offline use, some AI-assisted settings, and Google Magic Eraser. You'll also find support for Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Express, and LumaFusion (you'll get a free three-month trial for both Adobe programs, as well as a one-time discount for LumaFusion when you purchase this Chromebook).

It's not a perfect Chromebook, though, as you'd probably expect with a $500 laptop. While we liked the device's metallic finish, we wish it was more durable — the outside scratched quite easily. The audio system is a bit muffled, and the quality of the webcam leaves a lot to be desired, but they aren't bad enough to be dealbreakers. We'd also appreciate a longer battery life, but seven hours isn't horrible (although it does fall under our standard eight hours for Chromebooks).