When it comes to getting an Intel Core i5 laptop, you need to define the purpose of buying. Do note that not all i5 laptops are the same. This applies to you if you are a digital professional (DJ, graphic designer, content creator, architect, and the likes).
Best Intel core i5 laptops, to some extent, supports high-end software for everyday tasks, provides a decent gaming experience.
10 best Intel Core i5 laptops
1. ACER ASPIRE E15
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U (up to 3.4 GHz) l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 256GB SSD l Display: 15.6-inch l Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU l Battery Life: 15 hours)
The Acer Aspire E15 is one of the few budget-type laptops with top-end features that depict good value. It offers a sturdy material construction that can withstand heavy-duty tasks daily. As one of the best core-i5 laptops, the Acer Aspire E15 uses an 8th Gen core-i5 processor along with NVIDIA GeForce MX150 GPU to help run video games effectively.
There exist an 8GB of RAM for efficient multi-tasking abilities and 256 SSD internal storage for fast boot time and file storage. Another fascinating feature is the fact that it uses a 6-cell battery with the ability to last up to 15 hours of regular use. I would wholeheartedly recommend this laptop for casual gamers due to its impressive HD display, backlit keyboard, and NVIDIA GPU.
Pros
- Sturdy material construction.
- Budget-friendly.
- Long battery capacity lasting up to 15 hours.
Cons
– Quite heavy to carry.
– It comes with a Dim, dull display.
2. ASUS ZENBOOK UX303UA
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U l RAM: 8GB DDR3 l Storage: 256GB SSD l Display: 13” l Graphics: NVIDIA GT 940M GPU)
The Asus Zen book is the best portable laptop for use in performing everyday tasks. It is effectively powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core-i5 sky lake processor. It comes with a premium look, and it’s well embossed with ports and slots for better connectivity.
This laptop doesn’t support gaming activity as it does not come with the best variant of GPU. However, I will highly recommend for use by college students, web developers, and writers. It comes with the best 13-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which, from my observation, will provide a perfect view for watching movies.
There is an 8GB RAM space that is available for multitasking between two or more application software efficiently. It comes with the best support for a traveling laptop with a big, responsive touchpad and well-spaced backlit keyboard.
Pros
- Vast slots and ports.
- 8GB RAM capacity for intense software applications.
- Big responsive touchpad.
Cons
– Poor quality speakers.
-Packed with bloatware.
3. DELL XPS 9350-4007SLV
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 256GB SSD l Display: 13″ FHD (3200 x 1800) l Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 520 l Battery Life: 11 hours)
With the Dell XPS 9350, you get the best core-i5 laptop, which is quite portable and has good battery support. The battery of this laptop comes with the capacity to last up to 11 hours of normal use. I did examine this laptop, and I discovered it to be a sleek, comfortable to use and has a great performance.
The above characteristics boils down to exclusive features such as a 4K display (3200 x 1800 pixels) for quality view. The presence of 256 GB SSD internal memory provides ample space for storage and permits fast performance. With 8GB of RAM, you can run up 4-5 software on this laptop without any form of lagging.
What’s more? The laptop is a sleek type which is quite comfortable to carry on the go with a display size of 13-inch suited for use by college students and business experts.
Pros
- Battery lasts up to 11 hours.
- Presence of 13-inch screen that supports 4K display.
- Sleek and comfortable.
Cons
– Presence of an overly compressed keyboard.
-Webcam not appropriately placed.
4. APPLE MACBOOK AIR
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5 l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 128GB SSD l Display: 13” FHD (2560 x 1600) l Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 617 l Battery Life: 12 hours)
Here is one of the most portable core-i5 laptops in the Apple series, which only weighs 2.75 pounds. The Apple MacBook Air boosts of superb performance with high-quality features. However, I can never recommend for users looking for a budget-friendly core-i5 laptop. It comes out of the box with a premium-looking Aluminum build.
You can get the most from its beautiful retina display with a size of around 13-inches and resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels. Although I don’t think the laptop is the best as regards storage space, as it is limited to 128GB, which is not enough to store files like games or movies. However, you can always opt for an external HDD drive for better storage.
Your ability to multitask efficiently with this laptop lies in the fact that it comes with 8GB RAM capacity. Now apart from the core-i5 processor, the laptop features an Intel UHD Graphics 617 card for light gaming, an intensive task like programming, video editing, and writing. This laptop also comes with a long battery life lasting up to 12 hours of normal use.
Pros
- Portable and highly mobile laptop.
- Stylish and lightweight in appearance.
- Battery lasts up to 12 hours.
Cons
– Lacks HDMI and Ethernet ports.
– Limited internal storage space.
5. DELL 15-INCH GAMING LAPTOP
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Quad Core i5- 6300HQ l RAM: 8GB DDR3L l Storage: 1TB HDD l Display: 15.6″ l Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M GPU)
If you are looking for the best core-i5 laptop specifically designed for gamers, then it’s high time you consider the Dell 15-inch gaming laptop. From the specifications shown, I observed the laptop delivers the best qualities you can ever find in a gaming laptop. The most impressive feature is the presence of an Intel Core-i5 processor, which comes coupled with a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M GPU best for handling top-end games at high frame rates.
Every other feature tends to support gaming and other intensive activities. There is 256 SSD space for quick booting and optimum laptop performance. The presence of an 8GB RAM gives you the best you need for multi-tasking a minimum of 3-4 software.
The screen display is a 15-inch type with a full HD resolution for a bright and colorful view. It also comes with a customizable backlit keyboard that can be used during a low light condition for typing and playing games.
Pros
- Budget friendly gaming laptop.
- Presence of 256GB for quick boot time.
