Last August, Lenovo Philippines unveiled the 10th generation of its Legion gaming laptops, and the spotlight is firmly on the Legion 7i 16IAX10.
This latest model boasts cutting-edge Intel Core Ultra processors and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5000 series graphics cards, promising an enhanced gaming experience.
After extensive testing, here is the Newsbytes.PH detailed review of the Legion 7i.
Design and Display
The Legion 7i retains the robust form factor of its predecessors, featuring a signature 180° display hinge design and a stunning 16″ OLED display that delivers deep blacks and vibrant colors. With a sub 1ms response rate and a 240Hz refresh rate, the screen is a gaming enthusiast’s dream.
The laptop’s exterior showcases aluminum plating along the top and bottom panels, providing both durability and a sleek aesthetic in an eye-catching glacier white finish.
Accentuated by an aluminum strip along the edges, the design not only looks premium but also reinforces the laptop’s structural integrity.
The RGB backlit keyboard adds a personal touch with customizable lighting schemes, enhancing the overall gaming ambiance.
At a thickness of 17.9mm and a weight of just under 2kg, the Legion 7i is lighter and thinner than its earlier models, though it still poses challenges for portability for those on the go.
Performance
The Legion 7i is powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 7 CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 with 8GB of VRAM, paired with 32GB of RAM and 1TB SSD.
Testing revealed impressive performance metrics: a single-core Cinebench score of 130 and a multi-core score of 1,422. Geekbench 6 results echoed this performance leap, with the Core Ultra 7 scoring 2,958 in single-core and 18,781 in multi-core tests.
Compared to the Intel Core i7, which also has 20 cores, these scores represent a 10% and 30% increase in Cinebench score, and 21% and 24% increase in Geekbench 6 scores.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 achieved a score of 114,141 in Geekbench 6, although it falters slightly against the RTX 4070, by 6%, which remains a benchmark for comparison at the same 8GB VRAM capacity.
When put through its paces with games like “Returnal,” “Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered,” and “F1 2022,” the Legion 7i delivered impressive frame rates. “Returnal” averaged 105 FPS on high settings and 87 FPS on epic.
For Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered, the Legion 7i reached an average of 179 FPS on “High” graphic settings, and 131 on “Very High,” both run on 1080p resolution.
When run on 4k resolution, it was able to reach 180 average FPS on “High,” but struggled with “Very High,” going down to 3-5 FPS. Aside from running on “Very High” settings, the game ran smoothly, with clear graphics.
F1 2022’s benchmark feature was able to register an average of 108 FPS, on “High” graphic setting with the Legion 7i. For “Ultra High” graphic settings, the game registered an average of 31 FPS, but the animation was still smooth.
The Legion 7i is also equipped with Lenovo’s proprietary LA 3 AI chip, and an integrated Intel AI Boost. This hardware, combined with the RTX 5060 reached a quantized score of 10,639 in Geekbench AI.
The Legion 7i is equipped with Smart Shift and AI Luminous Zone Technology which automatically adjusts brightness and color to fit a launched program.
The Lenovo AI Core installed automatically adjusts FPS, prioritize streaming, or other demanding applications, with its scenario detection for peak efficiency.
Battery Life and Cooling
The Legion 7i houses an 84Wh battery that impressively reaches a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. It boasts up to 7 hours of battery life during 1080p video playback at moderate brightness.
However, heavy gaming or processing tasks will drain the battery more quickly — a common trade-off with high-performance laptops.
To ensure it stays cool under pressure, the Legion 7i employs Lenovo’s Legion Coldfront: Hyper cooling system, featuring an AI Engine+ that optimally manages fan performance during intense gaming sessions or resource-heavy applications.
Quick Specs
- Display: 16″ WQXGA OLED, 16:10 aspect ratio, 240Hz
- Resolution: 2560 x 1600
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7, 20 Core, 5.2GHz
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 8GB GDDR7
- NPU: Integrated Intel AI Boost
- AI Chip: LA3
- Dimensions: 361.7mm x 263.4mm x 17.9mm
- Weight: 2kg
- RAM: 2x 16GB SO-DIMM DDR5-5600
- Storage: 1TB SSD M.2 2242 PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe
- Speakers: 2x 2W Harman Speakers
- Battery: 84Wh (~5460 mAh)
- Operating System: Windows 11 Home
- Ports:
- 1x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1)
- 1x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1), Always On
- 1x USB-C (USB 10Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 2), with USB PD 65-100W and DisplayPort 2.1
- 1x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps), with USB PD 65-100W and DisplayPort 2.1
- 1x HDMI 2.1, up to 8K/60Hz
- 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm)
- 1x Card reader
- 1x Power connector
- Colors: Glacier White
Verdict and Availability
Overall, the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 10 positions itself as a formidable option within the AI gaming laptop sector. With strong hardware capable of managing most AAA games and demanding software, it’s an attractive choice for dedicated gamers.
However, the RTX 5060 may feel lacking for a device in the Legion 7 series, particularly given the price point. At approximately P130,000, budget-conscious gamers might consider alternatives like the Legion 5i, which offers a similar CPU and GPU combination for P25,000 less.
For those willing to invest a bit more, the Legion Pro 7i with a Core Ultra 9 and RTX 5070 12GB could be a worthwhile upgrade at P174,000.
Pros
- Powerful CPU and GPU, suitable for both gaming and demanding software.
- Striking white design stands out from competitors.
- Durable aluminum panels enhance longevity.
- Impressive 16″ OLED screen with vivid picture quality.
- Advanced cooling system ensures optimal performance.
Cons
- At nearly 2kg, it may not be the most portable option.
- Higher pricing compared to similar performance models.
- Potential performance limitations with RTX 5060 for serious gamers.
- Battery could deplete quickly under intensive workloads.
