Top 10 Best DJ laptops under $500 (REVEALED!)

If you’re in the market for a new laptop for DJing, you’re probably looking for a few key characteristics: You want a laptop that’s light enough to lug around to gigs, but powerful enough to handle software like Serato and Traktor.

You need a laptop that can handle heavy audio and MIDI processing and effects, and you want one that has crisp, clear sound without any glitches or pops.

Earlier, we tested 12 DJ laptops for classroom use to determine which were the best for music production, DJing and audio recording.

We gave each laptop a score based on six criteria: portability, weight, performance, sound, design and price. Ultimately, the ThinkPad X380 Yoga and the Dell Inspiron 15 7000 Gaming Laptop came out on top.

Both of these laptops were most portable and performed well in audio and video tasks. They were also both inexpensive. That said, we recognize that a DJ laptop is a personal piece of equipment.

You might prefer a laptop with a bigger screen, more ports or more processing power. We’ve done our best to narrow down our list to the best DJ laptops under $500, but know that this isn’t a definitive list.

How We Pick & Test?

• Size matters: Small laptops are easier to carry, but they’ll often cost less too. We tested 13-inch models.
• Metal: We looked for models with metal cases, which tend to be more durable than plastic.
• Touch screen: A touch screen makes it easy to operate a laptop without a mouse in the DJ booth.
• Ports: DJ laptops often have fewer ports than business laptops, but DJs often have more peripherals than business users, so we’ve included models with multiple ports.
• Weight: A lightweight laptop makes it easier to carry around, especially in a DJ booth.

Things to consider:

• Portability: It’s recommended that DJs carry a bag that can fit a laptop, DJ mixer, headphones, and tablet. Look for models under 10 pounds.
• Weight: DJs will be moving their laptop from gig to gig, so a lightweight model is a plus. Most models weigh around 5 pounds.
• Performance: The best models sport i5 or i7 processors, 8GB of RAM, and solid-state drives (SSDs).
• Price: Look for laptops under $500.

1. Acer Aspire 5 A515-45-R74Z Slim Laptop:

The Acer Aspire A515-45 is a great budget laptop, and it performs well for (very) light office work. Our testing didn’t reveal any serious problems, but we do wish this laptop had a brighter display, and that Acer had given it to us with a Windows 8 license.

The A515-45’s 15.6-inch display has a 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, which puts it in line with many modern laptops, but its 133 nits of brightness (so much dimmer than 1,000-nit screens) and gray color temperature are below average.

The A515-45’s screen is also dimmer than its competitors’ screens, and its slower 5,500-rpm hard drive means it takes a while to load and copy files.

The A515-45’s processor and graphics performance are very competitive, however, and that is a step up from its similarly priced sibling, the Asus Vivobook E203NA-AH54, which is slower and less powerful.

The A515-45 has a pleasant, serviceable keyboard and decent battery life, and it has a fast SSD and strong speakers, which make it a decent option for basic computing.

Features We Like:

• AMD Ryzen 5 5500U Mobile Processor with AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics – Up to 3.4 GHz – 6 MB Cache – up to 6 Cores – 12 Threads – 35-watt – 15 W Max. TDP – Integrated AMD Radeon Vega 8 Graphics
• 8GB DDR4 Memory
• 256GB NVMe SSD
• 15.6″ Full HD Widescreen Display

Pros
– Good performance
– Good battery life
Cons
– High price

2. Lenovo – 2022 – IdeaPad 1i – Browse Laptop Computer:

The IdeaPad 1i laptop is a perfectly capable entry-level laptop for its $1,100 list price, at least when it comes to performance.

And while this entry-level configuration is adequate, there are better options at this price point, like the HP Stream 7 and Acer Aspire E15.

But if you can live with these limitations, the IdeaPad 1i is a flexible, functional, and sturdy option that will work well for simple tasks, like internet surfing, video watching, social media browsing, and word processing.

The IdeaPad 1i has a 14″ HD display, 4GB of RAM, a 128GB hard drive, an Intel Core i3-1215U processor, and Windows 10 in S Mode (an otherwise standard Windows PC running Windows 10 with the Edge web browser instead of Internet Explorer).

Performance is adequate, but not impressive. The system struggled occasionally with basic tasks like streaming Netflix and Hulu videos, but that’s to be expected at this price point.