- 15-inch screen that supports full HD display.
Cons
– It comes with a thick and heavy chassis.
6. ASUS VIVOBOOK S15
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 256GB SSD l Display: 15.6” l Battery Life: 5 hours)
The Asus series has been known to release budget-friendly laptops, and the Asus Vivobook S15 is no different from the rest. Asides budget, I would recommend getting the Asus Vivo book S15 because of its Icecool keyboard and flexible touchpad. The above would resonate well for a proper typing job.
This laptop is well rewarded with solid specifications such as a 5th Generation core-i5 processor that ensures you carry out your computer tasks with speed and accuracy. The presence of 8GB RAM, 256 GB SSD guarantees fast boot-time.
It is better than most alternatives in this series and comes with a battery life of 5-hours as a budget-type laptop.
Pros
- It comes with both HDD and SSD hard disks.
- Features an improved cooling solution.
- Budget-friendly.
Cons
– Dim IPS display screen.
– Below-average battery life.
7. HP PAVILION 15 TOUCHSCREEN
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-6200U l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 1TB HDD l Display: 15.6”)
If I was to recommend an Intel Core-i5 laptop with powerful features at a budget-friendly price, I did prefer to mention the HP Pavilion 15. It is best used for everyday tasks, excluding gaming, as it doesn’t come with a sturdy GPU. It comes with top-notch speakers, which are quite loud enough for streaming movies and listening to music.
Speaking of its hardware specifications, the HP Pavilion 15 boasts of an 8GB RAM for multitasking work and a 1TB internal hard drive for storing massive files and documents. It comes with a 15-inch screen display with touchscreen functionality for easy navigation.
There are vast options of ports for keeping different devices connected, including an HDMI port for presentation. On the last note, this laptop comes with a sturdy keyboard with black keys to match the laptop’s overall structure.
Pros
- Massive storage for data and files.
- Loud, noise cancelling speakers for games and movies.
- Budget-friendly core i5 laptop.
Cons
– Slow HDD performance.
– Poor outdoor visibility.
-Excessive consumption of power.
8. LENOVO IDEAPAD 720S
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-8250U l RAM: 8GB DDR4 l Storage: 256GB SSD l Display: 14” l Battery Life: 14 hours)
Here comes a traditional like core-i5 laptop, which is quite affordable and comes with reliable performance. It comes out of the box as a 14-inch laptop with a sleek design. Once opened, you find that it packs up a decent typing keyboard that is well-spaced.
Many a user will come to terms with its fast boot time due to 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD internal storage. A big reason why I like this device is due to its portable and lightweight design. I can take this laptop with me when on a casual trip or business travel.
Another quite exclusive feature is its decent battery life which can last up to 14 hours. This battery duration is quite enough to carry out everyday tasks such as design, typing, and programming.
Pros
- Sleek design.
- Decent, intuitive to touch keyboard.
- Battery lasts up to 14 hours
Cons
– Has poor connectivity.
– Comes with a low-quality cooling system.
9. HP PAVILION 17
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5-4210U l RAM: 4GB DDR3 l Storage: 1TB HDD l Display: 17” l Graphics: Intel HD 4400 GPU)
You will probably like the HP Pavilion 17 if you are a movie enthusiast. The HP pavilion 17 is also a budget-type laptop with exclusive features that could guarantee a pleasant experience. It boasts of a large 17-inch screen that uses a Bright View technology for proper display.
What I like about this laptop is its large storage capacity of 1TB available to store a massive amount of files. The fact that the laptop is powered by an Intel Core-i5 processor along with HD 4400 graphics makes it suitable for some light gaming activity. With an available 4GB of RAM, this laptop can run up to two software on windows without any form of lagging.
There is also a full keyboard that will surely be appreciated by users who perform daily typing jobs and calculations like secretaries, Accountants.
Pros
- Large screen display.
- Massive storage capacity worth 1TB.
- It features a full keyboard.
Cons
– Poor down-firing speakers.
– lacks thunderbolt 3.
10. MICROSOFT SURFACE LAPTOP 2
Specifications – (Processor: Intel Core i5 (up to 1.6GHz)) l RAM: 8GB DDR3 l Storage: 128GB l Display: 15.6″ l Battery Life: 14.5 hours)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 2 is a 15-inch laptop meant for users who need a portable computer option along with intuitive features. This laptop comes with an Intel Core-i5 processor that runs at a speed of 1.6GHz. It comes with a lightweight around 3 pounds with thin bezels, and I did say this laptop is luxurious and appears attractive.
With the presence of 8GB of RAM and 128GB SSD, you get the option to multi-task and save quite a few files on this laptop. This laptop might not be the best for gaming activities, but it is a great machine for everyday use. It comes with a battery life of 14.5 hours, and I could recommend for someone mobile (travelers, business professionals alike).
Pros
- Responsive touchscreen display.
- Sleek design and flexible to use.
- Lightweight appearance.
Cons
- No USB-C or SD card reader.
- Low internal memory and processing speed.
What to Consider before deciding to buy a core i5 laptop
Apart from the laptop has an Intel Core i5 processor, many other features come into consideration. This includes the overall design, keyboard, touchpad, RAM, GPU, and, most importantly, battery life. Depending on the reason you need a laptop, you need to consider some ultimate features.
For instance, if you are a gamer, you do need to look for a core-i5 processor laptop with a good GPU and upgradable RAM space to guarantee effective performance. A core-i5 laptop with battery life no less than 5 hours should also be a good appeal for carrying out the most common daily task.
On the overall, a core-i5 laptop with a sleek, portable design will be the best take if you are a college student or frequent traveler and will have a much better performance than a laptop with i3 processor.
