In today’s world, everything is upgrading rapidly, particularly computer science is on the top. Photoshop software has become a very powerful tool and needs powerful hardware.
It can be tricky and challenging to choose from a large available variety and differently priced products. You must buy a computer with quality hardware and software specifications.
Without proper knowledge of any product, it is very difficult to choose, same with laptops. Some people assume buying an office laptop will help them, but that is not possible.
The reason is the photoshop software, which is a high-end program and couldn’t be used efficiently with the proper hardware. Many factors must be seen in a laptop for photoshop, such as RAM, GPU, processor, etc.
Whether you are a designer or an in-house freelancer, you must look at these products to choose the best one.
All the products for different magnitude projects have been discussed in the reviews. The detailed review will help you decide whether that laptop will be best for you or not.
We have provided reviews of some of the best laptops for photoshop under 500 that you must see if you are low on budget. This review will be best for those who are planning to buy a budgeted laptop.
All the reviewed products are of high quality and great performance, your few minutes can help you save some extra bucks.
[ARPrice id=106]List of the Best Laptops For Photoshop Under 500:
1. Acer Aspire 5 Slim – Best Laptop for Video Editing Under $500
If you need a budgeted but quality laptop, you have hit the right product. This masterpiece from the Acer brand is one of the best laptops for mobile photoshop with its notebook design. This laptop’s design is very slim and sleek and gives a modern look.
It uses an AMD processor that is the best for graphical work. It uses Vega 3 graphics that will give you a great experience for graphical and illustration work.
It supports Direct X, which means you will run almost all graphic software without heed. And it comes with all the features that a photoshop user will need.
Moreover, it comes with a 15.6-inch display and weighs just 1.7 Kg making it one of the lightest laptops. If your SD card is for data transfer, then you must see other picks of this article.
Quick Features
IPS Display: The Acer Aspire comes with an inter-plane switching display. The IPS display delivers more color accuracy and better resolution.
Unlike TFT panel displays, the IPS screen has better view angles and high brightness. This feature makes it a great laptop for photoshop related work.
AMD Processor: This Laptop uses an AMD Ryzen 3200 U processor, which will enhance the graphical performance of your laptop.
Unlike Intel processors, AMD processors are specifically designed for graphical work. It gives better GPU performance and a good processing speed.
Alexa Enabled: The Acer Aspire 5 features Alexa support that makes your small tasks such as setting the alarm, reminding, or adding something to the to-do list even easier.
It is one of the best features of this laptop that is not found on most other family products.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad S145 15.6″ Laptop
This Lenovo Ideapad s145 will not be a bad choice for students and freelancers. It has all the features that you will need for doing most of the tasks on the computer.
There is no doubt that it will not run high-end software but is enough for mid-range powerful applications such as Photoshop.
It is one of the most budgeted laptops that you will get under its price range. It comes with an AMD a5 9225 processor that will smoothly process all the instructions.
As the AMD processor is designed for graphical-related work, this laptop will be a good choice for you.
It uses AMD Radeon 4 graphics that will be able to run most games and graphic-related software. It does not have an SSD, which is a weak point for multitasking as HDD is slower than SSD. Following are some of the features of this laptop.
Quick Features
Elegant Design: When we talk about the Lenovo Idea pad S145, the design is very basic and simple. Its black body finish will suit almost all office decor.
If you are hunting for a stylish laptop, you can choose from a wide range of laptops available in the market.
Plenty of USB Slots: It comes with plenty of USB ports, it is not a high-end feature, but these can be very useful sometimes. Professionals know the value of more ports as it allows more connectivity at one time.
It also has a couple of USB 3.1 USB ports that enhance the data transmission speed.
AMD Processor: For graphic works, AMD processors are recommended, the Lenovo Ideapad s145 also uses the 7th generation AMD processor.
The Radeon R4 graphics will increase the GPU performance for even better picture quality. With its latest processor, it increases the usability and performance of other hardware components.
3. ASUS F512JA-AS34 Vivobook 15
This ASUS Vivobook 15 is the most stylish and perfectly balanced laptop available in the market. Anyone will love its design on the very first look for its thin-bezel screen and body finish.
