i7 Windows laptops are among the best that you can currently find on the market as they offer better processing power than previous generations of processors while managing to outclass some newer i9 processors in certain aspects. That said, the variety of options for i7 Windows laptops also means that they vary a lot in terms of additional specs and price points.
We’ll be going over the key specifications of different i7 Windows laptops and their prices to determine which one suits your needs best.
ASUS VivoBookS15
PROS
- Wide viewing angles
- High screen-to-body ratio
- Sleek metal chassis
- Backlit keyboard and fingerprint sensor
CONS
- Doesn’t use an IPS panel which may be a problem for photo and video editing tasks
Specs:
- 15.6-inch FHD display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
The ASUS VivoBook S15 is an ultra-thin and lightweight laptop that runs on an 11th Gen Intel Core Processor, giving it the right amount of juice to handle editing tasks and even some lower-end games. This laptop comes in both white and black, though the Dreamy White variant has a pearlescent finish that makes the laptop look more premium.
This i7 Windows laptop comes with a sizeable 512GB Pcle SSD storage which will be more than enough for storing your documents, personal photos, programs, and even a few AAA game titles if you plan on using it as an all-around laptop.
The ASUS VivoBook S15 has a 15.6-inch FHD display with a 178-degree viewing angle that keeps your screen visible whether you sit up or lie down while using it. The computer’s 86% screen-to-body ratio also makes it a great entertainment device for when you clock out of work.
ASUS VivoBookS15
Dell Inspiron 15
PROS
- Full HD touchscreen monitor
- 1TB SSD storage
- HDMI port and card reader
- Updated to Windows 11
CONS
- Keyboard isn’t backlit
- No USB C port
Specs:
- 15.6-inch FHD touchscreen display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
The Dell Inspiron 15 is a recently released laptop with a touchscreen display measuring 15.6 inches. The laptop has thin bezels, making the display look much larger than it really does and giving you more screen real estate to use the monitor’s touchscreen capabilities with.
This laptop comes ready with Windows 11, Bluetooth 5, and a built-in HD webcam. Of course, it’s still not as good as mid to high-end dedicated webcams, but that’s just how laptop webcams are. Aside from the touchscreen and 16GB RAM, this laptop’s unique selling point is the 1TB SSD storage. Combined with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, that massive SSD storage space lets your programs launch in a snap.
The device has a dedicated HDMI port, SD card reader, and aux port so you won’t need additional dongles for Zoom meetings or presentations. That said, it lacks a USB-C port.
Dell Inspiron 15
Dell Latitude 7490
PROS
- Runs on 64-Bit Windows 10 Professional OS
- Ships with an AC power adapter
- Built-in video conferencing tools
- Full array of ports
CONS
- Uses an older i7 processor
Specs:
- 14-inch FHD touchscreen display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 8th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
The Dell Latitude 7490 is an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processor laptop that still manages to compete with a lot of newer budget devices. While the 8th Gen processor isn’t ideal, it’s still a great bang for the buck since the laptop comes with 16GB DDR4 RAM and a spacious 512 GB SSD storage.
This i7 Windows laptop has a 14-inch full HD display. However, the bezels aren’t exactly the thinnest ones around and they end up making the laptop screen look smaller than it is. Despite this, it’s a great monitor for general use since the anti-glare coating makes it easier to work on even on a sunny day outdoors.
While it’s a slightly older laptop, it does have a USB-C port, two USB ports, an HDMI port, a built-in SD card reader, and an aux port. It also includes a built-in camera and microphone for video conferencing.
Dell Latitude 7490
HP EliteBook 840
PROS
- Anti-glare and backlit touchscreen display
- Still decent 6th Gen Intel Core i7 processor
- Dedicated ports for all popular adapter types
- 512GB SSD storage
CONS
- Thick chassis
- Non-backlit keyboard
Specs:
- 14-inch FHD touchscreen display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 6th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor
The HP EliteBook 840 may have long since been outclassed by its hewer HP cousins, but it’s still a fantastic affordable laptop if you really want that touchscreen feature but don’t want to spend too much on newer devices. The laptop uses a 14-inch FHD touchscreen display that features an anti-glare coating to keep the screen fully visible even in bright lighting conditions.
The monitor is also backlit, keeping images bright and crisp as you work late into the evening.
On the left side of the laptop, you’ll find every port you could possibly need. Since it’s an older model, the laptop has dedicated ports for DMI, USB, US_C, aux, SD cards, and ethernet cables.
