The Best Budget Laptops Under £500: Four Picks for Study, Work and Home
The best budget laptops under £500: a MacBook Air M1, a Lenovo V15, a big-screen HP and a refurbished ThinkPad, with plain-English advice on what to buy.
Apple MacBook Air M1
This is a brand-new MacBook Air for under £500, and it's still one of the best laptops you can get at this price.
- Brand new, for under £500
- Up to about 15 hours of battery
- Sharp, bright Retina screen
Lenovo V15 Ryzen 5
If you want Windows and a big saving, this is the one.
- Big saving: 42% off
- Fast Ryzen 5 processor
- Lots of storage: 512GB SSD
HP 17 Ryzen 3
A big screen makes a real difference if you watch a lot of films, work with spreadsheets, or just find small text hard to read.
- Big 17.3-inch anti-glare screen
- 512GB SSD
- Easy on the eyes for films, work and reading
Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 2
ThinkPads are business laptops, built to be tough and comfortable to type on all day.
- The cheapest laptop here
- 16GB RAM for lots of tabs and apps
- Windows 11 Pro
A good laptop doesn't have to cost £1,000. For emails, browsing, schoolwork, streaming and office work, £500 or less buys you something fast and reliable, as long as you choose carefully.
The tricky part is all the jargon: RAM, SSD, Ryzen, Retina. We've picked four laptops from Laptops Direct for four different kinds of buyer and explained what matters in plain English.
Ways to save at Laptops Direct
- Big savings on many laptops, with some over 40% off
- Free delivery to most of the UK
- Refurbished laptops cost much less and still come with a 1-year warranty
- See all laptops under £500 at Laptops Direct
The quick picks
- Best overall, and best for students: Apple MacBook Air M1 (13.3"), £499.97. See the deal
- Best value Windows laptop: Lenovo V15 Ryzen 5 (15.6"), £449.97. See the deal
- Best big screen: HP 17 Ryzen 3 (17.3"), £449.97. See the deal
- Best for work, on a budget: Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 2 (14"), £379.97. See the deal
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What to look for in a laptop under £500
- Storage (SSD): always pick an SSD, not an old-style hard drive. 256GB is fine for most people, 512GB if you keep lots of photos.
- Memory (RAM): 8GB is the minimum for smooth everyday use. 16GB helps if you keep lots of tabs open.
- Screen: look for Full HD (1920 x 1080) or better. Lower resolutions look fuzzy.
- Refurbished: a business laptop that's been checked and graded. You get better build quality for less money, but the battery won't be brand new.
The four laptops side by side
| MacBook Air M1 | Lenovo V15 | HP 17 | ThinkPad L14 (refurb) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Students, everyday use | Value, home and study | A big screen | Work, on a budget |
| Price | £499.97 | £449.97 | £449.97 | £379.97 |
| Processor | Apple M1 | AMD Ryzen 5 7520U | AMD Ryzen 3 7320U | Intel Core i5 (11th gen) |
| RAM | 8GB | 8GB | 8GB | 16GB |
| Storage | 256GB SSD | 512GB SSD | 512GB SSD | 256GB SSD |
| Screen | 13.3" Retina | 15.6" Full HD | 17.3" | 14" Full HD |
| Battery (claimed) | About 15 hours | About 8 hours | About 7 hours | 70%+ battery health |
| Weight | 1.2kg | 1.6kg | 2.0kg | Not listed |
| Shop | See the deal | See the deal | See the deal | See the deal |
What do customers say about Laptops Direct?
Laptops Direct scores 4.3 out of 5 from over 47,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Buyers mostly praise competitive prices, fast delivery (often next day) and easy ordering. One wrote: "Super quick service. Very easy to order. Would definitely recommend!" The main complaints are occasional delivery delays, faulty items and slow replies from customer service.
Our tip: check your laptop as soon as it arrives, and keep your order email until you're happy with it.
So, which laptop should you buy?
Go for the MacBook Air if you want the best all-rounder with a long battery, and you're happy with a Mac.
Go for the Lenovo V15 for the best-value Windows laptop with lots of storage.
Go for the HP 17 if a big screen matters most.
Go for the ThinkPad L14 if you want a tough work laptop for the lowest price.