Features We Like:

• -Windows 10 in S Mode
• -Intel Core i3-1215U processor
• -4GB memory
• -128GB storage
• -14″ HD display
• -720P camera
• -1 USB 3.0 port
• -1 USB 2.0 port
• -1 HDMI output
• -1 headphone/microphone combo jack
• -1 USB-C port
• -1 VGA port
• -Includes Free 3-month Xbox Game Pass

Pros
– Affordable price tag
– Slim and lightweight
– 14.0″ HD display
– Windows 10 in S Mode
Cons
– Lower performance; Windows 11 S mode
– No USB C

3. Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-32DK Slim Laptop:

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-32DK is a well-made, portable 15.6-inch laptop. It has solid specs, including a 15.6-inch Full HD IPS display, a quad-core processor, and 4GB of RAM.

It’s available in several configurations, including an Intel model with either 8 or 16GB of RAM and either a 256GB or 512GB solid-state drive.

Our review unit came with 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD. The laptop is adequately fast, especially for a $600 laptop. The only slight issue is with the keyboard, which doesn’t feel quite as solid as that of the Lenovo Ideapad 320.

But it’s comfortable to type on and the screen is responsive. The build quality feels solid.

On the downside, battery life isn’t fantastic; in our tests, it lasted about 3 hours and 55 minutes, which is considerably shorter than the 4 hours and 22 minutes of the Lenovo IdeaPad 320.

The Acer Aspire 5 A515-56-32DK is a good laptop for the money, but not a great one, especially not compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad 320. Still, it’s one of the best laptops under $500.

Features We Like:

• -Intel i3-1115G4 (Dual Core) Processor
• -Intel HD Graphics 620
• -4GB DDR4 (1 DIMM)
• -128GB SSD
• -15.6″ Full HD IPS Display (1920 x 1080)
• -802.11AC Wi-Fi (2×2)
• -Bluetooth 4.2
• -HD Webcam
• -Windows 11 Home in S Mode
• -Dual Drive (HDD + SSD)
• -Intel 8th Generation Kaby Lake Core i3 Processor
• -4GB DDR4 2400MHz
• -128GB SSD
• -802.11AC Wireless LAN
• -Accelerated Performance
• -Tablet Mode

Pros
– Thin & Light
– Excellent display
– Comfortable keyboard
Cons
– No USB Type C
– No Thunderbolt 3

4. ASUS VivoBook 15 F515 Laptop:

The ASUS VivoBook F515 is an 11-inch inch laptop that’s built to shave off as much size and weight as possible.

While its 15.6-inch display is disappointingly low resolution (1366 x 768 pixels), its lightweight construction—just 3.9 pounds and 0.7 inches thick—make it a great gift or traveling companion.

The Asus VivoBook F515 is also incredibly portable, yet it has a surprisingly powerful set of features, including two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI output, a card reader, and a MicroSD card reader.

The laptop also comes with an Intel Core i3-1115G4 CPU and 8GB of DDR3 RAM, which is more than adequate for most casual computing tasks. It also has a 128GB SSD.

Features We Like:

• Easy to Use
• Good for Everyday Use
• Not Too Bad
• Great Price

Pros
– Lightweight, comfortable
– Good connectivity options
– Beautiful display
– Great value
Cons
– Average battery life
– Loud fan

5. Jumper 2 in 1 Laptop Tablet 11.6 Inch Full HD 1080P Touchscreen:

The Jumper 2-in-1 Convertible Tablet/Laptop has a solid performance for the price that will appeal to those who primarily use their computer for light office use or casual entertainment tasks.

It has a long battery life that should provide plenty of use on the go, and it only weighs about 3 pounds. The convertible tablet-laptop has a full HD screen, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, and a built-in camera.

The laptop-stand design also makes it easy to use as a tablet, and the detachable keyboard offers extra portability. The tablet part has two USB 3.0 ports, HDMI, microSD, and microSIM card slots.

It also has a fingerprint reader, which we discuss in our review. While we didn’t test it, you can also attach a mouse to one of its USB ports. The keyboard part has a full QWERTY keyboard, a numeric keypad, and a built-in touchpad.

However, the hinges that lock the tablet part into the keyboard part are a bit loose on our unit. This is not a problem, however, because the tablet part is stable on its own, and the hinge flexes quite a bit, so it doesn’t affect functionality.

