Lenovo Legion 5i review: This speed demon is a bargain

Price When Reviewed

$1,399

Best Prices Today: Lenovo Legion 5i Gen 9

$1499

$1699

The Lenovo Legion 5i is a 16-inch gaming laptop computer for the plenty. While a GeForce RTX 4060 isn’t the highest-end GPU, Lenovo pairs it with a high-end Intel Core i9 CPU together with an important cooling system in an unabashedly chunky chassis. The result’s a gaming laptop computer that delivers surprisingly excessive efficiency for the {hardware} — and at a really affordable $1,399 retail worth.

Further studying: Best gaming laptops 2025: What to look for and highest-rated models

Lenovo Legion 5i: Specs

The Lenovo Legion 5i (Gen 9) is a 16-inch gaming laptop computer with a wide range of configurations — however all of them have an Intel CPU and Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics. We reviewed the Lenovo Legion 5i available through Costco for $1,399, though Lenovo offers other configurations elsewhere.

The Costco mannequin features a 14th-generation Intel Core i9-14900HX CPU with 24 cores, GeForce RTX 4060 graphics, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. It pairs that with a 2560×1600 show with 165Hz refresh price and 300 nits of brightness. On paper, it seems like a stable gaming package deal for the worth — not the highest-end GPU or show, however at a really affordable worth.

The GeForce RTX 4060 graphics {hardware} right here can run at as much as 140W of TGP (total graphics power.) That’s one motive why it outshines different gaming laptops with RTX 4060 graphics, which can be operating that {hardware} with a decrease energy draw.

• Model quantity: 16IRX9
• CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX
• Memory: 32GB DDR5
• Graphics/GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060
• Display: 16-inch 2560×1600 IPS show with 165Hz refresh price
• Storage: 1 TB M.2 PCIe SSD
• Webcam: 1080p webcam with digital shutter swap
• Connectivity: 3x USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1), 2x USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), 1x combo audio jack, 1x microSD card reader, 1x RJ45 (Ethernet port), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DC energy in
• Networking: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, Ethernet port
• Biometrics: None
• Battery capability: 80 Watt-hours
• Dimensions: 14.16 x 10.33 x 0.99 inches
• Weight: 5.2 kilos
• MSRP: $1,399 as examined

Lenovo Legion 5i: Design and construct high quality

IDG / Chris Hoffman

This laptop computer has an understated design. It’s not the sleekest 16-inch gaming laptop computer. At an inch thick and 5.2 kilos in weight, it’s on the heavy facet. The chassis is all grays and blacks. The lid and high of the laptop computer are product of metallic, whereas the underside is plastic.

Aside from the laptop computer being on the chunky facet and the phrase “LEGION” on the lid, there’s not something right here that marks this as a “gaming laptop.” However, the keyboard does have 4 totally different zones of LED lighting — that’s the place the colourful gamer aesthetic is available in, when you like!

The construct high quality feels stable. There’s no bizarre flexing whenever you maintain the laptop computer, and it’s simple to open the lid with one hand because of all that weight. The hinge stays properly in place. The hinge additionally tilts additional again than the typical laptop computer, going flat when you like.

The laptop computer’s blocky and chunky design helps with cooling: The cooling system works nicely, blowing scorching air out of the again of your laptop computer and never out of the left or proper facet onto your mouse hand. The WASD space of the keyboard stays somewhat cool to the contact whereas gaming.

It’s a well-built gaming laptop computer for this worth vary, however it’s not a premium all-metal gaming laptop computer or the thinnest and lightest gaming laptop computer you’re going to seek out.

There’s a typical quantity of bloatware preinstalled — affords for McAfee and Dropbox will pop up, for instance. I’d desire to see none of those nags, however they’re not a giant deal as you’ll be able to uninstall them from the Control Panel.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Keyboard and trackpad

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion 5i features a full-size keyboard full with a quantity pad. It has 4 zones of LED lighting, so you’ll be able to configure the lighting nonetheless you want — one coloration, 4 totally different colours, animated transitions, or no backlight in any respect.

The keys are measurement and really feel respectable to sort on. This isn’t the snappiest keyboard I’ve ever used — it doesn’t really feel like there’s loads of key journey. But the keys don’t really feel mushy. It’s not essentially the most premium keyboard, however it’s completely advantageous for gaming, typing, and the rest you may use a laptop computer keyboard for.

