You can also find touchscreens and two-in-one designs that can be used as a tablet or a laptop - and a couple other positions in between. Higher-end components like Intel Core i-series and AMD Ryzen processors and premium design touches like thin-display bezels and aluminum or magnesium bodies have made their way to laptops priced between $500 and $1,000.
If you're shopping for a laptop around $500 or less, check out our top picks here, as well as more specific buying advice for that price range.
The good news is you can get a nice-looking, lightweight laptop with excellent battery life at prices under $500. Setting a budget is a good place to start when shopping for the best laptop for yourself.
