Backlit keyboards are a bonus but rare in this price range.

Keyboard and trackpad: The keyboard and trackpad should be tolerable and responsive, and neither input device should annoy you so much that you seek out an external keyboard and mouse.

We recommend IPS (in-plane switching) screens because they have more accurate color and better viewing angles than TN (twisted nematic) panels.

Screen: Models with a 1080p display (a resolution of 1920×1080) offer a clear image and more screen real estate than cheap 1366×768 screens.

But 8 GB will allow you to more smoothly run multiple programs and browser tabs, and is a much better choice for a computer you’ll be using years from now.

Memory: For less than $500, it’s uncommon (but possible) to find more than 4 GB of memory without sacrificing other important specs.

We found these processors to be unusable with more than a single open app. Avoid AMD processors like the dual-core A9 and steer clear of Intel Pentium and Celeron processors like the N4200 and N5000.

The Core i3 and Ryzen 3 processors are fine for casual use and basic schoolwork but aren’t the best for multitasking the Core i5 and Ryzen 5 are faster and better at multitasking but rare in this price range. Processor: We recommend an 11th, 12th, or 13th generation Intel Core i3 or Core i5 processor or a 7000-series AMD Ryzen 3 or Ryzen 5 processor.

But avoid Windows laptops with less than 64 GB of flash storage-you can’t even run Windows updates on them without an external drive. We found that having flash storage (ideally an SSD, but an eMMC or UFS drive will do in a pinch) instead of a traditional hard drive dramatically improved everyday performance, even more than a faster processor or more memory. Storage: Some cheap Windows laptops still have spinning hard drives or hybrid drives that feel unbearably slow-booting the laptop, launching apps, and browsing files take so long that you have time to sip coffee and stretch before you can do anything.

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