Lenovo Legion 5i assessment (2022 Gen 7 mannequin

That is our detailed assessment of the mid-2022 Seventh-generation replace of the Lenovo Legion 5 collection, within the Legion 5i variant constructed on Twelfth-gen Intel {hardware} and Nvidia RTX 3000 graphics.

The Legion 5s are Lenovo’s supply within the mid-tier gaming section, the place most value-oriented patrons are going to buy, and a extra inexpensive various to their Legion 5i Professional fashions.

Moreover, for the 2022 technology, Lenovo had up to date the collection in a number of methods, bringing a brand new design that borrows traces and components from the higher-tier Legion 7 fashions, whereas additionally updating the internals and software program bundle with a purpose to address higher-tier specs and energy settings.

This assessment configuration is the excellently balanced i7 + RTX 3060 mannequin, the type you may get from round $1350 within the US and 1400 EUR in Europe. Our unit does get a number of extras over what you’ll usually get at these worth factors, similar to additional cupboard space and the higher-tier QHD display, however we’ll contact on all the opposite essential choices and particulars on this assessment, so that you’ll know whether or not that is the correct purchase for you or not.

Specs as reviewed– 2022 Lenovo Legion 5i

You will discover this in shops in a number of variants, beginning with i5-12500H + RTX 3050Ti specs with FHD screens and 60Wh batteries, and going as much as Core i7-12700H and RTX 3070/3070Ti 140W configurations with QHD screens and 80Wh batteries.

Design and development

As talked about already, the mid-2022 Legion 5i chassis is totally different in a number of methods than the earlier technology, as Lenovo try to impose a unitary design language with their whole Legion lineup. Consequently, the Legion 5i appears to be like a good bit just like the top-tier Legion 7i, on a primary look, at the very least. Nevertheless, when you get to spend a little bit extra time with it you’ll begin noticing the variations, as anticipated from a extra budget-oriented product.

Lenovo affords this in two colour choices, Phantom Blue with a gray underside and Storm Gray with a black underside. Our unit is the latter, and what you’ll principally be capable of discover in shops world wide. It’s a fine-looking colour scheme, and a pleasant one with every day use, because it does a superb job at hiding smudges and fingerprints. Lenovo additionally implements a gray keyboard, so that you don’t have to fret about smudgy keycaps both.

The aesthetic traces are clear and easy, with the usual Lenovo branding on the lid, armrest, and underneath the display. You additionally get some stickers on the armrest, and I took most of them off on this unit.

Two essential design particulars differentiate the Legion 5i collection from the 5i professional and 7i fashions. Probably the most notable is the truth that solely 16:9 shows are supplied at this stage, whereas the others get 16:10 screens, in addition to some brighter and/or higher-tier panel choices. Meaning you’ll have to just accept a thicker bezel underneath the display, in addition to a panel that doesn’t look as good because the others. So long as you keep away from the base-level FHD 144 Hz choice, although, the others are advantageous for this class.

Nonetheless, right here’s an image of the Legion 5 subsequent to the 5 Professional and seven lineups, for a comparability of the display codecs and general design between them.

The opposite are the general supplies and construct high quality of this collection. Metallic is simply used for the lid cowl, whereas every part else is polycarbonate plastic. It’s a good-quality ABS polycarbonate with a matte and sensible texture, however the chassis does flex a bit within the center and feels cheaper than what you’d get with the higher-tier Legions, particularly the Legion 7s. That may’t be a shock, although, and the Legion 5s are certainly aggressive when it comes to appears to be like and high quality towards different choices of their worth ranges, such because the Acer Nitro 5s or the Asus TUF Gaming F15 and TUF A15 fashions, which is what issues.

I’ll additionally add that the 2022 Legion 5 lineup is a bit thinner than earlier than, however we’re nonetheless full-size laptops right here with a weight of two.4 to 2.5 kilos between the out there fashions. Compared, the beforehand talked about alternate options are extra compact and lighter-weight, so should you’re searching for one thing to simply lug round to high school or work each day, these may not be the correct alternative for you. Particularly if you additionally must account for the cumbersome 300W charger, which provides an additional ~1.2 kilos to your backpack.

I do discover this design to be extra sensible than most others, as I’ll simply point out a few of the particulars that add as much as this conclusion: the easy appears to be like, the smudge-friendly supplies, the wonderful grip on the desk supplied by the rubber toes, the dulled edges and corners that don’t chunk in your wrists, in addition to the great hinges that enable the display to return to 180-degrees. I don’t assume there’s one other design on this section that checks all these containers.

