The Tech Tribune staff has compiled the very best laptops under $500. In doing our research, we considered several factors including but not limited to:

1. Proven track record of user satisfaction
2. Market penetration
3. Amazon price less than $500
4. Not discontinued
5. Released in last 2 years
6. Traditional style laptop (e.g. not 2-in-1)

1. ASUS Chromebook C201

• 11.6 ­inch 1366 by 768 glossy HD display for vivid image quality
• Up to 13 hours of battery life
• Supports dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi for up to 3 times faster wireless speeds
• The HDMI port allows you to connect with a larger external display or TV so you can share presentations or stream movies with family and friends
• Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security for protection of sensitive information
• Spacious touchpad for effortless navigation and control
• Chrome OS

2. Acer Chromebook CB3-131-C3SZ

• Intel Celeron N2840 2.16GHz processor
• 2 GB DDR3L SDRAM
• 16 GB internal storage
• Chrome OS
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless LAN
• 11.6 inch HD IPS screen
• Intel HD graphics
• Patterned aluminum cover
• Up to 9 hours of battery life

3. Acer Chromebook CB3-431-C5FM

• Intel Celeron N3160 1.6GHz (up to 2.24GHz) quad-core processor
• 100% aluminum chassis
• 4GB LPDDR3 onboard SDRAM memory
• 32GB internal storage
• 14” full HD IPS display (1920×1080)
• Intel HD graphics
• Chrome OS
• 3-cell 3950 mAh Li-polymer battery
• 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless LAN
• Up to 12 hours of battery life

4. Samsung Chromebook 3 XE500C13-K01US

• Intel Celeron N3050 processor with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of solid state storage
• Simple and secure Chrome OS
• 11.6” HD anti-reflective display with image enhancer
• Work or play for up to 11 hours on a single charge
• Spill-resistant keyboard protects against accidental damage

5. ASUS Chromebook C202SA-YS02

• Intel Celeron N3060 processor (2M cache, up to 2.48 GHz)
• Designed for rugged use with reinforced rubber guards, easy grip handles, and a spill resistant keyboard
• Can open/edit MS Office files using free embedded QuickOffice editor or Google Docs, and can download Microsoft Office Online (an online version of Microsoft Office) for free. Cannot install standard MS Office software.
• 4 GB DDR3 RAM
• 16GB flash storage
• No CD or DVD drive
• 11.6 inch HD 1366×768 anti-glare display
• Up to 10 hours of battery life