Features We Like:

• – 11.6 inch IPS FHD touch screen,1920*1080 high resolution,1920*1080 (FHD) 11.6″ IPS touch screen, 178° Wide-view angle, supports multi-touch, 350cd/m2 brightness, no radiation.
• – Quad-core processor, 6GB RAM, 64GB storage, support 256GB TF card expansion.
• – Windows 10 system, supports multi-tasking, and runs fast.
• – One-piece metal shell, 8.5mm ultrathin.
• – Large keycap full-size keyboard, input is easier and more accurate, and more convenient to use.
• – 7 hours battery life, meeting all your daily computing needs.
• – 365-day manufacturer’s warranty.

Pros
– Windows 10
– HDMI port
– 11.6-inch HD display
– 2-in-1 laptop
– Windows tablet
– Bluetooth
– Microphone
– SD card reader
– 2 USB 3.0 ports
– 1 USB 2.0 port
– 2-in-1 detachable keyboard
– 2-year warranty
Cons
– Very heavy
– Large

6. Lenovo 2022 Newest Ideapad 3 Laptop:

Lenovo 2022 is a reliable ultraportable laptop that provides good performance. This laptop offers good battery backup, great display quality, and webcam.

It has a good build quality and weighs only 1.05 kg. It offers 3 hours of Wi-Fi 5 connectivity when fully charged. It is a very affordable notebook and offers exceptional value.

The Lenovo Ideapad 3 (2022) is a fantastic budget laptop for light use, like browsing the internet, videos, and light productivity.

It’s also a good choice if you’re upgrading an older PC that doesn’t have the power you need to switch between multiple programs.

It has good battery life for a laptop its size, and it’s a great media machine for movies, music, or gaming. It’s also relatively cheap, so you probably don’t need to go more than $200 or $300 for this model.

The tradeoff is that you can’t expand the hard drive or RAM, and the keyboard and trackpad feel cheap for this price laptop.

Features We Like:

• -Intel UHD Graphics 620
• -Intel Core i3 Processor
• -8GB DDR4 RAM
• -256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
• -15.6″ HD Touchscreen
• -HD Audio
• -10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet
• -Power Adapter
• -Standard 3.5mm Stereo Audio Jack
• -HDMI
• -2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• -1 x USB 2.0 Type-A
• -1 x HDMI
• -1 x Multi-format SD Media Card Reader
• -Wi-Fi-AC 5
• -Bluetooth 4.1

Pros
– Attractive design
– Good specs
Cons
– Expensive

7. Lenovo – 2022 – IdeaPad Flex 5i – 2-in-1 Chromebook Laptop Computer:

The IdeaPad Flex 5i is a great convertible Chromebook for people who want something more than the standard-issue Chrome OS.

It’s a versatile device that benefits from having the option of being a laptop or an ultraportable tablet. It offers a good balance of performance and features, with the 11-hour battery life, good audio, and relatively responsive trackpad and keyboard.

The customizable keyboard is a pleasure to type on, and the browser has a good, but not great, selection of extensions.

The dock offers an easy way to extend the battery, but that will cost you a bit more than a standard USB-C to USB-C cable, which isn’t a bad thing, but it means you don’t get the same battery life as you get with the 5i docked.

You’ll also find the dock is a little more complicated to set up and attach than the USB-C cables on other devices. The dock also limits the ports you can use on your laptop, so you can’t plug in a standard monitor or USB hard drive.

The IdeaPad’s size means it’s quite portable, but you’ll have less screen real estate when docked. Overall, it’s a solid device, but it’s no more powerful or versatile than the standard-issue Chromebook, just a different-looking, more portable version of it.

Features We Like:

• -Dual-Mode 13.3″ FHD Touchscreen, 1920 x 1080 Resolution
• -Intel Core i3-1115G4 Processor (2M Cache, up to 2.40 GHz)
• -8GB LPDDR3 RAM, 128GB eMMC Storage (no SD card slot)
• -Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620
• -802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2×2) Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.0
• -3.5mm Headphone Jack
• -Dual-Mode (Laptop/Stand) Webcam
• -USB Type-C Gen 1 (USB 3.1 Compatible)
• -Integrated HD Audio
• -3-in-1 Media Card Reader

Pros
– Excellent display
– Stylish design
– Built on Chrome OS; security, simplicity, and battery saving
Cons
– Only available in 4GB RAM/128GB storage option
– Battery life
– No SD card slot

8. HP 15.6-inch Laptop:

The HP 15.6-inch Laptop is a great-looking machine with a thin, light design, bright, clear display, and decent performance, with a stunning 4K display option.

