12 Best Laptop for Photoshop under 500 dollars

If you are looking for Best Laptop for Photoshop under 500 dollars then you should read this article. Adobe Photoshop is an intensive program that puts your laptop to its limits, and only a capable laptop can handle the workload.

The hunt for the best laptop for Photoshop becomes even more difficult when you are on a certain budget.

Although under the price tag of $500, there are plenty of laptops available but each one of them is not the most suitable for this purpose.

That is why for this article we have only included the laptops which have performed outstandingly during our tests.

And in this price range, you may have to do some compromises since manufacturers have to cut corners somewhere.

So don’t expect every laptop with a metal build, however, in terms of performance these laptops provide you pretty decent power to run Photoshop smoothly.

12 Best Laptop for Photoshop under 500 dollars in 2023

As we have mentioned above searching for a laptop will require you to invest your time and effort. And if you don’t want to do that then you can simply read this article.

To find the 12 Best Laptops for Photoshop under $500 in 2023 with their detailed reviews and test results. So let’s jump straight into the article to find you the best laptop to use in Photoshop according to your preferences and requirements.

Also, you can explore intolaptop.com to find out plenty of more laptops that come with different processors. 

1. Acer Aspire 5

“Compact & Lightweight”

Despite the fact that Acer Aspire 5 fits in your backpack awkwardly it is still a very lightweight and portable laptop. You can easily be carried with you with hardly feeling any weight.

With time Acer has improved the Aspire series laptops a lot which is a good thing that the manufacturer is listening to consumers. Since it is a budget laptop don’t expect any styling elements or aggressive design.

The reason is it is not the purpose of this device, it is intended for people who wanted to have a capable device under the price tag of $500 which can run Adobe Photoshop smoothly.

Although the Fame is made out of plastic at the same time the body is made out of metal to provide it durability and ruggedness. The chassis of the device certainly shows some signs of flimsiness which is normal in this case.

We have also noticed during our reviews that because of the shiny surface, it took a lot of fingerprints. The keyboard it features is pretty good under this price range and it also features a numeric pad.

Connectivity is excellent and you have all the necessary ports on either side of the device to connect essential devices.

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2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3i

“Modern Hardware Configurations”

Let’s talk about the downside of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3i at the beginning, the display it features is Full HD but it is LCD panel instead of an LED.

As we have mentioned we don’t have the margin to complain much here since manufacturers have to cut corners somewhere under the price tag of $500.

On the other hand apart from this downside The Other specifications are excellent and in fact far better as compared to what the majority of the rivals are offering. For example, it offers you a newer processor which is not only more capable but also allows you to multi-task.

On top of that, you can get the latest version of Windows which is not common in this price range. It could be an ideal device for anyone who wanted a laptop to run Photoshop smoothly because of the hardware specifications.

The build quality of this laptop is also excellent and the design doesn’t look old school. Aesthetically it is an elegant-looking laptop which kind of offers a premium appearance when you compare it with other similar laptops.

The battery backup is however barely okay and when you are traveling with this device don’t forget to take the charger with you.

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3. HP Pavilion 2023

“Streamlined Slim & Sleek Design”

The Pavilion Series by HP offers budget-friendly flagship devices for works like Adobe Photoshop. This HP Pavilion 2023 is equipped with capable hardware which will provide you excellent performance under the price range of $500.

And don’t get the word budget friendly in the wrong way, this laptop is although affordable but at the same time the performance will not disappoint you.

On top of that it is a pretty elegant-looking laptop despite the fact that it offers the traditional light grey color scheme. Even the entire keyboard is in the same color scheme which, to be honest, makes it look more streamlined.

On the other hand, the keyboard is not a separate panel and it is integrated into the paste unit. The keyboard deck area has some textures which continues on the palm rest area as well.

The bar-style speaker is located above the keyboard and that area also provides ventilation for the internal components. The design of this HP Pavilion is very sleek and slim which makes it a portable and compact device.

That keyboard also includes a numeric pad and the keys are big enough to let you type comfortably. That connectivity options are good but not great but you can compensate for it by getting an extra docking station.

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4. ASUS Vivobook 2022

“Simple, Productive & Practical”

The ASUS Vivobook laptop is a budget-friendly device that offers you performance and portability in the same place. Don’t expect any frills or styling elements, the design is rather plain and it comes in the traditional light grey color scheme.

