It's the lowest price we've seen in any condition. (Clip the on-page coupon.) Buy Now at UntilGone
- 7th Generation Intel Core i5-7360U 2.3GHz Kaby Lake dual-core CPU
- 13" 2560x1600 Retina display
- 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD
- macOS 10.14 Mojave
- Model: MPXT2LL/A
That's about $50 less than most other sellers are charging for the 2018 Apple MacBook Air. Sure it's not as powerful as the newly released M3 version, but it's hard to beat a $350 MacBook Air. Buy Now at Woot! An Amazon Company
- Retina display; 13.3-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology (2560x1600) | Integrated Touch ID sensor
- 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
- 512GB Solid-State Drive | 8GB of memory
- Intel UHD Graphics 617 | 720p FaceTime HD camera
- 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking | Bluetooth 4.2 wireless technology
- Model: MRE82LL/A
Finding a Lenovo 12th-Generation i5 IdeaPad Laptop for under $400 is a difficult task, but Walmart has you covered if you're looking for a budget machine. The Lenovo 82QD00CJUS has great specs for a PC that does everything but high end gaming. Buy Now at Walmart
- 12th-Gen. Intel Core i5-1235U 3.3GHz Alder Lake 10-core CPU
- 15.6" 1920x1080 (1080p) LCD
- 8GB RAM & 512GB SSD
- Windows 11 in S Mode
- Model: 82QD00CJUS
- Dell Latitude 7320 Detachable 2-in-1 13" Touch Screen
- Intel Core i7 11th Gen i7-1180G7 Quad-Core Processor 2.2GHz (4.6GHz With Turbo Boost)
- 1TB SSD Hard Drive & 16GB RAM Memory
- 1920x1280 FHD+ resolution Touch with an integrated Webcam and an integrated graphics chip
- Wireless Wifi & Bluetooth
- Model: Latitude 7320 Detachable 2-in-1
- UPC: 787058644249
It's $275 under list price. Buy Now at Amazon
- Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 laptop
- Weight: 3. 220 lbs
- System Ram Type: Ddr4 Sdram
- Model: dell i7386-5038slv-pus
- UPC: 884116313038
Finding a Lenovo 12th-Generation i5 IdeaPad Laptop for under $400 is a difficult task, but Walmart has you covered if you're looking for a budget machine. The Lenovo 82QD00CJUS has great specs for a PC that does everything but high end gaming. Buy Now at Walmart
- 12th-Gen. Intel Core i5-1235U 3.3GHz Alder Lake 10-core CPU
- 15.6" 1920x1080 (1080p) LCD
- 8GB RAM & 512GB SSD
- Windows 11 in S Mode
- Model: 82QD00CJUS
It's $180 under list price. Buy Now at Amazon
- 14 inch touchscreen Full HD 1920x1080 4-sided frameless NanoEdge Display around each side of the display that allows for a 14 inch screen to fit in the body of a 13 inch laptop footprint
- The Full HD display has a durable 360 degree hinge that can be used to flip the touchscreen display to tent, stand, and tablet mode
- Powered by the Intel Core i5-10210U Processor (6M Cache, up to 4.2 GHz) plus on board Gig+ Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) + Bluetooth 5.0 for super-fast and snappy performance.
- 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD, 16GB RAM, and 2x USB Type-C (Gen 1) ports plus an illuminated chiclet keyboard (*USB Transfer speed may vary. Learn more at ASUS website)
- The lightweight (2.58 lbs) magnesium-alloy chassis body makes the C436 both durable and beautiful for a timeless look that will never go out of style
- Model: C436FA-DS599T-W
- UPC: 192876593462
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- Renewed products look and work like new. These pre-owned products have been inspected and tested by Amazon-qualified suppliers, which typically perform a full diagnostic test, replacement of any defective parts, and a thorough cleaning process. Packaging and accessories may be generic. All products on Amazon Renewed come with a minimum 90-day supplier-backed warranty.
- 11.6" backlit LED screen, 802.11ac Wireless, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0
- 1.4 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 (Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz) with 3MB shared L3 cache
- 4 GB 1600 MHz LPDDR3 Memory, 128 GB PCIe-based flash storage.
