The Best Notebooks For Less Than 500 Euros
Every month, Notebookcheck reviews various affordable devices that have to undergo the exact same tests and identical review process as their premium siblings. The price bracket of less than 500 Euros is occupied by a number of notebooks made by various manufacturers competing for the price-conscious customer’s attention. Constant marketing emphasizing Gigahertz and Gigabytes carries the risk to lose sight of what is really important in a notebook.
The following top lists might be interesting for your purchase decision as well:
The Best Laptops For Less Than 500 Euros
Pos. | Date | Rating | Image | Model | Height | Weight | Size | Resolution | Screen | Best Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10/2018 | 83 % | ![]() | Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y Intel UHD Graphics 615 4 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 8.3 mm | 523 g | 10.00" | 1800x1200 | glossy | |
2 | 09/2019 | 83 % | ![]() | Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK Intel Pentium Gold 4417U Intel HD Graphics 610 4 GB Memory, 128 GB SSD | 17.95 mm | 1.6 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | matte | |
3 | 10/2020 | 79 % | ![]() | Jumper Tech Ez Book X3 Air Intel Celeron N4100 Intel UHD Graphics 600 8 GB Memory, 128 GB NVMe | 11 mm | 1.1 kg | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | glossy | |
4 | 07/2020 | 79 % | ![]() | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 Intel Core i3-1005G1 Intel UHD Graphics G1 (Ice Lake 32 EU) 8 GB Memory, 256 GB SSD | 19.9 mm | 1.6 kg | 14.00" | 1920x1080 | matte | |
5 | 11/2019 | 78 % | ![]() | Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R6WW AMD Ryzen 5 3500U AMD Radeon RX Vega 8 (Ryzen 2000/3000) 8 GB Memory, 1024 GB SSD | 18 mm | 1.8 kg | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | glossy | |
6 | 07/2020 | 78 % | ![]() | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 Intel Celeron N4020 Intel UHD Graphics 600 4 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 17.5 mm | 1.1 kg | 11.60" | 1366x768 | glossy | |
7 | 77 % | ![]() | Acer TravelMate Spin B1 B118-G2-RN-P7ED Intel Pentium Silver N5000 Intel UHD Graphics 605 4 GB Memory, 128 GB SSD | 23.3 mm | 1.5 kg | 11.60" | 1920x1080 | |||
8 | 01/2020 | 77 % | ![]() | Asus M509DA-EJ153T AMD Ryzen 3 3200U AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 8 GB Memory, 512 GB SSD | 22.9 mm | 1.8 kg | 15.60" | 1920x1080 | matte | |
9 | 01/2020 | 76 % | ![]() | Lenovo Ideapad S145-15API 81UT002XGE AMD Athlon 300U AMD Radeon RX Vega 3 4 GB Memory, 128 GB SSD | 19.9 mm | 1.9 kg | 15.60" | 1366x768 | matte | |
10 | 75 % | ![]() | LincPlus P1 Intel Celeron N4000 Intel UHD Graphics 600 4 GB Memory, 64 GB eMMC | 16 mm | 1.4 kg | 13.30" | 1920x1080 | glossy |
The table above contains an overview over the best notebooks for less than 500 Euros reviewed by Notebookcheck over the course of the past 12 months as well as still relevant and available older products. In cases of identical score the more recent device is listed first. All prices in above table and price comparisons are updated daily and can thus differ.
Link: Link: all devices in this class reviewed
Editors' Comments
1st - Microsoft Surface Go
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.
Pricecompare
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2nd – Acer Swift 3 SF314
The Swift 3 SF314 is a 14-inch notebook with a slim chassis, which leaves a good impression: A matte screen, decent battery runtime, keyboard illumination, quiet cooling, and low temperatures are among the advantages. Only the dark screen and the low amount of RAM are drawbacks. Windows 10 Home is preloaded, but limited to apps from the Windows store out of the box. You can remove this limitation via free update.
This notebook offers a good balance between price, performance, and features, so the Swift 3 really deserves a spot in our Top 10 ranking.
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3rd – Jumper EZBook X3 Air
For less than 500 Euros the Jumper EZBook X3 Air comes in a surprisingly premium and high-quality metal case, a relatively low weight, and narrow display bezels.
Just like most Chinese copies of high-quality notebooks the exterior doesn’t match the interior. Even if an OEM can lower the cost of labor and material they still have to pay for processors, and fast ones tend to get quite expensive. Accordingly, the Jumper EZBook X3 Air is equipped with a simple Celeron processor barely fast enough for basic applications.
In return it offers a bright display, a decent touchpad, and silent operation. In other words: you get a high-quality device to perform basic tasks.