The border around the display is comparatively thinner in the display itself is a full HD IPS panel. However, it would have been so much better if this would have been more bright.

You can conveniently work indoors but when you work the outside the not-so-bright display will not help much. The device is comparatively slim but the manufacturer hasn’t sacrificed connectivity options to achieve this design.

You have got more than enough ports to connect all of your essential devices. On the other hand, the hardware configuration of this device enables you to run Adobe Photoshop smoothly without any issues.

Just like the newer device, Vivobook comes with a keyboard that is integrated into the base unit and it is not a separate panel. The new numeric pad included in the keyboard is pretty comfortable for you.

Under the price range of $500, it could be a great option for consumers who want a performance device with portability. The battery backup of this Vivobook is pretty decent as well enabling you to work on the go if you require.

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5. Dell Inspiron 15 3525

“Lift Hinge Design”

A stylish and modern-looking device build out of plastic it is what the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is offering to the consumers. At the bottom of the display lid, you will find a rounded edge which kind of lifts the laptop slightly upwards when you open it.

By doing so the internal components get a sufficient amount of ventilation and you can type at a more convenient angle. Under the price range of $500, it is certainly a very modern and elegant-looking device.

In fact, if you consider the looks and appearance of this laptop it looks even better than some more expensive devices. You get a sufficient amount of connectivity options on both sides of the base unit.

And still, it is not a very bulky laptop and you can easily be carried with you wherever you go because of the excellent portability. The display it features is a full HD IPS panel which also happens to be touch capable.

We were impressed to find out that the refresh rate of this display is 120 Hertz. When we tested out Adobe Photoshop on this device we were not disappointed by the performance.

It is powered with comparatively latest hardware components so can get maximum productivity out of your laptop.

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6. Acer Swift 3

“Big Bright Display”

When we unboxed this Acer Swift 3 we were surprised by the fact that the chassis of this device is made out of aluminum.

Although it is not the thing to get shocked when you are searching for a laptop under the price range of $500 then things like that matter a lot.

And it hasn’t stopped impressing as there that display its features not only comes with narrow borders but also that display itself is a Full HD panel.

The brightness levels are also excellent which allows you to work in outdoor lighting conditions conveniently. Any of you who is looking for a laptop with a big display under the range to use Photoshop could consider this Acer Swift the best device in this list.

On top of that it is equipped with powerful enough hardware which can provide you seamless performance. Because of the size of this laptop, the keyboard also includes a numeric pad and it also happens to be backlit.

Because of the metal-constructed chassis, this device is slightly hefty but at the same time offers more durability as compared to plastic build devices.

Apart from that the design of this device is comparatively slim and the connectivity options it offers are more than enough for your essential devices.

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7. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5

“Modern Slim & Sleek Design”

Although Acer Swift Go offers a pretty simple design in all honesty is kind of perfect for this segment. Our review unit was in traditional silver color with simple styling elements.

On the other hand, it is not an unattractive device at all the thing is it is intended to provide maximum productivity and performance under this price segment.

Instead of offering styling elements, the manufacturers have equipped it with the latest and most capable hardware. On top of that the aesthetics of the device are pretty identical to what consumers often see these days in similar devices.

In terms of performance, it will not disappoint you at all if you want to buy it for biology majors. The processor is fast and it doesn’t slow down even if you do multitasking apart from your work.

According to our test results, this laptop is pretty rigid and both the base unit and the display lid don’t flex. The entire device is built out of aluminum which provides durability and makes it stands out as a more premium device.

The keyboard layout is decent however the up-down arrow keys are pretty narrow. On the other hand, the trackpad also looks somewhat cramped but it is pretty common in compact devices like this. 

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8. HP 15.6

“Lightweight But Capable “

The HP 15.6 inches is a great option for consumers who are searching for a budget device under the price range of $500. Not only it provides you with the comparatively latest hardware but also provides a newer design as well.

This laptop is very lightweight and compact enabling easy traveling and work on the go. The hardware as we have mentioned earlier is very capable and runs intensive programs like Adobe Photoshop smoothly.

The integrated intel iris xe graphics are more than enough to handle the load as compared to previous-gen graphics chips. The keyboard includes a numeric pad in which the keys are big with a decent travel distance.

The display features are also full HD and the brightness levels are good allowing you to work in outdoor lighting conditions comfortably as well.

