The 9 Best i7 Windows Laptops To Buy In 2024

By Hassam NasirUpdated on March 4, 2024

Hassam is a certified PC Hardware Professional.

The Intel Core i7 CPUs are among the fastest and most powerful processors that are available for laptops. The Core i7 line offers much better performance than the Core i3 or Core i5 CPUs, but it is not as power-hungry or super expensive as the Core i9 family of CPUs.

This makes the Core i7 a perfect balance for most laptops out there, be it for office work or heavier tasks such as gaming. Be sure to check out our picks for the best motherboard for i7 13700K as well.

We have selected the very best Core i7 Windows laptops on the market and ranked them to find out which laptop truly stands out from the crowd. You can be sure to find the perfect Core i7 laptop for your use case in this list.

Let’s jump right in.

The Best Performance Core i7 Windows Laptop – Our Picks

#	Product Name	Award	Details
1	Dell XPS 13 9310	Best Overall i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
2	MSI GL66	Best Gaming i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
3	Dell Inspiron 13 5310	Best Office i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
4	Acer Nitro 5	Best i7 Windows Laptop In Thermal Performance	Check Price
5	ASUS TUF Dash 15	Best Budget i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
6	Razer Blade Pro 17	Best 360Hz i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
7	Acer Predator Helios 300	Best Built i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
8	ASUS ZenBook 14	Best Designed i7 Windows Laptop	Check Price
9	Lenovo Legion 7i	Most Robust i7 Windows Laptop	17 Reviews Check Price

#	1
Preview
Product Name	Dell XPS 13 9310
Award	Best Overall i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	2
Preview
Product Name	MSI GL66
Award	Best Gaming i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	3
Preview
Product Name	Dell Inspiron 13 5310
Award	Best Office i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	4
Preview
Product Name	Acer Nitro 5
Award	Best i7 Windows Laptop In Thermal Performance
Details	Check Price

#	5
Preview
Product Name	ASUS TUF Dash 15
Award	Best Budget i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	6
Preview
Product Name	Razer Blade Pro 17
Award	Best 360Hz i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	7
Preview
Product Name	Acer Predator Helios 300
Award	Best Built i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	8
Preview
Product Name	ASUS ZenBook 14
Award	Best Designed i7 Windows Laptop
Details	Check Price

#	9
Preview
Product Name	Lenovo Legion 7i
Award	Most Robust i7 Windows Laptop
Details	17 Reviews Check Price

Last Update on 2024-04-26 at 01:44 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Why you should trust us when it comes to buying laptops

At appuals.com, we love to test out laptops. Our highly enthusiastic team is well-versed in the intricacies of laptops and we look forward to upcoming innovations in this field.

Hassam Nasir, our resident PC hardware guru, has been writing laptop reviews since the time of the Compaq Presario.

You might say that he enjoys delving into the finer points of PC hardware, such as thermal evaluation, acoustic testing, display analysis, and so on. Since he has been fixated on PC technology since the days of the Apple Powerbook G4, his knowledge should come as no surprise.

In spite of this, we don’t only depend on our past knowledge; we test each laptop thoroughly before reporting about it. We check for issues with performance, thermal competence, and acoustic profiles among other aspects.

Quality and durability testing of laptops is where our team really shines. When writing our reviews, we always keep the user’s perspective in mind. We can help you in your search for a suitable laptop, whether you require a cheap alternative or the best one available.

1. Dell XPS 13 9310

Best Overall i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Impressive OLED Display
Solid Internal Specs
Great Keyboard
Excellent Build Quality

Cons

High Price

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The Dell XPS 13 9310 is our first recommendation as the best overall i7 Windows laptop. It’s a superb business laptop, and it has a stunning, borderless screen that’s great for watching movies or playing games.

While the XPS 13 comes with a number of different configurations, we advise going with the tried and true combination of the 11th Gen Core i7 processor with the Intel Iris Xe Graphics. This synergy provides superior efficiency in both routine and more demanding productivity activities.

The XPS 13 9310’s specs are sufficient for its use as a general-purpose work or study laptop. Like other laptops in this price range, Dell’s claims of a 10-hour battery life do not stand out from the rest of the crowd.

The XPS 13 9310’s superior build quality is another one of its many outstanding features. The laptop’s materials are high-quality, and it has a sleek, professional design. If you plan on making this laptop your primary computer, this is a nice complement.

