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Core i5 laptops are fantastic options for the more expensive i7 models. From our findings, the best core i5 laptop under 600 USD is the ✅HP 15 10th Gen Intel Core i5 laptop. We took our time to research and in this post, you’d find our full recommendations for the best i5 laptop under 600 USD.
If you’re buying a laptop, one of the most important things you’d look out for is the processor.
This is because the performance of your laptop largely depends on it.
There are 3 levels of processors which are i3, i5 and i7, depending on price and performance.
Core i5 is about the commonest; it sits between i3 and i7 in terms of performance and price.
It’s mostly found in medium-level and high-end laptops.
Best i5 Laptop Under 600 USD
Comparison table of the best i5 laptop under 600 USD.
| S/N | Product | Image | Specifications |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HP 15-dy Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 S Weight: 3.75lbs Battery life: Up to 10hrs |
| 2 | HP 14" FHD Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 14" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 128GB Operating System: Windows 10 S Weight: 4.33lbs Battery life: Up to 5hrs |
| 3 | 2019 Lenovo IdeaPad |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 128GB Operating System: Windows 10 S Weight: 3.96lbs Battery life: Up to 8hrs |
| 4 | Acer Aspire 3 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 S Weight: 3.35lbs Battery life: Up to 7hrs |
| 5 | Acer Aspire 5 Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 15.6" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 256GB Operating System: Windows 10 S Weight: 3.81lbs Battery life: Up to 8hrs |
| 6 | HP 14 HD Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 14" RAM: 4GB Hard Disk: 128GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 3.24 lbs Battery life: Up to 8hrs |
| 7 | Dell Inspiron 14" Laptop |   | Processor: Intel Core i5 Display size: 14" RAM: 8GB Hard Disk: 128GB Operating System: Windows 10 Weight: 5lbs Battery life: Up to 8hrs |
1. HP 15 Core i5 Laptop -Best i5 Laptop Under 600 USD
From the design to the performance of the powerful 10th Generation i5 processor, there’s everything to love about this sleek beauty.
Hence, it’s our choice as the best i5 laptop under 600 USD.
Design
HP 15 is designed for all-day productivity, whether at work or away from traditional office settings.
It comes in a sleek, nice-looking silvery design.
With its thin profile and attractive form, it looks more like high-end laptops.
Display
It has 15.6″ diagonal full HD 1920 x 1080 display.
This ensures stunning visuals.
Furthermore, it’s fitted with Anti-Glare to protect your eyes and WLED backlit.
The screen is fully maximised and has 82% screen to body ratio.
Keyboard
It comes with a ‘full’ keyboard and a fully integrated numeric pad for all-day productivity.
Interestingly, the track-pad resembles Apple’s trackpads.
Although it has no buttons, you can right-click or left-click with the right and left sides respectively.
The keyboard would have completed the sleek design if it’s illuminated, but it isn’t.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It runs on the super-efficient 10th Gen Intel Core i5, Quad-core processor with 1.0GHz frequency and up to 3.6GHz.
Moreover, the Intel Turbo Boost Technology is a great addition.
This means that you’ve got a speed machine on your hands.
Furthermore, it comes with 8GB memory and 256GB SSD which is sufficient for basic to mid-level operations.
For connectivity, there are not so many ports but the available ones are just enough. It has 2 x USB 3.1 Gen A, 1 x HDMI ports, audio jack, etc
There is no VGA port or DVD drive. You’d have to hook up the system to an external drive in order to enjoy your movies from external discs.
The BIOS recovery and protection feature automatically checks the health of the laptop.
It also protects against unauthorised access and helps the laptop to recover from boot up issues.
Battery
One of the great features of the HP 15 is the good battery life.
It lasts up to 10.25 hours of mixed usage.
Moreover, the integrated HP Fast Charge Technology ensures that it would recover 50% of its battery capacity within 45 minutes.
Additionally, you can customise the battery performance from settings.
It can be programmed for either best performance or best battery life, depending on your preference.
Weight
At 3.75 lbs, you can take this laptop anywhere with you.
PROS
- Light and portable
- Long battery life
- Fast processor
- Great screen resolution
CONS
- Fans make noise under intense use
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2. HD 14″ FHD Laptop -2nd Best i5 Laptop Under 600 USD
The second best i5 laptop under 600 USD, from our research, is this charcoal-grey HP 14″ laptop.
It follows closely on the heels of the HP 15 laptop in performance.
Design
It’s apparently also designed for all-day productivity, whether at work or away from the traditional office settings.
Although mostly plastic in build, it doesn’t feel cheap.
It’s sturdy, sleek, beautiful and has a thin profile. Just like premium laptops.
Think Apple MacBook.
Display
It comes with 14″ IPS BrightView FHD 1920 x 1080 display with intel UHD Graphics.
With this, you enjoy very crisp, sharp and clear images.
Keyboard
The keyboard is smooth and responsive.
You’d absolutely enjoy your typing experience.
Additionally, it comes with an awesome backlit feature which is very useful, especially if you work often in dark areas.
