One of the most important decisions you face when buying a laptop is the central processing unit, or CPU. Intel® Core processors are a popular choice for a good reason. There are 3 processors in the Core series; i3, i5, and i7, each a step up in both power and price.

The Intel Core i5 represents a balance perfect between price and quality. As a result, it’s most commonly found in devices that balance robust performance with a moderate price tag. But what exactly is the Intel Core i5 processor? Let’s explore what makes this a notable piece of tech and then run down the best available HP Core i5 laptops that use it.

What is an Intel Core i5 processor?

Developed by Intel, the Core i5 processor is typically found in mid-range desktop PCs and medium to higher-end laptops. The i5 Core processor is essential for computers to render all of the applications and programs installed on the device.

Particularly when they’re being used for resource-heavy tasks like gaming or video editing, the i5 Core processor provides improves performance for desktop PCs and laptops.

What can a Core i5 processor do?

The Core i5 processor comes as a dual-core or quad-core processor. A core is a subset of a processor, and because a quad-core has twice as many cores as a dual-core processor, it has significantly more processing power.

How many cores do you need?

A quad-core is important when you are multitasking. For example, if you regularly stream music while playing an online multiplayer game, or you edit photos while binge-watching Netflix and chat online with friends, you’ll want a quad-core i5 processor in your HP laptop.

For more general use, you probably won’t notice a major difference between the dual-core and quad-core versions of the i5 core processor. Due to recent advances in technology, quad-core i5 processors have become more common than their dual-core counterparts. There are even some i5 processors that run on 6 cores - they’re true powerhouses.

Different speeds to consider

The i5 processor can be purchased in multiple speeds that can be customized depending on how much processing power you need. Speeds range from 1.90 GHz to 3.80 GHz, and have anywhere between 3MB and 6MB of cache. The higher the speed, the faster the processor (and, as a result, the faster the laptop).

Strain on battery

Keep in mind that when using an Intel Core i5 laptop, the processing power of the laptop will affect battery usage. If you use an i5 processor conservatively, most laptop batteries will last for around 5 hours. However, if the processing power is consistently overclocked beyond its maximum capacity, the battery’s charge may only last for around 3 hours.

Versatile power

Due to their versatility, i5 laptops can be used to run a number of different programs and applications. This includes video and photo editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe Photoshop, as well as Microsoft PowerPoint and programming software. Plus, you can get away with playing non-graphics intensive games such as Counterstrike or Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

7 Best HP Core i5 Laptops

HP® has a range of laptops options with Core i5 processors, from notebooks and mobile workstations to HP Chromebooks. Here are our picks for the 7 best HP i5 laptops available.

1. HP EliteBook x360 830 G6 notebook PC

A flexible laptop with the performance metrics to match, the HP EliteBook x360 830 G6, is a versatile machine that’s great for home and office use. Although the budget variant comes with an i3 core processor, you can customize it to include the i5 and significantly increase the processing power.

This convertible HP EliteBook takes advantage of the i5 through its collaborative and multi-tasking capabilities. These include advanced features like HP Noise Cancellation and collaboration keys, both of which make working with others easier.

This HP Core i5 laptop also has a distinctive aluminum design, as well as an LCD Brightview Corning® Gorilla® Glass 5 touch screen display and keyboard to provide visual contrast. It’s a feature-packed i5 laptop that doesn’t just perform well; it looks great too.

Additional features:

• HD IR webcam
• Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
• ENERGY STAR®-qualified configuration

2. HP ZBook Studio G5 mobile workstation

The latest laptop from the HP ZBook series, the HP ZBook Studio G5 mobile workstation, is a durable laptop created for performance. In fact, it passed all MIL-STD-810G testing parameters, which is a rigorous military standard used for equipment durability. It’s also heavily customizable and can be upgraded with a discrete NVIDIA® Quadro® P1000 graphics card if you need better performance.

However, the real selling point of this HP Core i5 laptop is its visual and security features. It comes with a 15.6-inch Full High Definition (FHD) anti-glare display and can be upgraded with HP DreamColor for 600 nits of brightness. This allows the display to achieve 100% Adobe RGB coverage while maintaining perfect color when editing photos or videos.

Additionally, this i5 laptop comes with a large array of security components, including an augmented certified discrete TPM 2.0 embedded security chip, an HP FingerPrint Sensor, and an HP Sure View. This ensures that this machine is not susceptible to visual hacking and that your files will stay secure.

Additional features:

• Up to 1TB SATA TLC SSD storage
• 1 UHS-II SD card reader
• Intel Optane 16GB of RAM

3. HP Elite Dragonfly notebook PC

The HP Elite Dragonfly notebook PC is a business laptop with a look that sets it apart from other options in this category. As a 2-in-1 laptop, it can bend up to 360 degrees.

Due to its flexibility, you can use it as a tablet and write directly on its 13.3-inch FHD Sure View touch screen display with an optional Wacom AES 2.0 pen. This laptop provides an extreme amount of portability and only weighs 2.2 lbs.