It’s powered by the latest, fastest Intel processors, and it has plenty of memory and storage, plus solid connectivity.

The 1.3-megapixel webcam with integrated microphone is solid for video chat, and it supports both 802.11ac Wi-Fi (including gigabit speeds) and Bluetooth 5.2.

The keyboard, trackpad, and speakers are all comfortable to use, and thanks to the laptop’s small profile and light weight, you can easily lug it anywhere.

If you’re in the market for a powerful 15-inch laptop, the HP 15.6-inch Laptop is one of the best choices out there.

Features We Like:

• -Intel 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8750H Processor
• -15.6-inch Full HD IPS Display
• -256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
• -Windows 10 Home
• -15-dy2024nr
• -Natural Silver
• -Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• -8 GB LPDDR3 RAM
• -1 TB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
• -15-dy2024nr
• -Natural Silver
• -Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• -8 GB LPDDR3 RAM
• -1 TB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
• -15-dy2024nr
• -Natural Silver
• -Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• -8 GB LPDDR3 RAM
• -1 TB 5400 rpm SATA Hard Drive
• -15-dy2024nr
• -Natural Silver
• -Intel Iris Xe Graphics
• -8 GB LPDDR3 RAM
• -1 TB 5400 rpm SATA

Pros
– Good build quality
– Decent performance
– Great battery life
– 256 GB SSD
Cons
– Very heavy (3.8 pounds)
– No USB-C

9. Dell Latitude 5480 Business Laptop:

The Dell Latitude 5480 is a solid option at the midrange price point, renting out at under $1,000. It’s a versatile business laptop that performs decently well in most day-to-day tasks, and it’s powerful enough to handle small-business applications with ease.

The Latitude 5480 has a 14-inch display and a Core i5 processor, and its light 3.5-pound weight and 3-cell battery make it a good option for occasional light users. It’s also one of a few laptops with a dedicated eMMC drive for caching data for quick access.

If it’s not obvious from the name, the Latitude 5480 is designed to be rugged enough to handle some wear and tear. Its plain black exterior is durable and should resist scratches and dents, and its scratch-resistant touchscreen should survive the occasional drop.

The Dell Latitude 5480 is outfitted with four USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, and an SD/MMC card reader.

It also supports fast charging, so you can quickly recharge the battery between uses. The Dell Latitude 5480 is a one-year old product, but Dell has renewed its warranty to three years.

Pros
– Incredibly sturdy build
– Powerful CPU, SSD, and RAM
– Impressive battery
– Good display
– Excellent battery life
Cons
– Too much plastic
– Low-resolution webcam

Features We Like:

• -Display: 14″ FHD 1920 x 1080 Anti-glare
• -Processor: 7th Gen Inte Core i5-7300U
• -Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 620
• -RAM: 16 GB DDR4 SDRAM
• -Storage: 256 GB SSD
• -Wireless: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
• -Ports: 3 x USB 3.0, 2 x USB 2.0, 1 x HDMI, 1 x Headphone, 1 x LAN, 1 x RJ-45
• -Keyboard: Backlit island-style keyboard with numeric keypad
• -Battery: 3-cell, 48 Wh
• -Dimensions: 0.78″H x 14.1″W x 9.25″D
• -Weight: 3.5 lbs
• -Microsoft Windows 10 Professional 64-bit (Renewed)

10. HP Chromebook 14 Laptop, Intel Celeron N4120:

The HP Chromebook 14 Laptop is the best Chromebook we ve tested to date.

Its processing power and connectivity are top-notch, and its 4K video support is even better she decided to buy this one over a more expensive HP Chromebook because she wanted the extra features this laptop offers (including native 4K support).

It’s also thinner and lighter than our pick and most other Chromebooks, so it’s more comfortable to tote around. We also like the solid, full-size keyboard, which is perfect for typing up research papers.

The display is plenty big for movies and games we had no problem watching Netflix s House of Cards on the default 1080p setting, and we played a few of our favorite modern games in 1080p.

Battery life is very good we got more than nine hours on our battery test, which simulates video playback at half brightness and audio from the stereo speakers is bright and vibrant.

The touchpad supports gestures like pinch-to-zoom and drag-and-drop, and it felt responsive and accurate during our tests. We like that it comes in a touch-resistant, anti-glare lid, and that it’s available in a variety of colors, including glossy Ash Gray.

This model is, unfortunately, not compatible with the fingerprint reader built into HP s 2017 Chromebook family, so you won’t be able to use Windows Hello to log in.