The trackpad is an effective measurement and is in place — a bit of to the left, beneath the area bar. It feels good and responsive when shifting the cursor round, and the clicking feels advantageous and never mushy or clunky. (I do desire haptic trackpads, however these are nonetheless powerful to seek out.)

Lenovo Legion 5i: Display and audio system

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion 5i features a 16-inch IPS show with a 2560×1600 decision and a 165 Hz refresh price. On paper, that sounds fairly good — and it does look good when gaming. It’s display. I used to be completely proud of it when taking part in every thing from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to the brand new season in Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred.

The show is on the dim facet, although. It has 300 nits of brightness, I’d actually wish to see at the very least 400 nits. More premium shows usually ship a lot brighter screens in addition to greater refresh charges. They may use OLED panels — the IPS panel right here doesn’t have the vivid colours you’ll discover on a gaming laptop computer with a pleasant OLED show. These aren’t deal-breakers given the worth of this machine, however try to be conscious of what you will discover in different machines.

This laptop computer’s audio system are okay. They’re loud sufficient to outcompete the laptop computer’s followers whereas gaming, they usually have respectable readability. As regular with laptop computer audio system, although, there’s simply not sufficient bass. I’m virtually by no means an enormous fan of built-in laptop computer audio system in comparison with pair of headphones or external speakers, so I’m choosy. The audio system listed below are very common.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion 5i has a 1080p webcam. Webcam high quality usually isn’t a precedence on a gaming laptop computer, however thee digicam right here captures an unusually good image in comparison with the 720p webcams you’ll see on some gaming laptops. In truth, the image appears clearer than among the 1080p webcams I’ve seen on different gaming laptops. For a gaming laptop computer on this worth vary, this can be a good webcam.

Lenovo additionally contains an e-shutter swap on the proper facet of the laptop computer. When flipped, this bodily disconnects the webcam {hardware} from the laptop computer. It’s at all times good to see this sort of bodily privateness swap.

The built-in microphone setup isn’t as spectacular. It did an important job of canceling out background noise, however voice high quality wasn’t nearly as good as one of the best microphones I’ve used on different laptops. I’d classify it as a mean microphone for a gaming laptop computer like this one. That’s advantageous as many players go for exterior microphones or headsets.

Unfortunately, this laptop computer doesn’t have any biometrics — no fingerprint reader and no IR digicam for facial recognition. You can’t use Windows Hello to register with out including some further {hardware}. That’s disappointing, because the round energy button above the keyboard appears like an important place for a fingerprint reader.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Connectivity

IDG / Chris Hoffman

The Lenovo Legion 5i has variety of ports. In complete, you get three USB Type-A ports and two USB Type-C ports.

• On the left, you’ll discover one USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1) port, two USB Type-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2) ports, and a combo headphone jack.
• On the again bar, there’s a DC power-in port in addition to an HDMI 2.1 out port.
• On the precise, the machine has an Ethernet (RJ45) port, a microSD card reader, and two USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 1) ports.

I would like to see extra of the ports on the again of the laptop computer as an alternative of the perimeters, however I’m happy to see the ability port on the again — it’s at all times good to have that energy cable out of the way in which. Most players will discover every thing they want right here without having for a dock or dongle.

This laptop computer contains Wi-Fi 6E {hardware} in addition to Bluetooth 5.2. The Wi-Fi labored nicely in our testing setup. It could be good to see Wi-Fi 7 assist. We’re proper on the cusp of Wi-Fi 7 changing into widespread, and we must always see it turn into normal in future gaming laptops with newer CPUs.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Performance

The Lenovo Legion 5i carried out nicely in PC gaming and common desktop utilization duties. That’s no shock — we’re speaking a few machine with a beastly Intel Core i9 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and discrete Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics.

It is value noting that, regardless of the high-end CPU and beneficiant quantity of RAM and storage, the RTX 4060 graphics Lenovo contains listed below are removed from the highest-end half. You might find yourself with higher gaming efficiency with a gaming laptop computer that pairs and RTX 4070 with a lower-end CPU and fewer RAM.

But benchmarks will inform the story. As regular, we ran the Lenovo Legion 5i by way of our standard benchmarks to see the way it performs.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

First, we run PCMark 10 to get an thought of general system efficiency. While it’s designed to be a holistic benchmark, the machine’s CPU is a big issue on this benchmark. The Lenovo Legion 5i delivered a rating of 8,751, which is a good rating — largely because of its extremely highly effective CPU.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run Cinebench R20. This is a closely multithreaded benchmark that focuses on general CPU efficiency. It’s a fast benchmark, so cooling below prolonged workloads isn’t an element. But, because it’s closely multithreaded, CPUs with extra cores have an enormous benefit.

