Evaluation: Lenovo Legion 9i — its a beast of a gaming laptop computer, simply go away it plugged in

There are gaming laptops, and there are critical gaming laptops.  The Lenovo Legion 9i most positively sits in that second class.  It is an absolute beast of a machine, however at a RRP of round $9,000 for the bottom mannequin, you’ll hope so.

The evaluation Legion 9i that I used to be despatched is one thing else.  It sports activities a large 18-inch 3D show powered by an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU and an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (2.70 GHz).  Add in a 2TB SSD, 64GB of RAM and also you principally have a gaming desktop substitute.

As you would possibly count on from the brief record of specs above, the Lenovo Legion 9i gaming laptop computer is respectable.  I might go so far as to say that it is likely one of the, if not the easiest, gaming laptops I’ve ever used.  Read on to search out out why I assumed this.

Design

As quickly as I opened the field for the Legion 9i, I used to be amazed by what Lenovo had carried out.  Sure, lots of gaming laptops have RGB lights in numerous locations, however even the carbon fibre lid seems nice, and that’s earlier than even turning it on.

The lid has a blue-ish, marble-like look that appears beautiful; that is no plain gray laptop computer lid.  In the centre is the phrase Legion with the ‘o’ the Legion brand and when turned on, it reveals off RGB lighting inside it.  Lenovo has additionally included RGB lighting within the keyboard which isn’t stunned, but additionally in a strip alongside the entrance and a part of the perimeters of the bottom of the laptop computer.

I like the lighting beneath the bottom, it provides simply that further little bit of gaming to the laptop computer.  The RGB lighting might be customised to your choice, or utilizing one of many Lenovo presets inside the Legion Space app.

The show is very large, with very minimal bezels, and an extension above it to deal with the IR digicam for streaming video and Windows Hello.  

The keyboard is full-sized, with a numpad included, and the facility button sitting above the keyboard within the centre.  The energy button is the Legion brand (as is the ‘O’ key) and in addition has lighting round it.  This just isn’t customisable, however does gentle up totally different colors relying on the standing of the laptop computer.

On all sides of the laptop computer are audio system that sound a bit boxy, as most laptop computer audio system do, however they’re decently loud.  Personally, I actually didn’t use these audio system a lot as a result of a correct gaming headset is much superior with regards to the standard of sound and the immersive expertise.

The Lenovo Legion 9i is, as you’ll count on of a laptop computer with an 18-inch show, large.  Along with the scale, it’s also heavy at round 3.5kg – and that’s not together with one of many largest AC energy adapters I’ve ever seen on a laptop computer.  This just isn’t a laptop computer it would be best to carry round a lot.

Connectivity

Want ports? The Legion 9i has all of them.  The energy port and HDMI ports are positioned on the rear of the laptop computer whereas the left-hand aspect of the gadget homes a USB-A port, an Ethernet port, two USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports, and a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack.  The right-hand aspect of the laptop computer contains two USB-A ports, a full-size SD Card Reader, a USB-C port, and an eShutter button for webcam privateness.

I used all of the ports at numerous instances with none points.  I used to be capable of prolong the laptop computer to my desktop monitor utilizing one of many Thunderbolt 5 ports for productiveness functions whereas the HDMI port labored nice for extending the show whereas gaming.

Display

The show is a formidable 18″ WQUXGA (3840×2400) IPS 520nits show, which reveals off colors rather well, though it’s muted when in comparison with an OLED show.  

The excessive decision of the show made viewing 4K content material actually nice, with element rendered fantastically.

While gaming, the 240Hz refresh price of the show provided nice fluidity, however for these wanting quicker refresh charges, you’ll be able to drop the show decision to 1920 x 1200 and the refresh will prime out at 440Hz – though that is fairly troublesome to do because it needs to be carried out inside the bios. 

For myself, I most popular the upper decision and 240Hz refresh price, video games labored in addition to I may deal with and in addition appeared crisp and detailed.

The show on the evaluation laptop computer additionally arrives with Naked-Eye 3D assist.  Sure, you do get a bit extra depth to the show when gaming, and whereas I assumed it appeared spectacular, I’m not satisfied it’s notably helpful.  It works nicely sufficient to indicate off the 3D show to others, however is it one thing you’ll use on a regular basis as a critical gamer?  Unlikely.  I discovered it troublesome to give attention to fast-moving objects at instances, however it did add some immersion when doing gradual duties.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboard gives a pleasant journey and quick sufficient response for gaming and can be comfy for lengthy durations of typing for productiveness functions.  I favored how the keycaps have a recessed/curved profile, which supplied a snug expertise, it doesn’t matter what I used to be utilizing the keyboard/laptop computer for.