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4th – Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14
Lenovo's IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 managed to score a decent 79 percent in our review, and thus secured a spot in our top 10 list. Its main benefits are the matte display, its fast SSD, and its decent Wi-Fi performance. In addition, the device remained fairly quiet and cool overall.
Lenovo’s IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 is a simple office notebook with reduced portability due to its small battery.
As great as that matte display might be the underlying panel is simply not bright enough, which is our main gripe with this device. There are some other limitations as well, none of which are deal-breakers though.
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5th - Acer Aspire 5 A515
If you already have an operating system or you decide to get a slightly smaller configuration, then you can already get the Acer Aspire 5 A515 for less than 500 Euros. In return, you get a powerful AMD Ryzen 5 3500U in combination with an SSD for storage. The processor cannot utilize its full potential and the port selection is a bit limited, but the sturdy case and the good input devices can compensate for that.
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6th – Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 is a 11.6-inch convertible that can be purchased for around 300 Euros. It is silent and offers good battery life – an intriguing combination for not a lot of money. Unfortunately, the notebook’s performance is fairly poor, and it will take quite long to finish various tasks.
The storage device is based on eMMC technology and this quite slow overall. Thus, this cheap SKU is not necessarily worth purchasing. For around 100 Euros more you get twice the storage based on modern SSD technology as well as a faster processor. Most users will benefit from this upgrade.
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7th - Acer TravelMate Spin
The second generation of the TravelMate Spin is once again a convertible, which is originally designed for the education sector, but it might also be interesting for private users. It is very affordable for a convertible with touchscreen and pen support, there is no fan, and you get a pretty good display. The latter convinces with good color accuracy and the high resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The case still leaves a very robust impression.
It is unfortunate that Acer once again uses a glossy display surface, and the low system performance is a drawback even for this price range. Overall, the TravelMate Spin B1 still performs well and interested users should give it a look, since the battery runtime is long.
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8th – Asus M509DA
Asus equips the M509DA with a Ryzen APU with quite a lot of performance for this price range. it has no problems with office and web-based applications. The notebook does not get very warm and the fan is either silent or at least not very loud.
You do have to live with the dim and low-contrast display, the below average battery runtime, and the missing Ethernet port. The slow Wi-Fi transfer rates are another drawback.
A 512 GB SSD, however, is a serious argument in this price segment and you also get a two-year warranty.
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9th - Lenovo IdeaPad S145
The Lenovo IdeaPad S145 is a 15-inch laptop for simple office workloads. The price is pretty appealing and the AMD Athlon CPU provides more performance than usual in this price class. You can even add another drive if you want, it does not get very warm and always stays quiet.
The display is no highlight, but rather dark and with a low contrast ratio. it is still okay for the price range though. The short battery runtime is another drawback, and you do not get a keyboard illumination. Still, if your budget is limited and you want to maximize the performance, the notebook is still worth a look.
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10th - LincPlus P1 Laptop
The LincPlus P1 is not really powerful, but that's not what the Celeron N4000 is made for: You get a decent keyboard with large keys, a sturdy aluminum chassis (!), the display manages a decent contrast ratio and there is no fan, so you always have a silent device. It is also possible to expand the storage.
You should not hope for a USB-C port though, which is not available. The webcam is hardly usable, either. You basically get a very affordable laptop that looks better than it really is. If the limited performance is sufficient for you, but you still want a good looking machine, the LincPlus P1 is still worth considering.
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Top 10 in Comparison
