The Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 typically costs more but offers higher performance with an Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics, which is well-suited for intensive tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, and gaming. Its battery life is strong, it has a high-resolution display with a fast refresh rate, and it's relatively light for a high-performance laptop. However, the Lenovo Legion 5 15" is less expensive and still provides good performance for general use and gaming with an AMD Ryzen 7 processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics. It's heavier and thicker, which might affect portability, and has a lower refresh rate screen. If cost is a significant factor and you need a device for everyday tasks and moderate gaming, the Lenovo might be sufficient. If you're looking for top-of-the-line performance for demanding software and games and value a lighter device, the Asus could be worth the extra cost. 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 Zephyrus M16
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 5 15"
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
7.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" is good.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 boasts a more powerful CPU, a higher-end GPU, greater storage capacity, and a significantly brighter screen, essential for engineering applications and design work where computational performance and visual accuracy are paramount. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion 5 offers solid performance with a capable CPU and GPU for engineering work but has lesser storage, and its screen, while of good quality, doesn't match the superior brightness and color range of the ASUS, making it a slightly less ideal but more affordable option for such tasks.
Content Creation
8.2/10
7.4/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" is good.
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.
Screen Quality
9.0/10
8.0/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion 5 15" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16's display, due to its high resolution and bright panel, offers crisp images and vibrant colors, making it comfortable for everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. In engineering and design, the same high resolution, along with an excellent range in color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensures that the M16 delivers precise color accuracy vital for professionals. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the M16's lower refresh rate compared to specialized gaming laptops means less fluid motion, which is crucial for fast-paced games where every millisecond counts, putting it at a disadvantage.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.3 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.6/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion 5 15" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,842
$999
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $1,842 and the Lenovo Legion 5 15" costs $999.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.3/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion 5 15" are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
4.5 Hours
4.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 5 15" has 4 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.
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How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo Legion 5 15" compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
"The Lenovo Legion 5 15 is an affordable gaming laptop with a lot of power. The new AMD processor Ryzen 7 5800H offers plenty of performance and it is also very efficient. The combination with the fast 130W version of the GeForce RTX 3060 ensures high gaming performance. We also like the fast 165 Hz display with the 1080p resolution. The automatic graphics switching causes some problems with stutters, which are very annoying. If you do not need long battery runtimes, you should definitely deactivate the hybrid graphics mode in Lenovo's Vantage app. The Legion 5 15 is never silent."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the Lenovo Legion 5 15"
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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