This laptop is considered one the best laptop for its price with its pro features and quality.
It comes with an Intel i3 first-generation processor, 8GB ram, and a 128 GB SSD to deliver a good performance.
No doubt that the processor is a bit outdated, but the SSD will balance the performance. This laptop is a choice for thousands of students and freelancers around the globe.
Small features can make any product a high-end one. The laptop has plenty of features such as Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint sensor, and smooth touchpad. You cannot get a better product under its price range. Have a look at its features:
Quick Features
Backlit Keyboard: Undoubtedly, Backlit Keyboards are only featured on inexpensive mobile workstations. Asus Vivobook is not expensive or a workstation but has Backlit Keyboard.
This can be very helpful when working at night, and you don’t want to turn on the room light to just see the keyboard.
Thin Bezel Design: When it comes to budgeted machines, finding a well-designed laptop can be heed. The ASUS Vivo book 5 features a thin bezel design that gives an extra widescreen feel.
The screen is not too large, but the thin edge design gives a widescreen feel.
Multiple Ports: The Asus Vivobook 15 has all the latest ports such as HDMI, USB 3, USB C, and SD card slot. These increase the connectivity of your laptop.
There is no need to carry dongles ad that stuffs all the time with the laptop. This is a very important point to be considered when buying a computer.
4. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 15 – Video Editing Laptop Under 500
Whether you are doing a freelancing job or a student who needs a Photoshop laptop, you should look at Lenovo Ideapad 3. It is a budgeted laptop with all the features for photoshop work.
The laptop’s design is very simple and sleek and is highly liked by many users worldwide.
It comes with a 128 Gb SSD, 4 Gb Ram, and an AMD processor. It does not come with a dedicated graphics card, but the ADM Ryzen 3 processor will take care of it.
The Windows S version is installed on it, which means you can only use the Windows store application, which is not fun.
The only thing user do not like about this laptop is its battery life. It does not have a full day battery life. This laptop features a strong keyboard for typists and writers.
AS n laptop is perfect for all tasks, Lenovo Ideapad 3 will result in a good buy.
You should look at the features discussed below that you must go through to know more about this laptop.
Quick Features
Affordable price: When we talk about its price, calling it the best-performance laptop for its price will not be working.
As photos is a powerful application, it needs updated hardware and software. This laptop will run photoshop software efficiently.
Best-quality audio: You may have seen high-end laptops but with weak speakers, but Lenovo Ideapad 3 uses Dopoundsy Audio technology for the best-quality audio.
This feature makes this laptop great for entertainment purposes.
SSD Memory: Unlike HDD memory. SSD is much faster and more reliable. This laptop uses M2 Solid-state Drive that will balance the 4 GB ram and older processor.
It not only improves the access and booting time but also provides better data transmission speed.
5. New HP 15.6-inch laptop
For professionals or photographers who need a mobile workstation, a New HP laptop will be a good choice.
It has all the features that a user will need, such as fast memory, neat design, and quality built. You should have a keen look to decide whether this will be good for you or not.
Suppose we compare its price to its features, this laptop is worth its value. This laptop is at the top of all the reviewed products because of its design, quality, and performance. This laptop features 8GB Ram and 128 GB SSD that will do all tasks efficiently.
It has all the latest ports available such as USB-C, SD card slot, HDMI, etc., for better connectivity.
This laptop features an i3 processor that allows doing multiple tasks at the same time. The True vision camera makes it a great laptop for video conferencing and calls, etc.
Following are some key features of this New HP laptop.
Quick Features
Sleek design: This laptop’s design is very simple and sleek and is a choice for thousands of users worldwide. The placement of speakers is perfect, and one will enjoy a great movie-watching ad listening experience. The design is not too hefty, making it a mobile workstation.
Touchscreen: Unlike most budgeted laptops, the New Hp laptop comes with a Touch screen display.
It increases the usability of the laptops. Some applications can be used smoothly on touchscreens, such as games or 3D graphic programs.
