Best Laptops under $500 for gaming

Best Pick

Apple MacBook Pro 16" MVVJ2LL/A Space Gray 2019

32.8 Gaming Score
16" 2.60GHz 16GB RAM 512GB SSD AMD Radeon RX 5300M
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Apple iPad Air 11" MC9W4LL/A Space Gray 2025

6.1 Gaming Score
11" M3 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Apple M3
Why we recommend this

Driven by the Apple M3 chip and an 11-inch Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color and ultralow reflectivity, it delivers smooth performance for creative tasks and multitasking. The ultralight build and Apple Pencil Pro support, alongside iPadOS’s Stage Manager, create a flexible on-the-go workstation with desktop-class app multitasking. This tablet is ideal for students and mobile professionals needing a portable, all-day device for note-taking, document scanning, and 4K video calls.

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Apple iPad 11" A16 Yellow 2025

5.7 Gaming Score
11" Apple A16 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Apple A16
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Apple 11"

5.1 Gaming Score
11" M3 0 128GB SSD
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Apple Beats Studio Pro MC2P4LLA-MS90 White

2.9 Gaming Score
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Best Laptops under $1,000 for gaming

Best Pick

Apple MacBook Air 15.3" M4 Sky Blue 2025

35 Gaming Score
15.3" Apple M4 16GB RAM 256GB SSD Apple (10-Core)
Why we recommend this

Powered by an Apple M4 10-core chip, this 1.51kg laptop delivers up to 18 hours of battery life in a chassis under half an inch thin. This Geek Squad Certified Refurbished model includes all original accessories and a 90-day warranty, and the 15.3-inch 500-nit Liquid Retina display delivers crisp, color-accurate visuals. It's best for business users and content consumers needing a lightweight, all-day laptop for productivity and streaming without demanding graphics workloads.

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Price $854
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Apple MacBook Air 15.3" M4 Sky Blue 2025 laptop

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Apple MacBook Neo 13" MHFJ4LL/A Blush 2026

12.7 Gaming Score
13" Apple A18 8GB RAM 512GB SSD Apple A18 Pro 5-core
Why we recommend this

The Apple A18 Pro chip with 6-core CPU and 5-core

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Apple MacBook Neo 13" A18 Pro Chip Citrus 2026

12.1 Gaming Score
13" Apple A18 8GB RAM 256GB SSD Apple A18 Pro 5-core
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Apple iPad mini A17 Pro Starlight 2024

11.8 Gaming Score
2266" A17 0 512GB SSD A17 Pro chip
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Apple MacBook Pro 13" MPXQ2LL/A Space Gray 2017

7.5 Gaming Score
13" Intel 7th Generation Core i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Intel Iris Plus Graphics 640
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Apple iPad Air 13" M3 Purple 2025

6.6 Gaming Score
13" M3 0 512GB SSD
Why we recommend this

Apple's M3 chip drives a 13-inch Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color and ultralow reflectivity, delivering sharp 2732x2048 visuals. Weighing just 0.62kg and featuring Apple Intelligence with on-device privacy safeguards, it balances portability with secure AI assistance across iPadOS. This tablet suits graphic designers and video editors who rely on the Apple Pencil Pro for precise 4K editing and color-critical work on the move.

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Apple 13"

5.5 Gaming Score
13" M3 0 512GB SSD
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Apple 13" laptop
Price $899

Best Laptops under $2,000 for gaming

Best Pick

Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M5 Silver 2025

42.1 Gaming Score
14.2" Apple M5 24GB RAM 1024GB SSD Apple (10-Core)
Why we recommend this

Equipped with the Apple M5 chip’s 10‑core CPU and 10‑core GPU, the 14.2‑inch 120Hz OLED display hits 1600 nits peak brightness and delivers up to 24 hours of battery life. The laptop further differentiates with a 12MP Center Stage camera, studio‑quality mics, six‑speaker Spatial Audio, and deep iPhone integration for a unified workflow. Best for business professionals and students needing all‑day AI performance and seamless Apple ecosystem connectivity.

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Apple MacBook Air 15.3" M4 Midnight 2025

40.2 Gaming Score
15.3" Apple M4 32GB RAM 1024GB SSD Apple (10-Core)
Why we recommend this

A silent fanless design houses the Apple M4 10-core chip, delivering a sharp 15.3-inch 2880x1864 IPS display and a mere 1.51kg weight. The 32GB unified memory and 1TB SSD handle heavy multitasking, while the backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID add everyday convenience. It’s ideal for developers, students, and entertainment-focused users who need portability and silent operation, not gaming performance.

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Apple 15.3"

27.4 Gaming Score
15.3" M5 16GB RAM 1000GB SSD Apple M5 10-core
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Apple iPad Pro 11" M4 Silver 2024

7.6 Gaming Score
11" M4 16GB RAM 2000GB SSD Apple M4 10-core GPU
Why we recommend this

The M4 chip’s 10-core CPU and GPU drive an 11-inch OLED Ultra Retina XDR display with 1600 nits peak brightness and offer a glare-cutting nano-texture glass option. Apple Pencil Pro and the haptic Magic Keyboard transform it into a precise creative workstation, with Thunderbolt and Wi-Fi 6E for rapid data transfers. It’s best for mobile 4K video editors who need ProRes capture, accurate color, and all-day battery life in a lightweight build.

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Premium Laptops for gaming

Best Pick

Apple MacBook Pro 14.2" M4 Max Space Black 2024

46 Gaming Score
14.2" Apple M4 Max 128GB RAM 4096GB SSD Apple (40-Core)
Why we recommend this

The M4 Max 16-core chip and 40-core GPU with 128GB unified memory deliver desktop-class performance in a 1.6kg chassis, while the 14.2-inch Mini-LED display peaks at 1600 nits and covers 100% DCI-P3 for accurate color. Its nano-texture glass option eliminates glare without reducing contrast, keeping the screen clear in bright rooms or outdoors. This laptop is best for software developers compiling massive applications, data scientists manipulating terabyte-scale datasets, and video editors working with multiple 8K streams.

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Apple MacBook Air 15.3" M4 Silver 2025

39.5 Gaming Score
15.3" Apple M4 24GB RAM 2048GB SSD Apple (10-Core)
Why we recommend this

The M4's 10-core CPU and GPU on a 3nm process, paired with 24GB unified memory and a 2TB SSD, drive quiet, efficient performance in a 1.51kg chassis and a 15.3-inch 2880x1864 display. Its fanless design and backlit Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, 12MP Center Stage camera, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports add everyday versatility to the premium unibody build. This MacBook Air suits mobile professionals and students needing a large, lightweight Mac for multitasking, photo editing, and media consumption without demanding graphics workloads.

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