Best Intel Core i5 Laptops [10th Gen Options]

Nowadays, many of the more premium laptops come with an i5 processor is them as standard. In fact, even many of the cheaper laptops also come with an i5, as it’s a reasonably priced processor that can help increase the performance on your laptop. It’s a great option if you’re not looking to spend a ton on a new Intel i9 laptop.

But there are many different laptops out there to choose from that use an i5 processor. Which one of them is the best? Well, that’s what we’re going to look at and compare now. So, let’s take a look at some good i5 laptops that are highly recommended.

Best Intel Core i5 Laptops

Product	Screen Size	Specs	Get More Info
ASUS VivoBook X413FA	14 inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Google Pixelbook Go	13.3 inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Microsoft Surface Pro 7	12.3 inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon
Acer Aspire 5 A515-55	15.6 Inch	8GB RAM	Check Price at Amazon

ASUS VivoBook X413FA

The ASUS Vivobook range is one of the most underrated out there in my opinion, and it’s a great place to start looking if you’re after an i5 laptop. One good option is the Vivobook X413FA, which is a great choice for anyone looking for a casual daily laptop to use.

Many people out there won’t need any more than 8GB of RAM, 512GB of SSD storage and an i5 processor to drive the operation. This laptop has all of those things, packaged into a well priced 14 inch ASUS laptop. It also has 32GB Intel Optane Memory, which allows for faster data transfer between your laptops storage and its RAM.

The laptop also has a good display, which is capable of showing vibrant colours, whether you’re just browsing the internet or watching films. It has a 178° viewing angle, and an 84% screen to body ratio.

You can find this model with a variety of different processors, from the AMD Ryzen 3 to the i7. However, I think the i5 is about right if you’re looking for the best compromise of performance and budget.

All in all, this is one of my favourite cheaper laptops on the market that uses an i5 processor. Whilst it’s not breathtakingly beautiful or super-powered, it provides excellent value for money for the average person.

Google Pixelbook Go

Pixelbook Go 13.3' FHD Laptop (Core i5, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) Just Black

Despite what you may think, there is more out there than just a Mac or Windows laptop. A good alternative to this is to opt for a laptop that operates on the Chrome OS, with the Pixelbook Pro being a great example of that.

Essentially, with a Chromebook you’re just sacrificing things like storage, and the ability to use certain programs, for a faster and more seamless user experience. If you need a snappy laptop to check your emails and you don’t need any specific programs, then the Pixelbook Go could be a wise choice.

As I mentioned, Chromebooks generally don’t come with a lot of storage, with the intention for you to use cloud storage instead. However, they do still come with a decent amount of power, and this laptop uses 8GB of RAM and an i5 processor. It has a full 1080p touchscreen which looks pretty great.

The Pixelbook Go is only 13mm in width, and it’s one of the lightest laptops out there too. So if you want a very portable lightweight laptop that’s very responsive and performs well, don’t overlook Google’s Pixelbook Pro.

Some people are put off by the fact that it’s a Chromebook, as they’re often associated with low prices. However, there’s a few high end Chromebooks being released in the last few years, and this is a great example.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Microsoft Surface 7 Pro is a great example of how an i5 processor can make a laptop a little better. It’s not much more than the i3 base model of the laptop, but it just makes the overall performance of the laptop a little better.

And the Surface Pro 7 is one of the best 2-in-1 laptops out there, with its display completely detachable from its keyboard and trackpad. Of course, the display is touchscreen, and it can be a good idea to purchase an additional Microsoft Surface pen. This will give you the ability to design and draw with this laptop, as it’s one of the best options for artists out there.

This is a very lightweight and portable laptop that you can carry with you anywhere you want to go. It’s available in both a Black and Platinum colour, and it has an extremely long battery life considering its slimline design and size. It can easily last you for a full day of use, which is necessary with its mobile design.

This won’t be a suitable option for those who spend a lot of time at their laptop, as the screen is a little small for extended use. But for casual daily activities and a high powered tablet to use in the evenings, then the Surface Pro 7 is one of the top models of this style of laptop out there.

Acer Aspire 5 A515-55

It’s no secret that the Acer Aspire series is a great range of laptops to look at if you’re trying to pick up a good bargain. One model that you will want to consider is the A515-55, which uses an i5 processor along with 8GB of RAM to power the laptop.

This laptop is less than 1.8cm thick, making it a very slim laptop and easy to carry around with you. It’s quite a good looking laptop for its price, and its slim bezel design supports a lot of screen for its relatively large size. At 15.6 inches, it’s surprisingly portable.

As well as the design of the laptop, this model performs well too. It has an extremely long battery life, which is necessary for anyone who’s looking for a laptop they can use anywhere with them. This laptop also has great connectivity, and you’ll find it easy to connect to wifi wherever you go.

For a cheap laptop, this model has pretty much everything that you could need. A good amount of storage, a reasonable build quality and good performance make this model difficult to beat, So, if you’re looking for a cost effective i5 laptop, then this Aspire laptop might be the right choice for you.

Common Questions about i5 Processor laptops

Are i5 processors good?

For the majority of people, and i5 processor is going to be all you need to have a good experience on your laptop. Most people don’t really need a super powerful processor, and in many cases, it’s better to have the money spent on other hardware than the processor (like more RAM, or a better graphics card).

Are i5 processors okay for gaming?

In many cases, the i5 is going to be all you need for gaming too. Many people get caught up with trying to get the best processor out, when the reality is that most processors are capable of dealing with the majority of things you might want to do on your laptop, including gaming.

Which Intel Core i5 processor is the best?

If you’re looking for the best i5 processor, then one of the best variations of this model is the i5-6600k. This processor has 4 main cores and 8 theoretical threads, which are essentially more hypothetical cores (in the operating systems mind, anyway).

Should I buy i3 or i5 laptop?

If you can, then I would prefer to opt for an i5 laptop over an i3 laptop in the modern day. Whilst I still think the i3 processor is fine – some top laptops are still sold with i3 processors – they’re likely to become outdated much quicker than the i5.

Is an i5 processor slow?

Of course, in comparison to more processors then an i5 processor isn’t going to be as fast. But, I’ll repeat, an i5 processor is never going to be considered as slow, unless maybe you want to have ten intensive programs open at the same time. But even then, saying an i5 is slow is a blanket statement, and it definitely can’t be said about Intel’s newer releases in this line.

Conclusion

All in all, an i5 laptop is still a wise purchase in the modern day, and this processor isn’t going to become outdated any time soon. Even though there are newer models being released, like the i9 back in 2017, for most people it isn’t necessary to get an expensive i9 processor like this.

So, if you’re just an average user, then a laptop with an i5 processor would probably be best. All Intel Core i5 processors aren’t equal though, so it’s worth looking at each individual model.