Best Budget DJ Laptops: DJing on a budget, playing and making music on the go for under $500
Do you want to start your DJ career but don’t have money? Start DJing and creating music with these 5 Best Budget DJ Laptops under $500.
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Most likely this will not be your first computer or laptop that you buy. So if you’re like me then you prefer your new DJing laptop to be from the same manufacturer as your old one.
If money is not an issue, then I advise you to buy a gaming laptop. Laptops for DJs using advanced music production software require quite some impressive specs. And mostly gaming laptops have everything you need, including great connectivity (more on that later). So what if you don’t have the money and you don’t want to use all your savings money? Then check out some of these best DJ laptops under the price range of $500. They might not be as powerful as the more expensive ones, but they will definitely be enough for anybody just starting out with DJing or music production. The best laptops for DJing on a budget are quite similar. Any of these laptops will be a good place to start your music production journey.
Why are there no Macbook laptops included on this list? Well, this is because Apple computers are way more expensive. And if you do find one under $500, then most likely the specs of any other competitor will be better and newer for your music production needs. So that’s why I advise you to just look for Windows laptops because they will give you more bang for your buck!
What are the best DJ laptops for under $500 included in this guide
1. ASUS Vivobook 14 Laptop
The ASUS Vivobook is a trusted name in the field of laptops. With it’s Intel Core i5-1235U CPU you can get quite a lot done. With the 14-inch display, you can get an expansive, ‎1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution. It has a fast hard disk: 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD. This is a great laptop to DJ with.
2. Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Laptop
Lenovo is known to produce quality laptops. I myself have used an Ideapad-y700 laptop for many years. The IdeaPad 3 is a stable laptop that can pack a punch considering its price. The 14″ FHD display allows a nice 1920×1080 resolution, which is great for when you’re working on bigger music projects or when you want to have a clear overview of your music set.
3. Dell Inspiron 15 3520 Laptop
This laptop is suitable for creating any kind of creative work. It’s meant for inspiration. Making music should be smooth. The Intel Core i5 processor is great for when you are DJing on a tight budget. Also, it has room for upgrades.
4. Acer Aspire 3 Slim Laptop
This smart laptop is great for any DJ on the go. It’s specs are definitively very competitive and the price tag is not too steep. Even middle-heavy games can be played. This might be fun for when you want to relax before a DJ gig.
5. HP Micro-Edge HD Laptop
What other laptops in this list are missing when it comes to a big hard disk and more RAM, this HP does have it. The processor is not overwhelming, but the total offer is very balanced. It should be enough to get started with your DJ software.
What’s important when buying a budget laptop for making music?
The RAM, CPU and Hard Disk are most important in a laptop. So you should always look out for their specs when you are looking for the best laptops for DJing on a budget under $500, but this also goes for the more expensive computers. Of course, you cannot expect the same performance from a cheap budget laptop compared to a desktop or expensive gaming laptop. So depending on what kind of DJ you are, you might need a more advanced computer.
Here is a short summary of why these three components are so important:
- The RAM, or memory, is where the laptop stores the data that it needs to access quickly and frequently. The more RAM the laptop has, the more data it can store and process without slowing down or crashing.
- The CPU, or processor, can be considered to be the brain of the laptop. It handles all the calculations and instructions. The faster and more powerful the CPU, the faster and smoother the laptop can perform various tasks.
- The hard disk is where the laptop saves all the data, such as your applications, and files. The more storage space the laptop has, the more data it can store without running out of room. Storage speed is often overlooked but is important. Because it determines how fast the data can be loaded and saved. Just imagine when you need to load some heavy sample library. There are two types of storage devices: hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid-state drives (SSDs). SSDs are much faster and more reliable than HDDs, but they are more expensive.
Best Laptops for DJing on a budget
ASUS Vivobook 14
A great laptop with a beautiful screen. Lightweight and flexible. Ready to take on your next DJ set
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-1235U Processor 1.3 GHz (10M Cache, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 cores) RAM: 8Gb DDR4 RAM STORAGE: 256GB M.2 NVMe PCIe 3.0 SSD SCREEN: 14” FHD (1920×1080) ultra-slim NanoEdge bezels CONNECTIVITY: Audio I/O jack, USB-C, 2x USB 3, USB 2, HDMI
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The Vivobook 14 is surprisingly quick. The performance is as you would expect from an Intel i5 processor. I would not recommend it for playing AAA games. But you can do some heavy tasks with this laptop. This means that it has enough power to run Virtual DJ or software like Rekordbox. But if you want work in a daw like FL studio, they recommend at least 16GB RAM. For your DJing requirements and live performances, it should be able to run smoothly without any hiccups.
