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Best Laptops Under £500 in the UK, This Week’s Top Picks

Looking for a great laptop under £500 without sacrificing the features that matter most?

This week’s picks are based on current TekShop stock, with a focus on value, usability, and the kind of specs most buyers actually need.

Whether you want a laptop for work, study, browsing, or everyday use, these are some of the strongest options currently available.

Quick Comparison

Laptop	CPU	RAM	Storage	Screen	Best For
ASUS VivoBook Go 15	Ryzen 5	8GB	512GB SSD	15.6" Full HD	Best overall value
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3	Intel i5	16GB	512GB	14"	Work and portability
Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook	Intel N6000	8GB	128GB	15.6"	Budget Chromebook
HP 17	Intel N100	4GB	128GB SSD	17.3" Full HD	Big screen basic use

This Week’s Top Picks

Best Overall Laptop Under £500

ASUS VivoBook Go 15

This is the strongest all-round option in the group. You get a Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, a 15.6 inch Full HD display, and Windows 11 Home, which makes it a strong fit for everyday work, browsing, streaming, and general home use.

AMD Ryzen 5 7520U
8GB LPDDR5 RAM
512GB NVMe SSD
15.6" Full HD display

Best for: overall value, everyday use, home working

View on TekShop

Best for Work and Portability

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3

If you want something more work-focused, this is a very strong pick. With an Intel i5, 16GB RAM, and 512GB storage in a 14 inch format, it suits buyers who want a more modern everyday laptop for productivity and multitasking.

Intel i5 processor
16GB RAM
512GB storage
14" display

Best for: work, multitasking, portability

View on TekShop

Best Budget Chromebook

Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chromebook

For lighter use and buyers happy working in ChromeOS, this is a useful lower-cost option. It is better suited to browsing, email, web apps, and study than heavier Windows-based workloads.

Intel N6000
8GB RAM
128GB storage
15.6" Chromebook

Best for: basic use, students, Google-based workflows

View on TekShop

Best Big Screen Pick

HP 17

If screen size matters most, this is the clear pick from the group. The main appeal here is the 17.3 inch Full HD display, making it more comfortable for buyers who prefer a larger screen for browsing, admin, or home use.

Intel N100
4GB RAM
128GB SSD
17.3" Full HD display

Best for: big screen browsing, light home use

View on TekShop

What to Expect from a Laptop Under £500

At this price point, the best value usually comes from balancing RAM, storage, and processor rather than chasing premium extras. For many buyers, 8GB RAM and a 512GB SSD is already a very usable setup, while 16GB RAM becomes especially attractive if you want smoother multitasking.

The biggest thing to watch is how you plan to use the laptop. Basic browsing, streaming, and admin do not need the same level of performance as work-focused multitasking, and that is why different models stand out for different reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best laptop under £500 this week?

Based on the current picks here, the ASUS VivoBook Go 15 is the strongest all-round option thanks to its Ryzen 5 processor, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD, and Full HD display.

Is 8GB RAM enough for a laptop under £500?

Yes, for many users 8GB RAM is still enough for everyday use, browsing, email, and streaming. If you do more multitasking, 16GB is the better option.

Should I buy a Chromebook or a Windows laptop?

A Chromebook is fine for lighter web-based use. A Windows laptop is usually more flexible if you need broader software compatibility or more traditional productivity use.