After which there’s additionally the IO, which affords nearly every part you might want, apart from a card reader or some kind of Lock. You get USB-A and USB-C ports (with iGPU or dGPU DP connections, and altering), Lan, a full HDMI 2.1, and an audio jack. Moreover, the IO placement is superb, with many of the ports tucked away on the again, behind the display.

So far as different small complaints go, I’ll point out that there’s nonetheless an always-on mild within the energy button right here, positioned just below the display. Nevertheless, it’s a small and dim LED and received’t trouble you that a lot even when utilizing the laptop computer at evening. There’s no finger-sensor in that energy button as on different Legions, although, and in reality, there aren’t any biometrics in any respect for this collection.

Total, the 2022 Legion 5 is a balanced and sensible supply. The design and a few particulars have been refined from the earlier mannequin, however this stays a relatively massive and heavy full-size laptop computer, although it’s been slimed down for this technology. Compared, a few of the different laptops on this area of interest are maybe not as virtually polished, however they’re smaller and particularly lighter.

Keyboard and trackpad

The keyboard and clickpad are commonplace for the Legion fashions, however with some variations between the tiers.

The layouts are an identical and among the many greatest you’ll discover in a mid-range laptop computer today. The principle set of keys are full-size, the arrows are additionally all full-size keys and spaced out from every part round, and there’s additionally a NumPad part, with barely narrower keys, however nonetheless completely usable. In fact, a few of you may desire a centered keyboard design with out a NumPad, and if that’s the case, you’ll must go together with one thing else as a substitute.

The keyboard is an effective typer, even when there’s a little bit extra flex within the deck on this Legion 5i chassis than on the opposite Legions. The suggestions appears to be someway a little bit firmer than on the 5i Professional keyboard I’ve examined lately, even when the 2 are supposedly the identical.

This implementation is the white-backlit variant and never the RGB with 4-zone management. From what I can see, Lenovo principally affords the Legion 5s with the RGB keyboard, and also you’ll discover my impressions of that one within the Legion 5i Professional assessment.

The LEDs on this white variant get vibrant and punchy, whereas staying pretty uniform between zones. A major quantity of sunshine creeps out from beneath the keycaps, although, and a few of it displays into the underside display bezel, in a approach that’s fairly distracting when utilizing the laptop computer at evening. That’s particularly noticeable should you’re maintaining the display at a decrease brightness, which I count on you’d for evening use. So at the very least make certain to solely set the keyboard on its first brightness setting for this type of use.

For mouse, the 5 collection will get a mid-sized clickpad, related in format to the opposite 2022 Legion fashions and bigger than on the previous-gen Legion 5. The floor is plastic, as Lenovo are solely providing glass clickpads on the Legion 7 fashions, however it feels alright to the contact and works effectively. It does rattle a bit with firmer faucets, and the bodily clicks are considerably clunky.

The clickpad is centered on the Area key with this design, and thus shifted in the direction of the left facet of the chassis. In case you’re coming from a centered keyboard design, this can take a while to get used to. Plus, as a consequence of how it’s positioned, your left palm finally ends up swiping over the floor with every day use – I haven’t observed any ghost swipes or clicks throughout my time with this laptop computer, although, so Lenovo appear to have gotten their palm-rejection in examine during the last yr or so.

As for biometrics, there are nonetheless none on this collection.

Display

Lenovo affords a 15.6-inch 16:9 WQHD IPS matte display on the 2022 Legion 5 collection, with principally the identical panel choices as within the 2021 generations. These are:

• FHD 1920 x 1080 px 144 Hz with 300-nits brightness, 800:1 distinction, and 45% NTSC colour protection;
• FHD 1920 x 1080 px 165 Hz with 300-nits brightness, 1000:1 distinction, and 100% sRGB colour protection, with Superior Optimus and GSync;
• FHD 1920 x 1080 px 60 Hz with 300-nits brightness, 1200:1 distinction, and 100% sRGB colour protection, with DC dimmer;
• QHD 2560 x 1440 px 165 Hz with 350-nits brightness, 1000:1 distinction, and 100% sRGB colour protection, with Superior Optimus and GSync;

I’d go for both the 2nd or the 4th choice for common use and gaming. Out unit the latter, the QHD panel, with the upper decision.

