Get this Asus laptop with 16GB RAM and Intel Core i7 for $500
Budget laptops may soon be a thing of the past, at least budget laptops with Windows and respectable specs. That being said, if you’re shopping for one right now, I have a specific candidate. B&H is selling an Asus Vivobook with 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an Intel Core i7 processor for $499.99 ($200 off its standard price).
The Vivobook is definitely a budget model, with its plastic chassis, 15.6-inch screen (without touchscreen), and older 13th generation processor. But don’t let this immediately end the competition. Even with obsolete hardware, it’s a new laptop (not refurbished, as you would typically need to get 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage in this price range). This processor is also a 10-core model, so it has plenty of power for standard tasks, and the Xe graphics can handle basic gaming tasks. (Don’t expect to throw a whole new 3D title at it.)
The extra size also comes with some bonuses. You get a keyboard with a full numeric keypad, handy for many students and data entry, plus plenty of ports including USB-C, triple USB-A and HDMI. At 3.75 pounds, it’s also pretty portable for a larger design, although I wouldn’t count on a 42-watt-hour battery to last all day.
There are tradeoffs of course, but for a budget laptop in 2026, I’d say it’s still a good deal. If you’re looking for something else, be sure to check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops on the market.
