If you are thinking of buying a cheap laptop, then you should consider the possibility of getting one of the models of i3 laptops that exist.
This type of equipment offers quite considerable benefits compared to other cheap options, good efficiency to make the battery last longer, and run a lot of different software.
Guide Index
Best laptops with i3
Best i3 laptop brands
La laptop brand is important, since the brands of other components that are assembled in the equipment will depend on it, and the ODM chosen for the manufacture of the equipment, therefore the quality and reliability. There are several brands of i3 laptops that stand out, such as the following ...
Lenovo
Lenovo is one of the largest laptop distributors. It is a Chinese brand that, despite being much more recent, has a great legacy behind it. So it is a good company to trust for a laptop with a fairly good value for money.
Although the brand was founded in 1984 as Legend, it would not take the big step until the acquisition of the business of personal computers from IBM in 2005 (ThinkPad line), to later acquire NEC's portfolio of mobile technologies patents, then take over Medion (becoming the third largest notebook seller after Acer and HP), completing its acquisition with Motorola Mobility to reinforce your mobile sector, etc.
In addition, Lenovo offers one of the biggest offers on the market, with a multitude of ranges to choose from, thus offering solutions that adapt to almost any type of user: private, company, gamer, etc.
HP
HP (Hewlett-Packard) it doesn't need too many introductions. Founded in 1939 by William Hewlett and David Packard, dedicated from the beginning to electronic instrumentation. It is one of the most legendary IT firms, and has a very good reputation for its innovation, quality, and performance in many of its products.
Since 2015, it was divided into two different companies. On one side is HP Inc., dedicated to printing systems and personal computers, and on the other hand is HPE (HP Enterprise), dedicated to servers, storage, networks, and business services. Today, HPE and Lenovo are two of the biggest competitors in high-performance computing. Even more so since HPE bought the legendary Cray.
Along with Lenovo and Acer, it is another of the largest laptop vendors of the world, with models oriented to satisfy different needs. Like the Envy and Specter, to offer a compact size, slim, and greater mobility; Pavilion, for home users; ProBook for Business, focusing on safety, quality, and extended warranty; Elitebook also for companies and freelancers; Omen for gamers; etc.
Asus
ASUS is one of the largest motherboard producers. A true leader in this sector. The Taiwanese company has also wanted to expand its business to other areas, such as graphic cards, optical devices, screens, servers, mobile devices, projectors, robotics, and other technological products.
Their laptops have been gaining popularity thanks to its quality, design and innovation. In addition, they have really good support and a wide range to satisfy various types of users: Zenbook (ultrabooks), VivoBook (for multimedia), or their TUF range (for gaming). Plus, their motherboards are also found inside their own models, which is great news ...
Who should buy an i3 laptop?
An i3 laptop is aimed at users looking for a computer basic and inexpensive. They are called entry-level, that is, the basic or entry level. That means that they will have an ideal performance to run software such as an office suite such as Office, browsing, streaming, Internet services such as email, blogging, web design, and multimedia entertainment.
That is, it is suitable for all those users who they do not need a great performance and they use computers to view mail, visit web pages, watch movies / images / sound, for office workers and students, or to play video games that require few resources.
For example, with a i3 and 4GB RAM configuration, you could run video games like Far Cry 3, GTA V, Assassin's Cred IV Black Flag, etc. That is, AAA titles, but from a few years ago, since the most recent titles would need a little more performance.
Another case where a cheap i3 laptop can make sense is for work. For example, if you need a computer to check-in, or you take it to your clients' homes to show some type of content, perform network tests, etc., you surely do not want to invest too large a quantity in a work tool. With an i3 laptop it will be enough for those tasks, and it will allow you to save to use it for other priority objectives.
I3 or i5?
El Core i5 It is a more mainstream processor range, a range intended for intermediate users who seek a balance between performance and price, and who use them for all kinds of tasks, from those mentioned above that an i3 laptop can perform, to gaming with more current titles . Obviously, in exchange for that extra performance, they will be somewhat more expensive than the i3 but, still, cheaper than an i7.
