At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Eye-catching exterior design
- Enjoyable keyboard, massive touchpad
- Tons of modern connectivity
- Strong GPU efficiency in video games
Cons
- Modest show high quality with questionable 1200p/440Hz mode
- CPU efficiency doesn’t measure up
- Short battery life
Our Verdict
The Lenovo Legion 9i packs nice sport efficiency in a trendy design, however it comes with a couple of caveats.
Price When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$3,695.49
Best Prices Today: Lenovo Legion 9i
Gamers who need a fashionable laptop computer are prone to love Lenovo’s new Legion 9i. It has an attention-grabbing “forged carbon” look that’s distinctive but not overdone. The laptop computer additionally packs great game performance and a variety of bodily connectivity. However, the laptop computer’s show and CPU efficiency don’t match as much as friends, which narrows its enchantment.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Specs and options as-tested
The Lenovo Legion 9i that I obtained for evaluation was outfitted with spectacular {hardware}. It has not solely an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and Nvidia RTX 5080, but in addition 64GB of RAM and a 2TB PCIe 5.0 solid-state drive, to not point out Thunderbolt 5 and USB-C 4.
The solely specification that isn’t spectacular is the show, which, although it offers a pointy 3840×2400 decision, depends on a mediocre IPS-LCD panel.
- Model quantity: 18IAX10
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- Memory: 64GB SO-DIMM DDR5-5200
- Graphics/GPU: Nvidia RTX 5080 16GB (175W TGP)
- NPU: Intel AI Boost as much as 13 TOPS
- Display: 18-inch 3840×2400 shiny IPS with 240Hz refresh price, G-Sync
- Storage: 2TB PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD
- Webcam: 5MP with digital privateness shutter
- Connectivity: 1x HDMI 2.1 (8K/60Hz), 2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 5 and USB-4 80Gbps, DisplayPort, 100-watt Power Delivery, 1x USB-C 10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2, 3x USB-A 10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2, 1x 3.5mm combo audio, 1x 2.5GbE Ethernet, 1x SD card reader, 1x energy connector
- Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4
- Biometrics: Facial recognition
- Battery capability: 99 watt-hours
- Dimensions: 15.87 x 11.69 x 1.1 inches
- Weight: 7.72 kilos
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Price: $3,695.49 MSRP
The Lenovo Legion 9i begins at $3,476.99 with 32GB of RAM and 1TB of strong state storage. Lenovo’s improve pricing is extremely reasonably priced. Moving as much as 64GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD provides solely $220 to the MSRP.
Lenovo offers a “Naked-Eye 3D” show choice in some Legion 9i laptops. This is a glasses-free 3D expertise much like Acer’s SpatialLabs. My evaluation unit didn’t have this show, nonetheless, and as a substitute got here with a dual-mode show that helps 240Hz at 3840×2400 decision or 440Hz at 1920×1200 decision.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Design and construct high quality
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Look, I’m about to let you know what I take into consideration the Lenovo Legion 9i’s design. But earlier than I do, take a second to take a look at the photographs. I’ll wait.
It seems superb, proper?
There’s nothing uncommon about how the Legion 9i’s design capabilities, as I’ll talk about shortly. But Lenovo’s distinctive lid design, which the corporate calls “forged carbon,” is a winner. It’s engaging and trendy, however not in-your-face or garish. It’s a design assertion, and I like what it says.
Overall, the laptop computer each seems and feels premium, and most of Lenovo’s rivals are a full step behind.
That apart, the Legion 9i delivers what I count on from a high-end efficiency gaming laptop computer. It’s a beefy machine that measures over 15 inches vast, over an inch thick, and suggestions the scales at almost eight kilos. The recycled aluminum chassis is extraordinarily inflexible. Flex may be discovered within the show lid and keyboard deck, however you’ll have to concentrate to identify it.
Overall, the laptop computer each seems and feels premium, and most of Lenovo’s rivals are a full step behind. Even engaging rivals just like the Alienware Area-51 strike me as old style in comparison with the Legion 9i.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Keyboard, trackpad, mouse
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Typing on the Lenovo Legion 9i is a superb expertise. The keyboard offers good key journey and every key prompts with a lightweight but satisfying tactile snap. Lenovo offers an excellent structure, too. Most keys are massive, with solely the backspace key and the numpad key feeling a bit slim—although they’re nonetheless massive sufficient.
The keyboard is RGB-LED backlit and offers per-key lighting customization, though you won’t know that in the first place. The per-key customization is barely seen when the “custom” mode is chosen from an inventory of presets in Lenovo’s Legion Space software program. The LED backlight is shiny, uniform, and affords a variety of brightness appropriate for each dim and shiny rooms.
Lenovo additionally packs an RGB-LED gentle bar on the entrance underside of the chassis, and RGB-LED lights throughout the Legion emblem for the lid, which may coordinate with the keyboard. I just like the lightbar, which offers a refined gradient between LED gentle zones that creates the phantasm of a single uniform gentle quite than a number of, particular person LEDs. The Legion 9i helps Windows Adaptive Lighting as properly, although assist should be turned on within the laptop computer’s BIOS.
