Best Intel Core Ultra 5 Laptops for Business & AI (2026)

In 2026, the Intel Core i5 (now primarily marketed under the Core Ultra 5 branding) remains the dominant "value sweet spot" in a global laptop market projected to reach $185B–$195B Market Mordorintelligence. The market is currently driven by a massive enterprise refresh following the end of Windows 10 support and a shift toward AI-native hardware Mordorintelligence Tomshardware.

Key Market Insights (2026)

* The "AI Standard": Mid-range laptops are no longer just evaluated by CPU speed; Microsoft’s Copilot+ certification (requiring 40+ TOPS) has made integrated NPUs a standard feature for 2026 i5-tier devices Mordorintelligence Tomshardware.

* Performance Convergence: The performance gap between i5 (Ultra 5) and i7 (Ultra 7) is narrowing. Modern Ultra 5 chips now comfortably handle 1440p gaming and complex AI workflows that previously required high-end processors Tomshardware.

* Consumer Preference Shift: While Intel holds the edge in "snappy" office productivity, AMD Ryzen 5/7 has gained significant ground in gaming and efficiency. Notably, search interest for Ryzen 5 laptops spiked in early 2026 to match i5 levels for the first time Tomshardware.

* Bestseller Configurations: The mainstream standard for i5 laptops has shifted to 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD as the minimum entry point for professional use Tomshardware.

Detailed analysis of pricing, competitive benchmarks, and regional growth can be found in the comprehensive report below.