Best i7 Windows Laptop — Dell XPS 13 9310

Moreover, the screen’s resolution of 1920×1200 is both astounding and visually beautiful. Having a movie night with a large group of friends will be even more enjoyable thanks to the slim bezels, vibrant colors, and broad viewing angles.

Thanks to its superior OLED display, which provides darker blacks and more contrast compared to the competition, this laptop ranks at the top of our selection. In particular, the dynamic range appears to be far greater than on comparable business notebooks in the same price range. While a higher resolution may appeal more to some, 1080p appears fairly sharp on a 13.3-inch OLED Panel.

When it comes to sound, the XPS 13 is a little lacking. The speakers can be turned up to a respectable volume, but the quality they provide is below par for the asking price. The sound quality of rival products like the Apple MacBook M1 range is significantly higher.

Be sure to also check out our ASUS ZenBook Pro 15 Review for a solid alternative.

Consumers may be irritated by the lack of ports, but it is to be anticipated from such a lightweight and small laptop. The XPS 13 only has two USB-C ports, so you’ll need to buy a bunch of dongles if you want to take advantage of its full potential.

If you also need a powerful laptop for business or education, the Dell XPS 13 9310 is a good choice. It may get rather pricy when outfitted with high-end features, but its adaptability more than makes up for the initial outlay. Depending on your needs, you may use it as a workstation, a student laptop, or even for recreational purposes.

The all-round nature of the XPS 13 lends it great credibility in multiple different applications. With the powerful Core i7 CPU under the hood, this laptop is definitely one of the most powerful Windows laptops you can buy right now.

2. MSI GL66

Best Gaming i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Powerful RTX 3070 GPU
Great 144Hz Display
Nice Design
Modern 11^th Gen Core i7 CPU

Cons

Premium Price

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As a result of the presence of the GeForce RTX 3070 within this price range, the MSI GL66 is without a doubt the absolute best gaming i7 Windows laptop on our list. It has been selected as our second choice pick thanks to its supreme performance as well as a reasonable value proposition.

In order to make the GL66 one of the top choices available at this price point, MSI equipped it with a CPU from the 11th generation of the Core i7 series and a graphics card from Nvidia’s RTX series. Since it is capable of reaching clock speeds of up to 4.6 GHz, the Intel CPU is well-suited for high-end, current gaming.

In addition, the RTX 3070 is a graphics processor that is among the most potent gaming GPUs that are currently on the market, which is an outstanding accomplishment in and of itself.

You shouldn’t have any issues playing any of the most recent AAA games or eSports games if you have this mix of components. If you alter a few settings, the RTX 3070 is capable of gaming at resolutions as high as 1440p 144Hz and even 4K at 60Hz; however, the GL66 can only support gaming at 1080p at 144Hz owing to the screen it uses.

In terms of the display, MSI has equipped the GL66 with a regular 1080p 144Hz screen, which is pretty much the minimum requirement for a modern gaming laptop. You will be able to get a competitive advantage in numerous multiplayer games, including Call of Duty, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Rocket League, CS: GO, and others, thanks to the fast refresh rate.

The GL66 does not deliver exceptional performance in terms of how long its battery life seems to last. The battery life is only rated to last for three hours after a full charge, which is really pitiful in this day and age. It is safe to assume that you will always need to have the charger for this laptop on hand with you.

Additionally, the GL66 weighs around 4.63 pounds, which is considered to be fairly hefty for a gaming laptop. The fact that the laptop is cumbersome to carry about in addition to having a short lifespan for its battery implies that the vast majority of consumers will not use this laptop as a daily driver.

When compared to the various alternatives available at this price point, the MSI GL66 emerges victorious because of the amazing specifications it possesses, in particular the option of the RTX 3070.

It does have a few weaknesses, but the price-to-performance ratio is so compelling that it makes up for the majority of those shortcomings and wins our recommendation.

3. Dell Inspiron 13 5310

Best Office i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

High Resolution Display
Solid Battery Life
Great Specs
Lightweight Chassis

Cons

Weak GPU for the price

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The Inspiron 13 5310 stands out as a promising option among Dell’s Inspiron 13 models for our intended use. This laptop’s combination of high-end components makes it a terrific all-around buy.

Primarily, the Inspiron’s 2560×1600 resolution display is ideal for people who prefer to watch movies and TV shows on their laptops. Moreover, the panel has excellent peak brightness and color accuracy. It also has excellent viewing angles which take this display up to a whole new level.

