The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is a more budget-friendly option with solid performance for general use and offers the versatility of a 2-in-1 convertible design, making it practical as both a laptop and a tablet. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 9i is more expensive but delivers significantly higher performance suitable for demanding tasks like 3D work, machine learning, and high-end gaming. The Legion 9i also comes with a Mini LED display which may offer a better visual experience than the IPS display on the Flow X16. If portability is a concern, the Flow X16 is lighter and may be more convenient to carry around. On the battery life front, they are quite similar. If cost is a key factor and your needs are more aligned with everyday tasks and flexibility, the Flow X16 could serve you well. But if you require top-tier performance and are willing to invest more, the Legion 9i would be the better choice. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Best in class overall display quality
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
9.2/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out in gaming and 3D performance primarily due to its high-end Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU which outperforms the Asus ROG Flow X16's RTX 3060, providing smoother and more detail-rich gaming experiences. Both laptops have equal screen refresh rates, but the Legion's superior CPU and Mini LED display with higher contrast may also contribute to an overall better visual quality compared to the Flow X16's IPS display.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
9.6/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i delivers superior performance for engineering and design tasks with its more powerful Intel i9 processor, double the RAM, and a more advanced Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU compared to the ASUS ROG Flow X16's AMD Ryzen 9 and Nvidia RTX 3060 setup.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Legion 9i and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for content creation, though the Lenovo Legion 9i is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
8.3/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
9.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Flow X16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Lenovo Legion 9i's screen boasts higher resolution and brightness, along with a premium panel type that makes it excellent for general use and engineering tasks where clarity and color accuracy are key. For engineering and design work where detailed color work is critical, the Legion's color gamut coverage ensures more precise color representation. In contrast, while both laptops have poor screens for gaming and 3D due to low refresh rates, they maintain reasonable quality for these activities with their resolution and panel types.
Battery
5.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.6 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,300
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
The Lenovo Legion 9i and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in general use due to its higher RAM allocation, a more powerful CPU, and superior screen quality reflected in higher brightness and contrast, aiding multitasking and clarity. The ASUS ROG Flow X16, while offering good general use with solid performance and a versatile touchscreen, falls short in direct comparison due to lower RAM and a less powerful CPU, as well as lower brightness and contrast on its screen, which can affect multitasking efficiency and visual experience.
Build Quality
8.5/10
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 and Lenovo Legion 9i both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS ROG Flow X16 and the Lenovo Legion 9i compare to other laptops
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"The Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the Lenovo Legion 9i
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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