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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i is a high-end gaming laptop with a powerful Intel processor and advanced Nvidia RTX graphics, suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks. It has a larger battery, but this also makes it heavier and less portable. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is more affordable and lighter, making it easier to carry around. It sports an AMD processor and a slightly less powerful Nvidia graphics card, adequate for general use and lighter gaming. The Slim 5 also has better battery life for typical use, but for demanding tasks, its performance may not match that of the Legion 9i. 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 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
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.6
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in general use due to its more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and superior screen quality, which provides a crisp, bright display with high color accuracy, enhancing both the productivity and entertainment experience. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5, while also suitable for general use, prioritizes portability with its lighter weight and longer battery life, but comes with a less powerful processor and less RAM, which might affect multitasking and demanding applications.
Gaming and AI
9.2
7.7
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
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 Slim 5 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in gaming and 3D tasks due to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and higher screen refresh rate, which enable smoother and more detailed visual performance. Conversely, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5, with its slightly less capable Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU and lower refresh rate, offers good but not as high-end gaming and 3D capabilities.
Engineering and Design
9.6
8.0
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for engineering and design due to its superior CPU, double the RAM, and a more powerful GPU compared to the Lenovo Legion Slim 5, which, although still very capable, offers a less potent CPU and GPU, and half the RAM. The Legion 9i also boasts a Mini LED screen with higher resolution and brightness, enhancing visual clarity for detailed work, while the Legion Slim 5 offers better portability and longer battery life, making it a viable option for users requiring mobility without compromising too much on performance.
Content Creation
8.7
7.5
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
8.3
7.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 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
9.7
7.2
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in displaying vibrant colors and sharp images due to its high resolution and brightness, alongside broad color gamuts, making it excellent for general use and visually demanding engineering tasks. However, the screen’s lower refresh rate means it's less optimal for gaming or 3D work, where fluid motion is crucial. On the other hand, the Legion Slim 5 offers similar benefits for general use and engineering with a good color range and resolution but falls short for gaming and 3D applications due to a similarly lower refresh rate.
Battery
3.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has 7 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.
Build Quality
8.5
7.4
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 costs $1,000.
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Key similarities
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 and Lenovo Legion 9i both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | Lenovo Legion Slim 5 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,000 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 14.2'' x 10.3'' x 0.99'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 5.29 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.16" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 10.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 80 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
Shopping
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."
Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Mark Knapp | August 2023
"The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the Lenovo Legion Slim 5
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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