To find the best laptop with an i5 processor, you’ll need to determine the features that are right for you and your setup, no matter if you are going to be using it for work or for leisure. We recommend that you favor i5 laptops with high-grade Intel i5 processors and enough RAM to ensure you can have multiple applications running at the same time. Make sure to also consider the form factor, as a light and thin laptop will be better for portability and transport. When buying an i5 laptop, always look for plenty of RAM, efficient storage, and a long-lasting battery.
After analyzing hundreds of reviews amongst a multitude of products with varying price points and features, we’ve determined that the Acer Aspire 5 is the best laptop with an i5 processor on the market today. Keep reading about this and our other top picks to learn more about the best laptops on the market today.
Top 10 Best Laptop with i5 Processor
#1 Acer Aspire 5 Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Fantastic laptop with an i5 tenth generation Intel Core processor, in addition to boasting a large and speedy 512GB SSD and 8GB of dedicated DDR4 RAM for multitasking.
- Large solid-state drive
- 10th gen Intel Core processor
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM
- Speakers could be louder
- Display is not touch-sensitive
The Acer Aspire 5 is the best 10th gen i5 laptop, thanks to featuring a powerful tenth-generation Intel Core processor and 8GB of dedicated DDR4 RAM for multitasking and for running advanced software applications. The rest of the specs are excellent, with a large and speedy 512GB solid-state drive, an HD webcam, and a backlit keyboard for the purposes of using in a lowly lit area of the home. The integrated battery can also last for around eight hours, which is admirable.
Though the integrated stereo speakers are assisted by the company’s TrueHarmony audio boosting technology, they are still on the weaker side. Additionally, the Full HD 15.6-inch display is certainly gorgeous but is not touch integrated. Alternatively, think about purchasing the best touch screen laptop with a stellar feature set that includes a powerful tenth-generation Intel Core i7 processor.
#2 Asus VivoBook S14 Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: Great choice for those who like gorgeous FHD displays and ultra-wide viewing angles, as this laptop features both in addition to an impressive feature set that includes a large 512GB SSD.
- Ultra-wide viewing angle
- 512GB SSD and 8GB of RAM
- Light and thin form factor
- Battery on weaker side
- Speakers are below average
The VivoBook S14 is a fully specced out laptop (8GB RAM i5 eighth generation) with a gorgeous 14-inch Full HD display that is designed from the ground up to allow for an increased viewing angle during use. We appreciated the light and thin form factor, as this laptop weighs just under three pounds, and the large and speedy 512GB solid-state drive, which is plenty of room for tons of media files and personal documents.
Though most of the specs here are outstanding, the battery life does suffer a bit, getting just around five hours on a single charge. Also, the integrated stereo speakers are below average, so you may want to plug the laptop into an external speaker system. Compare this model to the best business laptop that features four integrated stereo speakers.
#3 Dell G15 Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST FOR GAMING
WHY WE LIKE IT: Built from the ground up for gaming, with a 10th gen quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and the NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti graphics card with 6GB of GDDR6 memory.
- 10th gen quad-core processor
- NVIDIA GeForce® GTX 1660 Ti graphics card
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM
- 256GB SSD on smaller side
- Battery only lasts a few hours
The Dell G15 is an absolutely stellar choice for serious gamers, thanks to featuring a tenth generation Intel Core i5-1035g1 quad-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. This laptop also features the iconic NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card which boasts its own 6GB of GDDR6 RAM memory for additional graphical support and is generally considered to be better than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650. We appreciated that this laptop integrates nicely with modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth standards, including Wi-Fi 6.
The seriously beefy specs on offer do make the battery take a hit, as it only lasts for three or four hours before needing a recharge. Additionally, this i5 laptop does ship with a solid-state drive, but it is on the smaller side at just 256GB. A better option here would be the best laptop with an i7 processor that has a large and speedy 512GB solid-state drive
#4 HP Pavilion Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST QUALITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: High-quality laptop with a slew of high-end features, including the NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti graphics card, a tenth gen Intel Core processor, and 16GB of dedicated RAM.
- Powerful NVIDIA graphics card
- 10th gen Intel processor
- 16GB of RAM and 512GB SSD
- On the expensive side
- Nearly 6lb
The HP Pavilion is of excellent quality and boasts features that rival nearly any other i5 laptop on the market, such as a powerful tenth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 16GB of dedicated RAM, and 512GB of solid-state storage. We appreciated the inclusion of the iconic NVIDIA GTX 1660Ti graphics card, which ships with its own 6GB of dedicated graphics memory. The backlit keyboard is also a nice addition, as this allows for use in the dark or in lowly lit areas.