The 24-core Intel Core i9 CPU within the machine delivered glorious efficiency right here, too — a pleasant excessive rating of 10,888 within the multithreaded benchmark.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

We additionally run an encode with Handbrake. This is one other closely multithreaded benchmark, however it runs over an prolonged interval. This calls for the laptop computer’s cooling kick in, and lots of laptops will throttle and decelerate below load.

The Lenovo Legion 9i completed the encode course of in 725 seconds, which is simply over 12 minutes. That’s one other nice exhibiting that demonstrates the excessive efficiency of the CPU and the way nicely the Legion laptop computer’s cooling works.

The laptop computer stays surprisingly cool and quiet all through CPU benchmarks like this one. The keyboard warms up a bit, however it doesn’t get uncomfortable. The followers blow scorching air out the again of the machine, however they aren’t notably loud more often than not.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Next, we run a graphical benchmark. This is a gaming laptop, so GPU efficiency is critically necessary. We run 3Dmark Time Spy, a graphical benchmark that focuses on GPU efficiency.

With a rating of 10,415, the Lenovo Legion 5i seems to squeeze loads of efficiency out of its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics {hardware}. It comes out nicely on high of another machines with Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics we in contrast it to. But it nonetheless can’t sustain with a system with higher-tier Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Moving on to gaming benchmarks, we run an ordinary benchmark suite in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. While that is an older recreation, it’s an effective way to match efficiency throughout totally different laptops.

The Lenovo Legion 5i ran the benchmark at 138 frames per second. It’s getting nice efficiency out of its GPU and CPU — impressively, it comes very near the RTX 4070-powered Alienware m16 R2 on this benchmark.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

Finally, we run a benchmark in Metro Exodus. This is a really demanding recreation and we run the benchmark with excessive graphical settings. With a mean FPS of 41, the Lenovo Legion 5i as soon as once more outcompeted the opposite RTX 4060-powered laptops we in contrast it to. But it got here wanting the RTX 4070-powered laptop computer, naturally.

Overall, this machine delivers nice efficiency. But don’t get too distracted by its high-end CPU when evaluating machines — for many gaming duties, the GPU is what issues most.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Battery life

The Lenovo Legion 5i has an 80 Watt-hour battery, which is an effective measurement. But it’s additionally a 5.2-pound gaming laptop computer and people don’t are inclined to ship one of the best battery life.

IDG / Chris Hoffman

To benchmark the battery life, we play a 4K copy of Tears of Steel on repeat within the Movies & TV app on Windows 11 with airplane mode enabled till the laptop computer suspends itself. (We set the display to 250 nits of brightness and switch off the keyboard backlight for our battery benchmarks.) This is a best-case situation for any laptop computer since native video playback is so environment friendly and actual battery life in day-to-day use is at all times going to be lower than this.

In our normal battery life rundown take a look at, the Lenovo Legion 5i lasted for a mean of 303 minutes earlier than suspending itself — that’s simply over 5 hours. It’s a bit of on the low facet for a gaming laptop computer because of that power-hungry CPU, however I’ve seen a lot worse from gaming laptops. Still, if battery life is a precedence, this will not be the machine for you.

Lenovo Legion 5i: Conclusion

The Lenovo Legion 5i is an all-around high-quality gaming laptop computer and an important worth. It’s not essentially the most premium machine, however it’s an excellent worth for a gaming laptop computer with discrete Nvidia graphics, a screaming quick Intel Core i9 CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB solid-state drive.

While the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics right here is much from the quickest half, this machine is ready as much as squeeze a number of gaming efficiency out of its {hardware}.

Laptops with higher-end graphics — a GeForce RTX 4070 and up — will carry out higher in video games, even when their different specs seem decrease. But they’re additionally dearer: That RTX 4070-powered Alienware m16 R2 we in contrast it to prices $1,849. That’s $449 greater than the Lenovo Legion 5i.

Of course, Nvidia’a GeForce RTX 50-series parts are on the way in which. Laptops like this one may find yourself on a good sale price quickly. But, within the present market, this machine is an effective purchase even at its retail worth.