Not quite right? Laptops Direct has hundreds of laptops under £500, new and refurbished. Browse all laptops under £500
Common questions
Is the MacBook Air M1 still worth buying?
Yes, at under £500 it's still one of the best-value laptops you can buy. The M1 chip is fast for everyday work, and the battery lasts all day. Just remember it's the 2020 model, and the 8GB RAM and 256GB storage can't be upgraded.
Is Laptops Direct legit?
Yes. Laptops Direct is a big UK retailer, rated 4.3 out of 5 from over 47,000 reviews on Trustpilot. Most buyers praise the prices and fast delivery, while a few mention delays or slow customer service.
Is 8GB of RAM enough?
For browsing, emails, streaming, schoolwork and office apps, yes. If you keep dozens of tabs open or edit photos, 16GB is smoother.
Is a refurbished laptop worth it?
It can be great value, especially business laptops like ThinkPads. Check the condition grade, the warranty and the battery health before you buy.
Should I buy an extended warranty?
It's optional. Laptops Direct offers extended cover on many laptops at checkout, so compare the price with how long you plan to keep it.
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- We researched popular options sold by major UK retailers.
- We compared features, specifications and verified buyer reviews.
- We checked prices across several stores so you can see where it is cheapest.
Apple MacBook Air M1
This is a brand-new MacBook Air for under £500, and it's still one of the best laptops you can get at this price. Apple's M1 chip is fast and quiet. There's no fan, so it makes no noise at all, and the battery lasts up to about 15 hours, enough for a full day of lectures or work.
The 13.3-inch Retina screen is sharp and bright, and at 1.2kg it's easy to carry around all day.
✓What We Like
- Brand new, for under £500
- Up to about 15 hours of battery
- Sharp, bright Retina screen
- Silent, with no fan
- Light and well made
✕What to Keep in Mind
- It's the 2020 model. It's still fast, but newer MacBooks have newer chips.
- 8GB RAM and 256GB storage can't be upgraded later, so think about what you need.
- It runs macOS, not Windows. Check any software you need works on a Mac.
Lenovo V15 Ryzen 5
If you want Windows and a big saving, this is the one. Laptops Direct lists it at 42% off. The Ryzen 5 processor handles everyday work smoothly, and the 512GB SSD gives you twice the storage of the MacBook.
It has a full-size keyboard with a number pad, a 15.6-inch Full HD screen, and all the ports you need, including HDMI for a TV or monitor and an Ethernet socket.
✓What We Like
- Big saving: 42% off
- Fast Ryzen 5 processor
- Lots of storage: 512GB SSD
- Number pad, HDMI and Ethernet
- Windows 11 and Wi-Fi 6
✕What to Keep in Mind
- The screen is a TN panel. Colours look less rich, and it's best viewed straight on.
- The 8GB RAM is built in and can't be upgraded.
- Battery life is about 8 hours, less than the MacBook.
HP 17 Ryzen 3
A big screen makes a real difference if you watch a lot of films, work with spreadsheets, or just find small text hard to read. This HP has a 17.3-inch anti-glare screen, the biggest in this guide, plus 512GB of storage.
It's a great home laptop that stays on the desk or kitchen table.
✓What We Like
- Big 17.3-inch anti-glare screen
- 512GB SSD
- Easy on the eyes for films, work and reading
✕What to Keep in Mind
- At 2kg, it's the heaviest here, so it's not ideal for carrying around every day.
- The Ryzen 3 is fine for everyday tasks, but less powerful than the Lenovo's Ryzen 5.
- Laptops Direct's listing gives two different screen resolutions, so check the specs before you buy.
Refurbished Lenovo ThinkPad L14 Gen 2
ThinkPads are business laptops, built to be tough and comfortable to type on all day. This one is refurbished in "Excellent" condition, which means it's been checked, tested and looks close to new. You get 16GB of RAM, double the other laptops here, for the lowest price in this guide.
It comes with Windows 11 Pro, a 14-inch Full HD screen and a 1-year warranty.
✓What We Like
- The cheapest laptop here
- 16GB RAM for lots of tabs and apps
- Windows 11 Pro
- Tough business build and a great keyboard
- 1-year warranty, with longer cover available
✕What to Keep in Mind
- It's refurbished, so the battery is used. Laptops Direct guarantees at least 70% battery health.
- The processor is an older generation, but still fine for office work.
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