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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is less expensive and more portable than the Lenovo Legion 9i, making it a good fit for those who prioritize mobility and budget. It has a high refresh rate display and ample performance for general use and gaming. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 9i, while more costly and heavier, offers a higher resolution display and better hardware suited for intensive 3D work, machine learning, and engineering applications. It also has more RAM which can be beneficial for multitasking and demanding tasks. Both laptops are optimized for gaming but the Legion 9i has a slight edge in performance and screen quality. 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
- Good portability
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
- Very good for general use
- 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
General Use
7.9
8.4
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
627.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
4.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its ample storage, high-quality screen, and excellent keyboard, offers good performance for general use; however, the Lenovo Legion 9i steps ahead with double the RAM and a slightly more powerful CPU, which translates to very good performance for general use despite being less portable due to its higher weight.
Gaming and AI
8.5
9.2
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its high screen refresh rate, is very suitable for immersive and fast-paced gaming, but its graphics unit isn't as powerful as the Lenovo Legion 9i, which boasts a superior GPU making it excellent for demanding gaming and 3D applications, although it has a lower screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.8
9.6
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.9/10
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 Zephyrus M16 is very good.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its advanced CPU and GPU, high screen refresh rate, and significant portability, offers excellent performance for engineering and design tasks; however, the Lenovo Legion 9i steps up with an even more powerful CPU and superior GPU, delivering outstanding graphics and computation capabilities, albeit at the cost of some portability due to its slightly larger size and higher weight.
Software Development
7.7
8.3
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
9.0
9.7
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Lenovo Legion 9i stands out due to its superior panel type, higher resolution, and brighter screen, enhancing everyday activities such as browsing and video streaming. For engineering and design tasks that demand accurate color representation, the Lenovo's coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB makes it the top choice, ensuring that designs and models appear true to life. However, both the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Lenovo Legion 9i may not be optimal for gaming and 3D applications because they lack high refresh rates, which are crucial for smooth motion and fast-paced visuals in these scenarios.
Battery
4.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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
0.8in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,842
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $1,842 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
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Key similarities
Content Creation
8.2
8.7
9.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 are both very good for content creation.
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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the Lenovo Legion 9i compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 | Lenovo Legion 9i |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,842 | $3,420 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | March 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.83'' | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.63 lbs | 5.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 13.98" | 14.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.69" | 10.93" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13900H | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 4.5 Hours | 3 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 90 Wh | 99.9 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 3200 x 2000 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 240Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 627 nits | 682 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.3/10 | 6.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.3/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 6.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"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."
Lenovo Legion 9i
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Matthew Buzzi | December 2023
"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 Zephyrus M16 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.
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