It’s advantageous for every day use and well-suited for gaming, with the great refresh and response occasions, in addition to GSync and Superior Optimus assist. It’s relatively dim, although, so that you’ll need to hold this laptop computer indoors, even when it proved brighter in our checks than on paper. It additionally solely affords 100% sRGB colour protection. The vast majority of the opposite panels out there on Legion laptops are 100% sRGB solely, however the 16-inch variants get brighter at round 500-nits, and that enables for an general punchier and extra vivid impression than what you’ll get with the panel on this Legion 5i.

Right here’s what we bought in our checks, with an X-Rite i1 Display Pro sensor:

• Panel HardwareID: CSO T3 MNF601CA1-3;
• Protection: 97.0% sRGB, 71.6% DCI-P3, 73.8% AdobeRGB;
• Measured gamma: 2.16;
• Max brightness in the midst of the display: 373.58 cd/m2 on energy;
• Min brightness in the midst of the display: 7.237 cd/m2 on energy;
• Distinction at max brightness: 1100:1;
• White level: 6300 Okay;
• Black on max brightness: 0.34 cd/m2;
• PWM: No;
• Response: to be examined.

Our pattern got here out considerably effectively calibrated out of the field, and proved uniform as soon as additional tweaked with our calibration run, with just some DeltaE colour imbalances within the top-left and bottom-right corners. Bleeding uniformity is superb on this panel, although.

I’ll additionally point out that the Fn+R shortcut doesn’t do something on this laptop computer. It was supposed to alter between 60 and 165 Hz display refresh charges, serving to to increase runtimes on battery use, however it simply doesn’t work right here. As a substitute, that you must go and alter the refresh manually within the settings. I’ve run into related points with the Legion 5 Professional fashions as effectively, and this appears to solely work on the Legion 7 fashions at this level. I’d have hoped Lenovo figured it out by now.

{Hardware} and efficiency

Our check mannequin is a mid-specced configuration of the 2022 Lenovo Legion 5i, constructed on an Intel Core i7-12700H processor, 16 GB of DDR5-4800 reminiscence in twin channel, 1 TB of GB of quick SSD storage, and twin graphics: the Nvidia RTX 3060 dGPU with 6 GB of vRAM and the Iris Xe iGPU built-in inside the Intel processor.

Disclaimer: It is a retail unit supplied for this assessment by Lenovo, and it runs on the software program out there as of early-Sept 2022 (BIOS J2CN40WW,  Vantage 3.13.14.0, GeForce 512.64 drivers). Some facets may nonetheless change with later updates, even when this can be a mature software program bundle.

Spec-wise, this 2022 Legion 5i is constructed on the most recent Intel and Nvidia {hardware} out there up to now. The Core i7-12700H is the mainstream efficiency choice in Intel’s Alder Lake Twelfth-gen platform, with 14 Cores and 20 Threads. It’s a hybrid design with 6 Excessive-Efficiency and dual-threaded Cores, and eight additional Effectivity cores, which work collectively within the numerous masses. The design and thermal module of this Legion enable the processor to run at 95-100W of sustained energy in demanding CPU masses.

For the GPU, the 2022 Legion 5i Professional collection is on the market with RTX 3000 and RTX 3000 Ti graphics chips. What now we have on this pattern is the mid-tier RTX 3060 operating at as much as 140W with Dynamic Enhance. Compared, the 2021 Legion 5 RTX 3060 mannequin allowed as much as 130W of GPU energy.

A MUX is obtainable right here, with a number of modes together with dGPU-only or Superior Optimus (a number of Hybrid modes). Switching to dGPU requires a restart, whereas opting between the Hybrid modes doesn’t.

For the RAM and storage choices, the laptop computer nonetheless comes with two accessible reminiscence DIMMs and two M.2 SSD slots. Our unit is a 16 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM configuration, with a quick PCIe 4.0 Micron 3400 SSD. The 512 GB variant of this SSD isn’t fairly as quick, however nonetheless wonderful for every day use.

Attending to the elements requires you to take away a number of Philips screws, all seen across the again, after which pull up the D-panel. I used a suction cup to drag this out from one of many sides, however you can even open it up with a plastic pin and a little bit little bit of drive. The plastic caps are cosy, however general that is simpler to open up than the opposite Legion fashions. Inside, the RAM and SSDs are lined by radiator shields, so that you’ll must take these out as effectively to get to the elements, including an additional step within the improve course of. These shields do have a task, although, so no complaints!

