At Digit Test Labs, we’ve tested dozens of Intel Core i3 processor-based laptops to arrive at this list of the best Intel Core i3 based laptops to buy today. These laptops aren’t meant for performance seekers or gamers, they are daily work horses that will get your daily tasks done. Mostly recommended for students and office usage, these laptops are hailed for their excellent value for money quotient. While we always recommend going for the latest generation of Intel Core i3 processors, assuming your budget permits you to pay that extra premium, we also have recommended a few older gen Intel Core i3 powered laptops on the basis of the sheer value proposition.
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Asus Vivobook series has been a popular choice when it comes to entry-level laptops and this specific model is powered by the latest Intel Core i3 processor that boasts of 6 cores and can process 8 threads in one go. Besides benefitting from the latest processor, with this laptop you also get some additional features that are very handy when it comes to the overall laptop experience. You get fast charging support that can help you charge 60% of the laptop in under an hour of charging time. The laptop also gives you a biometric fingerprint reader and a 720p webcam with a physical privacy shutter. These add-on features are very useful on an everyday basis and hence enhance your everyday usage. We have tested the Asus Vivobook range at our digit test labs and have found them to offer excellent value when it comes to a balance of performance, features, and even design.
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The MSI Modern 14 is a good Intel Core i3 processor powered laptop for anyone looking for a compact form factor and yet not wanting to compromise on features. The MSI Modern 14 runs in an Intel Core i3 1315U processor with 6 processor cores and 8 thread support. That kind of processing performance is absolutely adequate for everyday usage point of view, be it a student or a working professional. Where MSI Modern 14 stands out from the rest is the slim design along with a light weight profile. The laptop weighs a mere 1.4 kilograms, which is great if you are looking for an easy-to-carry laptop from a weight and dimensions point of view. MSI has also made the Modern 14 a fairly well-built laptop when it comes to build quality, as the laptop is MIL-STD-810G certified which essentially means it has been tested to withstand rough usage and extreme temperatures. The fact that the display (lid) on the MSI Modern 14 can open up all the way to a 180-degree angle also adds to the usability quotient. The keyboard on the MSI Modern 14 is also backlit, which is a very handy feature when it comes to usage in varied lighting conditions.
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The Dell Vostro 3420 is a good choice for professionals looking for a well-built laptop that is designed for use in an office environment. The Dell Vostro series is well known for affordable laptops for small and medium business users where reliability, connectivity, and support are of paramount importance. The laptop has an elegant design and during our testing of the Dell Vostro series of laptops, we have always found them to be very well built along with a superior fit and finish, which lends them very well for professional usage. Besides design and appeal, the Dell Vostro is also extremely well equipped with a plethora of connectivity options, you get comprehensive USB port connectivity options along with an SD Card reader and an RJ-45 (wired internet) port, which is a rare find in laptops today. The 12th Gen Intel Core i3 processor on this Dell Vostro laptop has 6 cores with a maximum turbo clock speed that reaches 4.4 GHz, it should be more than enough to keep those productivity apps running smooth without any lags or hiccups.
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The HP Laptop 15 is HP’s best 13th Gen Intel Core i3 based affordable laptop offering in India today. And unsurprisingly it also uses the 13th Gen Intel 1315U processor, which seems to be the processor of choice for 13th Gen Core i3 laptops with the same Core i3 processor used by most manufacturers when it comes to base-level Intel Core i3 powered laptops. And we aren’t complaining here, as the 6-core processor with support for 8 threads along with a low power draw makes for a sweet combination when it comes to a laptop that’s designed to excel on daily tasks. With the HP Laptop 15, you get a large 15.6-inch display and a full-sized keyboard to boot. At 1.75 kilograms, this is not a particularly lightweight laptop, it’s also not the slimmest on the list. However, what we like about this laptop is the generous-sized trackpad and the fact that it comes with a physical privacy shutter to ensure an additional layer of privacy. We have also found HP’s entry-level laptops doing well when it comes to battery life, and we expect the HP Laptop 15 to also dish out a respectable 6-7 hours of battery life via its 3-cell battery.
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This is one of our favorite laptops, especially in the budget segment. The realme Book Slim is hands down the best-looking budget laptop with the best display and one of the best keyboards at its price point. The highlight of the laptop is the slim, metal based build and the bright (400 nits) high-resolution (2K) display that is a treat for both office use and media consumption. Weighing just 1.4 kilograms, the laptop is easy to carry and is slim enough to go unnoticed in your backpack. And in our tests, the laptop managed to give 6+ hours of real-world battery life on a single charge, which is commendable for a budget laptop. The speakers are loud and the sound quality is very good for a 14-inch laptop. The webcam is also excellent with good quality video and audio capture. Features like finger print reader and fast charging makes the realme Book Slim 14 a laptop that punches well above its weight when it comes to value as well as quality. The not so good part you ask? Well, realme has not upgraded the model to the latest Intel Core i3 processor and hence you will have to do with an 11th Gen Intel Core i3 processor, which does call for compromise in the performance department. To be fair, this one also costs a lot lesser than the other laptops in our list that do come with latest gen Intel Core i3 processors.
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An affordable business series laptop that has legendary roots in the iconic Lenovo ThinkPad series of laptops. That’s the best way to describe the ThinkPad E15. This laptop is a great buy for anyone looking for a truly robust yet affordable laptop. It has the best build quality of all the laptops in this list and the excellent build quality is adequately backed by strong security and privacy features that make for a great entry-level enterprise/office-use laptop. The popular ThinkPad keyboard on this laptop is a treat to type, with great key travel and feedback. If your usage involves a lot of typing, the Lenovo ThinkPad E15 most definitely should be on your shortlist for an affordable laptop for daily office usage.
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This last laptop on our list is for those on an absolutely bare-bones budget and who want a laptop that does absolutely fine when it comes to basic tasks. The Infinis INBook Y1 Plus is not the fastest of the Intel Core i3 based laptops and yet it does deliver when it comes to a well-rounded package in the sub 30K price point. We used the laptop and what impressed us the most was the comprehensive list of features and the sturdy build quality. Both of which are hard to find at their price point. Features like fast charging, 2MP webcam and a backlit keyboard at sub 30K price point makes this a great budget recommendation for a basic laptop.