And when you are not busy playing and creating music, you can enjoy watching movies and streaming TV series. The beautiful NanoEdge screen is a pleasure to look at. Not only a joy to work with but also nice for during your free time.
Lenovo IdeaPad 3
Trusted quality of Lenovo. A great laptop with plenty of upgrade possibilities. Ready to grow with your DJ career
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7, 2.4GHz RAM: 8Gb DDR4 RAM STORAGE: 512GB NVMe SSD SCREEN: 14” FHD (1920×1080) 250nits Anti-glare CONNECTIVITY: microSD card reader, Audio I/O jack, USB-C, USB 2, HDMI
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This Lenovo IdeaPad 3 will be a great companion in your DJ and music making journey. It has all the features that any musician or beginning music producer would need. I especially like the fact that the processor is an i5 processor. With quad cores and 8 threads, you will be able to play clean music arrangements. Also, I recommend that any laptop you buy for your DJ activities has a processor with at least 4 cores.
The 512GB NVMe SSD disk in combination with a USB-C port will give you the opportunity to connect External SSD disks that have all your music and samples on it. This way you don’t have to clog your laptop’s hard disk.
Dell Inspiron 15 3520
A very powerful laptop for the money and has options for upgrading hardware.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Core i5-1135G7 2.4GHz (Up to 4.2 GHz) RAM: 8Gb DDR4 RAM STORAGE: 256GB SSD SCREEN: 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) CONNECTIVITY: microSD card reader, Audio I/O jack, 2x USB 3, USB 2, HDMI
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Dell is a great brand when it comes to making computers. My first PC was a Dell and I loved every minute working with it. The Intel Core i5 processor has a boost up to 4.2 GHz and should be able to deal with all live sets and song arrangements. Even though the pre-installed 8GB of RAM is not overwhelming it should be enough for you to work with Mixxx and programs such as Serato DJ Pro. If you work with a digital audio work station then you can load VST instruments and play live music or record instrumental tracks.
When a laptop screen is the only screen you have, then the screen size is very important. Because music arrangements can become visually cramped. Especially if you need to make quick decisions. The 15.6-inch screen is big enough for you to work comfortably with multiple tracks and have a clear overview of your project.
Acer Aspire 3 Slim
The only production laptop on the list with an AMD Ryzen processor.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7520U Quad-Core Processor RAM: 8Gb DDR4 RAM STORAGE: 512GB NVMe SSD SCREEN: 14.0″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) CONNECTIVITY: microSD card reader, Audio I/O jack, 2x USB 3, USB 2, HDMI
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This is the only laptop on my list with an AMD processor, but this does not mean that it doesn’t perform. The AMD Ryzen 5 is very capable of handling your DJ set and creating music tasks. And also from this list of best budget laptops for DJ’s, it is the cheapest. The laptop is steady and nice and slim. It will be ideal for any DJ or music producer on the move. Apart from clubs and other venues, you can take it to any home studio, library or coffee bar that you like.
HP 2023 Newest 15.6″ Micro-Edge HD Laptop
For people who want plenty of storage space and a fast hard disk.
SPECIFICATIONS
CPU: Intel Pentium Silver N5030 Processor, 1.1GHz, 4 cores RAM: 16Gb DDR4 RAM STORAGE: 1 TB SSD SCREEN: 15.6 Inch display (1366 x 768) CONNECTIVITY: microSD card reader, Audio I/O jack, USB-C, 2x USB 2, HDMI
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With this HP laptop you won’t have to be afraid of bloating your hard disk if you install a few of your sample libraries or some extra programs. It comes with 1TB of disk space. And that is quite generous. If you want to install your samples on an external SSD drive, you can always use the fast USB-C connection for speed. If you choose to have less RAM in the beginning than this computer might end up being the cheapest of all budget laptops for DJing.
