Nowadays, finding a laptop is not a big deal, but finding quality within still is. Communicating remotely and attending Zoom meetings for office purposes has become more like a routine thing. Keeping the pandemic in mind, video conferencing is essential for everyone, no matter if you are taking online classes, working from home, want to talk to your family and friends or want to interact with your audience, if you are a professional. However, what about if you only have $500 or less to spend?
There are still the best laptops for zoom under $500 with next-level performance that work fine for multiple apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, Skype and many more. This article has been included with top quality units that come with purified voice and sensitive microphone to cut back background noise and many more features to make your one-to-one chat sessions more natural and smoother.
At a Glance:
Although you don’t need an expensive laptop for Zoom meetings, still if you want quality, research should be properly done. So, here in this article we shall only scale down improved quality laptops for audio and video communication with deep analysis.
Related Guide: Best Laptops for Podcasting Under $500
Best Budget Laptops For Zoom Meetings Under $500
1. 2020 HP 14 inch HD Laptop
Staff PickTo start with the best video conferencing laptop we have bought you this HP option which comes with style and sophisticated output. The display screen has been designed with the 14″ inches diagonal HD screen with the resolution of 1366 x 768p. Its micro-edge display looks belter and feels perfect when you have to communicate via Zoom sessions. Additionally the BrightView, 220 units 45% NTSC delivers great colorations. Its Intel® UHD Graphics delivers quality that matters.
As for the internal specifications, HP is offering you the Intel Celeron N4020 (1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.8 GHz burst frequency, 4 MB L2 cache, 2 cores) and 4 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM. For saving files and data you have the limited storage with 64 GB eMMC, but it works satisfactorily for regular usage. Additionally, its HDMI support is offering you the 1 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A, 1 x AC smart pin; 1 x HDMI, 1 x headphone and microphone combo, 1 x multi-format SD media card reader, 1 x HP True Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphones which is a reliable factor for optimal wireless output.
One of the highlighted reasons of its top quality and people’s appreciation is its fast charging and it gets fully recharged from 0 to 50% charge in approximately 45 minutes. Moreover, when it comes to attending professional zoom meetings, its two microphones and advanced noise reduction software make any video or audio call ideal. With the Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth® 5.0 you don’t have any reason to doubt. Due to its Google Classroom and Zoom compatible performance, you can take it to online classes as well as office work without compromising on its working performance.
Pros
- Fast charging for ever-ready performance
- Dual array microphones with noise reduction
- Ultra-wide viewing with narrow bezel
- Best video chatting even in dim light
Cons
- Poor customer support
- Sometimes it may freeze
2. 2021 HP 15.6″ Thin Laptop
Best PickHP is known for producing durable quality and professional design in laptops. If you are looking for a more feature-rich laptop for Zoom meeting under $500 category, this laptop with its 15.6 inches of display and vivid coloration would be your absolute pick, especially if you’re a student. Its school and business working design and the seamless Zoom sessions are certainly appreciated.
The display screen comes with the diagonal, FHD clarity and its 1920 x 1080p resolution, 250 nits, 45% NTSC, micro-edge bezel, IPS technology and the anti-glare coat always cast the dainty impression and let you pick more screen information.
It comes with the most powerful processing speed and the embedded 8 GB memory ensures the multitasking approach through and through. For storing your important files, lectures, videos and personal data, its 128 GB SSD is there. The CPU has been engineered with the Intel Celeron N4020 (1.1 GHz base frequency, up to 2.8 GHz burst frequency, 4 MB L2 cache, 2 cores) followed by the Intel UHD Graphics 600 which becomes the sole reason for delivering seamless visual quality.
The HP True Vision 720p HD camera with integrated dual array digital microphones has been designed to take care of the ultra- audio quality. In addition to that, the HDMI support make the speedy and efficient wireless data sharing process more ideal and powerful with the 1 SuperSpeed USB Type-C, 2 SuperSpeed USB Type-A , 1 HDMI 1.4b,1 AC smart pin, 1 headphone and microphone combo, (1×1) Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2, and 1-Year Office 365 Personal subscription. Due to its exceptional visual quality, you can say it is one of the best laptops under $500 for zoom and Skype calling. Its Windows OS works fine for Microsoft apps and that is no less than a freedom when you want to work for office tasks.
Pros
- Faster and efficient multitasking
- Lightweight and easily portable
- FHD display with anti-glare an IPS technology
- High-definition webcam and clear audio quality
- 1-Year Office 365 Personal subscription
Cons
- No backlit keyboard
- Cannot switch S mode
3. Acer Chromebook Spin 311
Budget PickNext up we have this Acer Chromebook laptop for flawless zoom meetings and upgraded ergonomic design. With Skype and zoom meetings you will certainly find its adaptive modes helpful throughout your working time. Unlike windows OP if you prefer Chrome operating system, this laptop should be your ultimate pick.
First of all, its 360° Hinge welcomes the most comfortable position which you want best to attend zoom calls. Moreover, you can certainly rotate and set the angle no matter if it’s in Tent mode, Laptop mode, Display mode, or Tablet mode. Plus the touchscreen makes navigations and control highly sensitive. Its stylish design and lightweight build with mere 0.01 ounces never make portability challenging.