The advanced features here do come with a literal cost, as this is an expensive i5 laptop. Also, the 16” display is much appreciated, but it helps balloon this laptop’s weight to nearly six pounds. Alternatively, consider purchasing the best laptop for students that features a relatively light form factor, at three pounds, and an attractive black matte finish.
#5 Microsoft Surface Pro 6 Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST 2-IN-1 DESIGN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Best-in-class 2-in-1 convertible design that allows for a great laptop experience and a fantastic tablet experience, with a powerful feature set that includes 8GB of dedicated RAM.
- 13 hours of use per charge
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM
- Extremely light, under 2lb
- Due to nature of design, keyboard is not backlit
- Does not ship with digital pen
The Microsoft Surface Pro 6 is a great option for those who want to purchase both an i5 laptop and a tablet, as this model features a fully detachable touch display, allowing for the best of both worlds. The specs here are excellent, with 8GB of dedicated RAM and a long-lasting lithium battery that can run for 13 hours before needing a recharge. We also appreciated just how light and compact this model is, clocking in just under two pounds.
The keyboard doubles as a tablet cover, which helps keep the weight down but does not allow for a backlit keyboard. Additionally, this model does not ship with a digital pen or a stylus, though both are available for purchase. Or you may want to consider purchasing the best laptop for drawing that comes with a stylus pen and a super powerful 2.1 GHz Ryzen 5 3500U processor.
#6 Dell XPS Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST DURABILITY
WHY WE LIKE IT: Incredibly durable design with an all-metal aluminum alloy exterior, in addition to offering features such as a touch display, 8GB of RAM, and a speedy solid-state drive.
- Weighs under 3lb
- 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD
- Intel Core i5-6200U CPU and Intel 520 graphics card
- Does not ship with digital pen
- Intel Core i5-6200U CPU and Intel 520 graphics card
The Dell XPS is built to last, with a durable design that features a machined aluminum exterior that can certainly take a licking. The specs here are also fantastic, thanks to an Intel Core i5-6200U processor, the Intel 520 graphics card, 8GB of dedicated RAM, and a speedy 256GB solid-state storage drive. Additionally, this is a light and compact laptop, clocking in at just 2.6 pounds.
Though we appreciated the touch-sensitive display, allowing for a degree of tablet-like functionality, it is on the smaller side, at just 13-inches wide. Also, the integrated stereo speakers are somewhat weak, so you’ll likely want to wear headphones or connect to an external sound system. Alternatively, consider purchasing the best laptop for college students that is the perfect entertainment machine.
#7 Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop with i5 Processor
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST STORAGE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with a pair of storage drives, one HDD and one SSD, totaling well over 1TB, with a large 17.3” FHD display and 8GB of dedicated DDR4 RAM memory.
- Plenty of ports and optical drive
- 17.3” FHD display
- 8GB of DDR4 RAM
- Extremely heavy, at 6lb
- Battery only gets several hours
The Dell Inspiron 3000 Laptop is a great choice for those who want a lot of storage, as it ships with two storage drives, a 1TB HDD and a 128GB SSD, with the latter being used as the boot drive, making for a speedy and efficient experience. The specs here are decent, thanks to an 8th generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor and 8GB of DDR4 RAM. We also appreciated the large and gorgeous 17.3-inch Full HD display and the fact that this laptop comes with a bevy of port options, including HDMI, and includes an optical drive.
The advanced specs do make for somewhat lessened battery life, however, as you’ll need to recharge after just a few hours of use. Additionally, this is a heavier-than-average laptop, clocking in at well over six pounds. Compare that to the best netbook on the market that weighs just over three pounds, which is not terribly heavy.
#8 HP Pavilion ProBook 450 Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST LARGE SCREEN
WHY WE LIKE IT: Ships with an extremely large 17.3” display with a wide viewing angle, in addition to weighing just over 3lb and including a long-lasting lithium-ion battery.
- Just over 3lb
- Battery lasts around 8 hours
- Island-style keyboard with numeric keypad
- 4GB of RAM
- No SSD, though 1TB HDD
The HP Pavilion ProBook 450 is a great option for those who want an extremely large and gorgeous display with a wide viewing angle, as this laptop maximizes visual real estate with a glorious 17.3-inch screen. The specs are decent, with an Intel Core processor and an integrated battery that can last for around eight hours before needing a recharge. We also appreciated the large island-style keyboard, complete with numeric keypad, and the light and thin form factor, as this computer weighs just over three pounds and is under one inch thick.