The touchpad is also responsive and works just fine, although it may feel a bit cheap under intense use.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It’s powered by the powerful 10th Gen Intel Quad-Core i5-1035G4 processor with 1.1GHz, up to 3.7GHz.
With this, the laptop is super fast in processing anything you throw at it.
Also, it has 8GB RAM which is upgradeable to 32GB maximum, and 128GB M.2 SSD.
This is okay for basic to mid-level activities.
We wouldn’t recommend heavy processes such as gaming or graphics-intensive activities as it’s not designed for such.
For connectivity, it has 1 x USB Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Type-A, 1 x HDMI port, 802.11ac (2×2) 5.0 and 1 Media Card Reader.
Furthermore, it comes pre-installed with Windows 10 in S mode.
You can disable this easily from the Microsoft store and install your preferred OS version.
Battery
You’d have to go around with your charger if you’re highly mobile because the battery life isn’t so impressive.
The average battery life is 5 hours.
Weight
It weighs 4.33lbs, which makes it relatively easy to take around with you anywhere you go.
PROS
- Sleek and portable
- Superfast processor
- Great visual experience
- Relatively light and easy to carry around
CONS
- Poor battery performance.
For a mid-range laptop, the HP 14″ FHD is one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
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3. 2019 Lenovo IdeaPad S340
Another laptop that is discovered to be one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD is the 2019 Lenovo IdeaPad S340 Premium Home and Business laptop.
Design
As the description indicates, the IdeaPad is a mid-range but premium laptop designed for home and business use.
It has a solid plastic build.
This would have looked cheap but for the lid which has a sleek and nice aluminium finish.
Also, the colour offers a very exciting departure from traditional black and great colours.
It comes in a refreshing and classy dark orchid colour.
Screen
The 15.6″ 1366 x 768 HD LED Backlit Anti-Glare Non-Touch Display is as wide as it needs it to be.
It’s fairly clear and crisp visuals provide a great experience and you’d scarcely miss the fact that it isn’t the more advanced 1080p resolution.
Although the screen deficiency comes slightly to the fore when you settle in to watch your favourite movie on Netflix.
Keyboard
The IdeaPad’s keyboard looks and feels great.
Also, it’s responsive and has a great spring with enough travel.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It runs on Intel Quad-Core i5-8265 processor with 1.60GHz and up to 3.9GHz.
Also, it has integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620.
Furthermore, it comes with 8GB RAM and 128GB SSD.
Interestingly, it’s known to also handle minor gaming and graphics applications without slowing down.
You’d have nothing to worry about regarding connectivity as it comes with all the essential ports.
By essential, you have 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.0 Type-A, separate power port, 1 full sized HDMI, SD Card Reader, 1 x Headphone/microphone.
The TrueBlock privacy shutter is a feature you might love because it allows you to cover the webcam whenever you need to.
Battery
The battery performance is fair at 8.5 hrs average life.
Weight
It’s relatively lightweight at 3.96 lbs.
PROS
- Affordable
- Great processor
- Privacy shutter
- Decent keyboard
CONS
- Poor viewing angle
For a mid-range, Lenovo IdeaPad is one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
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4. Acer Aspire 3 Laptop
Acer Aspire 3 laptop is also one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
Design
Acer Aspire 3 comes in a cool, sleek and solid design.
It’s mostly made of smooth plastic but the deck comes with a metal-brushed finish.
The plastic-feel notwithstanding, it’s still attractive for the price-point.
Screen
The 15.6″ FHD 1920 x 1080 display provides a pleasantly sharp visual experience.
Although the colours are not as accurate or bright as expected, you’d hardly notice this if you use it mainly for basic business or personal tasks.
Keyboard
One of the great features of Acer 3 is the chiclet keyboard which stretches from one end of the chassis to the other.
It’s well-sized, adequately spaced and has a full numeric keypad.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It’s powered by the fast 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 with 4mCore and 8 threads, clocking in at 3.6GHz.
Hence there’s no delay in processes and you could browse through the web, stream your favourite videos, work on your documents without any hitch.
Also, it comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD.
This is capable of handling multiple light applications at the same time with enough storage for your important documents.
It can handle light gaming but if you need to run heavy, graphic-intense programs, you may have to consider more powerful laptops.
Furthermore, there’s an extra upgradeable slot for the RAM as an added feature.
For connectivity, it has USB Type A and C, HDMI, audio jack and SD Card Reader.
The sound comes from the dual speakers situated at the bottom of the laptop thereby reducing sound quality.
Weight
At 5.35lbs, it’s slightly heavier than the other laptops on this list.
Battery
The average battery life is up to 7 hours.
PROS
- Solid and strong
- Sleek and attractive design
- Fast processor
- Good keyboard
CONS
- Sound quality affected by speakers’ position
- Basic screen quality
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5. Acer Aspire 5 Laptop
Yet another Acer on this list, the Acer Aspire 5 is one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
If you need a reliable laptop for use at work or around the house, Acer Aspire 5 is your go-to laptop.
