The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is often significantly less expensive, making it suitable for someone with a midrange budget. It has solid performance for general use and gaming but falls short of the Legion 9i's capabilities, particularly in 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive engineering tasks. The Legion 9i, while often significantly more expensive, offers better performance, a higher quality display, and more storage and RAM, making it ideal for power users who require top-tier specs for demanding applications. Both models are similar in weight and portability, but the 9i's superior screen and performance make it suitable for someone who prioritizes these aspects and is willing to pay the higher price. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has no clear advantages over the Lenovo Legion 9i.
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
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.5/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
368.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
3.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
3.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.3/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is good.
The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is deemed good for general use due to its capable CPU, ample RAM, and quality IPS display, which collectively ensure good performance for everyday tasks, but its portability and battery life are only fair, limiting its ease of use on the go. The Lenovo Legion 9i, on the other hand, is rated very good for general use because it offers a more powerful CPU, double the RAM, and a superior Mini LED display for exceptional screen quality, paired with adequate battery life and portability, making it a more versatile and higher-performing option despite being slightly heavier and larger.
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
9.2/10
8.5/10
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
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is very good.
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is very good for gaming and 3D because it has a capable GPU and a high screen refresh rate, in addition to a solid CPU and good screen quality. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for these tasks due to its more powerful GPU, similar high refresh rate, but with a higher resolution and significantly better screen quality which enhances visual experience.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
9.6/10
9.6/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
8.5/10
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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5i is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro with its Intel i7 processor, Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU, and good screen quality is very good for engineering and design, providing robust performance and vibrant displays. In comparison, the Lenovo Legion 9i steps up with a more powerful Intel i9 processor, superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, and an exceptional screen with higher brightness and color accuracy, making it excellent for more demanding engineering tasks and precision design work, although both models may have less emphasis on portability and quieter operating noise.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.7/10
9.6/10
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 is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 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
7.5/10
8.3/10
9.6/10
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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 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
8.1/10
9.7/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
368.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When considering general use, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i and Legion 9i both provide high-resolution displays with excellent brightness and panel technology, ensuring crisp and vibrant visuals. For engineering and design, the higher color accuracy and wider color range of the Legion 9i make it the top pick, as it better represents a broader spectrum of colors needed for precision work. However, for gaming and 3D, both models fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and responsiveness during fast-paced activities.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$999
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion Pro 5i has a price of $999 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
"The midpriced Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 follows some of our favorite gaming machines, including last year's model and the higher-end Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 tested earlier this year. But pedigree doesn't count for much in the computer world, and gaming laptops require a certain level of power and graphics performance to justify their prices. The Pro 5i Gen 8 just doesn't do that, offering middling CPU and GPU performance rather than the sort of muscle that would make it a great value."
"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 Lenovo Legion Pro 5i or the Lenovo Legion 9i
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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