Test Results
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 | Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK | Jumper Tech Ez Book X3 Air | Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 | Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R6WW | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | Acer TravelMate Spin B1 B118-G2-RN-P7ED | Asus M509DA-EJ153T | Lenovo Ideapad S145-15API 81UT002XGE | LincPlus P1 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Response Times | ||||||||||
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 44 (22, 22) | 43 (22, 21) | 41 (21, 20) | 39 (21, 18) | 36 (18, 18) | 38 (20, 18) | 41 (21, 20) | 45 (24, 21) | 43 (23, 20) | 36 (20, 16) |
Response Time Black / White * | 25.6 (11.6, 14) | 28 (16, 12) | 29 (16, 13) | 24 (14, 10) | 25 (14, 11) | 25 (14, 11) | 31 (18, 13) | 14 (10, 4) | 17 (9, 8) | 29 (17, 12) |
PWM Frequency | 1020 (99) | 250 (10) | 178 (10) | 250 (60) | 5 (20) | 250 (20) | 192 (90) | 250 (20) | ||
Screen | ||||||||||
Brightness middle | 456 | 258 | 355 | 292 | 250 | 270 | 295 | 226 | 218 | 264 |
Brightness | 426 | 252 | 330 | 260 | 228 | 259 | 260 | 212 | 207 | 256 |
Brightness Distribution | 88 | 90 | 88 | 80 | 83 | 76 | 78 | 84 | 80 | 84 |
Black Level * | 0.31 | 0.16 | 0.275 | 0.36 | 0.205 | 0.195 | 0.485 | 0.645 | 0.25 | |
Contrast | 1471 | 1613 | 1291 | 811 | 1220 | 1385 | 466 | 338 | 1056 | |
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 * | 1.3 | 5.1 | 5.92 | 6.92 | 5.65 | 3.98 | 3.98 | 7.76 | 12.12 | 7.36 |
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 max. * | 3 | 19.99 | 10.41 | 19.36 | 13.7 | 8.46 | 8.25 | 12.44 | 23.06 | 12.72 |
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 calibrated * | 1.1 | 5.13 | 4 | 4.45 | 3.53 | 2.12 | ||||
Greyscale DeltaE2000 * | 1.4 | 2.5 | 6.55 | 3.94 | 6.32 | 2.57 | 4.63 | 9.11 | 15.09 | 8.74 |
Gamma | 2.24 98% | 2.5 88% | 2.06 107% | 2.83 78% | 2.45 90% | 2.3 96% | 2.3 96% | 2.11 104% | 2.32 95% | 2.41 91% |
CCT | 6687 97% | 6829 95% | 7661 85% | 6737 96% | 7287 89% | 6332 103% | 6727 97% | 9905 66% | 18082 36% | 8741 74% |
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 62.3 | 37 | 61 | 36 | 38 | 43 | 62 | 40 | 35 | 62 |
Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 96.8 | 58 | 96 | 56 | 59 | 67 | 94 | 63 | 55 | 95 |
Noise | ||||||||||
off / environment * | 30 | 30.7 | 30.2 | 30.3 | 30.3 | |||||
Idle Minimum * | 30 | 30.7 | 30.2 | 30.3 | 30.3 | |||||
Idle Average * | 30 | 30.7 | 30.2 | 30.3 | 30.3 | |||||
Idle Maximum * | 30.3 | 30.7 | 30.2 | 31.1 | 30.3 | |||||
Load Average * | 31.6 | 31.6 | 34.8 | 40.7 | 30.8 | |||||
Load Maximum * | 31.6 | 33.6 | 39.5 | 40.8 | 32 | |||||
Heat | ||||||||||
Maximum Upper Side * | 44 | 34.4 | 41.6 | 39.4 | 35 | 37.4 | 39 | 33.7 | 34.5 | 36.2 |
Maximum Bottom * | 43 | 34.2 | 39.4 | 39.7 | 36.1 | 41.4 | 38.9 | 36.1 | 33.8 | 33.9 |
Idle Upper Side * | 26 | 27.4 | 28.2 | 28.2 | 28.1 | 27.2 | 26.4 | 24.9 | 23.9 | 26.8 |
Idle Bottom * | 24.4 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 30.3 | 30.3 | 27 | 27.1 | 27.4 | 25.9 | 25.4 |
Battery Runtime | ||||||||||
Reader / Idle | 771 | 1061 | ||||||||
H.264 | 384 | |||||||||
WiFi v1.3 | 448 | 570 | 441 | 359 | 466 | 555 | 520 | 334 | 270 | 370 |
Load | 180 | 130 | ||||||||
Power Consumption | ||||||||||
Idle Minimum * | 2.88 | 5.6 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
Idle Average * | 4.8 | 7.6 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 6.2 | 4.5 | 5.7 | 6.2 | 4.8 | 7.7 |
Idle Maximum * | 7.5 | 9.8 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 8.4 | 4.6 | 6.5 | 6.6 | 4.9 | 8.2 |
Load Average * | 16.9 | 25.1 | 17 | 30 | 31.1 | 12.8 | 13.5 | 32 | 23 | 13.8 |
Load Maximum * | 23.8 | 24.4 | 18.5 | 50 | 43.1 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 29 | 24.5 | 14.5 |
* ... smaller is better
Benchmarks
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value) | |
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK | |
Jumper Tech Ez Book X3 Air | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 | |
Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R6WW | |
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3 11IGL05 | |
Acer TravelMate Spin B1 B118-G2-RN-P7ED | |
Asus M509DA-EJ153T | |
Lenovo Ideapad S145-15API 81UT002XGE |
3DMark | |
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value) | |
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 | |
Acer Aspire 5 A515-43-R6WW | |
Acer TravelMate Spin B1 B118-G2-RN-P7ED | |
Asus M509DA-EJ153T | |
Lenovo Ideapad S145-15API 81UT002XGE | |
1280x720 Ice Storm Standard Score (sort by value) | |
Microsoft Surface Go MHN-00003 | |
Acer Swift 3 SF314-54-P2RK | |
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 14IIL05 | |
Asus M509DA-EJ153T | |
Lenovo Ideapad S145-15API 81UT002XGE |