The 6 best laptops under $500: Back-to-school edition

If you're looking for a cloud-based Chromebook for writing papers, streaming movies, and logging into video lectures, then this Lenovo Chromebook will fit the bill. We tested a more specced-out version of this particular Chromebook, but a base configuration is on sale for back-to-school shoppers.

For the price, our product tester was impressed by the Flex 5i's premium aluminum components, design, and speakers. Our reviewer said, "I would've guessed this was a $1,000 laptop if I didn't already know it was $599." The 14-inch screen is large enough to enjoy movies and TV shows, but still small enough to fit in most backpacks.

Not only is it one of the best-performing Chromebooks Mashable has ever tested, but as a 2-in-1 convertible, it's also more versatile than many traditional laptops. This Chromebook also comes with access to Google AI, so you can get writing assistance, research help, and ask questions using the Gemini AI chatbot.

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.

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."

The Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is for those who want the smallest laptop possible, but without sacrificing too much in the power and battery departments — compared to other Chromebooks, at least. Add in two-in-one functionality, and you've got a budget device with spectacular value. If you tend to take your computer with you everywhere and don't need much more than a small task machine, this tiny tablet-laptop combo should fit nicely into your life (and backpack).

The Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is tiny. For some, maybe too tiny — but for those who take their laptop along for the ride with them most days, the more portable, the better. And that's exactly what this budget laptop is: A pint-sized device that's built to tackle small tasks efficiently, and throws in a two-in-one tablet mode as a nice bonus.

The laptop is quite chunky and durable for its size, which seems like it was the right way to go when it comes to design. If this laptop were thinner and lighter, it'd feel like it was going to break under the weight of your hands. Even with the bulkier chassis, the Acer Chromebook Spin 312 is still going to be able to fit just about any bag — the laptop's body and display come in at just 12.2 inches diagonally. The keyboard also feels heavy-duty and has great feedback, which makes for an enjoyable typing experience. As a cherry on top, the laptop can flip completely backwards to turn into a tablet with a kickstand. It can feel a little awkward to use at times, but overall, the experience is good thanks to the responsive touchscreen. The battery life is also a high point, coming in at almost 13 hours.

As with any budget laptop, you're going to have to make some concessions, but thankfully, they aren't too big with the Acer Chromebook Spin 312. Two of those concessions come in the form of the subpar webcam and speakers that look and sound grainy. The only other sacrifice you'll have to make is screen real estate — the display's bezels are a bit too large and take up more space than seemingly necessary.

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.

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.

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

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.

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).