What happens when you want to shop on a budget and without having to compromise on the hardware or software features, you need for your projects? Well, it’s the right time for you to make an informed decision. In this guide, we have identified some of the best laptops for photoshop under 500 brands that you should consider.
Remember that photography is a highly competitive niche. Whether you are a novice, an advanced professional, or just a photography enthusiast, you will benefit highly when you have a good laptop. You will not only get the best value for your money but a powerful machine that lets you work with class and style.
That said, with the large diversity of laptops and features out there, selection is not often easy. We have prepared this list to help you get started:
Our Recommendations
- 2020 HP 14“ Laptop AMD A9-9425 up to 3.7 GHz – Best Overall
- Newest Lenovo 15.6″ HD Flagship Laptop PC – Best In Features
- 2019 ASUS VivoBook F510QA 15.6” FHD Laptop Computer – Best In Graphics
- Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop – Best Quick Recharge Laptop
- Lenovo IdeaPad S145 15.6″ Laptop – Best In Durability
- Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display – Best In Portability
2020 HP 14“ Laptop AMD A9-9425 up to 3.7 GHz
Change how you work on your photography projects when you have the 2024 HP 14-inch laptop. How can this help you change? Well, the laptop boasts of all the unique hardware and software features that you need to stay competitive.
For instance, the laptop is powered by the latest 7th generation AMD processor, which provides blazing fast speeds. Even more, the laptop has an outstanding 14 inch-bright and glossy screen that does well to maintain the colors in your projects. Even if this laptop is compact, its durable, and the fully-featured design makes it a reliable resource for working on Photoshop. You will find it easy to carry around to the beach, the office, school, conferences, or just to move around the house.
Furthermore, the 4GB RAM on this unit is more than perfect for multitasking applications. As far as file management goes, you will also be pleased with 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD). The SSD offers blazing fast speeds and is more efficient than an HDD when in use. Your laptop will start up fast, and barely produce any sound when in use.
The Good
- Powered with the latest 7th generation AMD processor
- Has a 128GB Solid-state hard drive for file management
- Compact and ultra-slim laptop design
The Bad
- Only supports 1366 x 768 high-resolution levels
Newest Lenovo 15.6″ HD Flagship Laptop PC
Equip yourself with the Lenovo 15.6 HD laptop, which also has all the features you need to work on your projects like a professional. For instance, the laptop comes with a powerful AMD Radeon R5 graphics fast, which is perfect for photo editing projects. Equipped with an AMD A9-9425 dual-core processor, you are sure to open your photography applications with ease.
Even more, the laptop also comes with stereo speakers, which are more than perfect for delivering quality sound. As far as wireless functions go, this unit has Bluetooth, which offers convenient file management.
You should always remember to check the overall weight of your chosen laptop, and this plays a major role in portability. Weighing in at as little as 4.6 lbs., this unit is compact, which makes it easy to move around, and also offers portability benefits. The laptop also sits stable on your desk surface, and the high-quality display offers rich content.
The Good
- Comes with a WLED backlight display for quality graphics
- Has AMD Radeon R5 graphics perfect for photoshop
- Supports Bluetooth 4.2 technology
- Also has an inbuilt HD webcam for quality content
The Bad
- Poor Bluetooth connectivity and range
2019 ASUS VivoBook F510QA 15.6” FHD Laptop Computer
Meet all your unique Photoshop goals when you have the 2024 ASUS Vivobook F510QA laptop computer. The laptop comes with a powerful AMD Quad-Core processor, which makes it convenient to switch between photo editing applications. Even more, the laptop has a 15.6 anti-glare full HD wide-view display, which delivers exceptional graphics quality. To back this feature up is the equally outstanding AMD R7 graphics chipset with shared memory.
On top of that, the laptop comes with a powerful 4GB DDR4 2400Mhz SDRAM, which will make you a true multitasker. With this unit, you are sure of a hardware-intensive user experience each time – perfect for working on Photoshop projects. When it comes to storage, the F510QA laptop has you covered with the exceptional 128GB SSD.