The keyboard just isn’t a mechanical keyboard, as many choose for a gaming gadget, however has sufficient to it to be ok.  You can at all times join your favorite mechanical keyboard if you want, the laptop computer is actually highly effective sufficient to energy it in addition to every thing else you throw at it.

The touchpad is positioned within the centre of the primary keyboard (excluding the numpad) and is comfy to make use of.  It is sort of giant for a touchpad, however it’s a big laptop computer, there may be sufficient house for a big touchpad.  

Multitouch gestures are straightforward to carry out on the touchpad and it’s total very responsive, however who’s utilizing it for gaming anyway?  The delicate click on of the touchpad might throw some of us off however it’s one thing I bought used to.  

Personally, I join a gaming mouse to the laptop computer as an alternative of utilizing the touchpad for something, and I dare say almost all players would do the identical as nicely.

Performance

The Legion 9i provided a superb gaming expertise.  My primary sport for testing in the intervening time is Cyberpunk 2077 and the laptop computer had no points in any respect operating by it at full velocity with none slowdowns or lag.

Cyberpunk 2077 additionally provided assist for 3D gaming and whereas it was good for one thing totally different, the expertise simply wasn’t the identical.  I discovered it troublesome to get my eyes to give attention to the sport as rapidly, however the 3D impact did add depth to the graphics and made a distinction, creating an fulfilling expertise.  That stated, it is not going to be my go-to when enjoying this sport.

With benchmarks, the Legion 9i was proper close to the highest of the category with some nice outcomes, as you’ll be able to see under:

Battery life, noise, warmth and so forth

The battery life is shorter than that of almost each different gaming laptop computer I’ve used, lasting solely about an hour when enjoying a reasonably easy sport like NBA 2K26.  It isn’t good but when you’ll stick a lot highly effective {hardware} right into a laptop computer, it’s going to require lots of energy to run.  

The AC adapter is a large 400W unit, and whereas it does cost the laptop computer rapidly, it’s but one more reason this laptop computer could also be troublesome to hold round. By charging rapidly, I imply actually rapidly. In simply quarter-hour of charging, the battery degree reached 50%, and 20 minutes later, at 35 minutes, it reached 82%. This is all nicely and good however simply go away it plugged in when you’ll be able to as a result of the battery life isn’t good.

The laptop computer isn’t as noisy as many I’ve used, and whereas the followers are doing lots of work, the Massive Legion Coldfront: Vapour Cooling know-how appears to be taking the brunt, given how quiet the followers are.

I didn’t discover the laptop computer getting overly sizzling both, which was a pleasant change from most gaming laptops.  You nonetheless wouldn’t wish to be gaming with it in your lap, although, since it’s nonetheless heat.

Final ideas

The Lenovo Legion 9i gaming laptop computer is actually one thing else, and in a great way. It is full of all of the high-end efficiency {hardware} you would want for and, extra importantly, every thing you want for an excellent gaming expertise.

From the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, to the GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU and the 64GB of RAM this factor is packed. The show can be an especially acceptable 18-inch 3840×2400 decision show, able to 240Hz refresh price and 3D graphics.

Of course, there’s a draw back to this a lot power-hungry {hardware}; it chews by the battery. If you’re operating this on battery solely, don’t count on the laptop computer to final far more than an hour (if you’re fortunate) whereas gaming. Moral of the story, get probably the most out of the laptop computer, plug it in.

It may not be probably the most transportable laptop computer round however it may be moved. With all these specs, it’s not low-cost. You are round $ 9,000 RRP, however in the intervening time it appears to be on sale for round $7,000.

That continues to be a good distance from inexpensive, however that is the worth you pay for a high-end gaming laptop computer. If you’re out there for an excellent gaming laptop computer which you can plug in more often than not, this might be good for you.

Scott is our resident open know-how knowledgeable. If you’ll be able to mod it, or wish to use it your means, Scott has in all probability carried out it. From Laptops to telephones, headphones and sport consoles, he’s performed with it and needs to see the subsequent era.