Lenovo Legion Pro 5i review
The Lenovo Lenovo Legion Pro 5i ranks as the #183 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 78. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #54-ranked performance among 578 laptops. Consider the Lenovo ThinkPad T15g Gen 2 or Lenovo Legion 5i, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is largely unchanged from last year's model, with the same design, CPU, GPU, and port layout. While the 14th Gen processor provides slightly higher clock speeds, the performance difference is negligible. The addition of a co-pilot key on the newer model is not enough to justify the upgrade cost. If you can find a 2023 model at a lower price point, it's likely the better value. Unless you really need an official co-pilot key or specific AI features, there's no compelling reason to buy this year's Legion Pro 5i.
Build
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i's build is disappointingly unupgraded from last year's model. The aluminum top lid, weight (around 5.5 lbs), and port lineup remain identical. You'll still find a USB-C port, two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.1, and an RJ45 jack on the left side, with another USB-A port and combo audio jack on the right. The only notable change is the replacement of the control key with a co-pilot key, which is a minor tweak. The laptop's build quality feels robust, but it's hard to justify upgrading to this year's model when last year's version offers identical performance at a lower price point. You might want to check out Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, featuring an upgraded build for a superior experience.
Display
The display on the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro is a standard 16x10 IPS panel, which hits 100% sRGB color accuracy. While not OLED or mini LED, it's still a respectable display suitable for design work and video editing. The 165Hz refresh rate is a good sweet spot for the RTX 4060 GPU inside, but may feel slow in more demanding applications. The webcam is 1080P and features AI-enhanced background noise reduction. Color accuracy is good, making it a solid choice for content creation, although not ideal for those seeking higher-end display technology. Overall, the display is serviceable but not exceptional, serving its purpose well enough in gaming and productivity contexts. Take a look at Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 - its improved display sets a new standard.
Performance
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i's performance is largely unchanged from last year's model. The new 14th Gen processor offers slightly higher clock speeds, but the difference is negligible in real-world use. Gaming performance sees a minor boost, with some games running about 2-3 frames per second faster. However, CPU-bound tasks like video editing and productivity tests may see a slight decline due to the laptop's single stick of memory and lack of dual-channel configuration. Overall, the Legion Pro 5i's performance is solid but not significantly improved from last year's model. If you're after top-notch performance, consider Lenovo Legion 5i.
Battery and Charging
The battery life is underwhelming, lasting around 5 hours and 25 minutes before needing a charge. The 80Whr battery isn't particularly impressive in this regard. As for charging, you can opt for either the included 300W power brick or use a smaller 140W charger via USB-C. While it's convenient to have this flexibility, it doesn't make up for the laptop's lackluster battery life. Overall, if you're concerned about battery performance, this may not be the best choice.
Connectivity
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i's connectivity remains largely unchanged from last year. You still get USB Type-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and an RJ45 port on the left side, with two more USB-A ports and a combo audio jack on the right. The power connector is a 300W brick, but you can use up to a 140W charger for added convenience. Give Lenovo ThinkPad T15g Gen 2 a try—it’s designed to provide an unparalleled connectivity.
Features
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is essentially unchanged from last year's model. The aluminum top lid, weighted laptop (5.5lb), port lineup, and design remain the same. The CPU has been updated to an i7 14th gen 65zHX processor, but performance-wise, it's largely identical. The display options also remain the same, with a good IPS panel and a 165Hz refresh rate, but no OLED or mini LED option this year. Get your hands on Lenovo V15 Gen 4 if you're looking for better features.
Support and Maintenance
As I explored the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i's specs, I was disappointed to find that it's essentially the same laptop as its 2023 predecessor. The lack of significant upgrades raises concerns about support and maintenance. Will Lenovo provide timely updates and patches for a laptop that is now over a year old? Can customers rely on adequate repair services if issues arise? These questions linger in my mind, casting a shadow over an otherwise impressive gaming laptop design.
Pros
1. The laptop still goes all the way back almost 180°, which is a convenient feature.
2. The display options remain the same, including a good IPS panel with a respectable color gamut and 165 HZ refresh rate.
3. The RTX 4060 GPU provides sufficient performance for most games.
4. The webcam has improved AI features to help with background noise.
5. The laptop stays below 90°C Celsius, which is a decent temperature for gaming laptops.
6. The internal layout remains the same, with thick heat pipes and large fans, indicating good cooling capabilities.
7. The laptop's design is still solid, with a weighted build of about 5.5 lb.
Cons
1. The laptop is almost identical to last year's model, with only minor changes, such as the co-pilot key instead of control key.
2. There is no significant performance difference between this year and last year's models, except in some games where it performed slightly better.
3. The stickers on the 2024 model are a bit crooked compared to the 2023 model.
4. The laptop still uses an i7 14th Gen processor, which is not significantly different from last year's 13th Gen processor.
5. The battery life is only around 5 hours and 25 minutes, which may be short for some users.
6. There is no dual Channel memory in this model, which explains why some productivity-based tests were faster on the 2023 model.
7. The laptop still uses a relatively low TGP (thermal design power), with only two to three more watts compared to last year's model.
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