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In the world of Intel processors, it is fair to say i5 are the middlemen or the balance because they are a step up from i3 and a step down from i7. However, it even becomes more difficult when you’re searching for an i5 laptop under 400 dollars. Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you and discovered the seven best i5 Laptops under 400 dollars, with our overall best being the ✅HP 15 Laptop.
Best i5 Laptop Under 400 Dollars Comparison Table
Tap the images on the best i5 laptops under 400 dollars on Amazon.
| S/N | Product | Image | Specification |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HP 15 Laptop |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-1135G7/4 cores GPU-Intel Iris Xe Graphics DISPLAY-15.6 inch/FHD STORAGE-256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 3.75 pounds |
| 2 | ASUS VivoBook 15 |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-1035G1/4 cores GPU-Intel UHD Graphics DISPLAY-15.6 inch/FHD STORAGE-512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 3.5 pounds |
| 3 | Newest HP 14 |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-1035G1/ 4 cores GPU-Intel UHD Graphics DISPLAY-14 inch/HD STORAGE-256 GB SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 3.24 pounds |
| 4 | HP EliteBook 840 G3 (RENEWED) |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-6300U/2 cores GPU-Intel DISPLAY-14/HD STORAGE-256 GB SSD MEMORY-16 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 2.11 pounds |
| 5 | Dell Latitude E7270 (RENEWED) |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-6300U/ 2 cores GPU-Intel HD 520 Graphics DISPLAY-12.5/HD STORAGE-256 GB SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 2 pounds |
| 6 | Lenovo ThinkPad T460 (RENEWED) |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-I5-6200U/ 2 cores GPU-Integrated HD Graphics DISPLAY-14 inch/FHD STORAGE-256 GB SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 2.88 pounds |
| 7 | HP Elitebook 820 G3 (RENEWED) |   | CPU MODEL NO/NUMBER OF CORES-i5-6300U/ 2 cores GPU-Intel DISPLAY-12.5 inch/HD STORAGE-256 GB SSD MEMORY-8 GB DDR4 WEIGHT- 2.64 pounds |
Best i5 Laptop Under 400 Dollars
So an i5 laptop under 400 dollars is more than less.
Presumably, people believe once you go low for a laptop, you should be ready to face underperformance.
Surprisingly that is not true.
Intel i5 laptops under 400 dollars have a lot to offer in terms of performance.
First, they present a laptop that allows you to move light- it almost feels like you’re carrying nothing.
It provides travelers, filmmakers, videographers with an option to reduce the load they will carry.
In essence, they define what it means to work while on the go, contrary to their heavier and bulky predecessors.
This lightweight is because Intel i5 laptops under 400 dollars lack most heavy hardware that most expensive laptops possess.
Hence they have fitted for portability thanks to their slim design and lightweight size.
Also, most expensive laptops don’t get used to their full potential because most buyers do not need most of the features they offer.
And for some, it can get complicated trying to understand their innovative designs, advanced features, and high-end specs.
The effect is a cumbersome device that leaves you with more questions than answers.
Thus making your life more complicated.
However, i5 laptops under 400 dollars offer simplicity and ease of use- with them, what you see is what you get.
There are no hidden features or complicated instructions to understand.
TYPES OF i5 PROCESSOR
The arrangement you are about to go through comes together based on the fastest performer.
However, we can’t focus on all Intel i5 processors.
But we will let you know the generation we have chosen, which is the 11th generation.
Besides that, we will focus on the top three in the i5 family under the 11th generation processors.
Before we go any further, it is also vital to know the best comes from the numbers of cores, cache, and clock speed.
NUMBER OF CORES
Ideally, the number of cores present would result in better handling of commands and software.
Each core is multiplied twice to get the number of threads.
So, four cores would translate to 8 threads.
And based on cores, the i5-11500HE knocks off all others with six cores which puts it at number one.
Then it is followed closely by the i5-11320H with four cores present.