To give you a clearer idea, the advantages of an i3 versus an i5 are:
- Price: an i3 laptop is going to be cheaper than an i5 laptop in equal configurations. Therefore, if you do not need high performance, an i3 can allow you to save and not waste money that you will not be able to take advantage of for the applications for which you are going to use it.
- Consumer goods: by having a lower clock frequency, and also fewer active cores, these processors will consume less power. Therefore, the battery in i3 laptops will last longer.
- Temperature: when working with fewer active cores, lower clock frequency, and lower voltage, generally, the temperature will also be lower. This means that they will heat up less or that they will not need such powerful cooling systems. Al important when it comes to laptops.
As for the the disadvantages of an i3 versus an i5:
- Performance: By having more functional cores and clock frequency, the performance of an i5 is going to be higher than that of an i3.
- Technologies: Although this may vary greatly from version, sometimes i3s may have certain features or technologies disabled. For example, in some cases they might lack HT, or in the past Intel VT was also disabled in some cases ...
I3 laptop with 8GB of RAM and SSD, the favorite configuration
One of the favorite settings. The reason is that a i3 laptop with 8GB of RAM and an SSD it's a fairly balanced setup that can deliver more than decent performance. With these characteristics, it will allow you to run all the aforementioned software in an agile way and without any inconvenience.
The capacity of 8GB of RAM It is a pretty good figure for the number of cores and demand that the Core i3 processors make of the main memory. Keep in mind that a larger memory configuration would not be too smart, since it would not be used well by an i3 and would be wasting money on the purchase of your laptop (unless you want more RAM for a specific application).
In addition, thanks to the SSD, it will be possible to speed up the computer startup and program loading, since the accesses in this type of solid state hard drives is much faster than in a conventional HDD.
Where to buy a cheap i3 laptop
Branded equipment with these types of processors can be found easily. You can buy a cheap i3 laptop in stores like:
- Amazon: the logistics giant is one of the largest platforms where you can find a huge variety of brands and models, as well as very competitive prices. As it is not a store, but an intermediary through which many other businesses sell, you can always find the best prices. Also, if you have Prime, shipments will arrive in one day if they are available. And if something does not work out for you, you already know that the platform offers one of the best guarantees, even returning your money in full without having to give explanations.
- The English Court: is another alternative. The Spanish chain also has a good selection of brands and models of i3 laptops. You can choose both the form of face-to-face purchase at any of the points distributed throughout the Spanish geography, as well as the online version. In addition, they have good service. The only negative point is that they do not have the best prices, except if you expect offers or promotions such as the Tecnoprecios.
- Carrefour: the French chain also has a face-to-face or online purchase modality. With many brands and models to choose from for your i3 laptop, and with prices that are not bad.
- PC Components: It is another well-known store, they also follow the Amazon business model, being a logistics warehouse from Murcia to distribute a multitude of products that come from other distributors. Therefore, you can find a huge offer of products and stock. In addition, they have good support and assistance for their customers, and shipments are usually fast.
- Media Markt: the German chain stands out for its good prices in technology and its slogan "and I'm not stupid." They have a number of brands and models of i3 laptops, but the truth is that they do not have the largest of the varieties. Again, you can select between the online store or the face-to-face one, according to your preferences.
When to buy a cheaper i3 laptop?
There are some times of the year where you can find a cheaper i3 laptop, with large offers and promotions, to save on the purchase:
- Black Friday: on Friday, November 26 of this year, the famous Black Friday will arrive, where huge discounts are made in large and small stores. It is a great opportunity to find the product you are looking for at a price that can cost up to 20 or 30% less than any other day.
- Prime DayAmazon hasn't announced the day for this year yet, but it's usually during the first week or two in July. A day in which you will also get great discounts or flash promotions on thousands of products for being a member of the Prime service.
- Cyber Monday: the following Monday after Black Friday comes Cyber Monday, that is, Monday, November 29. This day it is the turn of online businesses, which lower their prices in a similar way to what happens on Black Friday. It can be a good opportunity if you missed the Black Friday deals or did not find what you were looking for.
Telecommunications Engineer closely linked to the world of computing. I complement my daily work with a suitable laptop for my tasks and I help you to achieve the same adapted to your needs.