Intel UHD graphics: This Laptop does not come with a dedicated GPU but features Intel UHD graphics that will allow streaming and using high-definition applications. This feature of the HP laptop makes it a great choice for entertainment.
6. Lenovo Flex 5 – Best Video Editing Laptops Under 500
This Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is one of the lightest laptops that is available in the market. This Chromebook’s design is the choice of many users worldwide with its slim screen and keyboard panel.
If you just need a laptop for light work such as surfing, video streaming or writing, etc., there cannot be any other better choice than this.
This Chromebook comes with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB SSD which will result in high perming. If you need this laptop for photoshop work, there are many other choices out on the market.
For beginner’s level photoshop, this machine will work, but for larger PST files, you need an up-to-date hardware laptop.
It uses Chrome OS which is very high-performing and user-friendly. You don’t have to be professional to interact with this Chromebook.
Its touchscreen display makes it a 2-in-1 display. Lenovo Chromebook flex comes full HD screen making it great for streaming movies and playing light games.
Quick Features
Touchscreen: The Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 features a touchscreen display that increases the usability of the laptop.
This feature makes it a 2-in-1 device, making it the choice of thousands of students worldwide. With its 360-degree rotation, it can be used as a tab.
Chrome OS: Unlike most laptops, this laptop comes with Chrome OS installed. It is one of the lightest operating systems available in the market.
This operating system is very easy to use and user-friendly; you can use this operating system efficiently after only a few uses.
Great Design and Battery: The design of the Lenovo Chromebook Flex 5 is very futuristic. The black finish makes it even more beautiful.
It comes with a Li-ion battery that can last up to 10 hours, which is quite impressive. You can carry this laptop anywhere without worrying about its battery life.
7. HP Chromebook x360 14-inch laptop
HP Chromebook x360 14-inch laptop is 2 in 1 laptop that can be used as a laptop or a tab. It uses Chrome Operating System that is light and efficient as well.
This laptop does not seem good when we look at its specs, but it has great performance and quality. It is one of the best-selling chrome OS laptops for its design and its features.
This laptop features 4 Gb of RAM and a 32 GB Solid-state drive, which is not so impressive.
It is designed to get rotated to 360 degrees to use Touch operated applications or games. This machine will be the best choice for students and for those who do light tasks on computers.
It has only 32 GB of memory which is the down point of this laptop, but it accompanies an SD card reader that you can use to increase the storage.
This machine is made for very basic use such as surfing, writing and video streaming, etc. You should see other products if you need a laptop for professional work.
Quick Features
High-Quality: When it comes to HP laptops’ quality, there is no compromise in delivering quality.
All the material used for its manufacturing is of high quality; there is no need to worry about its quality. It is not an up-to-date date laptop but will work fine for most of the tasks.
2 in 1 laptop: HP Chromebook x360’s screen can be rotated to 360 degrees, turning it in tablet mode.
The touchscreen display makes it easier to play games ad do multiple tasks at the same time. It will be a good choice for students and freelancers with its limited specifications.
Play Store Support: As the HP Chromebook x360 uses Chrome OS, you can download various applications and games. It is a versatile operating system that can efficiently run android applications without any third-party application, such emulator.
Buying Guide For Best Laptops for Photoshop Under 500
When choosing the best laptop for photoshop under 500, no such machine is designed for a specific task.
However, some laptops perform great for some tasks such as gaming or some sort of Graphical work. It can be very hard to choose between a variety of available items.
Suppose you think of doing graphical stuff on some normal laptop. In that case, there is no choice because photoshop programmers are powerful and require powerful hardware to run.
The minimum requirements of programs are mostly written on the download site. Still, better specifications and hardware will make your work more efficient.
We have designed a buying guide to support you in selecting the best possible machine for photoshop work. In this guide, all the things that must be considered when buying a new laptop for photoshop.
Specifications:
The minimum requirements are written on the product’s website, but never consider buying the same spec laptop.
For good performance, the hardware of the laptop must be more than the minimum requirements. Following are the minimum required hardware specifications for photoshop software.