Finally, we have i5-1155G7 with four cores present.
CACHE
The cache allows access to information faster than you regularly would.
Inevitably that would mean if you have more cache space, then you can access more information.
And for this, the i5-11500HE comes in with 12 MB making it the highest once again.
Then comes i5-11320H with 8 MB giving it second place.
Similarly, i5-1155G7 also has 8 MB making it a tie between second and third.
CLOCK SPEED
The clock speed translates to the rate at which your device will process commands.
Surprisingly all three possess the same clock speed of up to 4.5 GHz.
Additionally, as stated earlier, there are other i5.
But to avoid going off-track, we choose only the top three.
And you can see i5-11500H is number one.
SOME WORDS FOR YOU
Truthfully finding the best i5 laptops under 400 dollars is next to impossible because the Intel i5 single-handedly pushes up the price.
Hence, what you are more likely to see is renewed or refurbished for 400.
However, we know some people would never settle for refurbished laptops.
Hence we added a few laptops slightly above the 400 benchmarks.
Top Favorites For The Best i5 Laptop Under 400 Dollars
1. HP 15 Laptop Best i5 Laptop Under 400
We begin with a laptop from HP that offers responsiveness at a faster rate, and it comes in an all-white chassis.
DISPLAY
Plus, like all laptops that wish to stand out, it offers clear pictures and stunning visuals on its 15.6-inch, Full HD, IPS, micro-edge, and anti-glare display.
Hence, you get better viewing in terms of angles that capture your favorite moments properly.
Thanks to the anti-glare screen, there is a reduction in reflective- images, and the screen becomes easier to clean.
But that’s not all.
You also get to use an HP True Vision HD webcam that allows you to video chat even in low light.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
As mentioned earlier, the HP laptop is a responsive one, and responsiveness comes from the CPU.
Then the CPU carries the model number i5-1135G7 with four cores and features four Willow processor cove processor cores.
But a CPU still needs the backing of RAM space good enough to allow you to multitask and more.
For this reason, HP thew in 8 GB of RAM space.
Furthermore, HP also provided a powerful Intel Iris Xe Graphics to process graphics tasks.
More so, when storage is involved, you get enough with 256 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD giving more performance than an HDD.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
In terms of weight, you get a device you can carry about freely, weighing 3.75 pounds.
Besides that, you can share or transfer files, data, and more using a wireless connection from WI-FI 6 and Bluetooth 5.
The battery works wonders thanks to HP fast charge that takes you from 0-50% in 45 minutes, and the battery offers 7 hours 15 minutes in a single Charge.
OTHER FEATURES
Also, it is an eco-friendly laptop and proves that with the ENERGY STAR certified to it.
And the display offers an 82% screen-to-body ratio.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
Plus, the HP laptop is available to all, but if you wish to binge-watch movies and more, then you should get this.
PROS
- Anti-glare non-reflective screen.
- A sound array of specs.
- Adequate storage capacity.
- Fast charge.
CONS
- The chassis feels cheap.
OUR WORD
It can be a light gaming laptop if you choose.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
2. ASUS VivoBook 15
Asus comes in with a frameless four-way laptop that assures you of more screens, plus a sleek design you can’t resist.
DISPLAY
In line with the perfect specs for any visual content of visual production, the Asus laptop provides clear images on its 15.6 inches Full HD (1920×1080) 4-way NanoEdge bezel display, and you get better viewing angles.
Plus, Asus fitted an HD webcam at the top of the bezel for video calls.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
Interestingly the Asus laptop doesn’t offer 11 th generation as the HP laptop.
However, it comes with a processor guaranteed to give you the performance you seek, and its model number is i5-1035G1 with a clock speed of up to 3.6 GHz.
Plus, it’s a 4 core with 8 threads.
And as far as RAM space goes, it has an 8 GB DDR4.
On the other hand, it’s a co-processor that offers quality graphics performance thanks to the Intel UHD Graphics included here.