For the software program, my unit got here with the usual Lenovo software program bundle, and also you’ll need to uninstall a few of it or put a recent Home windows set up on it. The Lenovo Vantage app is a must have for accessing the facility profiles, updates, and different settings.

The facility profiles are Quiet, Balanced, and Efficiency, and you may choose them from Vantage or change between them with Fn+Q. Efficiency is simply out there with the laptop computer plugged into the wall. These profiles apply totally different energy settings to the CPU/GPU and totally different fan profiles, in addition to change the colour of the LED within the energy button. Right here’s a desk that reveals what every mode does:

*Stability with Legion Ai performs equally to Efficiency mode in most demanding masses. Common Stability with out Legion Ai mode runs at decrease GPU energy settings, but in addition quieter followers.

The settings are much like the opposite Legion laptops examined currently.

This collection additionally affords a fast dGPU Overclocking toggle, which applies +100 MHz Core, +200 MHz Reminiscence settings. We’ve used these settings for all our checks, however additional tweaking can also be potential if you wish to.

Efficiency and benchmarks

On to extra demanding masses, we begin by testing the CPU’s efficiency by operating the Cinebench R15 check for 15+ occasions in a loop, with a 1-2 seconds delay between every run.

The Core i7-12700H processor stabilizes at ~95-100W of sustained energy on the Efficiency setting, with the laptop computer sitting on the desk. Lenovo applies 100W PL2 and 135W PL1 energy limits for this processor on this energy mode, and the CPU is able to principally operating at these settings, even whether it is nonetheless barely thermally throttled and operating at temperatures within the very excessive 90s Celsius.

Bumping the again of the laptop computer off the desk with a purpose to enhance the airflow into the followers permits the processor to stabilize on the identical 100W of PL2 energy, however with barely decrease temperatures within the low-90s.

Switching over to the Stability profile interprets into the CPU stabilizing on the 60W PL2 setting, with quieter followers and cooler temperatures. The Cinebench efficiency takes a 25% hit over the earlier mode.

On the Quiet profile, the CPU runs at solely 25W, with sub 30 dB noise ranges and temperatures within the 50s C.

Lastly, the CPU runs at ~25 W on battery as effectively, on the Efficiency profile. Particulars beneath.

Total, these profiles are pretty well-balanced right here.

The laptop computer runs sizzling on the Efficiency mode, however at across the designed energy settings, and the middle-ground Stability profile is a good steadiness of CPU efficiency, common temperatures, and medium fan noise. Nonetheless, you’ll must go together with the Efficiency mode for any critical work, And I’d suggest choosing some kind of stand or cooling pad to assist decrease the CPU temperatures as a lot as potential.

To place these findings in perspective, right here’s how this Core i7-12700H implementation fares towards different mid-tier laptops on this check, each Intel and AMD, in addition to the previous-generation Legion 5 2021. It is without doubt one of the greatest i7-12700H implementations we’ve examined this yr, and barely sooner, by a number of percents, than the direct rivals.

We then went forward and additional verified our findings with the extra taxing Cinebench R23 loop check and Blender – Classroom, which resulted in related findings to what we defined above.

We additionally ran the 3DMark CPU check on the Efficiency and Balanced profiles.

Lastly, we ran our mixed CPU+GPU stress checks on this pocket book. 3DMark stress runs the identical check for 20 occasions in a loop and appears for efficiency variation and degradation over time, and this unit handed it simply advantageous, which implies there’s no efficiency throttling with longer-duration sustained masses.

Subsequent, we ran the whole suite of checks and benchmarks, on the Efficiency profile in Vantage, the MUX set on Hybrid mode, and on FHD display decision for consistency with our different checks. Right here’s what we bought:

• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 21472 (Graphics – 22998, Physics – 29199, Mixed – 11336);
• 3DMark 13 – Port Royal: 5379;
• 3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 9614 (Graphics – 9202, CPU – 12892);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 5687;
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Medium: 16770;
• Handbrake 1.3.3 (4K to 1080p encode): 64.59 common fps;
• PassMark 10: Score: 5865 (CPU: 31428, 3D Graphics: 17976, Reminiscence: 2869, Disk Mark: 38653);
• PCMark 10: 7430 (Necessities – 10044, Productiveness – 9979, Digital Content material Creation – 11109);
• GeekBench 5.4.3 64-bit: Single-Core: 1711, Multi-core: 12604;
• CineBench R15 (greatest run): CPU 2870 cb, CPU Single Core 263 cb;
• CineBench R20 (greatest run): CPU 7116 cb, CPU Single Core 685 cb;
• CineBench R23: CPU 18614 cb (greatest single run), CPU 17782 cb (10 min run), CPU Single Core 1805 cb;
• x265 HD Benchmark 64-bit: 23.92 s.