Since its debut, the Inspiron 13 has been primarily marketed toward business users. However, there are other options, such as the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and the HP Elitebook x360. The price of the MacBook Pro is prohibitive, and the convertible nature of the Elitebook may not appeal to everyone.

Due to this, the Inspiron 13 might be a superior option for the majority of consumers and is our choice for the best office i7 Windows laptop.

The Inspiron’s audio quality is excellent, making it ideal for viewing movies and consuming content. The volume can be turned up to a respectable level without distorting, and the overall sound is clean and enjoyable.

Moreover, The Inspiron 5310’s battery life shouldn’t be a problem. The 12-hour battery life that Dell advertises should be enough to get you through a typical workday with light to moderate use. Most of the time, its battery life exceeds that of comparable products on the market.

Dell has included a 65W USB-C power converter, in addition to the powerful battery, for rapid recharging. This is a thoughtful addition that will make your life much easier.

Additionally, the low weight and excellent build quality of the chassis will win you over. The 2.78-pound Inspiron is one of the lightest laptops available. Those who prefer to travel with their laptops will appreciate how easy it is to use.

To add to the good news, the Inspiron 13 5310 operates admirably. Of course, there are a wide variety of configurations to choose from; we went with one that has an 11th-generation Intel Core i7 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce MX450 GPU.

Not many laptops in this price range come equipped with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive. However, the significant heat production of the CPU and GPU causes certain thermal difficulties, which have been observed.

Related Review: Honor MagicBook 14 2021 Laptop Review

Any productivity workload may be completed more quickly with the aid of a specialized GPU like the MX450, such as video editing, picture retouching, 3D modeling, animation, etc. With this configuration, you might also be able to squeeze in some light gaming during your downtime.

It’s hardly a gaming laptop, but it has some nice extras like a fingerprint reader and a 16:10 QHD display with blue light reduction. With this feature, you may enjoy your content without worrying about eye strain.

The laptop is expensive and not really practical if you want to use it for regular browsing and word processing. If you’re in a position to take use of the Inspiron’s powerful hardware, you should give it first priority.

All in all, the Inspiron 5310 should definitely be on your list as it is a reliable option thanks to its Intel Core i7 processor and excellent screen.

4. Acer Nitro 5

Best Cooled i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Excellent Thermals
Option of 1TB SSD
Decent Screen
Latest 12^th Gen Core i7 CPU

Cons

Poor Build Quality

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The Nitro series is designed to deliver high specifications to the mid-range market; however, our particular configuration of the Acer Nitro 5 does not place a strong emphasis on pricing. In reality, of course, it is a somewhat pricey laptop; nevertheless, the fact that it features the most high-end specifications of any laptop on our list justifies the price tag.

Since it can be purchased in such a wide variety of personalized configurations, the Nitro 5 has quickly become one of the most sought-after gaming laptops on the market today. The vast majority of its variations provide a great price-to-performance ratio, and the option that we chose is consistent with this pattern.

The Nitro 5 from Acer features an Intel Core i7 mobile processor from the 12th generation, as well as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU. The internal GPU is not the most impressive for high-end gaming considering the price, but the Core i7-12700H is competitive with the very best CPU options out there.

You should be able to play the vast majority of current eSports and multiplayer games at 144Hz on 1080p with this combination; however, you may need to make some adjustments to the graphics settings in order to do this.

When it comes to AAA titles, you should have no trouble reaching 60 FPS on the vast majority of current games in a steady fashion. The Acer Nitro 5’s capacity to maintain effective control over the temperatures of its many components is the device’s crowning achievement. Though a 3060ti might fit better as it has that extra performance boost.

There are several laptops in this price range competing with the Acer Nitro 5, such as the ASUS TUF F15 and the Dell G15 5511, so the Acer Nitro 5 does not have the market to itself.

The Nitro 5, on the other hand, offers a more well-rounded experience than its rivals by providing a display that is superior, a CPU that is exceptional, and more SSD storage than the competition.

On the other hand, the Nitro 5 is not exactly a lightweight choice, as it comes in at just under 6 pounds in total weight. In addition, the life of the battery is estimated to be somewhere about 8 hours, which is satisfactory yet average.

Our ASUS Vivobook S14 Review suggests that it can be a decent alternative for this spot as well.

