This HP laptop is Amazon's best-selling Windows notebook but please don't buy it or you will sorely regret it

AMD Ryzen 7 7730U | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD

This Acer Aspire Go is the most powerful laptop you can buy for less than $500 right now. It looks like it is a pricing mistake as it sells for less than its worst-specced sibling. It sports an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U 8-core CPU with 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD.

Intel Core i5 120U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 512GB SSD

The only convertible laptop worth buying under $500, the IdeaPad 5i is a great match for anyone looking for a large screen with a powerful processor capable of playing light games, plenty of storage and the all important 16GB of RAM. Free Microsoft 365 Premium and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for one year makes it a perfect gift for back-to-school. This is the laptop I'd buy from this list.

Intel Core i3-1315U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 256GB SSD

This is a great price for a relatively modern laptop with a well-performing, efficient Core i3 CPU. On top of that, you get 16GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a solid battery life of up to 12 hours, which represents good value for money overall. I like it as a capable, all-around, everyday machine. The cheapest laptop worth buying on this list.

Intel Core i5-1334U | 16GB DDR5 RAM | 256GB SSD

Here's a solid and affordable Windows laptop available at Walmart. While it has a smaller 256GB SSD and shorter battery life than its rivals, it still holds its own in raw performance thanks to fast DDR5 RAM and a reliable Intel Core i5 chip.

Intel Core i5-1334U | 16GB DDR4 RAM | 512GB SSD

If you want a cheap Windows laptop, then this configuration of the Dell 15 Laptop is an excellent buy and terrific value for money. You get an Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of RAM and a large 512GB SSD to ensure good overall performance and enough essential speedy storage for the price. It's a top buy right now if you're on a budget and need a laptop for general everyday use, admin tasks, light work, or schoolwork.