If you talk about its internal specifications, you have the Intel Celeron N4020 processors and the Intel Celeron N4020. Acer Chromebook Spin 311 features the built-in storage for offline access to the data you regard as important. It’s 100 GB of Google Drive space to backup the files automatically keeping you safe for data loss concern. The data storage is pretty much limited with 32 GB eMMC but for remote communications it’s still the best for its price. The display screen has been designed with 11.6 inches of total area and the HD touch IPS screen makes every visual and picture more vivid and lively. The bezels aren’t narrow for which a lot of area goes unused for wider screen, yet the finest visuals manage to showcase great quality for zoom calls and Skype interactions.
The 10 hours of battery timings has been appreciated by many students as well as professionals due to no-going robust performance. It offers you the two USB Type C ports (either can be used for charging), and two USB Type-A- microSD slots and an audio jack port, plus the Bluetooth 5 and WIFI 5 further bring in the stability for signals. Overall this is a great laptop for those who have a limited budget and want a versatile and sleek laptop for powerful communications.
Pros
- Adaptive design with 360-degree hinge
- Lightweight and flexible HDMI support
- MU-MIMO supported performance
- Multiple modes for better angle adjustment
- Touchscreen guarantee controlled navigation
Cons
- Thick bezel display screen
- Not enough durable
4. HP 15-inch Laptop
Due to its luxurious style and quality performance, HP laptop is best suited for business use, personal working as well as for gaming. You can readily infer as the all-rounder gear that is ideal in handling lag-free Zoom meetings and Skype calls.
So first let’s talk about its display screen. This laptop has been designed with a wider screen with an 82% screen to body ratio, micro-edge bezel with 6.5 millimeters and the design which feels lighter to move with. The display is a 15.6-inch, Full HD and the anti-glare coating further makes sure the calls and communication are more natural and more efficient. As far as the graphical approach of this laptop is concerned you have the Intel Iris Xe Graphics which let out the impressive quality details, fluid-like motion, and premium picture performance.
It houses the latest 11th generation Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor, to make the task execution swift and instant. Its processing speed is enough for most of the professional offices to multitask and work on detailed complex operations. Additionally you have the 15x faster memory as compared to its previous version the 8 GB DDR4 RAM and the 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage that save larger files and boot in seconds.
With all of the features, its battery life is up to 7 hours under fuller use and productive tasks, plus its charges superfast. The multi-format SD media card reader, Headphone/Microphone Combo, SuperSpeed USB Type-C, HDMI 1.4 fulfill the best output for peripheral support. From exterior to internal specifications, this laptop is something you can totally rely on for this budget range. Its stunning style and high-end output is all that you need for a zoom compatible laptop.
Pros
- Swift performance and efficient multitasking
- Sleek and slim design
- Noise reduction and HD webcam
- Multitouch touchpad
Cons
- The cursor is jumpy and lags sometimes
- Its keyboard is feels flimsy
5. 2020 HP
And finally, to complete the list of best laptops for Zoom, this HP gear is here without costing you more than $500. It’s pretty lightweight and offers you the overall weight of 6.5 lb whereas the portability delivers the finest approach when you have to work on the go. This is a thin laptop and that is its biggest highlighted feature for carrying around.
Its 14 inches display may feel rather confined but with the HD details and the resolution of 1366 x 768 you will receive the Zoom meeting and Skype calling without any distraction of display. This HP laptop has been embedded with the Intel® Celeron® N4020 processors and the 4 GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM. The internal storage is 64 GB eMMC which is good if you want this laptop for personal use. For backing up the regular visuals quality you have it’s Intel® UHD Graphics 600 right there for even premium quality.
Its white exterior and the bright views never compromise your working time overall . Its smooth chatting and high-end sound quality add to the quality of this HP Stream laptop. With that the dual front-facing speakers assure you to communicate better and in an efficient manner. Due to its latest and feature-rich design you also have the Wi-Fi 5 with MU-MIMO supported working approach. You get to have the most stable and powerful signals throughout the connectivity.
As a whole this laptop is efficient if you are only looking for personal use. Its processing speed works fine for regular tasks but for zoom meeting and Skype calls, Google meet and chatting its quality is certainly reliable.
Pros
- Lightweight for carrying
- MU-MIMO supported
- Loud and clear audio quality for zoom calls
Cons
- Boot time is not swift
- Processing power is limited
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 2 GB RAM enough for Zoom?
The answer to this question depends on how you plan to use Zoom. If you are only going to be using it for personal purposes, then 2 GB of RAM should be enough. However, if you are going to be using Zoom for business purposes, then you will probably need more than 2 GB of RAM.
One thing that you should keep in mind is that Zoom takes up a lot of memory, so you may need to make some adjustments to your computer in order to make sure that it has enough memory to run Zoom.
Final Verdict
No doubt there is no shortage of laptops and smart devices out there. But we have shed light only on the ideal laptops not going beyond the $500 range. We have reviewed the laptops after much research and keeping various factors in mind including budget, processing speed, performance for smooth zoom meetings, lightweight design and user-friendly output. Most of these laptops are exceptional in performance and you can also do other tasks including gaming, streaming in HD output and more.