Quality does not end there when you have this laptop. Wait, there is more? Yes! The laptop has a nano bezel display, which takes a small footprint in your workspace.
The Good
- Comes with a powerful AMD quad-core processor
- Has a 15.6-inch anti-glare and Full HD display
- Equipped with a 4GB DDR4 2400 MHz SDRAM
- 128GB SSD offers a compact warehouse for file storage
The Bad
- N/A
Lenovo Flex 14 2-in-1 Convertible Laptop
When you want to take your inspiration in Photoshop to the next level, you will do well when you have a powerful laptop. Thus, consider the Lenovo Flex 14-inch laptop, which offers up to 8 hours of battery life, and with quick recharge technology for optimal efficiency levels. Thus, you can use it to power your laptop computer, up to 80%, and in as little as one hour.
Aside from having a fully functional design aesthetic, this unit also has a stylish finish. As such, it makes up for an excellent way for you to work on your photography projects.
Even more, the laptop is available with an active pen, which you can use to take notes each time. Thanks to the inclusion of Windows 10, you will enjoy the useful functionalities you need to work on Photoshop like a professional. Plus, the laptop comes with a Trueblock privacy shutter, which lets you close the webcam for optimal privacy.
The Good
- Offers up to 8 hours of battery and charges up to 80% in one hour
- 10-point touchscreen display for productivity
- Comes with a convenient true block privacy shutter
The Bad
- N/A
Lenovo IdeaPad S145 15.6″ Laptop
Get the Lenovo IdeaPad S125 laptop and instantly become a professional Photoshop user. This laptop helps you achieve this goal in many ways. It has many unique features that will give you a competitive edge, even when shopping on a budget. The laptop may pack many unique features for photography projects, but it’s also compact and leaves a small footprint in your workspace.
The first example would be the inclusion of Intel HD graphics, which is combined with an energy-efficient LED display. It’s a unique display that delivers quality content while also offering optimal energy consumption at the same time. Like you would expect with all high-performance laptops on the market, this unit is durable and offers longevity benefits.
Also, the Lenovo IdeaPad S145 laptop has a 1TB hard drive, which offers more than sufficient space to store your photography projects. Plus, the inclusion of Windows 10 on this unit means that you have a fully functional laptop for your needs.
The Good
- Comes with a large 1TB hard drive
- Also has an 8GB Ram for multitasking
- Has Intel graphics UHD 610
The Bad
- Could use an SSD instead of an HDD
Acer Aspire 5 Slim Laptop, 15.6 inches Full HD IPS Display
Powerful and portable. These are the only words you need to describe this wonderful machine. How does it meet such a description? Well, this laptop boasts of all the unique features you need to produce outstanding Photoshop projects.
For example, the Acer Aspire slim laptop comes with a unique AMD Ryzen 3 3200U dual-core processor. The processor offers blazing fast speeds and makes it possible to use heavyweight programs such as photoshop. Even more, the laptop has 4GB RAM, which offers adequate space for multitasking each time. More so, the file storage system on this unit is the 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD. The SSD is highly efficient and does not have any moving components.
You will also be pleased with the 15.6 Full HD display, which is perfect for working on your photoshop projects. To back this feature up, the Acer brand has done well to include AMD Radeon Vega 3 mobile graphics.
The Good
- Comes with a powerful AMD Ryzen 3200U dual-core processor
- Also has a 128GB PCIe NVMe SSD for fast file access
- Has a widescreen LED-backlit IPS display
The Bad
- The monitor hinges are not strong enough
Conclusion
Shopping on a budget does not mean that you always have to settle for substandard products. You can still get high-quality products, provided that you have the correct information. With the best laptop for photoshop under 500, you will enjoy high-quality performances for your photo editing projects. Even more, these laptops have high-performance features and sleek designs to make them reliable additions to your workspace.
We have the top pick being the HP 14“ Laptop, and the 2024 ASUS VivoBook F510QA making up as a formidable contender. That said, the remaining models on this list are also worthwhile considerations for taking your Photoshop projects to the next level.