This HP laptop is very thin compared to similar laptops however because of that HP has compromised some connectivity options. Longer battery backup enables you to work from anywhere even while traveling seamlessly.

The installed SSD drive is all although very fast but it is only 256 GB. But the good thing is you can afterward upgrade to a more spacious one. During our review, we haven’t noticed any performance-related issues and this HP Notebook.

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9. Dell Latitude 7490

“Practical Work Device” 

The laptop which belongs to the Latitude series by Dell has given many great work laptops, especially for purposes like Adobe Photoshop.

The latest models are expensive due to there best in class hardware configurations. However, under the price range of $500, you will find some year older models which are still capable of running any intensive and demanding program smoothly.

The best part about Dell Latitude laptops is that they always offer you excellent connectivity options including an SD card reader.

This Dell Latitude is pretty rugged and strong in terms of built quality. The hinges which hold the display in place are very sturdy and take doesn’t let it wobble too much.

The keyboard doesn’t include the numeric pad because of the compact and portable size of the device. But still, it is pretty comfortable to type even for longer periods of time.

That trackpad on the other hand is slightly cramped despite the fact that it is reasonably responsive and accurate. The weight of the device is slightly on the higher side however you can easily take it with you anywhere you go because of its portable aesthetics.

The battery backup is also pretty decent to keep you get going with your work while traveling.

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10. Apple MacBook Pro (Intel)

“Value For Money Device”

After the introduction of the Apple MacBook Pro equipped with M1 and M2 processors, the company entered into a new era of exceptional laptops.

However, it is also a fact that MacBook laptops which were equipped with Intel processors are still an excellent choice especially if you want to get a powerful laptop under the price range of $500.

On top of that these 2015 onward MacBook laptops can run demanding programs like Adobe Photoshop smoothly without any performance-related issues.

In fact, Photoshop runs better on MacBook devices as compared to their Windows counterparts. First of all the built quality of the MacBook is best in class, it is made out of unibody premium metal shell.

Although the core design is exactly the same still the kind of features it offers under this price range make it a value-to-money device.

The display of this MacBook is the liquid retina which is Apple-exclusive technology. It is very bright and high-resolution allowing you to be more productive with your work.

The battery backup is not as good as the latest models but still, you get comparatively decent juice out of it. The magic island-style keyboard and spacious and accurate trackpad enable you to work comfortably without getting tired. 

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11. Lenovo ThinkPad T590

“Professional Devices With Upgraded Design” 

We have reviewed different variants of the Lenovo Thinkpad already and just like them the Lenovo Thinkpad T-Series has also gone through a redesign.

As compared to the previous model this thing pad has been entirely revamped. Our review unit was entirely matte black with a few red accents here and there.

While we tested out this device we found it to be very well made and rugged. Especially the Hinges which hold the display in place are pretty strong and don’t let it wobble too much.

Another thing we like about this Thinkpad is that instead of integrated click buttons it offers physical clip buttons. Which in our experience are more accurate and easy to use, however, it depends from person to person.

The display it features is a Full HD but the bottom border is pretty thick. The keyboard it features is a separate panel, unlike the newer laptops where the keyboard is integrated into the base unit.

On the other hand, the trackpad is not two species but certainly, it is responsive and easy to use. The hardware specifications make this device among the most suitable laptops for Photoshop under the price range of $500.

Since it is Lenovo the build quality is excellent and everything is well put together.

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12. Acer Aspire 5 2022

“Excellent Connectivity & Battery” 

The Acer Aspire S15 is precisely like what an ideal budget laptop should be for Adobe Photoshop. Although it is slightly hefty we can’t complain here since it comes under the price tag of $500.

The majority of the laptop is constructed out of plastic however the good thing is that it also offers metal texture which provides it kind of premium look.

The device is not too thick in the manufacturer still manages to equip it with excellent connectivity options. Which allows you to connect all of your essential devices at the same time.

The borders around the display are kind of thick but at the same time, it offers a Full HD display which is great because of the fact that the majority of similar laptops are offering 720p.

The keyboard layout is pretty clean, the keys are big and it also includes and numeric pad. The trackpad it offers is decently spacious and responsive however it is slightly on the left side instead of the center.

When we tested out this device we were pleased to find out that in terms of performance, it will not disappoint you. All in all, it could be a great option for you under this price segment especially when you consider the excellent battery backup.

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Last update on 2024-04-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API