The build quality of this laptop, in addition, is very disappointing, which is one of the few areas in which the Nitro 5 falls short of the mark. The general design language of this laptop does not do it any favor, and the materials that were selected are, at most, pretty average. The internals are of high quality, but the outside does not give the impression that it is.

Even while it falls short in some areas like the battery life and overall fit-and-finish, Acer’s product is still deserving of consideration at this price range due to its other advantageous features. Due to this laptop’s high-end gaming performance and supreme cooling system, it is our pick for the best cooled i7 Windows laptop.

5. ASUS TUF Dash 15

Best Budget i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Affordable Alternative
Decent Battery Life
Modern Nvidia GPU
Thunderbolt 4 Featured

Cons

Unremarkable

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The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is our recommendation in the event that you are interested in a Core i7 Windows laptop that is friendlier to your wallet. The option that was chosen costs only a bit less than $1000 in this configuration, and offers an outstanding value for the money in terms of gaming and streaming.

You can also check out our ASUS TUF Gaming A15 laptop review for another ASUS TUF alternative.

You will have an easier time using CPU encoding when streaming thanks to the fact that the TUF Dash 15 comes equipped with an 11th Generation Core i7 processor. The CPU can hit 4.4 GHz on all 8 of its threads, which makes it simpler for the laptop to handle several activities at once.

This processor is paired with the Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti graphics card from ASUS, which has a total of 4 gigabytes of video RAM (VRAM). Although it is not the most potent member of the RTX 3000 series, the RTX 3050 Ti is undeniably a good graphics card. You will also be able to make use of technologies such as ShadowPlay, Reflex, and NVENC encoding when you use a GPU from Nvidia.

There are several laptops in the budget category that are comparable to the ASUS TUF Dash 15. Both the Acer Aspire 7 and the MSI GF65 are comparable options priced under $1000 that can be taken into consideration. However, the TUF Dash 15 provides better value for money due to its lower price tag.

The TUF Dash 15 also comes with a number of additional fantastic features. At this price point, you get an incredible feature of a Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connector that is located on the side of the laptop. The Thunderbolt connection may be utilized to connect high-speed peripherals, as well as displays that need a significant amount of bandwidth.

The battery life of the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is rated to last for a fairly healthy 12 hours according to the manufacturer. Considering that it is a gaming laptop, this shouldn’t be problematic. On a full charge, you should be able to get around four to five hours’ worth of playtime at the very most. However, the TUF Dash 15 does have a few drawbacks to consider as well.

Related Review: ASUS TUF Gaming FX505DV Laptop Review

Although on paper the 1080p 144Hz display looks like it should be pretty excellent, the actual quality of the panel is rather disappointing. The dynamic range and color reproduction are both well below par, and the former could have been a lot better. In addition, the keyboard does not have RGB illumination, which is a rather small flaw but is nonetheless worth mentioning.

However, when everything is taken into consideration, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is an excellent choice that is definitely worthy of consideration if you are looking for the best budget i7 Windows laptop. While it may not quite live up to expectations in some areas, the total package is simply too appealing to pass up.

6. Razer Blade Pro 17

Best 360Hz i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Extraordinary 360Hz Display
Superb Build Quality
RTX 3060 GPU

Cons

Extremely Pricy
Quite Heavy

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Razer’s Blade Pro 17 is a phenomenal gaming laptop that comes equipped with an extraordinary treat for its users. Your gaming experience will be taken to a whole new level thanks to its outstanding display that runs at a rate of 360 hertz (Hz), which is on par with the most advanced monitors available today.

For another “Pro” alternative, you can check out our Honor MagicBook Pro laptop review as well.

To begin, the Blade Pro 17 is equipped with a number of high-end components on the inside. It is remarkable that a laptop CPU can achieve boost clock speeds of 5.1 GHz and have 8 cores, as is the case with the included 10th Generation Core i7 processor. This processor has no trouble with CPU encoding or multitasking at the same time.

Especially considering that the CPU is accompanied by a superb GPU from Nvidia, namely the RTX 3060, the laptop’s performance is on another level. The RTX 3060 is offered in the configuration that we have decided to go with since it provides the optimal price-to-performance ratio not just for gaming but also for streaming.

When it comes to GPU encoding using the NVENC encoder, the RTX 3060 will breeze through the process without breaking a sweat. Additionally, it is able to play all current games with high framerates, even when set to Ultra quality at 1080p.

In regards to the framerate, you will want such performance in order to be able to take use of the exceptional display offered by the Razer Blade Pro 17. The display is unlike any other we have seen in any of the gaming laptops on our list since it has a resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of 360Hz.

Even in the PC monitor market, there are not a lot of displays with a refresh rate of 360Hz, with the exception of a few monitors designed specifically for eSports competitions.

Helpful read: Response time Vs Refresh rate

The Blade Pro 17 distinguishes itself from the other products on the market by virtue of its superior design and build quality. The materials have a high-end look and feel, and the design language used throughout the laptop is straightforward and uncluttered. In the world of laptops, Razer is well-known for this approach.

The Razer Blade Pro 17 is not without its flaws, however, since the battery life is just about 7 hours, which is only about average for the category. In addition, the notebook weighs something in the region of 5.5 pounds, which is quite substantial for a Razer Blade laptop.

In addition, the keyboard does not include a number pad, which may prove to be an annoyance for certain users.

When looking for a gaming and streaming laptop, the Razer Blade Pro 17 is a model that provides a lot of compelling features. The RTX 3060 in the chosen configuration offers a reasonable compromise between cost and performance, despite the fact that it is a little more expensive than its competitors.

Also check out our roundup : Best RTX 4090

Given the fact that it has a display capable of 360 hertz as well as a fantastic i7 processor, it is also our top pick for the best 360Hz i7 Windows laptop.

7. Acer Predator Helios 300

Best Built i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Solid Build Quality
Excellent Internals
Overclockable Core i7 CPU

Cons

Bulky
Poor Battery Life

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The Predator brand is known for its stunning designs, and the Helios 300 continues this trend with its high-end specifications and aesthetics.

Acer has outfitted the Helios 300 with the Intel Core i7-10750H CPU from the 10th generation, which is a chip with 6 cores. Depending on the amount of power and cooling that is available, it has the potential to turbo up to 5 GHz.

The fact that the CPU can be overclocked in the Helios 300 is a significant benefit, as it enables enthusiasts to coax even more performance out of the CPU if they so want. However, when you overclock a laptop, thermals might become a problem since there is not a lot of room for cooling potential in such a small space.

This makes the problem more difficult to solve and ultimately, the overclocking function ultimately amounts to little more than a marketing ploy. However, even with the default settings, the CPU already has more than enough power to handle gaming and streaming.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 is a fantastic mid-range graphics processor, and the Helios 300 comes equipped with one. This GPU is capable of handling pretty much any modern game you can throw at it. The 3060 is equipped with all of the specialized features that are exclusive to Nvidia, such as Reflex and NVENC, which may improve both your gaming and streaming experiences.

Helpful comparison : 3080ti vs 3090

The Helios 300 from Acer is equipped with a display that has a standard resolution of 1080p and a refresh rate of 144 Hz, making it an ideal companion for the RTX 3060. You should be able to play the majority of recent games with a frame rate of between 100 and 144 FPS using this combination, depending on the graphical settings. The fact that it comes with 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of solid-state storage is a really nice bonus.

The build quality and design of the Acer Predator Helios 300 are quite remarkable and truly distinguish the laptop from other options available at this price point. The Predator design language is instantly recognizable, and the high-quality materials that were utilized to manufacture the chassis give it an upscale appearance and feel.

This is why we have selected the Helios 300 as our best built i7 Windows laptop.

The Helios 300 from Acer is reported to have a battery life of around 6 hours, which is about par for the course when it comes to gaming laptops. There is a possibility that competing products from the likes of ASUS and Razer will have longer battery lives while having comparable specifications.

The Helios 300 weighs around 5.5 pounds, which places it on the higher end of the spectrum when it comes to the weight of gaming laptops.

When compared to the competition in this space, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is a very sensible alternative despite the fact that it does not come cheap by any stretch of the imagination. Since it provides a well-rounded experience across the board, the Helios 300 has earned our recommendation if you want a high-end Core i7 laptop.

8. ASUS ZenBook 14

Best Designed i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Superb Battery Life
Thunderbolt 4 Inclusion
ScreenPad Feature

Cons

Very Pricy
Basic 1080p Display

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ASUS has designed the ZenBook 14 with a number of special features aimed specifically at winning over the hearts of students and professionals. It can be the perfect option if you are in the market for a competent all-rounder laptop that covers all bases and becomes your perfect companion for the office or school use.

We also covered another ZenBook product in our ASUS ZenBook Duo laptop review.

One of the most notable aspects of the ZenBook 14 is its long-lasting battery life, which clocks in at an impressive 14 hours. Since the battery life is so good, you won’t need to worry about bringing your charger to your school or office. The battery life is long enough to get you through a normal workday without worrying about recharging.

The performance of the Asus ZenBook 14 ought to, for the most part, be fully satisfactory. On the subpar MX450 GPU, one should not anticipate professional editing or intensive workflow animations, but other than that, the overall performance should be suitable for most of the office or school work that is to be expected from this laptop.

We have a more detailed review of the ASUS Zenbook 14 if you want more information.

It is able to easily manage presentations, study materials, word processing, content consumption, and general productivity tasks without a hitch.

Docked windows may be effortlessly moved between your primary display and the display of the ScreenPad thanks to the neat little App Switcher that is located on the ScreenPad. Since it is so sensitive and convenient, the ScreenPad is also perfect for making short notes on the go. It also has the capability of transforming into a numeric keypad.

In 2022, the huge laptop’s 1080p resolution is unremarkable and offers nothing special. Due to the fact that it has stiff ergonomics thanks to its 14-inch screen, it is also difficult to carry around. The all-around competence of the ZenBook 14 in a variety of different areas is, however, the device’s savior.

Also check out our review for ASUS Zenbook 15 Pro which is a slight upgrade.

The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4, which enables users to manage multiple high-resolution screens, is a welcome improvement that adds value to the product. The heat management on this laptop is remarkably good, and the general build quality of the laptop is quite outstanding.

It is important to highlight the fact that the sound system is of a high enough quality to warrant praise.

In essence, the ZenBook 14 is another high-end option that you should shortlist if you are interested in buying a new Core i7 Windows laptop. Its superb design and supreme aesthetics earn it the award of the best designed i7 Windows laptop in our roundup.

9. Lenovo Legion 7i

Most Robust i7 Windows Laptop

Pros

Impressive 240Hz Panel
RGB Implementation

Cons

Expensive Option
Previous Generation Internals
Poor Battery Life

17 Reviews

Check Price

When general consumers are looking for a competent gaming or streaming laptop, the vast majority of them do not consider Lenovo since their laptops are so closely associated with business and office work. On the flip side, the Lenovo Legion 7i is an exceptionally excellent offering that should be taken into consideration for this category.

The Legion 7i is powered by a 10th-generation Core i7 CPU that features 6 cores and has a maximum clock speed of 5 GHz. Given the limited cooling potential, that is a rather outstanding turbo frequency for a laptop’s CPU. This processor gives an edge to this laptop over competitors in this price bracket

Even if you are using CPU encoding like h.264, this processor shouldn’t have any trouble keeping up with the streaming workload. Alongside the Intel Core i7 processor is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 GPU, which is part of Nvidia’s Turing family of products. While it is still a fairly powerful GPU by today’s standards, the RTX 2070 does not quite live up to current standards in terms of efficiency and features.

How we picked and tested

Picking the various Core i7 laptop contenders for this roundup was a bit of a challenge. It’s not really as simple as choosing the latest laptops from each company with a Core i7 CPU inside. Our team of hardware experts laid down a stringent vetting process to select the very finest options out there.

Our very first priority was, of course, the CPU itself. We only selected laptops that offered a Core i7 processor option, preferably from the recent 2-3 generations. We gave priority to the laptops that offered a better value Core i7 option for the asking price.

We only chose Windows laptops for this roundup, so any MacBook or Linus laptops were excluded. We also excluded Google’s Chromebooks, since those run on their own Chrome OS operating system.

After narrowing down our CPU choice, we shifted our focus toward the graphics processor. You don’t necessarily need a dedicated GPU if you plan to use the laptop for basic school and office work, but it is crucial for gaming and streaming applications. Accordingly, we chose the laptops that offered better GPUs.

Of course, the display of the laptop is one of the most critical components and another one of our priorities. For gaming laptops, we selected variants that offered a high-refresh-rate display, while for general-purpose options we looked for high-resolution screens with excellent colors and angles.

Yet again, we thought about how the laptop’s weight and dimensions might affect portability and posture. Keeping a bulky, hefty laptop on one’s lap for long amounts of time is not ideal for anyone, and is even worse while traveling.

If you often use your laptop for entertainment purposes, such as watching movies or playing games, the battery life is extremely crucial. In this evaluation, this was one of our top concerns.

The ratio of the product’s cost to its level of performance was, in the end, the decisive element in our roundup. Laptops that offered the greatest possible value for the price were given higher placement on the list.

In the testing process, our dedicated team of hardware specialists left no stone unturned. We especially focused our analysis on the thermal competence and overall performance of the laptop. The team also evaluated subjective elements like the build quality and ergonomics.

One of the key factors in our testing was the battery life. We cycled the selected laptops through a complete charge in order to get an objective measure of their full battery lives. Moreover, our team also evaluated the laptops’ displays through a series of rigorous tests.

Ultimately, the testing data combined with the subjective analysis of the price-to-performance ratio offered by the different laptops helped in the formation of this roundup. Keeping all these factors in mind, our team has curated a list of the very best Core i7 Windows laptops out there.

Buyer’s Guide

Browsing your favorite online retailer’s website for a new laptop can be a daunting task. Even if you know that you are looking for a new Core i7 laptop, you can be overwhelmed by the sheer wealth of options and alternatives out there.

Fret not, as we have compiled a comprehensive buying guide that will help you select the very best laptop for you. This buying guide is tailored for our Core i7 Windows laptop roundup, but it can be consulted for purchasing any laptop.

Operating System

When choosing a laptop, it is important to select the operating system first. The operating system is a software program that runs on a computer and acts as an intermediary between the user and the computer hardware. You may be familiar with the name Microsoft Windows but there are other operating systems as well.

Laptops nowadays can also have other operating systems such as Mac OS from Apple, Linux, and Chrome OS from Google. You can find Mac OS in Apple’s MacBook series of laptops, while Google’s Chrome OS is often at the heart of Google Chromebook laptops.

The former is prevalent on the expensive end of the price spectrum, while the latter is often found in the budget segment. Linux-based laptops are rare, and they are often quite specialized and not the most user-friendly devices.

If you tend to use your laptop for gaming, streaming, consuming content, or for general office or school work, a Microsoft Windows laptop is the way to go. Windows laptops have the highest level of compatibility, convenience, as well as ease of use.

The Processor (CPU)

Your laptop’s central processing unit (CPU) is its “brain” and is responsible for all of the computing work done by your laptop. In addition to this, it is a significant aspect that determines how well your laptop does in gaming and streaming.

The central processing unit (CPU) in modern games is in charge of managing artificial intelligence, physics, world-building, and other general computations that are necessary for complex AAA games. As a result, it is essential for the CPU to have sufficient performance to complement the graphics processing unit (GPU).

Outside of gaming, the CPU is still a very crucial component for general-purpose productivity. It handles all the day-to-day tasks that your laptop performs, and is necessary for complex tasks such as streaming as well. A faster CPU is one of the most noticeable upgrades in day-to-day usage.

Naturally, the central processing unit is also in charge of other productive duties, such as multitasking, etc.

The Core i7 line of processors from Intel has just reached its 13^th Generation, and it is one of the most popular and competent collections of CPUs for laptops. With a Core i7 CPU, you strike a balance of performance as well as value, and it can be a great choice for high-end gaming laptops as well. While you are at it also check out our picks for the best motherboards for the i7 12700k.

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

The graphics processor is the most integral part of any gaming laptop or desktop computer. The graphics processing unit, also known as a GPU, is a silicon chip that is at the heart of a normal graphics card. It must shoulder the burden of processing graphical tasks when it comes to laptops because full-sized graphics cards cannot be accommodated within them.

The graphics processing unit (GPU) is responsible for all of the graphical processing that your games demand. In addition to that, it is in charge of encoding as well as rendering if it is required by the system to do so. Most people think graphic cards are usually meant play games and while they are good at it, graphic cards are also used for work like video editing etc.

If you want the best possible gaming and streaming experience in 2022, you should focus on getting a modern GPU, such as one from Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3000 series.

There is a detailed review of the best 1440p graphice cards on our website to help you in picking out what you need.

You may also go for the graphics processors that are based on Turing architecture and are part of the RTX 2000 series; however, anything older than that is likely to perform below average when used with recent games.

Display

Considering the display of the laptop is an essential step in the buying process. First, you have to decide what do you intend to use the laptop for. If the laptop is to be used for gaming or streaming, you will need a high refresh rate display on your device.

Even if your laptop has a high-end CPU and a fast GPU, your gaming experience might still be poor if the display is unable to keep up with these components.

When purchasing a laptop for gaming, it is of the utmost need to ensure that the screen has a high refresh rate. In gaming, a resolution of 1440p or 4K is not really required; nevertheless, you should surely go for a panel that has 144Hz or 240Hz refresh rates if you have the choice.

In order to provide a high-quality gaming experience, the display in question should have respectable color reproduction, viewing angles, and dynamic range. These parameters should also be considered if you plan to use the laptop for just general content consumption and office use.

On a standard laptop that is not to be used for gaming, you should prefer a bigger screen and a higher resolution panel over high-refresh-rate. Choosing features like 4K resolution makes a lot of sense for content consumption and general-purpose use.

Battery Life

The amount of time a laptop’s battery will last is another factor that should not be overlooked when shopping for one in the modern ecosystem.

The technology behind batteries is making incremental advances, but the components themselves are becoming more powerful all the time. In many instances, manufacturers are required to strike a compromise between lengthy battery life and performance.

Obtaining a laptop with a battery life rating of at least 10 hours on a single charge should be your primary priority. This rating differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, thus it is important to look at reviews written by third-party sources as well.

The majority of today’s laptops will either feature a backlit keyboard or a retina display, both of which have the potential to drain the battery in the background. Moreover, powerful components like Core i7 CPUs and high-end GPUs also increase battery drain.

Therefore, if you have a decent battery life, you should consume content, play games, and perform general tasks on your laptop without worrying about recharging.

You may use the laptop as a business or school device, and then later, when you have some free time, you can use it for entertainment without having to plug it in.

Portability

Nobody enjoys spending their day lugging around a cumbersome and large laptop. When you add in the fact that you may have to use the laptop in a portable setting on a daily basis, the discomfort level soars.

When it comes to buying a new Core i7 laptop, you should go for one that is both lightweight and thin. First, you have to decide the use case of the laptop in question.

If your intended use is for office and general purpose usage, try to find laptops that weigh less than three pounds. There are some laptops that are even lighter than 3 pounds, but those can be prohibitively expensive.

Gaming laptops, on the other hand, are heavy and bulky. If you can find a gaming laptop around 4 pounds, then that is quite lightweight in comparison to the majority of other gaming options.

In the current market, there are a lot of great lightweight laptops available from different manufacturers, and you don’t even have to make any sacrifices in terms of performance. The laptop’s product page will often provide information on the weight of the laptop.

Best i7 Windows Laptop - FAQs

Which generation i7 is the best?

The best Core i7 generation is the Intel 13th Generation, which is the latest one. Technology is advancing every day and new processors are released on a yearly basis, which is why this crown will keep changing hands.

Is i7 better than i5?

A Core i7 processor is generally better than a Core i5 processor since it usually has more cores (or threads). However, this is not a hard-and-fast rule. It depends on many factors including the generations of the two CPUs and their clock speeds, etc.

Can I game on an i7 laptop?

You can game on an i7 laptop if the CPU belongs to a recent generation and is paired with a dedicated GPU. The most important thing for gaming is the GPU, but any modern i7 is also good to have in a gaming laptop.

Should I buy a Core i9 laptop?

You should buy a Core i9 laptop if you want the best of the best in terms of performance. These laptops can be considered if you want the ultimate productivity and gaming performance, and you do not have any issues with pricing or thermals.

Is Core i7 better than Ryzen 7?

It is hard to say whether or not a Core i7 CPU is better than a Ryzen 7 CPU. It depends on which Core i7 CPU specifically is compared with which Ryzen 7 CPU. They are very comparable in terms of performance as well as price.

By Hassam NasirUpdated on March 4, 2024

Hassam is a certified PC Hardware Professional.

The Best Performance Core i7 Windows Laptop – Our Picks

Why you should trust us when it comes to buying laptops

1. Dell XPS 13 9310

Pros

Cons

2. MSI GL66

Pros

Cons

3. Dell Inspiron 13 5310

Pros

Cons

4. Acer Nitro 5

Pros

Cons

5. ASUS TUF Dash 15

Pros

Cons

6. Razer Blade Pro 17

Pros

Cons

7. Acer Predator Helios 300

Pros

Cons

8. ASUS ZenBook 14

Pros

Cons

9. Lenovo Legion 7i

Pros

Cons

How we picked and tested

Buyer’s Guide

Operating System

The Processor (CPU)

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)

Display

Battery Life

Portability

Best i7 Windows Laptop - FAQs

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