The included numpad means the keyboard is shifted in direction of the left, and the touchpad follows. The touchpad itself is sizable at about six inches vast and 4 inches deep. You can discover bigger touchpads on some aggressive laptops, just like the Razer Blade 18, however the Legion 9i has no scarcity of room for executing Windows’ multi-touch gestures.
I additionally discovered the touchpad responsive and didn’t have issues with unintended inputs. A bodily mouse button motion is accessible by urgent on the decrease half of the touchpad. It does the job, however it’s quite refined and prompts with a uninteresting thud as a substitute of a quick click on.
While the Legion 9i’s keyboard and touchpad aren’t good, they’re a robust level when in comparison with options. The Razer Blade 18 has an excellent keyboard and greater touchpad, however its RGB-LED lighting choices will not be as spectacular. Alienware’s Area-51 additionally has an excellent keyboard, and a few respectable RGB-LED lighting, however the touchpad is modest. The Legion 9i delivers greater than rivals general and avoids downsides.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Display, audio
Foundry / Matthew Smith
The show is the Lenovo Legion 9i’s solely apparent weak point, however it’s a giant one. It falls brief in show high quality and makes a half-hearted try and ship ultra-high refresh charges.
Let’s speak refresh price first. The Legion 9i’s 18-inch show helps a refresh price as much as 240Hz at a decision of 3840×2400. Alternatively, it may possibly attain 440Hz at a decision of 1920×1200.
However, the main points of Lenovo’s implementation aren’t nice. Users should entry BIOS to flip to 1200p/440Hz or again to 2400p/240Hz. That’s an annoying downside, and Lenovo doesn’t do something to assist customers mitigate it. The boot display doesn’t even state the button a person must press to entry the BIOS. I believe most individuals who purchase this laptop computer will use it for years with out realizing the 1200p/440Hz mode exists.
Personally, I might by no means use the characteristic, anyway. I’d quite follow 2400p/240Hz, which is already a lot fast, as a substitute of rebooting my laptop computer to entry 440Hz at a decrease decision.
The actual downside isn’t just that the 1200p/440Hz is of questionable use, but in addition that it means the Legion 9i can’t supply an OLED or Mini-LED show.
The Legion 9i’s IPS-LCD show is a superb instance of the breed with very good shade accuracy, a shade gamut that spans 100 p.c of sRGB and 99 p.c of DCI-P3, and a most brightness of 520 nits (I measured as much as 519, however what’s a nit between buddies?)
However, like most IPS-LCD shows, it has a restricted distinction ratio (I measured a most of 1340:1). An OLED will ship much better distinction which results in a richer and extra immersive look. I additionally seen the Legion 9i’s show is cool in shade tone, with a measured white level of 7,600Ok at 50 p.c brightness. And whereas the show is shiny, it’s additionally shiny, which suggests glare is a matter in shiny rooms.
Ultimately, the Legion 9i’s show is a miss, however the audio system offers some redemption. Lenovo packs the laptop computer with two audio system, two tweeters, and two woofers, which collectively ship a transparent, crisp sound stage and affordable bass. Quality audio system or an excellent headset will after all be superior, however the Legion 9i’s sound is gratifying for a variety of content material, from podcasts to music and video games.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Webcam, microphone, biometrics
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a 5MP webcam with an digital privateness shutter. It’s good, although not distinctive. It offers a pointy and colourful picture and handles blended lighting properly, although it’s nonetheless apparent that the digital camera is a webcam. Its high quality is similar to most fashionable gaming laptops. The microphone is equally competent, offering good voice seize with out the necessity to elevate your voice.
An IR digital camera is included and offers assist for Windows Hello facial recognition. This is a quick, straightforward technique to log in to a Windows machine. But, as soon as once more, this can be a frequent characteristic for a contemporary gaming laptop computer. A fingerprint reader shouldn’t be included.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Connectivity
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Lenovo swings for the fences with the Legion 9i’s connectivity, and there’s quite a bit to dig into.
The star of the present is the laptop computer’s pair of USB-C ports. They ship Thunderbolt 5, USB 4 with as much as 80Gbps of information, as much as 100 watts of Power Delivery, and DisplayPort 2.1. It’s the entire enchilada, or very near it.
Most fashionable gaming laptops assist Thunderbolt and USB-C, however the Legion 9i affords nice assist for the newest variations of those requirements. That interprets to higher knowledge charges. If you want high-speed connectivity, or wish to hook up with a dock or a Thunderbolt / USB-C monitor with quite a few downstream ports, these ports are up for the duty.
However, the Legion 9i isn’t centered completely on Thunderbolt and USB-C. It additionally offers HDMI 2.1, three USB-A ports, Ethernet, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack. I’ve no notes: this is a wonderful array of connectivity choices.
