For years, Lenovo was best known for its ThinkPad work laptops, but its Legion gaming computers are some of the best I’ve ever used. The Legion 7 and Legion Slim 7 laptops are being replaced by a new fleet that includes the AMD-powered Legion 7 and Intel-powered Legion Slim 7 models.
Additionally, these gaming systems offer numerous 16-inch display options, a wide variety of connections, large battery capacity, and a slew of exciting RGB lighting. All of the devices have a simple, understated look, and they all have 1080p cameras and high-resolution screens.
Prices and availability for the Lenovo Legion 7 and Legion Slim 7 laptops vary.
Let’s have a look at the costs and availability first. When the Legion 7i goes on sale later this month, it will cost $2,449 at the earliest. When it comes to AMD’s flagship processor, the Legion 7, the Legion 7 will cost $2,059 and be available in June.
When the Legion Slim 7i goes on sale this month, it will cost $1,589, and when the Slim 7 with AMD Ryzen CPUs goes on sale in June, it will cost $1,519. Despite the lower price, the Legion Slim 7 is still a premium product.
The processor, graphics card, and display upgrades are all additional. These are just the beginning prices. These systems, which already cost a lot in the base versions, could swiftly spiral out of control once they’ve been customized to your specifications.
There are two different models of the Lenovo Legion series: the Legion 7 and the Legion 7i.
The Legion 7 and Legion 7i are high-performance variants, whereas the Slim models are optimized for portability. The latest CPUs from AMD (Legion 7) and Intel (Legion 7i) can be used in these two systems: up to a Ryzen 9 6900HX or an Intel Core i9-12900HX. It has a maximum of 32GB of DDR5 RAM (16GB x 2) and a maximum of a 2TB solid state drive (SSD).
The RTX 3070 Ti (8GB of RAM) or the RTX 3080 Ti (16GB of RAM) are the graphics cards available for the Legion 7i (16GB of RAM). The AMD model has either a Radeon RX6700M or RX6850M GPU, which is all about the red.
In terms of aesthetics, the Legion 7 and 7i feature an aluminum and magnesium unibody chassis. This gaming keyboard has a CNC-machined metal trim around the edges of the deck and dazzling RGB lighting shining through the vents. It also has a full-size numpad and WASD Force Sensory keys, which let you speed up a character in a game based on how hard you press on the keycaps.
In terms of portability, the Legion 7 isn’t the lightest gaming laptop, but it’s also not the heaviest. A simple stop at a neighboring cafe will not result in any trips to the chiropractor, but I wouldn’t take it on a flight.
The vast variety of ports makes up for this laptop’s thickness in some ways: A USB Type-C port, a webcam shutter switch, and a headphone jack are located on the right side; on the left side are two Thunderbolt 4 ports; on the right side are a USB Type-C connection, a webcam shutter switch, and an HDMI 2.1 connection; and on the rear are two USB-A ports, an HDMI 2.1 connection, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a power jack. No SD card slot for you, content providers.
While there are several display options for the Legion 7, one stands out. There is a 16-inch 2560×1600 panel available with a 16:10 aspect ratio, a 3 millisecond response time, and a variable refresh rate that ranges from 165Hz to 240Hz for those who choose the premium model. The second option is very similar except for the refresh rate, which is 165Hz. As far as certifications go, they meet or exceed those set forth by VESA DisplayHDR 400 and Dolby Vision.
Finally, a 99.99Whr battery completes the picture, which isn’t something we see very often. The TSA, which sets the capacity restrictions for batteries allowed on planes, could be in trouble if Lenovo increased the capacity by a hundredth of a percent. Exactly what that means for runtimes isn’t known. When it comes to “Super Rapid Charge,” the Legion can go from 0% to 100% in roughly 80 minutes.
Laptops from Lenovo’s Legion and Slim 7i lines.
The Legion Slim 7’s changes from the standard model aren’t difficult to decipher. People like students, professional gamers, or creative professionals who need to work or play away from their desks can benefit from these more portable models.
Compared to their full-size siblings, the Legion Slim 7 and Slim 7i are significantly lighter and thinner at 4.5 pounds and 14.1 x 10.1 x 0.67 inches, respectively. These don’t have an Ethernet interface, but an SD card reader is available.
During a downsize, how much do you give up? The first step is to add a little bit of power. When it comes to the Core i9-12900HK or Ryzen 9-6900HK, you may get the Slim 7i or Slim 7, starting with Core i5 and Ryzen 5 processors.
The ability to increase the CPU’s power to that of the non-Slim models is a welcome addition. As far as the GPUs go, the non-Slim 7i has a leg up because it has the ability to go up to the RTX 3080, whereas the Slim 7i only has the RTX 3050 Ti and RTX 3070. Even though there is a Radeon RX 6800S option, there is no RX 6850M option for the Slim 7. As a result, your storage space is reduced from 32GB to an astonishingly low 24GB! 8GB of onboard memory and a 16GB slot).Storage, on the other hand, is limited to 2TB.
Screen settings are another big difference, and this is where the fine print truly matters. A 16-inch, 2560 x 1600-pixel mini-LED display with a refresh rate of 165Hz and a response time of 3ms is available on the Legion Slim 7i with Intel CPUs. This 1,250-nit panel will be available later this year and is approved by VESA DisplayHDR 1000 and Dolby Vision. If you’re looking for a new technology that’s midway between LED and OLED, you might want to check out Mini-LED.
If you can’t afford the display update, you can go with a regular IPS panel with a refresh rate of 165Hz. The AMD version has the same settings as the standard version. It has a 2560 x 1600 IPS panel with a refresh rate that can be set between 165 and 250 Hz.
That 99.99Whr battery can, however, be found in the Slim variant. In terms of battery life, I can’t guarantee anything, but you do get Super Rapid Charge for charging the battery from 0% to 100% in less than an hour and fifteen minutes.
