Shopping for the best i7 laptop under 1000 dollars is not an easy task. There are so many options and the laptops themselves are constantly improving at a fast pace. Sometimes it seems hard to keep up with the technology and have a laptop that is going to satisfy all the needs.
In this guide, we are going to take a look at some of the top picks among the current range. Furthermore, we will take a deep dive into their capabilities and how well they can do the tasks thrown at them. The choice you make might depend on your needs.
Are you going to use it for work? Or will it just be for entertainment, for example like watching TV shows on Netflix. Do you plan to push the laptop to its limits with long gaming sessions? Either way your budget might be the deciding factor when it comes to choosing a laptop.
Keep reading to find out about both good and bad sides of some of the best i7 laptops under $1000.
Top Reviewed Laptops
1. ACER Aspire 5 A515-56-73AP
Coming from a well known manufacturer, this laptop checks most marks. It is with an aluminum cover which will give you a premium feel. The screen size is a standard 15.6 inches and it is IPS(In Plane Switching), which will make the colors more vivid.
It comes with a built-in 512GB of SSD and can be upgraded with an HDD which is more than enough space. This version boasts 16GB RAM which will allow users to complete most everyday tasks like watching movies, work and even gaming.
The processor powering this laptop is an Intel i7, it will allow for multitasking and won’t result in stuttering especially if you run several programs on it. Audiophiles won’t be disappointed since the laptop has Acer True Harmony built-in which greatly enhances sound quality.
- Latest connectivity technology
- Very thin
- Choice of components
- Overheating issues
2. Dell Inspiron 15 5510
Here we have another do-it-all laptop from Dell. It has a nice case and built-in software which makes sure there is no overheating no matter the surface its on. It has dual heat pipes which direct heat away from CPU and GPU.
This is a big plus since some laptops suffer from overheating issues. Plus they are very silent and won’t disturb people around you. When it comes to connectivity, Dell got you covered with all the latest ports.
This includes a Thunderbolt 4.0 port, which can be used for charging the laptop or watching movies on an external display. The packaging which the laptop comes in is 100% recycled so the manufacturer is doing something for planet Earth. The GPU has 2GB DDR5 memory, which combined with the 11th generation i7 CPU gives enough power to run everyday tasks without any trouble.
- Built-in Alexa
- Good thermal solution
- Small amount of RAM
3. MSI GF65
MSI is well known for catering to gamers, and this laptop is built with gamers in mind. Display is standard 15.6 inches but it is 120HZ IPS which is really useful if its running FPSgames.
It comes with Nvidia’s GTX 1660Ti, it uses Turing architecture which has performance better than GTX 1070. All this means it won’t be lagging when you try and run newest games with this laptop.
Tenth generation i7 has 6 cores and 15% better performance than last generation and is more than you want in a laptop. Gaming means a lot of heat, and in order to not burn your hands MSI made this laptop with 6 heat pipes which help with cooling the machine down.
All that power would be for nothing if it didn’t last long. To counter the power consumption this laptop has an amazing battery which can offer seven hours of productivity.
- Thin bezels
- Good battery
- Good Graphics
- Only 8GB ram
4. Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming Laptop
This laptop is a beast for the price, it is suitable for both work and gaming and all that without a struggle. Equipped with eleventh generation i7 processor and Nvidia’s GTX 1650Ti it will be able to run most AAA titles and you won’t even need to lower the graphic settings.
The CPU can be overclocked to give you more power if you really need it. It has Coldfront 3.0 cooling system from Lenovo which will allow long gaming sessions without turning up the heat. Lenovo Legion AI Engine can optimize performance and usage of both CPU and GPU to maximize FPS(frames per second).
It has a display with 165hz refresh rate and 3ms response time which will make sure you won’t miss anything and give you the competitive edge. When it comes to connectivity there are no issues , Legion 5 has all the latest ports including Thunderbolt 4.0 which makes connecting the laptop to external display much easier.
- Upgradable
- Good connectivity
- Better graphics too expensive
5. HP Pavilion 15
Made for both entertainment and productivity, Pavilion 15 is a jack of all trades laptop and at this price you won’t be disappointed. While eleventh generation i7 CPU can be squeezed for a lot of performance, it has integrated Iris Xe Graphics which are still good, but can’t be compared with a dedicated graphic card.
Battery life is amazing with upwards of 7 hours of productivity, and it also has fast charge which will fill the battery 50% in just 45 minutes.
