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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i is a high-end laptop that excels in gaming and 3D machine learning tasks due to a more powerful GPU and CPU, making it perfect for those seeking top-notch performance in these areas. It has considerable processing power, enhanced display quality for fast motion and high color accuracy, making it ideal for intensive computing tasks, gaming, and content creation. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which makes it less portable. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while less expensive and offering longer battery life, making it more portable, is geared more toward general to high-level professional use with slightly less emphasis on GPU-intensive tasks. It still provides good performance for engineering tasks, but if price and portability are the key considerations, then the ThinkPad P16 is the better choice. For those who prioritize gaming or intensive graphic tasks and don't mind the added weight and cost, the Legion 9i would be the preferred option. 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
- Best in class for engineering and design
- Excellent for gaming and AI
- Best in class overall display quality
- Best in class speakers
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
- Very good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2
6.9
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
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
9.6
8.3
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU and more powerful GPU, which are very important for demanding tasks, as well as its superior screen quality that offers higher brightness and color accuracy. In comparison, while the ThinkPad P16 sports a capable CPU and professional-grade GPU, it is less effective for intensive engineering applications but excels in portability and has a higher-resolution screen, balancing trade-offs between performance and mobility for users.
Screen Quality
9.7
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its higher resolution and panel type, providing sharp, clear images with accurate colors, essential for detailed work and everyday tasks. Its superior color gamut coverage ensures that professionals in engineering and design see precise color representation, which is crucial for their work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, the laptop's lower refresh rate compared to dedicated gaming laptops means less fluid motion and slower screen updates, which can hinder fast-paced visuals and competitive gameplay.
Battery
3.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 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
Fair
Poor
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$3,420
$1,449
$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 ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.0
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo Legion 9i shines in general use due to its powerful CPU and ample RAM, mini LED screen with high brightness and color accuracy, and a balance between its refreshing appearance and portability despite a relatively short battery life.
Content Creation
8.7
8.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
Software Development
8.3
8.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Lenovo Legion 9i are both very 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.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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 Lenovo Legion 9i and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | Lenovo ThinkPad P16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,449 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | July 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 14.3'' x 10.5'' x 1.2'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 6.5 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.3" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 10.5" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i7-12800HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 4 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 94 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 569 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 5.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 9.1/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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 ThinkPad P16
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Eric Grevstad | February 2023
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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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