- 8 GB RAM
- 2 G Hz Processor
- 128/256 GB SSD
- 2 GB Graphic Dedicated Graphic card (minimum)
RAM:
If you are just running some small applications and photoshop only, then the 8GB ram is enough. If you multitask for graphical work such as video editing software also, then the RAM must be upgraded to 12 to 16 GB.
The 8 GB Ram will also work, but you must see an upgraded laptop for even better performance.
Memory:
If you can’t understand, you have 8 or 16 GB of RAM but do not have good performance; it may be due to slow memory.
A solid-state drive is the fastest secondary memory available in the market; it can double your computer’s performance. The SS Drive is much more expensive than the traditional Hard disk drive, but it is worth its value.
GPU:
A laptop for photoshop work must have a minimum of 2GB of dedicated Graphic card. Without a Dedicated GPU, there will be no benefit of 16 GB RAM or SSD.
Good Graphics card machines are designed for gamers with better graphics processing and performance. It is the most important requirement for any photoshop software.
Display:
To get accurate colors and brightness, choose a laptop that comes with an IPS display. The IPS screens deliver better color accuracy and view angles.
More color accuracy will help you design even greater color combinations ad contracts.
Read Reviews:
Buying a new machine can be a very hefty investment for some people; therefore, one must choose a laptop after keen research.
A built-in Dedicated GPU machine can be too expensive there so it is very important to choose the best one. Do proper research before ordering online, and read reviews and ratings to know what product will be best according to your needs.
Price:
It is recommended to always compare the prices of different products from different companies. Choose the product with the best specs and best price. Never stick to the cheapest product due to low-quality material and quality.
You can also check out my favorite Astrophotography laptops list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the most related and frequently asked questions that people have.
Can photoshop run on the 4GB RAM computer?
The software may get installed on your computer but will not run efficiently. The program will lag when opening large Photoshop files for webpages and billboards, design, etc. In short, the program will not run smoothly. Photoshop software is very powerful and requires powerful hardware as well.
Rather than trying Photoshop with 4GB Ram, you should upgrade your machine. Many other factors can affect your photoshop usability, such as crashing without reason, etc.
Why is Solid-State Drive preferred to be used in photoshop?
Solid State Drive is the fastest secondary memory SSDs provide better copying, accessing, and booting speeds. You can see comparison videos between an SSD and HDD memory. If You haven’t used SSD before, then you will be experiencing a cool performance.
With the increased SSD performance, you can multitask without getting your computer stuck, as it can be very frustrating when any issue occurs to your computer. Unlike HDD, SSD is safer and quieter.
What are the minimum requirements to install photoshop?
It depends on what photoshop product or version you are using. The latest version of photoshop minimum requires 8GB RAM, 128 GB SSD, 2 GB Dedicated Graphic Card, and the latest OS version. For down-dated models, the requirements may be lower than this.
According to experts, the recommended requirements depend on the magnitude of the projects you will be working on. If you are designing big Billboard banners, you must get a fully upgraded machine with more powerful hardware.
Is a Dedicated Graphics card mandatory?
Yes, a minimum @GB graphic card is required for it. Suppose you think of using photoshop on normal office machines. In that case, that will not be a great idea as photoshop programs are very powerful and require powerful hardware and an appropriate version of the operating system.
Without GPU, simple editing is possible, but there is no other choice for professional-type work. A graphic also must be of high quality and manufactured well for the best performance for years.
Whether MacOS is better or Windows?
Without any doubt, Apple has a great reputation in the market, but there is nothing wrong if you being a Windows user. It depends on the usability and practice of any operating system. The operating system will not affect the functionality of the photoshop program.
Conclusion
All the above-reviewed best laptops for photoshop under 500 are of high quality and will be best for photoshop work, but if you need to choose the best one, Acer Aspire 5 will be the best choice.
It has all the features that can be expected from a budget but high-performance laptop.
When we talk about this laptop’s design, it is very slim and futuristic, making many users choose it. The size is perfect to fit in a traditional laptop bag.
As it has plenty of ports, there is no need to carry dongles and connectors with it. When we see its price, this laptop is affordable as well as high quality.
