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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i is a high-end laptop suited for intensive tasks such as gaming, 3D rendering, and heavy engineering work due to its powerful processor, top-tier graphics card, and large amount of RAM and storage, but it comes at a higher price and has lower battery life and portability. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is less expensive and offers better battery life and portability, making it ideal for general use, but it lacks the performance capabilities of the Legion 9i due to its lesser RAM, storage, and integrated graphics, making it unsuitable for demanding applications. 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 Go 3
- Excellent portability
- Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.2
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for general use, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i is more favored for general use because it has a powerful CPU, a substantial amount of RAM, and an excellent screen quality; however, its portability and battery life are moderate. In contrast, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers excellent portability and better battery life but comes with a less powerful CPU, less RAM, and a screen that is good but not as superior as the Legion's.
Gaming and AI
9.2
6.1
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
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 Go 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i comes with a high-end GPU and a high screen refresh rate, making it excellent for gaming and 3D applications that demand smooth visuals and fast rendering. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has a less powerful GPU and a lower screen refresh rate, which means it can handle only lighter gaming and 3D tasks without the same level of performance.
Engineering and Design
9.6
6.8
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is only fair.
The Lenovo Legion 9i shines in engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU, ample RAM, powerful dedicated GPU, and superior screen quality, which are crucial for demanding tasks and detailed visual work. On the other hand, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers more portability and has decent screen quality, its CPU, RAM, and integrated graphics are less robust, making it less suitable for engineering applications that require significant processing power and graphical performance.
Content Creation
8.7
7.3
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for content creation, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
7.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is very good for software development, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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
6.8
16.0in
SIZE
12.4in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
1536 x 1024
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
337.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for general use and engineering with its vibrant display that presents sharp images and brilliant colors due to its high resolution and wide color gamut, enhancing both everyday tasks and detailed design work. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. On the other hand, the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 offers an adequate display for day-to-day activities and professional design with respectable color accuracy, but it also falls short for gaming and 3D content, lacking the high refresh rate gamers seek.
Battery
3.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 has 8 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
12.4in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
2.4 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 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 Go 3 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$789
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 costs $789.
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How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $789 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | October 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 11'' x 8.1'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 2.49 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 10.95" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 8.12" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i5-1235U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 12.4" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 1536 x 1024 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 337 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 9.3/10 | |
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 | 8.4/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
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 | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 1 | |
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."
Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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Dig into reviews and images
PCMag
Joe Osborne | October 2023
"When it comes to affordably priced laptops, the numbers after the dollar sign are crucially important—more so than in any other price category. By increasing the starting price of its Laptop Go line by $200 and not changing much else, Microsoft irrevocably altered the calculus surrounding the decision of whether to buy the Surface Laptop Go 3. Sure, it has a newer processor and longer battery life, but don’t think for a second you’re not paying dearly for that extra RAM and SSD capacity at that new price."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
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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