The keyboard is backlit, but we wish it was capable of more vivid colors, and we wish that the speakers were louder in our tests, they sounded tinny. And there’s only built-in Bluetooth, so you can’t connect a wired speaker, either.

The HP Chromebook 14 Laptop is a full-featured laptop PC with a “Chromebook” price, and it’s undeniably the best Chromebook you can buy right now.

Pros
– Great specs
– Impressive battery life
– Long lasting battery life
– Affordable
– Ideal for students
Cons
– Limited connectivity options
– No USB-C port for charging and data transfer

Features We Like:

• -2-Socket 14″ Touchscreen Laptop with Intel Celeron N4120 Processor, 4GB RAM, and 16GB Flash
• -Fast Charge Battery
• -1-yr Limited Hardware Warranty
• -Chrome OS
• -USB 3.1 Type-C, USB 3.0, USB 2.0
• -Bluetooth 4.2, 2 x 2 MIMO
• -HD Webcam
• 4K Display,
• 1366 x 768
• -Thin Design
• -Built-In Speakers
• -Chrome OS, Android Apps, Google Play Store
• -1-Port USB 2.0
• -1-USB 3.0
• -1-Type-C
• -1-Full-Size Keyboard with Multi-Touch
• -1-Full-Size Touchpad
• -Integrated Graphics, Intel UHD Graphics 600
• -Built-in HD Webcam
• -802.11a/b/g/n/

What are DJ laptops and how do they differ from standard laptops?

A DJ laptop is different from a standard laptop. The laptop designed for DJ is going to need to be able to handle intense, faster-paced audio and video tracks.

DJs need to be able to load and unload songs quickly, so the laptop needs to be flexible enough to handle multiple inputs.

Because DJs will have quick access to multiple tracks, they need their computers to perform quickly and efficiently.

DJs need their laptops to be able to handle multiple inputs, including various audio sources such as CD players, microphones, and turntables. They also need to be able to handle multiple video sources, such as cameras and screen displays.

A DJ laptop needs to have a high-quality sound system, so professionals need to be able to hear sounds properly. The best sound systems will have accurate bass, midrange, and treble frequencies.

DJs also need to be able to mix multiple audio sources together and track multiple sound sources.

How much should a DJ laptop cost?

It depends on your budget. If you are on a tight budget, you can normally get a very good laptop for $500, though you will have to sacrifice on a few things, like screen resolution and processing power.

However, if you’re willing to spend some extra money on a laptop, you can get great specs and a higher screen resolution. These laptops will cost around $800.

If you want the best of the best, however, you should be prepared to spend $1,500. These laptops will have the best specs, including a superior CPU, graphics card, and memory.

What to look for when purchasing a DJ laptop?

When it comes to choosing a DJ laptop, there are several things you should consider, including:

Processor:

The processor is one of the most important features when buying a DJ laptop, since the processor will determine how well the laptop functions.

RAM:

RAM, or random access memory, is another factor to consider when choosing a DJ laptop. The more RAM included in the laptop, the faster the computer will perform, so it’s important to find a DJ laptop that has plenty of RAM.

Improvements in recent years have meant that DJ laptops no longer have to look extremely clunky.

These days, the majority of laptops in the DJ laptop market are capable of keeping up with the needs of modern DJs, and so it’s worth doing some research into the various DJ laptop options on the market to narrow them down to the ones that satisfy your own personal requirements.

Storage:

The amount of storage on the laptop is another important factor to consider. Most laptops come with 128GB to 1TB of storage, but if you plan to use the laptop for storing and playing music and video, then you maywant to opt for one with a larger storage capacity.

Make sure to check the type of storage used as well, as some laptops may use a slower type of storage such as a hard drive, while others might use faster solid-state drives. 

Additionally, if you plan to store and use large files, then make sure to check the laptop’s ports and connections to ensure it has enough USB ports for external storage.

Conclusion:

In the world of DJing, having the right tools can mean the difference between success and mediocre performance. Whether you’re a veteran DJ or just starting out, it’s important that you have a quality laptop setup.

In order to accomplish that, all you’ll need is a laptop with a top of the line sound card, proper software, and enough storage space for your music library. Fortunately for you, we’ve taken the time to sort through all of the different options on the market and we’ve narrowed down the list to the best DJ laptops under $500.

These laptops are incredibly reliable, well built, and are capable of running even the most intensive DJ software.