This write-up enlists and explains the details of the best gaming laptops under £500. Unfortunately, a budget as low as £500 is not sufficient for a gaming laptop that supports heavy gaming. But luckily, there are certain laptops that are available at a low price and will also offer you a decent casual gaming performance. So if you just want to play basic games, then you can choose any laptop from this list of the best gaming laptops under £500 to make your purchase worth the money.
All entry-level gaming laptops do not offer a lot of features. So you need to search for the gaming laptop that gives you the best value for the money you spend on it. We have done our research to bring forward to you the best gaming laptops under £500 from among the myriad of available options. These gaming laptops offer decent specs and performance and are available at a very budget-friendly price. Let’s read on and learn more about these gaming laptops.
You may also like to know about the Best Gaming Laptops under £1000.
Our Top 3 Recommendations
Asus Vivobook 15
The Asus Vivobook 15 is one of the best gaming laptops under £500. This gaming laptop will offer you a good gaming experience if you like to play games casually. It comes with a powerful processor and large RAM. The gaming laptop also offers you a lot of SSD storage space. The input devices offered on this gaming laptop including the keyboard, trackpad, ports and webcam are of appreciable quality. The build quality and design of this gaming laptop are also impressive.
MSI Modern 15
Offering a decent performance, the MSI Modern 15 is also one of the best gaming laptops under £500. This gaming laptop features a 12th Gen Intel i5 processor, 8GB RAM and Intel Iris Xe graphics which offer you a smooth performance and let you enjoy casual gaming. The build quality of this gaming laptop is very impressive. I like the backlit keyboard which is very convenient to use, the presence of useful ports and the decent battery backup offered on this gaming laptop.
Dell Inspiron 3525
Offering a high refresh rate, the Dell Inspiron 3525 is also a well-performing budget gaming laptop. It comes with the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor which offers a smooth performance. 8GB of RAM is provided on it which is sufficient for usual gaming. The gaming laptop comes with integrated graphics and the refresh rate of the display goes up to 120Hz which gives you a lag-free gaming experience. It comes with ample ports and it also has a fingerprint reader.
How we picked the best gaming laptops under £500
Choosing a low-budget gaming laptop may be tricky as most such gaming laptops do not offer you many features to support gaming. But there are certain features that you can check in an entry-level gaming laptop before purchase so that you get to experience a decent and enjoyable gaming experience, at least while playing casual games. Let’s know more about such features to help you pick the best gaming laptops under £500.
CPU and GPU:
Powerful CPUs offer smoother performance and when you are looking for great processors at a budget-friendly price, then you can choose processors from the Ryzen 5 or Intel i5 series. Entry-level gaming laptops usually do not feature dedicated GPU but they offer integrated GPU which will support basic gaming only.
RAM and Storage:
More RAM makes the gaming laptop perform quickly and lag-free. If you are on a budget, look for at least 8GB RAM for a fast gaming experience. The storage capacity mostly depends on your needs but a larger storage of SSD form is better as it helps in loading apps and games rapidly. 512GB SSD is recommended.
Display:
If the gaming laptop you purchase offers a good display quality, then you can surely have a more immersive gaming experience. Gaming laptops of this range usually offer a Full HD resolution for sharper images. The refresh rate of the display should also be taken care of as the higher the refresh rate less the changes of stuttering.
Other features:
The gaming laptop you purchase should offer a durable as well as lightweight build. It must come with a comfortable and responsive keyboard and touchpad. Look for the ports and slots that the gaming laptop offers. The gaming laptop should also offer an extended battery backup so that portability is not compromised.
These are the best gaming laptops under £500 in the UK
| Laptops | RAM | Storage | CPU | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asus Vivobook 15 | 8GB | 512GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 5-7520U | Current Price |
| MSI Modern 15 | 8GB | 512GB SSD | Intel i5 12th Gen | Current Price |
| Dell Inspiron 3525 | 8GB | 256GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U | Current Price |
| Huawei MateBook D 15 | 8GB | 256GB SSD | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U | Current Price |
1. Asus Vivobook 15
If you want a decent gaming performance from a budget laptop, then the Asus Vivobook 15 is one of the best gaming laptops under £500. On this gaming laptop, you get the AMD Ryzen 5-7520U processor which is a strong processor that can support casual gaming. 8GB RAM is offered which is enough to run most of the entry-level games lag-free. Unfortunately, we do not get dedicated graphics on this gaming laptop but that is too much to ask for an under £500 budget.
I can say that the overall quality of the display of this gaming laptop is okay. It offers Full HD resolution and comes with OLED technology. The display also offers eye-safety features for reducing eye strain. The picture quality is clear, however, the colours on the screen appear somewhat dull. Being amongst the cheap gaming laptops, I do not expect a low input lag or a high refresh rate and neither does the display offer us these specs. But it is still okay if you are just into casual gaming.
I like the build quality of this gaming laptop because it has an attractive look and is slim and lightweight. The display is lined by thin bezels on two sides and it can be laid back up to 180 degrees. You get a good-quality webcam on top of the display, the full-sized keyboard has an integrated fingerprint reader and the connectivity options are ample which include numerous ports and Wifi 6E. The battery backup of this gaming laptop is however disappointing. To sum up, I can say that the pros of this laptop certainly outnumber the cons and the features offered by it are definitely worth its price tag.
Pros:
- Offers a decent gaming performance.
- Numerous connectivity options.