Wireless connectivity is powerful, too, because the laptop computer helps Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. These are the newest variations of every normal. It’s normal gear for a contemporary gaming laptop computer, however nonetheless good to see.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Performance
The Lenovo Legion 9i has an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU paired with an Nvidia RTX 5080 GPU. The GPU has a most thermal graphics energy of 175 watts, which is essentially the most out there to the RTX 5080 cell—although, most different gaming laptops additionally hit that mark. The Legion 9i has wholesome specs in RAM and storage with 64GB and 2TB, the SSD connects over PCIe 5.0.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Our first take a look at is PCMark, a holistic system benchmark. It turned in a good rating of 8,417. Though that is technically a bit behind some different laptops, the margins are skinny. I’d say this is kind of a tie between the 4 top-scoring machines, which incorporates the Legion 9i.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Next up is Cinebench 2024, a closely multi-threaded rendering benchmark. Here the Lenovo Legion 9i got here up brief with a rating of 1,511. That’s fast however, because the graph exhibits, it’s behind a spread of laptops which are related in measurement and have related {hardware}.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Handbrake, a closely multi-threaded video transcoding and encoding software, additionally places the Legion 9i in an unfavorable gentle. Lenovo’s laptop computer accomplished the transcode of a 1080p feature-length movie from a .mp4 to .mkv format in eight minutes and 12 seconds. That’s a speedy outcome, and nearer to the competitors than in Cinebench 2024. Still, the Legion 9i lags the sphere.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
While the Lenovo Legion 9i struggles a bit in closely multi-threaded CPU checks, it delivers higher leads to GPU checks. 3DMark’s Fire Strike and Port Royale checks present the Legion 9i can ship outcomes which are in direction of the excessive finish for an RTX 5080 cell. It’s additionally not too far off the RTX 5090 cell.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
The efficiency unfold widens a bit in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, an older sport that’s not too demanding on newer {hardware}. The Legion 9i achieved a mean of 191 frames per second at 1080p decision and the Highest element setting, with out use of DLSS or different body reconstruction. Ray-tracing wasn’t used, both.
As the graph exhibits, this hits the mark for an RTX 5080 laptop computer, and may depart some RTX 4090 laptops within the mud. However, the RTX 5090 laptops take a sizeable lead right here, as the sport’s common FPS is roughly 35 to 40 FPS greater on these machines.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Metro: Exodus narrows the sphere once more. While that is an older sport, and we don’t run this benchmark with ray-tracing enabled, it stays a formidable title when the Extreme preset is used. The Legion 9i does properly right here, scoring between the Maingear Ultima 18 with RTX 5080 and the pair of RTX 5090 laptops.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
Cyberpunk 2077 additionally speaks favorably of the Legion 9i. Here, Lenovo’s laptop computer can common 148 frames per second at 1080p and the Ultra preset, or 43 on the insanely demanding Overdrive ray-traced preset. Both figures, bear in mind, are with none type of DLSS or body reconstruction, so in apply higher efficiency is feasible.
Still, these numbers stack up favorably. They’re good for an RTX 5080 cell and never all that far off the RTX 5090 laptops.
On the entire, the Lenovo Legion 9i’s efficiency appears to favor GPU efficiency over CPU efficiency. That results in strong leads to video games and considerably disappointing numbers in closely multi-threaded CPU checks. On stability the Legion 9i is a superb performer, however it’s undoubtedly tilted in direction of gaming quite than productiveness.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Battery life and portability
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a 99 watt-hour battery. This is the utmost out there in a shopper laptop computer on account of limitations on the scale of lithium-ion batteries allowed on a passenger airliner.
It’s a really massive battery. And the Legion 9i goes to the difficulty of supporting Nvidia Optimus, a switchable graphics answer that may flip off the Nvidia GPU (and swap to the Intel IGP) when the GPU isn’t wanted.
Still, it’s not sufficient to ship nice battery life. You can count on anyplace between two and 6 hours of real-world battery life, relying on how a lot effort you place into avoiding demanding duties.
Foundry / Matthew Smith
However, because the graph exhibits, this isn’t uncommon for a high-end gaming laptop computer. The quickest laptops are likely to land round two to 3 hours of battery life. Those that do handle to surge forward, just like the Razer Blade, achieve this with the usage of much less highly effective CPUs and extra miserly GPU energy configurations.
There’s a transparent trade-off right here. A contemporary gaming laptop computer can ship most efficiency, or respectable battery life, however it may possibly’t present each. The Legion 9i leans extra in direction of efficiency.
Lenovo Legion 9i: Conclusion
The Lenovo Legion 9i is a design assertion that appears nice and proves gratifying to make use of day-to-day. It additionally delivers sturdy sport efficiency and an unbelievable array of modern ports. These advantages are countered by a mediocre show with a 1200p/440Hz (or, alternatively, glasses-free 3D) mode that’s of questionable use. CPU efficiency additionally fell in need of expectations. Still, the Legion 9i is an inexpensive selection if you happen to care largely about GPU efficiency and can typically join the laptop computer to an exterior show.