TOP PICK 
Model
BLW's Score
91
89
87
84
81
MSRP
Price not available
Price not available
Price not available
Price not available
$477.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-7100U 2.4 GHz
Intel Core i3-8130U 2.2 GHz
Intel Core i3-5010U 2.1 GHz
Intel Core i3-6100U 2.3 GHz
Intel Core i3-8130U
RAM
8GB DDR4
6GB DDR4
4GB DDR3
6GB DDR3L
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
500GB HDD
256GB SSD
500GB HDD
1TB HDD
1TB HDD
Display
14" HD Touchscreen (1366 x 768)
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
15.6" HD (1366 x 768)
15.6" HD+ (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel HD Graphics 5500
Intel HD Graphics 620
Intel HD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10
Windows 10
Windows 10
Weight
3.79 pounds
5.27 pounds
5.1 pounds
5.4 pounds
4.4 pounds
Battery Life
8.5 hours
13.5 hours
6 hours
8 hours
4 hours
TOP PICK
Model
BLW's Score
91
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-7100U 2.4 GHz
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
500GB HDD
Display
14" HD Touchscreen (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Weight
3.79 pounds
Battery Life
8.5 hours
Model
BLW's Score
89
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-8130U 2.2 GHz
RAM
6GB DDR4
Hard Disk
256GB SSD
Display
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10 Home
Weight
5.27 pounds
Battery Life
13.5 hours
Model
BLW's Score
87
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-5010U 2.1 GHz
RAM
4GB DDR3
Hard Disk
500GB HDD
Display
15.6" FHD (1920 x 1080)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 5500
OS
Windows 10
Weight
5.1 pounds
Battery Life
6 hours
BLW's Score
84
MSRP
Price not available
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-6100U 2.3 GHz
RAM
6GB DDR3L
Hard Disk
1TB HDD
Display
15.6" HD (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Weight
5.4 pounds
Battery Life
8 hours
Model
BLW's Score
81
MSRP
$477.00
More Information
Processor
Intel Core i3-8130U
RAM
8GB DDR4
Hard Disk
1TB HDD
Display
15.6" HD+ (1366 x 768)
Graphics
Intel HD Graphics 620
OS
Windows 10
Weight
4.4 pounds
Battery Life
4 hours
Note: Our comparison table only shows our top 5 picks. You can find the other recommendations within this article.
Welcome to our guide of best Intel Core i3 laptops, and here we will be listing 10 of the most reliable i3 notebooks. The processor is the brain and heart of laptop, and as far as we know, Intel Core i5 and i7 laptops are usually the most powerful ones.
However, Intel Core i3 processors are also good enough and capable of running many programs. Core i3 processors are often underestimated, and people believe these kinds of laptops are low-end.
Well, that's not true at all and let me correct you here; laptops with a 6th generation i3 processors are as powerful as 3rd or 4th generation Intel Core i5 processors. RAM and storage drive also play a significant role when it comes to performance. So it's always a good thing to have more RAM and to choose SSD over HDD.
Are i3 Laptops worth Buying?
Well, if you want a reliable and well-performing laptop for the lowest price possible then none of the laptops will satisfy you but Intel Core i3 laptop.
In case you have extra budget and want an even more powerful laptop then you can check out our guides for best i7 laptops as well as best i5 laptops. Also, note that i3 laptops are the best value for money and are among the best budget laptops.
These kinds of notebooks can be used for everyday tasks as well as casual gaming. We usually recommend i3 laptops to DJs, music producers, programmers, and engineers. In case you want a notebook for video editing, graphics designing then you should look for the better option with a little extra budget.
Also, make sure that your preferred applications and games do not require specifications that are higher than the i3 processor and 4 GB RAM.
What generation Intel Core i3 Laptops you should buy?
Recently many brands have introduced their laptops with 6th generation Intel Core i3 processor and the higher the number is, the powerful it is. These kinds of i3 laptops will usually cost you between $300 to $600, and you should balance your budget and processor's generation.
Also look for minimum 3rd generation processor as anything less than that can be a nightmare. I believe now you have clear idea what to look for, so here's our list of 10 best Intel Core i3 laptops of 2021.
Our Top Picks for Best i3 Laptops
1. HP Pavilion x360
Specs:
Who doesn't love rotating kind of laptops? Well, everyone is fond of them, and the HP Pavilion x360 is one of the best ones. It has a touchscreen display, and it can also be used as a tablet.