- Lightweight build.
- Full-sized keyboard with a fingerprint reader.
Cons:
- Disappointing battery backup.
- Average display quality.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5-7520U |
| GPU: | Intel Integrated Graphics |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512GB SSD |
| Weight: | 1.8 kg |
2. MSI Modern 15
The next budget-friendly gaming laptop on our list is the MSI Modern 15. Enough features are offered on this gaming laptop that makes it a good choice and our recommendation for casual gaming. The build quality of this gaming is durable. It is made out of plastic but gets a metal finish. The display is lined by thin bezels from the sides and its hinges allow it to lay flat. All useful ports are incorporated into this gaming laptop which include USB-A, USB-C, MicroSD, and HDMI.
The keyboard of this gaming laptop is spacious and the keys have a low travel distance. You get single-coloured backlights on the keyboard for which the brightness can be adjusted. The trackpad also works fine but a fingerprint sensor is not provided. A Full HD display is offered which delivers a clear picture quality and the colour reproduction is also impressive. It has a matte finish and the viewing angles are also wide so the display is easily visible in different lighting conditions.
If we talk about the performance of this gaming laptop, you will get a smooth performance for entry-level gaming. The Intel Core i5 12th Gen processor coupled with 8GB RAM lets you have an enjoyable gaming experience. You also get Intel Iris Xe graphics on this gaming laptop which makes the picture quality look more lively. Sufficient storage in SSD form is offered which enables you to store a good amount of data on this gaming laptop without compromising speed.
Pros:
- Performs well.
- Great build quality.
- Decent battery backup.
- Backlit keyboard.
Cons:
- Lacks a fingerprint reader.
- No Thunderbolt.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | Intel Core i5-1235U |
| GPU: | Intel Iris XE |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 512 GB SSD |
| Weight: | 3.18 kg |
3. Dell Inspiron 3525
On our list of the best gaming laptops under £500, we next put the Dell Inspiron 3525. This gaming laptop looks quite basic but it does come equipped with certain features that make it a great option for usual gaming. This gaming laptop gets the AMD Ryzen 5 5500U processor and 8GB of RAM to make it perform fast and smoothly. As compared to its competitors, the storage capacity offered is low. It comes with just 256GB SSD which may not be sufficient for everyone.
Speaking about the build quality of this gaming laptop, it feels quite sturdy but has a very simple look. the keyboard is comfortable to use except for the arrow keys which are tightly placed. Also, you do not get the backlight on this gaming laptop’s keyboard. Another drawback I find is that the speakers are placed at the lower side of the gaming laptop which somewhat blocks the sound if you place the gaming laptop on your lap. They also lack bass but the volume levels are fine.
One thing I like about the display of this gaming laptop is that it offers a high refresh rate of 120Hz which is an advantageous feature for gaming as it reduces screen stuttering and tearing. But the colours and contrast of the picture reproduced on this display are mediocre. You get a fairly decent webcam on top of the display. This gaming laptop also features a fingerprint sensor and many ports including a card reader. Sadly, the battery backup does not last as expected.
Pros:
- Decent performance for the price.
- Good collection of ports.
- High refresh rate.
Cons:
- Lacks keyboard backlights.
- Average battery backup.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 5500U |
| GPU: | AMD Integrated Graphics |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 256GB SSD |
| Weight: | 2.6 kg |
4. Huawei MateBook D 15
The Huawei MateBook D 15 is a sleek and stylish gaming laptop that comes with decent features for basic gaming and thus makes it to our list of the best laptops under £500. Being one of the lightest gaming laptops in its price category, you can conveniently carry it anywhere you want. This gaming laptop gets a Ryzen 5 series processor and 8GB of RAM which will pretty much support basic gaming. Again, only integrated graphics are offered on it and the storage capacity is low.
The picture quality that the display of this gaming laptop delivers does not impress me very much. Although a Full HD resolution is offered, the picture is not as clear as expected nor very colourful. The brightness levels are also not adequate to view the screen clearly in bright light conditions. On the bright side, the viewing angles are wide, thanks to the IPS panel. This gaming laptop offers a decent battery backup and it can also be fast charged which adds to feasibility.
The keyboard offered on this gaming laptop does not come with a separate number pad and it is not backlit. But the keys are tactile and key travel is short. A fingerprint sensor gets integrated into the power button and unlike other laptops that I have mentioned, this gaming laptop has a webcam integrated into the keyboard. Many of you may find the position of the webcam inconvenient. Certain important ports are included on this gaming laptop but it does not provide a card reader.
Pros:
- Attractive and portable build.
- Decent performance.
- Good battery backup.
Cons:
- Inconveniently placed webcam.
- Average display.
Specifications:
| Display: | 15.6 inches FHD |
| CPU: | AMD Ryzen 5 4500U |
| GPU: | AMD Integrated Graphics |
| RAM: | 8GB |
| Storage: | 256GB SSD |
| Weight: | 1.53 kg |
FAQs about the best gaming laptops under £500
Which are the best gaming laptops under £500?
Offering decent performance on a budget, the best gaming laptops under £500 include the Asus Vivobook 15, MSI Modern 15 and the Dell Inspiron 3525.
Which budget gaming laptop offers a high refresh rate?
The Dell Inspiron 3525 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop which offers a high refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
How good are integrated graphics for gaming?
Integrated graphics are good as long as you play entry-level games. Certainly, they will not be able to support demanding games.