Then, the device comes with a 512GB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for long-term storage.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
With all the above-listed specs, it weighs 3.5 pounds.
And for connectivity, it has a wireless type from Bluetooth four and 2-USB 2.0 ports and 2-USB 3.0 ports.
Similarly, the Asus laptop offers fast charging, just like the HP 15.
The only difference is the Asus gives 60% in 49 minutes.
OTHER FEATURES
Inclusive with the display, it offers an 88% screen-to-body ratio, and the top part of the device gets support from an innovative Egrolft hinge.
Also, it has a comfortable backlit keyboard with Ergonomic Dish-like keys and a buttonless touchpad available.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
If you wish to get a sleek laptop for working purposes and more, this is the one.
PROS
- Impeccable screen quality.
- It has solid battery life with a fast charge.
- Lightweight.
CONS
- Poor screen quality.
OUR WORD
The device has all you need for basic computing activities and more.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
3. Newest HP 14 Best i5 Laptop Under 400
HP returns with a laptop quite different from the previous one.
And it sports a different silver look.
DISPLAY
Usually, it’s always great to get visuals on a 15-inch screen which is not the case here.
However, the HP laptop gives visuals still worthy of quality on a 14-inch Diagonal HD SVA BrightView micro-edge WLED-backlit.
Also, the SVA panel guarantees you a better image, regardless of where you are watching the screen from, even in sunny or bright weather.
Plus, you get to video chat in HD using its webcam at the top.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
Furthermore, there is a whole lot you can accomplish with a quad-core processor that offers eight threads for better multitasking and handling of commands.
And it’s all thanks to the CPU with the model number i5-1035G1, plus a clock speed of up to 3.6 GHz and 6 MB cache.
For the RAM, you get 8GB whereas, you get an Intel UHD Graphics to handle all your graphics demanding tasks.
Lastly, for storage, you get a 256 GB SSD.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
Then it weighs 3.24 pounds.
For connectivity, it has USB 3.1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, HDMI 1.4b, Headphone/microphone Combo Jack.
The battery offers an average of 7 hours.
OTHER FEATURES
It features a Full-size Island-style Keyboard with flat lettered keys and a buttonless touchpad.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
Perpahs you need a laptop that provides style and performance, then look no further.
PROS
- Slim and lightweight.
- Nice build quality.
- Solid screen quality.
CONS
- Not full HD.
OUR WORD
It has specs worth the price.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
4. HP EliteBook 840 G3 (RENEWED)
Well, some refurbished products will leave you wondering why you have to pay twice for a new one, and one of such products is the HP EliteBook.
DISPLAY
In line with our last device on the list, the HP device, even though renewed, offers the quality of new laptops when it comes to displaying quality visuals.
This it does on its 14.0″ diagonal LED HD Display that gives you quality images for your viewing pleasure.
Unlike most laptops, this doesn’t offer a webcam but considering it’s renewed, we could let that slide.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
This has an i5-6300U, plus it has a clock speed of up to 2.4 GHz, and it’s a dual-core processor.
More so, it has 16 GB RAM, that’s enough for multitasking and more.
Likewise, the graphics come from Intel.
There’s also enough storage to store your relevant files.
Specifically, you get a 256 GB SSD storage space available.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
Furthermore, considering the HP laptop is renewed, it now weighs lighter at 2.11 pounds, and it has several connection ports.
Then it has a fair battery life that allows you to accomplish your goals.
OTHER FEATURES
Surprisingly, the device comes with a fingerprint reader.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
Anyone looking for an affordable yet high-performing device.
- Fingerprint reader available.
- It runs cool.
- Looks good as new.
CONS
- No backlit keyboard.
OUR WORD
It offers the features you’ll find on a brand new laptop.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
5. Dell Latitude E7270 (RENEWED) Best i5 Laptop Under 400
Next comes an ultrabook from Dell, and it is durable thanks to its solid chassis.
