The cheapest new Mac went from $599 to $699 in June. That price hike is exactly why the under-$500 laptop tier matters more this fall than it has in years — and why the best buy in it right now is a Mac that isn’t new at all.
Below: the five machines actually worth your money in September 2026, the two specs that separate a good $400 laptop from a bad one, and the prices you should refuse to pay more than.
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are what we saw in the week of September 8, 2026 and move weekly — always check the live price.
The 5 Best Laptops Under $500 Right Now
MacBook Air M1 (Renewed) $399–$448
Yes, it’s a 2020 chip. It is still faster than every new Windows laptop on this list, runs silent with no fan, and gets a real 15+ hours on a charge. Buy the 8GB/256GB config from Amazon Renewed or Apple’s own refurbished store — both come with a return window. Skip any listing that says “used” instead of “renewed.”
Acer Aspire Go 15 $269–$349
15.6″ 1080p IPS screen, 8-core Intel i3-N305, 8GB RAM. It’s the laptop for someone who needs Windows for school or work software and refuses to pay $500 for it. The 128GB storage fills up fast — grab the 256GB version if it’s within $30. Do not buy the 4GB variant that shares the name.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 $449–$499 (i5 / 8GB / 256GB)
Not exciting, and that’s the point. A full Intel Core i5, a proper SSD, a numeric keypad, and Dell’s support network. This is the pick if you’ll run Excel with 30 tabs, QuickBooks, or anything your employer installs. Watch the config: the same model ships as an i3/4GB at $349, and that one is not worth it.
ASUS Chromebook Plus CX34 $349–$379
The “Chromebook Plus” label is Google’s guarantee of an Intel Core chip, 8GB RAM, a 1080p screen and a decent 1080p webcam — so you can’t accidentally buy the slow one. Handles 20 tabs and a video call at the same time without stuttering. If your life is Gmail, Docs, Netflix and Zoom, this beats every Windows laptop at the same price.
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus $379–$449
Same Chromebook Plus guarantees as the ASUS, but the screen folds flat into a tablet with touch and pen support. The pick for students who take handwritten notes, or anyone who wants a big-screen Netflix tablet that’s also a laptop.
💡 Under $200 and just need a browser? The HP Chromebook 14 (~$170) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook (~$180) are fine for a kid’s homework machine or a kitchen laptop. They are not fine as your only computer — 4GB RAM and a dim 768p screen.
🏷️ Price rule: every laptop above has dipped $50–$100 below its list price at least once this summer. If the price you see is at the top of the range, wait a week or check another retailer. Prime Big Deal Days usually lands in early-to-mid October.
The 2 Specs That Decide Everything Under $500
Cheap laptops still ship with 4GB of RAM and 1366×768 screens in 2026, and the listings hide it behind “Full HD-ready” and “up to 16GB.” Two rules save you from that:
⚠️ 1. 8GB RAM minimum, and it’s soldered. You cannot add RAM later on any laptop on this list. 4GB Windows machines stutter with a browser and Word open. Buy the 8GB config now, or 16GB if you keep 40 tabs open.
🖥️ 2. 1920×1080 screen, no exceptions. A 768p panel on a 15-inch laptop looks like 2012. Every pick above is 1080p IPS. If a listing doesn’t say “1920 x 1080” or “FHD IPS” in the spec sheet, it isn’t.
If a laptop arrives and the spec sticker says 4GB when the listing said 8GB, don’t keep it. Amazon’s return window makes that painless — here’s exactly how to return an item on Amazon without paying return shipping.
What About the MacBook Neo?
Apple’s MacBook Neo launched in March at $599 and briefly made the whole under-$500 category look pointless. Then Apple raised it to $699 in June, blaming memory prices. Education pricing (students, teachers, and parents buying for a college student) still knocks $100 off, which puts it at $599 — the original launch price, not a bargain.
So the honest math in September 2026: a renewed M1 Air at $420 gives you most of the Neo experience for $180–$280 less. The Neo wins on warranty length, resale value, and a newer chip. If you can stretch and you qualify for education pricing, it’s a good buy. If you’re actually holding a $500 budget, it isn’t on the table anymore.
Chromebook vs. Windows vs. Mac at This Price
Best value per dollar if you live in a browser. Fast on cheap hardware, no antivirus, boots in seconds. Can’t run desktop Windows software.
Required if your school or job names a specific program (full Office, QuickBooks, SPSS, most engineering tools). Slowest of the three at $400 — spend on the i5 if you can.
Fastest and longest battery under $500, but only second-hand. Fine for iPhone owners, photo editing, and anyone who hates fan noise. Check the return policy before buying.
Quick rule: browser life → Chromebook Plus. Named software → Windows i5. Everything else → renewed M1 Air.
FAQ
Is a renewed MacBook Air safe to buy?
From Amazon Renewed or Apple Certified Refurbished, yes — both inspect the unit, replace the battery if it’s below spec, and give you 90 days (Amazon) or a full 1-year warranty (Apple). Avoid third-party “used – good” listings with no return window.
Is 8GB of RAM enough in 2026?
For browsing, documents, streaming and video calls, yes. For dozens of tabs plus photo editing, get 16GB — and remember it can’t be added later.
Are laptops under $500 fast enough for college?
For writing, research, and online classes, every pick above is. Check your program’s required-software list first — nursing, engineering and accounting programs often require Windows-only apps, which rules out the Chromebooks and the Mac.
Should I wait for a sale?
If you’re within a month of Prime Big Deal Days (October) or Black Friday, yes — these models drop $50–$100. If you need it this week, the Acer Aspire Go 15 and the renewed M1 Air are already close to their floor prices.
Bottom line: the renewed M1 MacBook Air is the best laptop you can get under $500 in September 2026. Need Windows? The Acer Aspire Go 15 at under $350 is the one to beat.
Related: thinking about a phone upgrade too? See our verdict on iPhone 17 vs iPhone 15 — same price, twice the storage.