And listed here are some workstation benchmarks, on the identical Efficiency profile:

• Blender 3.01 – BMW scene – CPU Compute: 2m 17s (Efficiency);
• Blender 3.01 – BMW scene – GPU Compute: 25s (CUDA), 13.9s (Optix);
• Blender 3.01 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 5m 23s (Efficiency);
• Blender 3.01 – Classroom scene – GPU Compute: 49s (CUDA), 27.5s (Optix);
• Pugetbench – DaVinci Resolve: 1120;
• Pugetbench – Adobe After Results: crashed;
• Pugetbench – Adobe Photoshop: 990;
• Pugetbench – Adobe Premiere: 1006;
• SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 89.47 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 55.71 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Creo: 92.14 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Power: 22.20 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 294.56 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – Medical: 31.35 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 17.72 (Efficiency);
• SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 193.40 (Efficiency).
• V-Ray Benchmark: CPU – 12509 vsamples, GPU CUDA – 943 vpaths, GPU RTX – 1273;

This performs just about as anticipated and is without doubt one of the most succesful RTX 3060 laptops within the mid-tier section. On the identical time, different present choices that we’ve examined on this area of interest, such because the Asus TUF F15 or the Lenovo Legion 5i Professional are nearly an identical in efficiency, and that’s regular since they’re just about an identical configurations and even very related cooling designs. The 2022 Acer Nitro 5, then again, is a barely decrease GPU mannequin, at as much as 125W, and barely slower in CPU multi-threaded efficiency as effectively.

So far as the AMD model of this 2022 Legion 5 goes, count on that to carry out on par with the AMD-based Asus TUF A15 reviewed right here, so pretty related in GPU benchmarks, inside 5-20% slower in CPU masses, and inside 5% slower in some video games, because of the variations between the Intel and Ryzen platforms.

The positive factors in CPU efficiency are extra vital when this 2022 Legion 5i vs the AMD-based 2021 Legion 5 examined previously, and this technology reveals a 7-10% enhance in GPU efficiency as effectively.

With that out of the best way, a few of you may not respect the loudly spinning followers on the Efficiency mode, which ramp as much as 48-49 dB at head stage. Thus, should you desire sacrificing the efficiency to some extent for quieter fan noise, right here’s how this Legion 5i does on the Stability profile with the Legion AI choice disabled in Vantage, which limits the followers at sub 42 dB at head stage.

• 3DMark 13 – Fireplace Strike: 19552 (Graphics – 21221, Physics – 28773, Mixed – 9443);
• 3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 8603 (Graphics – 8175, CPU – 12243);
• Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Excessive: 5095;
• GeekBench 5.4.3 64-bit: Single-Core: 1635, Multi-core: 11234;
• CineBench R20 (greatest run): CPU 6061 cb, CPU Single Core 662 CB;
• x265 HD Benchmark 64-bit: 26.30 s;
• Blender 3.01 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 6m 34s (Balanced).

The CPU efficiency is hardly impacted on the shorter actions, however the 60W PL2 restrict ultimately kicks in with demanding masses, and that decreases the efficiency by about 20%. The GPU runs at 95W on this mode, which leads to a 5-10% efficiency hit from the Efficiency mode. Thus, for common on a regular basis use, this Balanced profile makes plenty of sense.

In case you tick the Legion AI choice in Vantage, the laptop computer goes to carry out just about as on Efficiency, with the followers at 48 dB noise ranges. Therefore, this mode would defeat the aim of decreasing the fan noise.

There’s additionally the Silent mode to contemplate right here, which retains the followers at sub 35 dB in sustained masses, however this considerably limits each the CPU and GPU, so I wouldn’t suggest that for something intensive.

Gaming efficiency

Let’s take a look at some video games now.

We examined a few various kinds of video games on the Efficiency and Balanced profiles at QHD and FHD resolutions, all with the MUX set on the discrete GPU mode. You don’t essentially must go together with dGPU mode right here, as Hybrid mode yields related outcomes, as a result of this laptop computer implements Superior Optimus, which doesn’t affect the gaming efficiency in the identical approach as common Optimus does.

