If you're looking for higher performance for gaming or demanding tasks, the Lenovo Legion Slim may suit you better and it's typically less expensive. However, the Framework Laptop is designed for easy upgrades and repairs, potentially giving it a longer lifespan, but this comes at a higher initial cost. The Legion Slim, being a gaming laptop, will likely be heavier and may have shorter battery life than the Framework, which can be important if you value portability and working on the go. Consider what's more important for your daily use: upgradeability and lightness, or gaming capability and cost savings. 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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.4/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7, with a more powerful GPU and higher screen refresh rate, offers smoother and more visually responsive gaming experiences compared to the Framework Laptop 16. While both have quality screens and capable CPUs, the superior GPU and refresh rate in the Legion make it better suited for demanding gaming and 3D tasks.
Screen Quality
8.4/10
7.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
490.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
350.0 nits
The Framework Laptop 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When considering a laptop for general use, the Framework Laptop 16 excels due to its high-resolution display that offers sharp images and strong brightness for clear visuals in various lighting conditions. For engineering and design tasks, this laptop's screen provides broad color gamut coverage, ensuring accurate color representation essential for detailed design work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the lower refresh rate of the Framework Laptop 16's screen may not deliver the smooth motion desired, whereas the Lenovo Legion Slim, while still not ideal for these tasks, offers a balance of resolution and panel quality, but with a refresh rate not optimized for high-end gaming experiences.
Cost
$1,699
$1,200
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has a price of $1,699 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" costs $1,200.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 distinguishes itself as very good for general use primarily due to its high-quality screen and excellent portability, complemented by a strong CPU and RAM configuration that ensures smooth performance, with a battery life that supports extended use away from power outlets. The Lenovo Legion Slim 7, while also equipped with a capable CPU and ample RAM, falls slightly behind due to a less impressive screen and portability, but is still good for general use, offering solid performance and a decent balance between battery life and user comfort with its keyboard and cooling system.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.8/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" is good.
The Framework Laptop 16 is designed with modular components, allowing for a tailored experience with high-quality CPU, RAM, and GPU upgrades suited for engineering tasks, along with an exceptional screen; it also emphasizes repairability and customization. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 offers a balance of strong performance hardware, including leading CPU and GPU capabilities for engineering and gaming, with a focus on a slim form factor that somewhat compromises upgradeability but enhances portability.
Content Creation
8.1/10
7.7/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" 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.
Software Development
8.0/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to be very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" 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.
Battery
9.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Framework Laptop 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 has 9 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.7in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.0/10
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Framework Laptop 16 (2023) to have very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" has 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 Framework Laptop 16 (2023) and the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6" compare to other laptops
"The trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 7 is a slim Legion notebook that is just as excellent with Nvidia & Intel. However, the Legion Slim 7i slightly sullied by lacklustre battery life. You get a slim aluminium chassis, great input devices, decent port selection, fast high-quality WQXGA display and great performance. Supporting Thunderbolt 4 is one advantage of the Intel/Nvidia model tested in this review. Moreover, this variant has slightly higher CPU performance as well as better GPU performance in certain applications (e.g. CUDA-based apps). The Lenovo Legion S7i is thin, premium and performant – but less efficient than its AMD counterpart."
Get a great deal on the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) or the Lenovo Legion Slim 7 15.6"
About Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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