Get back-to-school ready with these laptops that are on sale for under $500

Some tasks are only worthy of a computer. Sure, we can do plenty on our smartphones and tablets these days, but if you've ever tried to create a detailed Excel spreadsheet on a tablet, you understand that some projects really call for a laptop.

The not-so-great news is that laptops tend to come with some shocking price tags these days. But if you're in need of a new laptop for the beginning of the new school year or an upgrade to a machine that's far too slow, we're seeing some pretty good deals for the week of August 19. Here are some of our top picks:

Best overall deal

Why we like it

If you're looking for a laptop with a large-ish display, the Asus Vivobook measures 16 inches, which could be fantastic for those financial spreadsheets, checking out tiny details of that Airbnb listing, or streaming your favorite movie. Thanks to today's deal at Amazon, the Asus Vivobook 16 (Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB RAM, 512 GB) is on sale for $449.99, down from the normal price of $549.99, which means you'll be getting a $100 discount.

You'll get a desirable 16GB of memory with this Asus for quicker multi-tasking and decent storage space of 512GB. The 16-inch laptop is also a touchscreen, which can be nice for navigating web pages or scrolling through a presentation.

The 14-inch model of this Asus Vivobook is also on sale at Amazon, but it's listed at $444.95 which means the 16-inch version costs just $5 more, so the larger version is an easy pick in our book.

Best Chromebook deal

Why we like it

If you're after a lightweight and thin Chromebook that's ready for any work trip, the HP Ultra XGA Chromebook (Intel 12th Generation Core i3, 8GB RAM, 256 GB) could be a great option. Thanks to today's deal at Best Buy, this model is just $499, marked down from the list price of $699 which means you'll be saving $200.

The full-HD screen resolution means you'll be getting a crisp screen experience which can be great for those Zoom meetings or for streaming your favorite Netflix show. This model also comes with HP's fast charge which gets up to 50% charge in 45 minutes, a feature that could be great for students heading to class where you won't always be able to stay plugged in.

Best deal under $400

Why we like it

If you're searching for a versatile laptop with decent stats at a budget-friendly price, the Lenovo Flex 5i could fit the bill. With a sale price of just $399.99 at Best Buy, you'll be saving an impressive $280 compared to the normal list price of $679.99. You'll be getting a mid-range Intel 12th Generation Core i5 processor and 8GB RAM for better multitasking capabilities.

The 14-inch screen size makes for a nice middle-ground between portability and functionality. Plus, it weights less than 3.5 pounds, so it'll be easy to take to class or on a work trip. And the HDMI port means you'll be able to use a great external monitor for larger projects that do better with two screens.

More laptop deals under $500

• Asus Vivobook Go (Intel Celeron N4500, 4GB RAM, 128GB) — $169.99 $229.99 (save $60)

• Asus Vivobook 15.6 (Ryzen 3 3250U, 8GB RAM, 128GB) — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)

• Lenovo Yoga 7 (Ryzen 5 8640HS, 8GB RAM, 512GB) — $449.99 $749.99 (save $300)

• Dell Inspiron 15 (Intel Core i7-1255U, 16GB RAM, 512GB) — $479.99 $599.99 (save $120)