- Model: Apple-cr
- UPC: 034722865166
Use coupon code "40LAPTOP349" to take an extra 40% off refurbished Dell Latitude laptops of $349 or more, dropping starting prices to $239.40. (We've pictured the Refurbished Dell Latitude 5310 10th-Gen i5 13.3" Touch Laptop at that price, after coupon.) Plus, the same coupon scores free shipping, although you may need to enter your shipping info before applying the coupon to make it stick. Plus, all these systems include a 100-day Dell warranty. Shop Now at Dell Refurbished Store
- Dell Latitude 5320 2-in-1 13.3" Touch Screen
- Intel Core i7 11th Gen i7-1185G7 Quad-Core Processor 1.8GHz (4.4GHz With Turbo Boost)
- 512 GB SSD Hard Drive & 16GB RAM Memory
- 1920x1080 FHD resolution Touch with an integrated Webcam and an integrated graphics chip
- Wireless Wifi & Bluetooth
- Model: Latitude 5320 2-in-1
- UPC: 196105544232
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
- 4th Gen Intel Core i5-4210Y processor (3MB cache and 1.5GHz processor speed with Turbo Boost up to 1.9GHz) / 4GB memory (expandable to 8GB) / 128GB solid state drive (SSD)
- 11.6" LED-backlit high-definition touch-screen display with TrueLife and UltraSharp technologies (400 cd/m brightness, Corning Gorilla Glass NBT construction and 2560 x 1440 resolution) / Intel HD Graphics 4200
- Built-in high-definition widescreen webcam with dual-array digital microphones / 2 USB 3.0 ports / 3-in-1 media reader / HDMI Port
- Built-in Intel dual-band Wireless-AC 7260 LAN (802.11ac) / Bluetooth 4.0 interface / Backlit Keyboard / Weighs only 2.5 lbs. and measures just 0.4" 0.6" thin
- Model: XPS11-9091CFB-cr
- UPC: 603784371191
Core i5 Laptops: The Basics
When researching a laptop to buy, one of the main factors to consider is the processor. The processor handles the workload of the computer, so its performance and speed can have a large impact on the overall value of your system.
Core i5 is a line of processors made by Intel that are intended for the mainstream user. Within the Core i5 family, there are several generations and models of products. The most recent Intel Core generations are listed below, along with their code name (Intel’s naming scheme for the platforms they develop):
- 10th Generation : Comet Lake, Ice Lake, or Amber Lake Y
- 9th Generation : Coffee Lake
- 8th Generation : Coffee Lake, Whiskey Lake, Kaby Lake R or G, or Amber Lake Y
- 7th Generation: Kaby Lake
Deciphering the Processor Name
When reviewing the specifications for a laptop at a certain retailer, you may not see the generation listed in the processor name. However, you can determine this by the first number listed in the name of the processor after “i5”. For instance, “Intel Core i5-1035G1” has a 10 after i5, which indicates it is 10th gen. Along the same lines, “Intel Core i5-9300H” is 9th gen.
The last letter or number/letter combination in this string also has meaning , and represents certain features. As examples, an “H” on the end means high performance graphics, while a “U” means ultra-low power.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which i5 Processor Generation Should I Choose?
Most of the Core i5 laptop deals listed on DealNews are at least 8th gen; the majority are 10th gen. Generally speaking, the latest generation of a processor represents advances in technology compared to previous generations.
That said, according to Intel , “A higher number within a processor class or family generally indicates more features, but it may be more of one and less of another.” So it’s worth checking into the specifics once you’ve narrowed down your choices. A slightly older processor at a great deal may be perfectly sufficient compared to spending more for the very latest development.
How Many Cores Are in an i5 Laptop?
Core i5 processors for laptops can go up to six cores, but more typically have two or four cores. The majority of i5 laptop deals on DealNews are for quad-core systems. Having multiple cores basically means your processor can multitask, doing up to six things at once (or more with hyper-threading ).
Quad-core is commonly recommended for average users that aren’t using specialized software that’s designed to take advantage of additional cores. Dual-core may also suffice, particularly if cost is the main driver of the purchase.
Should I Buy a Core i5 or Consider i3, i7, or i9?
When considering a Core i5 laptop deal, you may be wondering if you should upgrade to i7 or i9 — or save money by opting for i3. Like the processor generations mentioned above, the higher numbers generally mean higher performance. Core i5 would be a step above i3, i7 a step above i5, and so on.
That said, there can be a lot of variance within these lines, and several factors besides the number of cores will affect performance, including:
- Clock Speed : Measures how fast the processor is, with higher numbers meaning higher speeds (higher speeds also use more power and generate more heat)
- Turbo Boost : Speeds up processor performance during peak loads
- Hyper-Threading : Allows multiple threads to run on each core (doing more simultaneously without slowing down)
Intel highlights some of the key features in the Intel Core processor family and provides detailed comparison charts for the following mobile processors:
This chart is not available for Core i9 , but Intel also offers a handy tool for comparing processors using their Product Specifications Page (ARK). If you are considering a couple of specific models and want to view the processor specifications side-by-side with differences highlighted, you can follow the instructions for using the search with the option to compare.
When making a choice between the i5 and other CPUs, it will likely come down to how much you can afford. All other things being equal or at least comparable, you’ll want to get the latest and greatest processor possible for the money you plan to spend. That said, shelling out for a processor with way more power than you need isn’t necessary. That extra power will only benefit those that run high-end games and complex software.
How Can I Get a Discount On an i5 Laptop?
You can browse the i5 laptop deals here at DealNews to find several options for getting a discount. Many of the i5 deals we find come from these stores:
If you don’t see a deal, you can search the model number for the system you are interested in to check prices. To potentially get even more savings, you can search DealNews for coupons for the stores that sell it. Once you’ve determined the prices and whether coupons are available, you can compare to find out which store has the lowest price.
Sarah Jones is the resident coupon expert at DealNews and oversees a team that covers deals, coupons, and Black Friday content. Her articles or quotes have been featured on sites such as Christian Science Monitor, Oprah.com, Fox Business, Kiplinger, and Lifehacker.