It's also one of the good looking laptops that boast a solid performance and a decent battery life of 8 hours. It's one of the lightest laptops that come with an Intel Core i3 processor and 6 GB of RAM. It packs all the features that one might need in a 2-in-1 laptop, and it has been designed pretty nicely.
It's also accompanied with 500 GB of HDD and Intel HD 520 graphics. It's a budget-friendly i3 laptop from HP and comes with pre-installed Windows 10. Its specifications, as well as design, are equally attractive, and it's available for less than $500.
It's a 13-inch compact machine that boasts an excellent keyboard and fantastic quality exterior. Overall, it's the best option for often travelers and can be used as a laptop in a day and as a tablet in a night.
2. Acer Aspire E 15 E5-575-33BM
Specs:
Laptops from Acer Aspire series are versatile, powerful and nicely designed. The Aspire E 15 is not an exception and it's one of the most popular laptops on our site. Even better, it can be bought for around $300.
Sporting a 8th generation Intel Core i3 processor and 6 GB RAM, it also boasts a long battery life of up to 13.5 hours. Storing movies and games will never be an issue with the 256GB SSD. It's an accomplished PC which is fast, quiet and affordable.
It offers a smooth and comfortable experience whether you're working, playing games or traveling. It can be used for all kinds of purposes, and it's the first choice of people looking for a budget i3 laptop. If you compare it with similar price laptops, you'll see how much better it is when it comes to hardware. It runs on Windows 10 Home and on top of that you'll get some free programs from Microsoft. Overall, it's an amazing option for those looking for a lightweight, powerful yet affordable laptop.
3. Asus F555LA-AB31
Specs:
ASUS is among the best laptop brands, and they are known for delivering top-notch laptops for an affordable price. The Asus F555LA-AB31 is clearly the most attractive budget laptop, and we have already listed it in our guides of Best laptops under $400 and Best Laptops for Sims 4.
If we talk about its graphics, it features Intel HD graphics and full HD 15-inch display. It houses 5th generation Intel Core i3 processor, 500 GB HDD, 4 GB RAM and a keyboard with IceCool technology. It weighs only about 5 pounds and can be carried around easily.
It's an ideal choice for people looking for the best i3 laptop as it has decent specifications, fantastic design and can be purchased for only around $350.
It comes with a DVD-RW even though most recent laptops do not feature it. It's also two times faster than conventional machines, thanks to its medium-end specifications. Overall, this model can be found almost anywhere and is among the best laptops under $350.
4. Dell Inspiron i5559-1747SLV
Specs:
When it comes to laptops, Dell has been around for many years, and their machines are extremely durable as well as reliable. Most of their notebooks are available for a decent price, but this particular device can cost you somewhere around $450.
It can be fully configured while purchasing and other than i3 version one can also choose between i5 and i7 processor. It might be a costly option for some people, but it's totally worth it and features advanced touch display with RealSense technology.
It has Intel Core i3 processor, 6 GB SDRAM, 1 TB of HDD and Windows 10. It's also available with Full HD touchscreen display and non-touch screen, and that's totally up to you and your preferences.
Other than all this, it has MaxxAudio speakers that can deliver the studio quality. So if you're in need of i3 workstation laptop, then the Dell Inspiron i5559-1747SLV is your best bet.
5. Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Specs:
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 is highly preferred by people who need a bigger display for playing games and watching movies. Its 1366 by 768 resolution display makes sure that you enjoy fully whatever you do on your laptop.
While many laptops like this will easily cost you over $500, you can get this for around $400. Its sleek and thin design is very attractive, and it might be bulky for someone who is used to a portable PC. If you're looking for an ultra-portable and lightweight laptop, then we do not recommend buying this one.
Since it's a budget laptop, its other specifications suffer and it isn't the most powerful laptop for the price. It can run up to 4 hours on full charge and boasts a 6th generation Intel Core i3 processor as well as Intel HD graphics.
It also packs a generous 1TB HDD and 8 GB RAM which are good enough to handle most of the day to day tasks. We recommend this to everyone who loves watching movies and TV series' online.
6. HP Touchscreen Laptop
Specs:
If you're looking for a high-end and powerful laptop for an average price, then the HP 15.6" touchscreen laptop is worth considering.
It is a 15-inch laptop that can be perfect for video chatting, and Skype calls as it boasts a TrueVision HD webcam. In case you want to do a lot of multi-tasking and run some large applications then this is currently the best i3 laptop that one can buy for under $450.