Design
With its sleek and incredibly slim form factor, Acer 5 is a beauty to behold.
This makes it ideal for anyone who shares and creates on the move.
Acer Aspire 5 is mostly plastic in build
It’s silvery colour and smooth aluminium lid design feels and looks very much like a premium machine.
Screen
The 15.6″ FHD IPS display is pleasantly bright and crisp.
Also, it has wide viewing angles.
Hence you can fully enjoy your screen from any angle you’re viewing from.
Keyboard
It comes with a backlit keyboard that’s a little soft.
The keys have enough travel to make your typing experience lovely.
In addition, it features a fingerprint reader that makes logging in a breeze.
The Windows Precision touchpad is smooth and responsive.
However, it’s very sensitive and you’d have to tinker with the settings to adjust the sensitivity.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It runs on the efficient and powerful 10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G1 processor which is clockable up to 3.6GHz.
Acer Aspire 5 comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB NVMe SSD.
Additionally, you can easily take off the bottom to upgrade the memory and storage.
For connectivity, you have 1 x USB 3.1 Type-C, 2 x USB 3.1 Gen 1, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet and headphone-mic jack.
Hence, you have the flexibility to accomplish more by hooking the system up with an external keyboard, mouse, or display as much as you like.
If you love music, you’d find the innovative speaker design an absolute delight.
Also, it comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Home.
Battery
Battery performance is great at 8 hrs.
Hence, you can work for the most part without having to worry about the battery dying on you.
Weight
Acer Aspire 5 is very easy to lug around because of its lightweight.
It weighs 3.8lbs.
PROS
- Efficient processor
- Slim and sleek
- Great battery life
- Lightweight
CONS
- Doesn’t have SD card slot, VGA slot and DVD drive.
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6. HP 14 FHD Laptop
Yet another HP on our list is the 14 inch sleek beauty. Although similar to the other 2 HP models listed earlier, it’s also one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
Design
It shares similarities in design with the other 2 models listed previously.
Display
The vibrant 14″ 1366 x 768 screen is efficient in design and is surrounded by an ultra-thin frame.
Although it’s not as sharp as its 1080p counterpart, the images provided are nonetheless bright.
Moreover, it has a 78% screen to body ratio and a wide viewing angle of 178degree.
Hence, it provides an immersive experience.
Keyboard
It comes with a great keyboard that’s smooth and responsive.
Additionally, the integrated precision touchpad has multi-touch support which speeds up navigation and improves productivity.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
It’s powered by the powerful 10th Gen Intel Dual-Core i5-1035G4 processor with 1.1GHz, up to 3.7GHz.
Also, it comes with 4GB RAM and 128GB SSD which is sufficient only for basic computing and entertainment needs.
Furthermore, it comes pre-installed with Windows 10 in S mode which you can easily disable.
Battery
At up to 8 hrs backup, you stay connected with the people and things that matter all day long.
Also, Fast-Charge Technology ensures that the battery is fully restored within a shorter period.
Weight
At 3.24lbs, you can throw it in your bag or backpack and carry it around all day long without any trouble.
PROS
- Lightweight
- Powerful processor
- Smooth and responsive keyboard.
- Good battery performance.
CONS
- Screen resolution not fantastic
- Limited memory capacity
For a mid-range laptop, the HP 14″ FHD is one of the best i5 laptops under 600 USD.
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7. Dell Inspiron 14″ Laptop
Although slightly above the price mark, this Dell Inspiron is one of the best i5 laptops within 600 USD price range.
Design
In true Dell fashion, it’s sturdy and strong with a dependable traditional feel.
The chassis is mostly plastic and when you combine this with the classic Dell look, it dampens the appeal a bit.
Screen
The 14″ HD 1366 x 768 display comes with Anti-Glare feature.
Although the screen is less in brightness than the more advanced 1080p, it has LED-Backlight and Intel Iris Plus Graphics.
You might find the colours not as sharp as you’re used to but its still great for mainstream use.
Keyboard
The keyboard is smooth, springy and comfortable to type with.
However, the plastic deck tend to flex a little bit under heavy use.
This might take away from the overall typing experience.
Software / Hardware / Connectivity
10th Gen Intel Core i5-1035G4 processor with 4 Cores and 8 threads, clocking up to 3.7GHz.
It has 8GB RAM for full multi-tasking and 128GB SSD which can be supplemented with external storage options.
Also, it’s pre-installed with Windows 10 in S mode which you can turn off easily.
For ports, it has SD Card Reader, USB 2.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, Power, HDMI, RJ45, headphone and microphone combo slot.
Hence, you get everything you need to be productive.
Battery
The battery life is great at up to 8 hrs average use.
Weight
It weighs 5lbs.
PROS
- Powerful processor
- Sturdy design
- Great keyboard with backlight
- Strong and durable
CONS
- Keyboard deck not very strong
- Slightly above 600 USD
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Conclusion -Best i5 Laptop Under 600
From the list of mid-range laptops reviewed here, HP 15 Laptop comes highly recommended as the best 15 laptop under 600 USD.
