Notebookcheck's Top 10 Laptops under 500 Euros

So affordable and already a high-quality convertible! The Microsoft Surface Go already starts for less than 500 Euros, but this version is shipped without physical keyboard. You can either use a Bluetooth keyboard or the optional Type Cover, which will increase the price noticeably. The storage is also limited on the base model at just 64 GB, and Microsoft charges a hefty premium for the 128 GB option. You can at least use the microSD reader to store more data.

The quality of the magnesium case is excellent, the Surface lasts long on battery, and you get a bright as well as high-contrast screen. The performance is not that bad, either. You notice that the Surface Go is no real notebook when you look at the ports, because one USB-C port will have to suffice.

Lenovo offers a tough competitor for the Microsoft Surface Go: The IdeaPad D330 follows the same concept as Microsoft's smallest tablet, very long battery runtimes, an LTE modem, a bright screen, and a good keyboard dock. You also get 128 GB storage, but the IdeaPad with the keyboard dock is also much heavier and the quality is not as high compared to the rival from the Windows developer.

The Lenovo IdeaPad D330 is a 2-in-1 with a good price-performance ratio.

The Chuwi LapBook SE is already the second notebook from the manufacturer, which uses a design similar to the MacBook for a much lower price. It is once again a compact and inexpensive laptop from China, which offers a good choice of materials and a good build quality considering the price. It also runs completely silent and the SSD can easily be replaced via slot. However, you do not get a USB-C port, the screen is not very good, and you should not use the internal speakers if you like listening to music. The device is currently also available in China, but it is a bargain in return.

Except for the somewhat slow processor, the Trekstor Yourbook C11B is a recommendable convertible if you do not need the best performance: The screen resolution is high, and the battery lasts long. The device runs completely silent, the Wi-Fi is quick and the build quality is adequate for this price.

The Asus E203MA is available in some configurations for less than 300 Euros, and the performance is sufficient for simple office tasks and web browsing. The device is equipped with a microSD reader, and it is really necessary to expand the 25 GB internal storage. The battery runtime in our Wi-Fi test is pretty good at 8:15 hours.

The display is the main issue here, because it is glossy and not particularly bright. You also have problems if you like to expand or maintain your laptop.

The Asus E203MA is still a good 11.6-inch laptop for simple applications.

Good performance figures, fast Wi-Fi, silent operation – the Lenovo Yoga 330 has a number of positive aspects. The convertible also manages good battery runtimes, has a lot of storage, and even a free slot for an additional hard drive. The display on the other hand is not very good since it is pretty dark and has a low contrast ratio.

A TN panel is an unusual bad choice for the display, but the Lenovo Yoga 330 is still a well-equipped and comparatively fast convertible.

A solid notebook for typing, web browsing and video playback is pretty much everything you can expect in the segment up to 300 Euros. This is just what you get with the VivoBook E12, an 11.6-inch notebook without any real highlights, but a good keyboard, silent operation, low temperatures, and low weight. Windows 10 is included as well. You must make compromises in terms of memory and the display is rather dark with limited viewing angles. A good offer for 250 Euros.

Lenovo's V145-15AST is an inexpensive 15.6-inch office laptop. The notebook is certainly not the most powerful machine, but you get a 256 GB SSD for a more responsive system. The display is matte, but the picture cannot really convince us. The battery runtime is not great, either, and we only determined 4 hours in our WLAN test.

Advantages include the low heat development as well as the quiet operation. All in all a decent performance for a reasonable price.

If you want a modern processor, you might want to stop reading at this point, because the HP x2 210 G2 is equipped with an old Intel Atom CPU. It is powerful enough for simple tasks like web browsing or video streaming, but your expectations should not be too high. One advantage of the slow processor: The convertible can be cooled passively without a fan, and the battery runtime benefits as well. 64 GB storage is not much, but you can expand it via microSD-card.

The HP x2 210 G2 can be an interesting device, even though there are less expensive rivals with similar specs. Or you get a more powerful device for the same price. You should consider this before you purchase HP's convertible.

Lenovo's IdeaPad 320 wants to convince customers with its light 15-inch chassis for a low price. The manufacturer even includes a 1080p screens and an SSD. It is even passively cooled, so the notebook is completely silent.

You obviously have to live with some drawbacks for the low price of around 300 Euros: You could expect more performance, the speakers are bad, and the screen is bad except for the high resolution. You also have to live with a clattering touchpad. Otherwise, you get a very affordable 15-inch laptop with sufficient power for light workloads.