BEST OVERALL

Best Overall Laptop Under £500

ASUS VivoBook Go 15

From £389.99

Who this is for: Anyone looking for a reliable everyday Windows laptop under £500.

Why we like it: Strong everyday performance, 512GB SSD, Full HD screen, and very good value.

We're keeping this as the best overall pick because it still offers the strongest balance of value and everyday usability. With a Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB NVMe SSD, Full HD screen, and Windows 11 Home, it remains a safe all-round choice for most buyers.

• AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
• 8GB LPDDR5 RAM
• 512GB NVMe SSD
• 15.6" Full HD display

Best for: overall value, everyday use, home working

BEST 2-IN-1

Best 2-in-1 Laptop Under £500

Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14

From £279

Who this is for: Buyers who want a flexible 2-in-1 for light, everyday tasks.

Why we like it: Convertible design, compact 14 inch size, and a more flexible format than a standard laptop.

If flexibility matters more than raw power, this is a useful addition to this week's picks. The 2-in-1 design makes it more versatile than a standard laptop, especially for lighter day to day use, study, and casual browsing.

• Intel N100 processor
• 4GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 14" 2-in-1 design

Best for: light use, flexibility, casual everyday tasks

BEST FOR WORK

Best for Work and Big Screen Use

HP OmniBook 5 16

Currently £449

Who this is for: Buyers who want a larger-screen laptop for work, browsing, and everyday productivity.

Why we like it: 16 inch screen, 512GB storage, and a more comfortable setup for everyday work.

This is a strong option if you want a larger display and a more traditional productivity setup. With 8GB RAM and 512GB storage, it offers a better all-round work balance than many entry-level models in this price range.

• Intel i3 processor
• 8GB RAM
• 512GB storage
• 16" display

Best for: work, browsing, larger screen comfort

BEST CHROMEBOOK PLUS

Best Chromebook Plus Option

Acer Chromebook Plus 516

Currently £389

Who this is for: Users who mainly work online and want a more premium Chromebook-style experience.

Why we like it: Bigger 16 inch screen, 8GB RAM, and a more modern Chromebook Plus positioning.

This is the more premium Chromebook-style option in the group. If you mainly work in a browser and want something cleaner and more modern than a basic entry Chromebook, this is the more interesting pick.

• Intel i3 processor
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 16" Chromebook Plus

Best for: web-based work, ChromeOS users, bigger Chromebook screen

BEST BUDGET CHROMEBOOK

Best Budget Chromebook

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook

From £179

Who this is for: Budget-conscious buyers who want a simple laptop for web use, email, and study.

Why we like it: Covers the basics well, 8GB RAM, and a simple lower-cost Chromebook option.

This remains a useful lower-cost option for basic browsing, email, and lighter study use. It is not the most powerful model here, but it still covers buyers who want a simple Chromebook at a lower spend.

• Intel N6000
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB storage
• 15.6" Chromebook

Best for: budget buyers, students, basic web use

What is the best laptop under £500 this week?

The ASUS VivoBook Go 15 remains the strongest all-round pick this week because it combines a Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and a Full HD display at a very competitive price point.

Should I choose a Chromebook or a Windows laptop?

A Chromebook is better for lighter web-based use, while a Windows laptop is usually the safer choice if you want more software flexibility or broader everyday compatibility.

Is 8GB RAM enough for a laptop under £500?

Yes, for many users 8GB RAM is still enough for browsing, email, streaming, and everyday tasks. If you do heavier multitasking, it is worth looking for 16GB where possible.

What matters most in a budget laptop?

For most buyers, the best budget laptop is the one that matches their actual use case rather than the one with the most eye-catching headline spec.