DISPLAY
It doesn’t disappoint as it projects visuals on a 12. 5 Inch HD (1366 x 768) Anti Glare LCD.
The anti-glare screen featured here helps to reduce image reflectiveness in a sunny or bright-lit environment.
Furthermore, it goes ahead to offer high-quality video chat via its webcam at the top.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
It keeps all the specs running well with the addition of an Intel i5 with the model number i5-6300U with two cores, a 3 MB cache, and a clock speed of up to 3.0 GHz.
Also, it has 8 GB DDR4 RAM for effective multitasking.
The graphics are an Intel HD 520 Graphics, while the storage space is 256 GB Solid State Drive SSD.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
It weighs 2 pounds.
And for connectivity, it has Bluetooth, SD Card Reader, Smart Card Reader, HDMI, Mini Display Port, 3 x USB 3. 0, RJ-45.
Then, it offers a battery life of 4 hours on average.
OTHER FEATURES
Fortunately, it comes with a backlit keyboard, and it is touchscreen enabled.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
If you need a touchscreen device, this is the one.
PROS
- Smart card reader.
- 3 USB ports.
- No cosmetic issues.
CONS
- Poor speakers.
OUR WORD
It is cheap and high-performing for the price.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
6. Lenovo ThinkPad T460 (RENEWED)
We have a notebook from Lenovo with a beautiful design.
DISPLAY
As usual, it projects visual content on a 14-inch display screen.
Surprisingly, the visuals come in FHD even though it’s a renewed device.
More so, it offers a virtual presence where ever you want to be from the comfort of your home, via its webcam at the top.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
It has a high-performing Intel i5-6200U, a dual-core processor with a clock speed of up to 2.8 GHz.
Also, for memory and storage, it offers 8 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD, respectively.
Finally, it features integrated HD Graphics which is enough to handle light graphics tasks.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
Then it weighs 2.88 pounds.
And for connectivity, it offers a 4-in-1 reader (MMC, SD, SDHC, SDXC), Three USB 3.0 (one Always On), MiniDP, HDMI, Ethernet (RJ-45), Dock connector.
Plus, it requires only 1 Lithium-ion battery.
OTHER FEATURES
It comes with a fingerprint reader to keep all your sensitive documents safe.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
Perpahs you need a laptop from Lenovo at an affordable price, then get this.
PROS
- Solid battery life.
- No scratches.
- Small and lightweight.
CONS
- Tiny keyboard.
OUR WORD
It is a solid performer in terms of battery life.
Click the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
7. HP Elitebook 820 G3 (RENEWED) Best i5 Laptop Under 400
Finally, we wrap the list with another laptop from HP, and it’s an Elitebook.
DISPLAY
As expected, it projects clear visuals on a 12.5 inch HD display screen size.
There’s also a webcam at the top for video conferencing calls.
PROCESSOR/GRAPHICS/STORAGE
Furthermore, the processor by Intel allows you to do more, and the model number is i5-6300U.
This is a dual-core processor.
Still for processing files and executing tasks, it has a RAM of 8 GB, Intel Graphics, and 256 GB SSD for the hard drive storage.
WEIGHT/CONNECTIVITY/BATTERY LIFE
It weighs 2.64 pounds.
And it has several ports available plus, battery life of 4 hours.
OTHER FEATURES
It offers a comfortable typing keyboard with a two-buttoned touchpad.
WHO SHOULD GET THIS?
It is super affordable, so if you don’t have enough cash, you can get this.
PROS
- Solid screen quality.
- Fingerprint reader.
- Fast device.
CONS
- The battery drains quickly.
OUR WORD
It is worth it considering the price.
Clik the image link above to buy it on Amazon.
Final Verdict For The Best i5 Laptop Under 400 Dollars
Once again, as stated earlier, i5 laptops are above the 400 dollars price range. Hence the reason you have found more refurbished laptops on this list.
Above all, our overall best in this category is the ✅HP 15 Laptop.