• Battlefield V, Cyberpunk, Doom, Witcher 3 – recorded with Fraps/in-game FPS counter in marketing campaign mode;
• Far Cry 5, 6, Metro, Crimson Useless Redemption 2, Tomb Raider video games – recorded with the included Benchmark utilities;
• Crimson Useless Redemption 2 Optimized profile primarily based on these settings.

These above are rasterization checks, and listed here are some outcomes for RTX titles with and with out DLSS.

The gaming efficiency is simply what you may count on for a high-power RTX 3060 laptop computer in 2022, and on par with different RTX 3060 140W implementations in the identical section.

Decrease energy RTX 3060 laptops are going to fare a little bit slower, and the efficiency differs in some titles between Intel or AMD platforms as effectively. For comparability, the 2022 Legion 5i is about 5-10% sooner than the 2021 Legion 5 (Ryzen + RTX 3060 130W), and on the identical time, and inside lower than 10%  sooner than the i7 + RTX 3060 100W configurations within the Asus TUF Sprint F15 or the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i. Meaning the additional energy doesn’t translate into vital positive factors in gaming skills.

With that out of the best way, let’s go over some efficiency and temperature logs.

The Efficiency mode ramps up the followers to ranges of ~48 dB with the laptop computer sitting on the desk. That retains the CPU at round 70-75 levels Celsius between the examined titles, however the GPU runs at between 83-86 levels and near the 87 C throttling restrict. Compared, the  RTX 3060 130W ran at sub 80 levels C within the 2021 Legion 5.

Bumping the again of the laptop computer off the desk with a purpose to enhance the airflow into the followers results in a 3-7 levels drop within the CPU/GPU temperatures, with the CPU now operating at high-60s C, and the GPU within the very-low-80s C on this case. These are good temperatures for this kind of {hardware} and design, and recommend that it is best to use this laptop computer on a passive raiser-stand and even an lively cooling pad for lengthy gaming periods.

The followers are perceived a little bit louder with the again of the laptop computer got rid of the desk, at round 49-50 dB.

There’s additionally the choice to modify over to the Stability mode.

With Legion Ai Engine disabled, the followers decelerate to about 42 dB at head-level and the framerates take a 7-12% toll from the Efficiency mode, because the GPU energy is restricted at round 95W on this mode. The temperatures are wonderful on each the CPU and GPU, within the 70s on the CPU and mid to excessive 70s on the GPU with the laptop computer sitting on the desk, or decrease with its again bumped up. Stability mode is excellently suited to gaming on this design.

With Legion Ai enabled on Stability, then again, the laptop computer performs simply as on Efficiency mode, with 48 dB followers and the GPU pushed to 135-140W. Therefore, I don’t see the purpose of this setting, when you may go for Efficiency mode as a substitute.

As for the Quiet mode, it retains the followers at sub 35 dB ranges and it’s nonetheless considerably usable at FHD decision and medium settings. This mode limits the GPU to solely round 50-55W of energy, although.

The laptop computer’s efficiency on battery energy is decrease than Quiet mode defined above, with a 40W GPU setting and round 55W mixed. FHD with medium settings ought to nonetheless be doable in most video games, however don’t count on greater than 1 to 1.5 hours of gameplay.

Noise, Warmth, Connectivity, audio system, and others

This Legion 5i will get Lenovo’s commonplace thermal module design, with a two followers, discovered radiators, and 4 heatpipes. In comparison with the earlier Legion 5 technology, an additional heatpipe was added on the GPU facet.

Radiator shields are additionally mounted over the RAM modules, SSDs, and even the wifi card, making for a extra advanced thermal module than you’ll usually discover within the mid-tier area of interest. And that interprets in principally good inner and exterior temperatures.

Positive, the followers are nonetheless choked up by the slim toes design with the laptop computer sitting on a flat floor, similar to on all the opposite Legions, and bumping up the again of the laptop computer helps decrease the inner temperatures. On the desk, the CPU runs at truthful temperatures, however the GPU will get toasty and near the 87 C throttling restrict. Nonetheless, so long as you’re inserting this on a stand, Efficiency mode goes to be completely advantageous.

Stability mode, then again, is a fair higher profile for gaming and mixed masses, with quieter followers, decrease temperatures, and roughly a ten% drop in framerates vs. Efficiency mode.