Admittedly, it’s a little too thick compared to newer models and doesn’t have a backlit keyboard, but you’d be hardpressed to find a nicer i7 touchscreen laptop at this price point with 512 GB of SSD storage.
HP EliteBook 840
LG Gram 16Z90P
PROS
- Ultra HD IPS panel display
- Built-in Alexa
- Complete with all common ports and two USB-C ports
- Lightweight, thin, and overall very sleek chassis
CONS
- With specs like these, the only real con is the price
Specs:
- 16-inch IPS display
- 16GB LPDDR4X 4266mhz RAM
- 11th Gen Intel Evo i7 Processor
If you have a sizeable budget for an i7 Windows laptop, the LG Gram 16Z90P may be the perfect work laptop for you. Just from the photos, you can easily tell that this is an ultra-lightweight laptop capable of giving the Airbook a run for its money. Despite its ultra-thin chassis, the laptop packs an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage into its slender frame, making it a beast for everything from school and office work to audio and video editing.
The LG Gram 16Z90p’s recent release means that not only does this laptop come with built-in HDMI, aux, and card reader ports but also two USB-C ports for your mobile and tablet devices. It also comes equipped with Alexa so you won’t have to do everything manually when you’re busy.
The laptop’s 16-inch screen offers a 2560 x 1600 resolution made better by the IPS panel that makes every color on the screen pop and stand out.
LG Gram 16Z90P
HP 15.6-inch 11th Gen Intel i7
PROS
- Intel Iris XE graphics
- 1TB SSD storage
- FHD IPS touchscreen display
- Complete ports including USB type C
CONS
- Touchpad buttons require a hard press
Specs:
- 15.6-inch FHD IPS touchscreen display
- 16GB DDR4 RAM
- 11th Gen Intel i7 Processor
The HP 15.6-inch 11th Gen Intel i7 is a laptop built for the gamer who works. To be clear, you can’t expect gaming laptop levels of performance out of this device, but it will do the job and look suitable for office environments which isn’t something you can really say about a lot of dedicated gaming laptops.
This laptop comes at a fairly affordable price point especially once you consider that it ships with Windows 11 installed and has an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 Processor. It also has 1TB of SSD storage and a touchscreen 15.6-inch IPS display to make your video game worlds come alive.
The laptop is equipped with Iris Xe Graphics and a built-in mic and webcam so you can reach your team, whether it’s in-game or at work, with ease.
HP 15.6-inch 11th Gen Intel i7
What to Look for When Buying i7 Windows Laptops
Purpose
What are you using the laptop for? It’s not uncommon for people to overestimate their needs and end up going way over budget while buying a laptop. While it’s true that the best laptops have high-end specs and prices, not every person needs them. Unless you’re planning to do demanding activities on your computer, even an i5 processor will do. This may even be better since it frees up your budget to get more well-rounded specs, bringing us to the next point.
Overall Specs
An i7 Windows laptop is going to feel much slower than it should if you’re on a computer that uses HDD storage. Though HDD is cheaper, it’s slower and consumes more energy than SSD, a type of storage that can keep your data on instantly accessible memory chips.
RAM is also another factor. These days, any laptop running below 8GB of RAM is practically a potato. You’ll want to start at 16GB and go from there.
Brand
Not all brands are made equal and the kind of support your i7 Windows laptop will get ultimately depends on the company. This is why it’s best to go with trusted brands, even if a newer competitor seems to offer better specs at a cheaper price.
Chances are if they’re super new, they’re also going to have subpar support and warranty policies for their devices. This isn’t always the case, but to save yourself the headache, go with the tried and tested.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Is i5, i7, or i9 better?
Generally speaking, i9 processors are better than either i5 or i7 because they offer more computing power, but there are also generations within these. Processors labeled as coming from newer generations will run faster than an older gen processor, even if it’s from a higher “i” than that processor. -
What is the fastest processor for laptops?
The Intel Core i9 12th Gen Processor is the fastest processor available for Windows laptops right now. Released in early 2022, the processor features 16-cores and 24 threads with 30MB of L3 cache and a clock speed of 5.5GHz. -
Do I really need an i9 processor?
Probably not. Most work and school tasks can easily be done on even older i5 processors and when it comes to video editing and gaming, you might find a more significant improvement by choosing a laptop with a good GPU.