When it comes to memory it has more than you need, 16GB will enable multitasking without stuttering and it comes with an NVMe SSD which is fifteen times faster than a normal HDD.
A nice touch is a 720p camera for those working from home, and HP uses some recycled materials to make this laptop environmentally friendly.
- Fingerprint reader
- A lot of RAM
- No dedicated Graphics
6. ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop
From ASUS we have a gaming powerhouse. TUF(the ultimate force) gaming laptop is every gamer’s dream and it doesn’t come at a steep price. For just under one thousand, you can be on the move and gaming without compromising performance.
CPU can be boosted up to 4.5 GHz which is enough and is combined with the power of GTX 1650 to give an amazing experience wether you are chopping blocks in Minecraft or running the latest AAA titles.
Display is another win for this laptop, with 144Hz refresh rate and thin bezels you will be fully immersed during your time spent in front of the laptop.
Anti Dust Cooling (ADC) system is installed to make sure the laptop stays cool and also doesn’t get clogged up with dust which can happen often if the machine isn’t cleaned on a regular basis.
It doesn’t have all the latest connecting ports but it has enough to not make it unusable.
- Overclockable
- High refresh rate display
- Small amount of RAM for gaming
7. Microsoft Surface Pro 7
Microsoft’s flagship is mostly used for productivity and it can be used quite well. It has three modes, laptop which uses a kickstand to serve as traditional touch screen laptop, it can be used as a tablet with touch screen and it’s convenient when it comes to its mobility, and the last mode is studio mode which is excellent for drawing and writing.
The display is a bit smaller at 12.3 inches but it has 10 touch point sensors. It comes with SSD from 128GB up to 1TB of storage. It has a nice built in feature with a face recognition camera which is an excellent security addition.
Graphics are integrated but after all Surface Pro wasn’t made for long gaming sessions but for productivity. When in tablet mode it weighs less than 800 grams and comes with a lot of accessories like keyboard and pen.
- Lightweight
- Can be turned into a tablet
- Small display
- Not too powerful
8. ASUS VivoBook 15 F515
With productivity in mind, VivoBook is compact, cheaper than gaming laptops and very efficient. It has an i7 CPU which will help everyday tasks for work, integrated Iris graphics and 8GB RAM to make sure everything runs smoothly.
The case is reinforced with extra brace underneath the keyboard to protect the inside of the laptop. The display has 178 degrees viewing angle and the bezels are miniscule which makes the viewing experience immersive.
It is very light, just under 4 pounds which makes it easy to carry around. An extra feature is the fingerprint ID to improve security.
- Reinforced casing
- Fingerprint reader
- Not upgradable
Buying Consideration
How much RAM is enough?
The more the better. However, RAM is notoriously expensive and can increase the price greatly for a single component. Eight gigabytes of RAM is the standard and minimum, but 16GB would ensure smooth workflow and enable multitasking.
Refresh Rate
Refresh rate refers to how fast the screen changes picture. The bigger the refresh rate the better of course. Standard is 60hz and gaming monitors go upwards of 200hz. Screens with high refresh rate offer a competitive edge to FPS (first person shooter) gamers since they are more likely to see something faster than their opponent. Other games don’t benefit as much from high refresh rate but it will make the picture look smoother. If you only plan on working with your laptop then this doesn’t make or break your decision.
SSD vs HDD
SSD(solid state drive) is the latest in hard disk technology. It is faster and smaller than their HDD counterpart. Solid state drives have become standard in laptops and computers, having one will ensure quick booting, zero stuttering and your data will be better protected.
FAQ
Is the IPS display really all the hype?
IPS display laptops have the superior screen type. Display has better colors, better viewing angles and as technology advances it can have higher refresh rate and lower response time, a feature which was reserved for LCD and VN displays.
Do I need a Laptop Stand?
Laptop stands were designed to decrease overheating issues in laptops. Newer generations have better cooling systems and don’t suffer from overheating too often. Keeping a laptop on a hard surface instead of a blanket for example will increase the air flow and keep it cool.
Conclusion
In the end, your motivation for buying a laptop will decide which one to go for. There is something for everyone, gamers, for those who need a work laptop, or for those just looking to sit back and relax with the latest show on streaming services.
Gamers might opt for the better graphics, while those who multitask a lot will choose the one with higher RAM count. At the end of the day, it boils down to what you plan to use your laptop for and how much you are ready to pay for it. And that’s something you have to determine for yourself. Use this guide to help you in your decision in choosing the best laptop for your needs.
Here are some other interesting models that you might like: