Best High Performance 12th Gen Intel Core i5 laptops to consider over Intel Core i7

Samuel TanBest Laptops, Best Of... 0

From our previous search for the best 12th Gen Intel Core i7 ultraportable, we discovered an anomaly in Intel’s mobile processor portfolio. There is a star among the mid-range Intel Core i5 that can outperform even the fastest Intel Core i7 part. Here, we look at the shining star from Intel Core i5 and the best high performance 12th Gen Intel Core i5 laptops to consider over Intel Core i7.

Forget about paying a premium for an 12th Gen Intel Core i7 laptop. These powerful 12th Gen Intel Core i5 laptops will outperform the fastest ultraportable Intel Core i7 currently out there.

Table of Contents

The Star of 12th Gen Intel Core i5 Processors – the Intel Core i5-1240P CPU

Not all 12th Gen Intel Core i5 mobile processors are created equal. The Intel Core i5-1240P with its 12 cores has a huge leap in performance over other Intel Core i5 mobile processors in the market. It has 60.5% gain compared to Intel Core i5-1230U and 25.5% gain compared to Intel Core i5-1230U in average CPU Mark benchmarks. It is even faster than the fastest Intel Core i7-1260P Processor in the same benchmark. The Intel Core i5-1230U achieved an average CPU Mark score of 17377, better than the 17084 on the Intel Core i7-1260P. It does lose out to the Core i7 in the single thread ratings by a small margin (3259 vs 3295).

	Cores	Thread	Typ TDP	TDP Down	TCP Up	AVE CPU Mark	Single Thread
Intel® Core™ i5-1230U Processor	10C(2P/8E)	12	9W	–	29W	10826	2639
Intel® Core™ i5-1235U Processor	10C(2P/8E)	12	15W	12W	55W	13583	3313
Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor	12C(4P/8E)	16	28W	20W	64W	17377	3259
Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor	12C(4P/8E)	16	45W	35W	95W	21837	3562
Intel® Core™ i7-12700H Processor	14C(6P/8E)	20	45W	35W	115W	26782	3661

Here is a graph for a quick comparison.

12th Gen Intel Core i5 Processors Benchmark

High Performance Intel Core i5 H-series

The favourite Intel Core i5-1240P from the P-series placed more emphasis on efficiency, although not as energy efficient as the Intel Core i5 from the U-series. However, there is another high performance part in the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 family. This time, from the H-series, the Intel Core i5-12500H. This powerful processor eclipsed the performance of Intel Core i5-1230U twice over in the Average CPU Mark. When compared to Intel Core i5-1240P above, it achieved a 25.7% gain but consumed more power at 45W vs 28W. Is is a fair compromise? The price for performance meant bigger capacity battery is needed for comparable battery life. Laptops based on the Intel Core i5-12500H are also heavier as it requires an active cooling system.

Budget Intel Core i5 Laptops between 500-700

Our list of 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processors are further broken down to three categories based on cost. The first category being budget for devices that cost between 500 to 700, second for mid-range devices that cost between 700 to 900 and high-end devices that cost 900 and above.

The first of our categories are also the biggest. These affordable laptops with the powerful Intel Core i5-1240P and even more powerful Intel Core i5-12500H are your best bet if you are on a tight budget. For this category, we picked two of the best that you ought to seriously consider.

Search Intel Core i5 P-series Laptop on Amazon

1. SAMSUNG Galaxy Book2 Pro 13.3-inch Laptop

At the time of writing, this second generation Galaxy Book2 Pro is available with a huge discount bringing the cost down by nearly 50%. Being from the Pro series, the laptop has a 13.3-inch Full HD AMOLED display. It is without a question Samsung’s OLED offers the best balance in brightness, rich colours and amazing contrast. Then there is the much needed Full HD Webcam with auto framing and background effects for sharper video calls, AKG tuned speakers that support Dolby Atmos and fast WiFi 6E. All that is wrapped in an ultra thin (11.24mm) and light chassis (0.868kg) that also passed rigorous military tests. Even with the ultra slim chassis, it managed to pack one full size USB 3.2 port, one HDMI port, one USB Type-C that supports Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm jack and MicroSD card reader plus fingerprint sensor. This offer may not last so we have chosen a second laptop powered by Intel Core i5-1240P within this category.

Intel® Evo™ platform
Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 256 GB SSD
13.3-inch Full HD AMOLED screen
Battery life: up to 21 hours with fast charging 9 hours from 30 mins charge
0.866kg and 11.24 x 304.4 x 199.8 mm (H x W x D)

2. ASUS Vivobook 16X X1603ZA 16-inch Laptop

With a seriously powerful 12th generation Intel Core i5 laptop at an affordable price, this next laptop is one to go for. Again, with a savings of 100, the ASUS Vivobook 16X is an amazing deal. Even without the discount, it would be an incredible laptop to have. It even comes double the memory and storage, at 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD respectively. Build quality is great as would be expected from ASUS. The modern 16-inch Full HD+ display uses a productivity focused 16:10 aspect ratio making it suitable for creators. The things that let it down are the poor battery life with the laptop only managing up to 6 hours per charge and low resolution HD 720p web cam.

Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor
RAM: 16 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
16-inch Full HD+ screen
Battery life: Up to 6 hours
1.8kg, 19.9 x 358 x 249 mm (H x W x D)

3. HP Pavilion Plus 14-eh0500sa 14-inch Laptop

If you are serious about portability and long battery life, the HP Pavilion Plus 14 is one to go for. With up to 11 hours battery life, the laptop has a compact and lightweight body thanks to its 14-inch display. That display packs 2.2K pixels with a resolution of 2240 x 1400 pixels better than Full HD or Full HD+ that most of the other laptops come with here. The other laptop that can match this level of detail and sharpness is the LENOVO IdeaPad 5i Pro but at a higher cost. Other features that will make you jump for your wallet are the Bang & Olufsen speakers, fingerprint reader, truck load of connectivity options and an incredible 5MP web cam.

Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
14-inch 2.2K 2240 x 1400p screen 16:10 aspect ratio 100% sRGB 300nits
Battery Life: up to 11 hours
1.4kg, 18.4 x 313.5 x 224.2 mm (H x W x D)

4. ASUS Vivobook 17 X1702ZA 17.3-inch Laptop

For a desktop replacement, and we do mean a laptop that will replace your desktop, consider the ASUS Vivobook 17. This 17.3-inch beast is not going anywhere without being tethered given its low battery life per charge. It is also the heaviest laptop on our list, weighing over 2 kg so there is not going to be a lot of mobility. A better alternative for this laptop if you are brand loyal to ASUS will be to pick the Vivobook 16X above. Not only does it offer better performance from its H-series processor but it has double the memory at 16GB RAM and two hours longer battery life.

Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
17.3-inch Full HD screen 250nits
Battery Life: up to 4 hours
2.1kg, 21 x 399.3 x 254.3 mm (H x W x D)

5. SAMSUNG Galaxy Book2 Pro 5G 15.6-inch Laptop

This little number caught us by surprise when it was on offer with a huge discount. You can’t go wrong with a deal like this especially when it is from Samsung and even more when it is from the Pro line. The Samsung Galaxy Book2 Pro even comes with 5G connectivity and a bright Super AMOLED display albeit Full HD resolution. If that is not convincing enough, it claims to last up to 20 hours with quick charging support and is ultra light weight at 1.1kg with a super slim 11.7mm body. This is one of those rare laptop with ultra fast 5G connectivity perfect for the remote workers. A non-5G enabled model is also available.

Intel® Evo™ platform
Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 256 GB SSD
15.6-inch Full HD screen
Battery life: up to 20 hours
1.11kg, 11.7 x 355.4 x 225.8 mm (H x W x D)

6. LENOVO IdeaPad 5i Pro 14-inch Laptop

Remember the HP Pavilion Plus 14? Here is the other 14-inch Laptop with 2.2K resolution. It weighs the same as the Pavilion Plus 14 at 1.4kg but in a much slimmer body of 15.9mm vs 18.4mm. If silver body and silver keys are not your thing, this storm grey Lenovo IdeaPad 5i Pro has sleek and stylish written all over it. Little things like the mylar covered buttonless touch pad, full suite of ports, Dolby Atmos audio, small bezels and Full HD webcam with smart noise cancellation put the Pro in this IdeaPad 5i Pro. If you rather have a bigger display, check out the IdeaPad 51 Pro 16 near the bottom of this list.

Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
14-inch 2.2K screen 2240 x 1400p 90Hz IPS LCD
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
1.4kg, 15.9 x 312.2 x 221 mm (H x W x D)

7. ACER Swift 3 14-inch Laptop – Sharper display, slim and lightweight

Notable Features: sharp display, compact design, slim and lightweight body.

Acer Aspire may be the range to go for if you are looking for mid-range laptops particularly those with the efficient Intel Core i5 U-series processors like Intel Core i5-1235U but Acer’s Swift series is a whole other level. This Acer Swift 3 compact laptop with 14-inch Quad HD display is powered by the outstanding Intel Core i5-1240P. That’s from the P-series family making it more powerful. It also comes with pretty decent battery life of up to 10.5 hours on a full charge.

And, did we say a bigger than Full HD resolution display? Acer managed to squeeze 2560 x 1440 pixels into all of 14-inch giving it 75% more pixels than your typical Full HD display with IPS technology for wider viewing angles. What’s not to like? As a premium device, you also get a lightweight and slim aluminium body measuring only 1.25kg and 15.9mm respectively. Plus, it comes equipped with Full HD 1080p webcam for better quality video calls and you can charge it up with any USB-C power adapter via the Thunderbolt 4 port although a 65W fast charger is included.

Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
14-inch Quad HD screen
Battery Life: Up to 10.5 hours
1.25kg, 15.9 x 320 x 212 mm (H x W x D)

Search Intel Core i5 P-series Laptop on Amazon

Mid-range Intel Core i5 Laptops between 700-900

Switching up a notch in terms of price are these next four laptops from Huawei, Asus and Lenovo.

8. HUAWEI MateBook D16 16-inch Laptop

Notable Features: Fast processor with double memory and spacious storage. Big display but standard Full HD+ resolution. Sleek and minimalist all metal design with plenty of ports.

The Matebook D16 comes with a choice of H-series processors, the is the cheaper yet still powerful for most task, Intel Core i5-12500H version. The other model is powered by Intel Core i7-12700H with double the memory (16GB) and costs a lot more. Still, no matter how you look at it, this is a pretty impressive all metal laptop. The 16-inch Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) display covers 100% sRGB colour range and has a more productivity oriented 16:10 aspect ratio. With its slim bezels, Huawei was able to achieve a whooping 90% screen to body ratio. Plus, it is pretty bright for an IPS LCD display with a maximum brightness of 300nits.

Apart from the processors, memory and storage, on the full metal chassis are WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 for wireless connectivity. Then there are two USB Type-C ports, two Full size USB (one USB 3.2 and one USB 2.0), one HDMI port and one 3.5mm audio jack. While there is no SD card slot onboard, you do get a fingerprint reader and Full HD webcam with wide angle lens. We were hoping that the battery would last longer but at up to 9 hours, it is not all bad. To charge it back up, a compact and fast Type-C 65W charger is included. More conventional D14 and D15 for 14-inch and 15.6-inch models are also available if you like the way it looks but want a smaller unit.

Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor
RAM: 8 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
16-inch Full HD screen
Battery Life: Up to 9 hours
1.7kg, 18.4 x 356.7 x 248.7 mm (H x W x D)

9. ASUS Zenbook 14 UX3402ZA 14-inch Laptop

Notable Features: Brilliant touchscreen with the highest resolution in our list making it super sharp at 14-inch. Great all day battery life and ultra portable design.

Third ASUS laptop in our list, but instead of a Vivobook, it is a Zenbook this time with a compact and ultra slim profile. But, the biggest USP is staring you in the face, the 2.8K OLED touchscreen. Yes, get this! It is a high resolution touch screen. This is the model we would settle for to save 150 from the Intel Core i7-1260P version, as the only thing it loses apart from the processor is the 1TB SSD storage.

While it is not shown in the image below, you can activate the numerical keypad on the touchpad another clever ASUS exclusive design.

The Intel Core i5-1240P model gets to keep the double memory at 16GB and most importantly the 2.8K OLED touchscreen. That panel is also Pantone validated, super bright with up to 550 nits brightness, 90Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms response rate, 100% DCI-P3 gamut and has a better 16:10 aspect ratio, taller and therefore less scrolling. Elsewhere, you get two Thunderbolt 4 ports, full size Type A port, MicroSD card reader, HDMI port, fingerprint sensor, Full HD webcam and a fold flat 180 degree hinge. The last one is a feature it shares with the next ASUS below with an issue which we will discuss later.

Intel® Evo™ platform
Intel® Core™ i5-1240P Processor
RAM: 16 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
Graphics: Intel® Iris® Xe
14-inch 2.8K OLED touchscreen 2880 x 1800 pixels
Battery life: Up to 10 hours
1.39kg, 16.9 x 314 x 220 mm (H x W x D)

10. ASUS Vivobook S 15 K3502ZA 15.6-inch Laptop

Notable Features: Vibration display with vivid colours and deep black, powerful processor, double memory and spacious storage.

For a full size 15.6-inch laptop the Vivobook S 15 is still remarkably slim and lightweight. You get a OLED display which offers great colours, high contrast and deep black. While this may not be the 2.8K 120Hz OLED version, it still features a Full HD resolution 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) with 600nits HDR peak brightness, 0.2ms response time and 60Hz refresh rate. The two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports that support 8K external display and up to 40 Gbps data transfer brings this laptops up to date in a stunning all metal body.

Powered by Intel Core i5-12500H processor, our choice if you have to pick a Core i5 part, this laptop comes complete with double memory at 16GB and plenty of storage at 512GB. It even has a fancy 180 degree hinge that allows the display to lay flat. But, because the ergonomic hinges that boost the height of the keyboard, tilting it for better typing position, the base will be hanging off the table slightly when you unfold it completely. Stripe accents on the Enter key, bright orange ESC key, raised logo and tag line on the palm rest are a little gimmicky but we will play long with it.

Intel® Evo™ platform
Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor
RAM: 16 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
15.6-inch Full HD OLED screen
Battery Life: Up to 8 hours
1.9kg, 17.9 x 359 x 233 mm (H x W x D)

11. LENOVO IdeaPad 5i Pro 16-inch Laptop

Notable Features: Amazing design, sleek, powerful processor with double memory, large display with super sharp resolution.

With increase in size of the display requires more pixels to keep things looking sharp on the screen. Big displays with anything lower than Full HD resolution just makes things blocky. As a rule of thumb, Full HD is the absolute minimum, but like we have seen, manufacturers are beginning to offer Full HD+ and 2K and upwards to keep lines looking as smooth as they can. Enters Lenovo with IdeaPad 5i Pro. The 16-inch laptop comes in at a higher 2.5K resolution. While not as bright as OLED, it still manages a peak of 350nits with 100% sRGB colour coverage, low blue light and high 120Hz refresh rate. Lenovo got everything right with their Pro line including Thunderbolt 4 port, microSD card reader, HDMI 2.0 port, Full HD webcam with IR and smart noise cancelling microphones. The final tally is a hefty laptop that weighs nearly 2kg.

Intel® Core™ i5-12500H Processor
RAM: 16 GB / Storage: 512 GB SSD
Graphics: Intel® Iris® Xe
2.5K screen 2560 x 1600pixels 16-inch display
Battery life: Up to 9 hours
1.95kg, 16.9 x 356 x 251 mm (H x W x D)

Search Intel Core i5 P-series Laptop on Amazon

High-end Intel Core i5 Laptops between 900 and above

For the top end of the budget, here are a three laptops that are powered by Intel Core i5-1240P with price tags at upwards of 900.

12. ACER Swift X 14-inch Laptop

Notable Features: Premium compact laptop with discrete graphics and super sharp display, battery life takes a hit but that is gamin laptop for you even though it doesn’t look like one.