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Updated January 12, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i is built for high-end gaming and intensive tasks with its powerful processor and graphics card, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 is more suited for general use and portability with its lighter frame and moderately powerful components. The Legion's display is better for gaming and multimedia, with a higher refresh rate and resolution. However, the Surface Laptop offers a more compact and lightweight design for better mobility. If battery life is a concern, the Surface Laptop usually lasts longer on a single charge. Choose the Legion for demanding applications or gaming, and the Surface for everyday tasks, mobility, and longer battery use. 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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.4
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in general use due to its high-performance CPU, substantial RAM, and superior screen quality, though it's less portable and has shorter battery life compared to lighter laptops. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers solid performance for general tasks with decent CPU and RAM, and it stands out with greater portability and longer battery life, at the expense of the more luxurious screen and raw power available in heftier models like the Legion 9i.
Gaming and AI
9.2
6.1
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i excels in gaming and 3D because it boasts a powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, better suited for fast-paced visuals in gaming and 3D rendering. In comparison, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has a comparatively less capable Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, which is sufficient for everyday tasks but not ideal for demanding gaming and 3D scenarios.
Engineering and Design
9.6
7.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for engineering and design due to its powerful i9 processor, ample RAM, high-end Nvidia RTX GPU, and superior screen quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" offers a more modest i7 processor, less RAM, integrated Intel graphics, and a lower contrast IPS display, but is significantly lighter and more portable. While the Legion 9i caters to demanding engineering tasks with higher specs, the Surface Laptop 5 maintains a balance between performance and portability for less intensive use.
Content Creation
8.7
7.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
7.2
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" 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
13.5in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize vibrant color reproduction and crisp visuals for productivity tasks or engineering software, the Lenovo Legion 9i stands out due to its high resolution and superior color gamut coverage, which ensures accurate color work and fine detail. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5, while also providing good color and resolution for day-to-day activities and professional design use, may not match the Lenovo in color accuracy or vibrancy. However, for those interested in gaming or 3D rendering, neither laptop's screen is optimal; gamers would likely find the lower refresh rates on both models limiting for fast-paced, immersive gameplay.
Battery
3.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has 7.5 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
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.5in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has excellent portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
7.8
The Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$1,200
$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 Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" costs $1,200.
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How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13" |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $1,200 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 12.1'' x 8.8'' x 0.57'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 2.86 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 12.1" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 8.8" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i7-1255U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 47.4 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | Yes | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 6.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | Yes | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Lori Grunin | October 2022
"The Surface Laptop 5 remains afloat as a solid machine. It's just not one that stands out in any particular way. Just like the last one. The biggest upgrade were some new components, but they perform in the same range as other laptops with them, and frequently at the bottom of that range. I suspect Microsoft's settings are very conservative to help keep cooling and battery life within reason in the older chassis design."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 13"
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.
About Microsoft
Microsoft is an American technology corporation. Microsoft is best known for their Windows operating system and Surface laptop series. The Surface Laptop is their standard notebook offering, while their Surface Go, Surface Pro, and Surface Studio are their 2-in-1/tablet offerings in order of increasing capability. Although Microsoft charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a well integrated and packaged device since Microsoft develops the Windows operating system.
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