It also comes with all the necessary specifications including 7th generation Intel Core i3 processor, Intel HD 620 graphics, 8 GB DDR4 RAM and 1 TB of HDD. This model also has a DVD burner, which is becoming more difficult to find in a laptop.
It weighs just around 4 pounds and has 6 hours battery life. Overall, it is a good option to buy, and most of the people prefer using it as a secondary laptop while traveling.
7. Asus X540LA-SI30205P
Specs:
ASUS laptops are well known for their latest and top-notch hardware for an affordable price. It has 5th generation Intel Core i3-5020U processor, 4 GB DDR4 RAM and DVD-RW. For storing all your games, movies and other files, it has 1 TB of HDD.
It has hundreds of positive reviews and is consistently a best-selling laptop. This 15-inch laptop by ASUS is available on Amazon for under $400 and is very efficient and durable PC. Its battery life should easily last up to 6 hours, and it comes with Windows 10 pre-loaded.
It's an upgraded version of X540LA, and now you're getting a USB 2.0 Bluetooth adapter for free with the device. If we look at its design, it is very similar to most of the ASUS laptops, and it's lighter than most of the older models.
Last words, this notebook can be used for all purposes other than serious gaming, and it's recommended to all kinds of users.
8. Dell Inspiron 15 3000 I3558
Specs:
The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 I3558 is a recently launched laptop that comes with an Intel Core i3-5015U processor, and it's also among the best laptops under $300. Another best thing about it is the 15-inch full HD display that gives you a premium and rich experience.
It features Dell Inspiron's design, and that is why it's considered as a slim and lightweight laptop. Its storage is handled by a 500 GB HDD, and I'd say it's good enough to save most of your favorite movies and games.
Its Intel HD 5500 graphics will let you play most of the casual games smoothly and also some of the latest HD games on lower graphic settings. We have already discussed its processor, hard drive, and graphics and now you must be wondering about its battery life and RAM.
Here you go; it features up to 9 hours of battery life and 4 GB of DDR3 SDRAM. If we talk about its size, it's a regular size 15-inch laptop but feels slightly bigger due to its slim design. Overall, the Dell Inspiron 15 is totally maintenance free and is suitable for all kinds of purposes.
9. Lenovo IdeaPad 330
Specs:
The Lenovo IdeaPad 330 features 8 GB of RAM, a 1TB HDD and an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 processor. It's been among the top sellers and is a perfect device for small to medium businesses.
It might not be the latest model of this series, but it's certainly a solid performer and can be used for heavy multi-tasking. While the original design felt bulkier than usual laptops, this one isn't that much of heavy and can be considered as a medium weight laptop.
Featuring a powerful Intel Core i3-8130U processor and anti-glare LED backlight display, it's not only a business laptop but can also be used for various purposes. It's powerful enough to handle most of the business applications like Microsoft Office, Tally, QuickBooks, Xero, etc.
You're now getting 1366 x 768 resolution on its display which is quite small, so we do not recommend it for watching movies or playing games. However, it's still better than most of the laptops of the segment, and overall it's a good all-purpose laptop.
10. Toshiba Satellite C75-C7130
Specs:
The Toshiba Satellite C75-C7130 is another one of the best 17-inch i3 laptops in our guide, and it is incredible value for the money. It's designed for Windows 10 to deliver the smart performance making it suitable for most of the average games. Its brushed design makes it look very professional and sleek.
While it won't offer the best display and resolution, but it has some excellent vivid colors, and it can be a good option to stream videos in 1080p quality. It offers impressive specifications like Intel Core i3 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 750 GB of HDD and Mobile Intel HD graphics.
It's not a high-end or low-end notebook, and it can be used by school and college students. It also includes a full-size keyboard with all the necessary keys, and it offers a great writing experience. It's a perfect budget medium-end i3 laptop for users who don't want to spend much for good performance.
Conclusion
Most of these i3 laptops will cost you around $300, and all of these include the latest Intel Core i3 processor as well as a minimum of 4 GB RAM and 500 GB HDD. You will also find some of the best touchscreen laptops here that can be used as a Windows tablet as well.
You can use these notebooks for simple tasks like browsing, watching movies, casual gaming, etc. We have also listed a couple of 17-inch laptops in case you're fond of them and want a bigger size.
I hope all your doubts are cleared regarding i3 laptops and now you know exactly what laptop will suit you best. If you're still confused about what to choose then feel free to use our feature "Expert Advice" and we'll do our best to get you a suitable PC.
