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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Lenovo Legion 9i offers top-of-the-line performance for gaming and intensive engineering tasks with its powerful processor and GPU. It's also equipped with a high-quality display, which is great for color-sensitive work. On the downside, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, so it's less portable. Conversely, the MSI GE66 Raider, while still offering great performance, has a less powerful GPU compared to the Legion. However, it boasts a longer battery life and is lighter, making it more portable for on-the-go usage. Both are high-end options and similarly priced, so if your priority is top tier performance and display for gaming or creative work, consider the Legion 9i. If you value longer battery life and portability along with excellent performance, the GE66 Raider could be more suitable. 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 MSI GE66 Raider
- Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
9.2
8.6
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the MSI GE66 Raider is very good.
The Lenovo Legion 9i is equipped with a powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and has a high screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, which are crucial for smooth, high-frame-rate gaming and rendering 3D graphics. On the other hand, the MSI GE66 Raider also delivers excellent performance for gaming and 3D applications, thanks to its capable Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti GPU, and although its refresh rate is less at 120 Hz, it provides an immersive experience with high screen quality.
Engineering and Design
9.6
9.1
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
9.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the MSI GE66 Raider is excellent.
The Lenovo Legion 9i boasts a more powerful GPU and a Mini LED screen which benefits engineering and design tasks through enhanced visuals and color accuracy, whereas the MSI GE66 Raider offers a higher screen resolution and a slightly superior overall build quality which is also conducive to detailed design work. Both laptops come with the same amount of RAM and a strong CPU setup, ensuring smooth performance in demanding applications, though the Legion 9i's newer CPU may offer a slight edge in processing power.
Screen Quality
9.7
8.2
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
682.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the MSI GE66 Raider 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 high-resolution display, which provides crisp and clear images, and its superior brightness, making it easier to view in various lighting conditions. It also covers a wide range of color gamuts which is essential for accuracy in design tasks. However, its lower refresh rate hampers its performance for gaming and 3D applications, where smoother motion and quick screen updates are vital.
Battery
3.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 hours of battery life. The MSI GE66 Raider has 6 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.4
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
682.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
3.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
6.3/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.8/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI GE66 Raider are both very good for general use.
The Lenovo Legion 9i stands out for its Mini LED display with a higher pixel density and impressive color accuracy, alongside a powerful CPU, sufficient RAM, and a large battery, yet it is heavier and has a slightly bulkier build affecting portability. On the other hand, the MSI GE66 Raider offers a similarly robust CPU and RAM configuration, an IPS screen with higher resolution, and a slightly lighter and thinner form factor that enhances portability, but it may not match the Lenovo model's display quality and has an older GPU. Both laptops have substantial storage and high-quality keyboards, which are essential for general use, but vary in screen quality, portability, and battery life, which can significantly impact user experience based on individual needs.
Content Creation
8.7
8.4
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.4/10
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI GE66 Raider 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
9.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3200 x 2000
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The MSI GE66 Raider 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.
Portability
Fair
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
5.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The MSI GE66 Raider and Lenovo Legion 9i both have only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
The Lenovo Legion 9i and MSI GE66 Raider both have very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,420
$3,399
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a price of $3,420 and the MSI GE66 Raider costs $3,399.
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How the Lenovo Legion 9i and the MSI GE66 Raider compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Lenovo Legion 9i | MSI GE66 Raider |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$3,420 | $3,399 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2023 | January 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14.1'' x 10.9'' x 1.01'' | 14.1'' x 10.5'' x 0.92'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 5.64 lbs | 5.25 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.08" | 14.09" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 10.93" | 10.51" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i9-13980HX | Intel i9-12900HK | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 2 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 3 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.9 Wh | 99 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3200 x 2000 | 3840 x 2160 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 165Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 682 nits | 347 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 6.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
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 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
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 | 3 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 4 | |
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."
MSI GE66 Raider
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Patrick Schüdzig | June 2022
"The MSI Raider GE66 12UHS notebook passes with flying colors. The GE66 is a high-end notebook with strong performance. The keyboard and trackpad are still very good and score well with precise inputs as well as high build quality. Thanks to a new liquid metal cooling solution, the Intel Core i9 12900HK brings a performance increase of around 50 percent over the predecessor's Intel Core i9 10980HK. The installed graphics card in our device delivers up to 30 percent higher frame rates than the RTX 2070 Super in the MSI GE66 10SFS."
Get a great deal on the Lenovo Legion 9i or the MSI GE66 Raider
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 MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
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