Though many of the specs here are excellent, it does only ship with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, which is on the lower side and may impact multitasking. Also, it does not come with a solid-state drive, though does include a large 1TB HDD. For an SSD model, consider the best i3 laptop that features 128BG of solid-state drive.
#9 HP Pavilion 15T Laptop with i5 Processor
We’re sorry, this product is temporarily out of stock
Award: BEST VALUE
WHY WE LIKE IT: Value-conscious laptop with a robust feature set that includes an HD webcam, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a Full HD touch display that allows for tablet-like functionality.
- High-resolution camera
- Fantastic battery life
- FHD touch display
- No SSD, though large 1TB HDD
- Slightly heavy, over 4lb
The HP Pavilion 15T comes in at a value-conscious price while offering features in line with more expensive competitors, such as a Full HD webcam, for video chatting, and 8GB of dedicated DDR4 RAM. We also appreciated the large 15.6-inch touch display, allowing for tablet-like functionality, and the multitude of useful ports and connectivity options available, which include an ethernet port and a USB-C port.
This laptop does not ship with a solid-state drive, which is something of an oversight, though it does include a massive 1TB HDD. Additionally, this computer is slightly heavy, coming in at just over four pounds. A much lighter option is the best windows laptop, weighing in at less than 3 pounds.
#10 Lenovo Ideapad 720s Laptop with i5 Processor
Award: BEST ON A BUDGET
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-conscious computer with some serious features, such as a battery that can last for over a dozen hours, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and a speedy 256GB solid-state drive.
- Fantastic battery life
- Fingerprint reader, for security
- 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD
- No optical drive
- 14” display on smaller side
The Ideapad 720s can be purchased for a budget-friendly price, yet it still offers a robust feature set that includes an 8th gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of DDR4 RAM, and 256GB of solid-state storage. This laptop ships with a fingerprint reader, for added security, and a backlit keyboard. We also appreciated the fantastic battery life here, as this computer can run for around a dozen hours before needing a recharge.
Though the 14-inch display is Full HD, it is on the smaller side, at 14-inches wide, and not touch-sensitive. Also, this laptop does not ship with an optical drive, if you were hoping to use your DVD and CD collections. This is why you may want to consider purchasing the best rugged laptop that features an optical drive and a stellar integrated battery which can provide more than fifteen hours of continuous use before needing to recharge.
How We Decided
To help narrow down to the above list, we took great care to thoroughly research all of the leading laptops that featured an Intel-manufactured i5 core processor. To that end, we preferred computers with recently manufactured i5 processors, eighth-generation and above, as these tend to be the most efficient and speedy.
Other specifications were of paramount importance, including RAM, for the purpose of multitasking, and storage. When it comes to storage, we preferred laptops that shipped with speedy solid-state drives but included those with older HDD storage options if they were on the larger side (1TB and above.)
We liked large and Full HD displays and awarded bonus points if the said display was touch-sensitive, allowing for a fair amount of tablet-like functionality and access to touch-based games and applications. Finally, we liked computers with a multitude of ports and connectivity options, including HDMI, USB 3.0, USB 2.0, ethernet, and more.
Laptop with i5 Processor Buying Guide
The Most Important Features to Consider
- Specs Not all i5 processors are created equal. Look for a recently designed and manufactured CPU, with eighth-generation or above as a good starting point. As for additional specifications, look for a laptop that ships with plenty of dedicated RAM, for multitasking, and those that come with large storage drives. These storage drives should be solid-state, as these drives offer unparalleled speed and efficiency.
- Display The display is, quite obviously, extremely important while shopping for a laptop with an i5 processor. Look for a display that is large and features an ultra-wide viewing angle, in addition to offering a resolution of at least Full HD. You may also want to choose a touch-enabled display, otherwise known as convertible laptops, as this will allow you access to tablet-like applications and games, all of which can be controlled via your finger.
- Additional Features One of the most important additional features to look for is battery life. Make sure to choose a laptop with a long-lasting battery that can easily go all day before needing a recharge. Other features to look for include fingerprint readers, for security, and backlit keyboards, for nighttime use or for use in a lowly lit part of the home. Finally, make sure the ports and connectivity options are up to snuff.