The HP Elite Dragonfly notebook PC also has numerous customization options. Most notably, you can install a 56Wh battery to extend the battery life to 24.5 hours, an increase from the standard 16.5 hours of battery life. Both options include HP Fast Charge, which allows for the battery to charge up to 50% in just 30 minutes.

Like other business HP i5 laptop options, this machine also has numerous security features, including HP BIOS Config Utility and HP System Software Manager. This helps you to protect your versatile and portable business laptop from outside threats.

Additional features:

• Up to 2TB M.2 PCIe NVMe TLC SSD storage
• ENERGY STAR qualified configuration
• Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620

4. HP 250 G7 notebook PC

The latest member of our affordable HP 250 series, the HP 250 G7 notebook PC is one of the best Core i5 laptop deals for budget shoppers. It’s an incredibly compact device that weighs around 3.9 lbs depending on the specs you choose.

It also measures just 4.8 x 9.68 x 0.89 inches. This is pretty unusual for budget business computers, which are usually built with less expensive, and therefore bulkier, components.

Additionally, this laaptop has up to 12 hours and 45 minutes of battery life, making it a great option for bringing to and from work without the need for a charger.

The HP 250 G7 notebook PC also comes bundled with Windows 10 Pro 64. This gives it many distinct advantages over Windows 10 Home, including mobile device management, which can help you manage your device on the cloud, as well as Windows Store for Business and BitLocker device encryption.

Notably, BitLocker device encryption allows you to lock down your device in case it’s lost or stolen, preventing anyone from accessing your private business files. However, it’s worth noting that because this is a budget i5 laptop, it has limited upgrade options.

Additional features:

• 500GB 7200 RPM SATA storage
• 4GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM
• HP TrueVision HD Camera

5. HP Chromebook Enterprise x360 14E G1

Unlike the other HP Core i5 laptops on this list, the HP Chromebook Enterprise x360 14 G1 runs on the Chrome64 operating system instead of Windows 10. However, because this HP Chromebook is built specifically for enterprise-level work, it adds the Chrome Enterprise operating system extension.

This gives the Chrome 64 operating systems additional capabilities, such as access to a suite of cloud-based management tools. It also has integrations with various third-party products and around-the-clock support for corporate IT administrators.

In addition, this HP Chromebook is an extremely solid machine, and it boasts a sleek and stylish aluminum cover and keyboard deck, along with a narrow end-to-end display and backlit keyboard.

Overall, this is a great option for those who want a business-focused laptop that is portable, has a longer battery life, and is optimized to run with various Google applications.

Additional features:

• 32GB to 64GB eMMC storage
• Integrated HD 720p webcam with dual-microphone array
• 1 microSD card reader slot, 2 USB 3.1 Type-C ports

6. HP ProBook 450 G6 notebook PC

One of the higher-end options in our robust HP ProBook line, the HP ProBook 450 G6 is a professional laptop that focuses specifically on multitasking. Along with an i5 quad-core processor, this laptop has discrete NVIDIA GeForce graphics and a long battery life of up to 12 hours and 30 minutes and 8GB of RAM.

Additionally, you can upgrade this laptop’s HP Core i5 processor with Intel Turbo Boost. This technology allows for machines to accelerate their processor and graphics performance depending on the type of workload it is performing. For example, if this laptop is being used to render 3D images, a processor and graphics card can automatically detect this and up its output accordingly.

The HP ProBook 450 G6 notebook PC also has a range of security features, including the Absolute persistence module, which ensures that devices are always connected, protected, and easy to manage.

You also have HP Device Access Manager and Automatic DriveLock. Overall, this PC is perfectly suited for those who work on various projects simultaneously and need the processing power and security features to match.

Additional features:

• 256GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD storage
• 8GB DDR4-2400 SDRAM
• 720p HD webcam

7. HP Elite x2 G4 tablet with keyboard

The HP Elite x2 G4 is not a straightforward tablet but rather combines the specs of a laptop with the functionality of a tablet to give you the advantages of both products. This machine is best suited for those who need a versatile solution that can be used in either manner. Like similar devices, you can detach the screen from the keyboard as needed.

This Core i5 laptop also comes equipped with a host of security options. These include HP Sure Sense, which helps with offline malware protection, as well as Absolute persistence module and Automatic DriveLock. With a great blend of functionality and security, this HP Elite device is well-suited for anyone who needs a tablet for personal use and a laptop for work.

Additional features:

• ENERGY STAR certified
• Optional 3-year next business day onsite hardware support warranty
• 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD storage

In summary

The i5 Core processor can be found in a wide range of HP laptops, many of which have different types of functionality. As such, it has become a staple in computing, and is a reliable processor that can help any laptop run various programs and applications effectively. HP® has a wide array of options available that feature i5 Core processors, and they’re typically a great value.