One different facet to say right here is that mud simply goes inside this laptop computer as a consequence of its open-back design, as Lenovo aren’t isolating the thermal module from the remainder of the motherboard with foam, so the mud freely goes in every single place. Therefore, I’d suggest opening up this laptop computer every so often with a purpose to clear it correctly and stop the mud from clogging in.

So far as the fan noise goes, we’re 48 dB at head-level on the Efficiency mode, 42 dB on Stability mode (with out Legion Ai Engine), and sub 35 dB on Quiet mode, all with demanding actions. With lighter use, you’ll hardly hear the followers on Stability or Quiet, and so they’ll even idle with informal masses on battery mode. I additionally haven’t observed any coil successful or digital noises on this unit.

So far as temperatures go, no complaints. With every day use, the most well liked spot reaches temperatures within the mid-30s on the prime left a part of the inside, and excessive 30s C on the underside.

*Each day Use – streaming Netflix in EDGE for half-hour, Quiet profile,  followers idle or sub 30 dB

With video games and with the laptop computer on a flat floor, the hotspots are nonetheless across the prime a part of the chassis and near the exhausts, however received’t go over the mid-40s on both Stability and Efficiency. The WASD and arrow areas keep within the mid-30s, and the plastic development does a very good job at isolating the warmth, in contrast to the conductive metallic chassis of the opposite Legions.

On the again, across the thermal module, you’ll see temperatures within the mid-50s, so don’t run video games on the lap with out some safety.

*Gaming – Stability– enjoying Cyberpunk for half-hour, followers at ~42 dB
*Gaming – Efficiency – enjoying Cyberpunk for half-hour, followers at ~48 dB

For connectivity, there’s Wi-fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 via an Intel AX211 chip on this laptop computer, in addition to wired Gigabit Lan. The wi-fi proved quick and dependable throughout my time with the laptop computer.

Audio is dealt with by two audio system positioned on the underside of the chassis, and so they’re smaller and tinnier than what Lenovo supply with their different Legions. Therefore, these sound simply meh. At the least the grills are on the angled D-shaped lateral of the underbelly, and so they can’t be muffled and lined as simply as on the opposite Legion designs.

Lastly, I’ll point out the digital camera positioned on the prime of the display, and flanked by microphones. My pattern will get the usual HD digital camera of the previous, with truthful picture high quality in respectable mild. Lenovo additionally point out an choice for the FHD digital camera that’s supplied with the Legion 7s, however I doubt that can make it to most configurations.

I respect the digital shutter supplied on the correct facet of the laptop computer, which helps you to electronically kill each the digital camera and the microphones if you don’t want them.

Battery life

You may get both a 60 Wh or an 80 Wh battery with the 2022 Legion 5i, and our mannequin is the latter.

The system nonetheless doesn’t routinely change the display’s refresh from 165 Hz to 60 Hz if you unplug the laptop computer, as different units do, and the Fn+R shortcut doesn’t do something both. Therefore, you’ll have to manually change between refresh modes within the settings if searching for the perfect battery life outcomes.

It’s additionally essential to set the laptop computer on Hybrid-Auto or Hybrid-iGPU solely modes in Vantage with a purpose to disable the dGPU with battery use, in any other case, the system will hold waking up the dGPU and that can noticeably affect your runtimes.

So right here’s what we bought on our unit, with the display’s brightness set at round 120 nits (~60 brightness) and both 60 or 165 Hz refresh.

• 14 W (~5-6 h of use) – 165Hz, textual content modifying in Google Drive, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 12 W (~6-7 h of use) – 60Hz, textual content modifying in Google Drive, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 14 W (~5-6 h of use) – 165Hz, 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 12.5 W (~6-7 h of use) – 60Hz, 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 14 W (~5-6 h of use) – 165Hz, 4K Netflix with Dolby Imaginative and prescient, fullscreen in Edge, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 12.5 W (~6-7 h of use) – 60Hz, 4K Netflix with Dolby Imaginative and prescient, fullscreen in Edge, Quiet Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 20 W (~4-5 h of use) – 165Hz, looking in Edge, Stability Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;
• 75 W (~1 + h of use) – 165Hz, gaming – Witcher 3, Stability Mode, display at 60%, Wi-Fi ON.

Opting between the 60 and 165Hz refresh makes a distinction right here, and with the correct settings, the runtimes are fairly good for an Intel Core H Twelfth-gen platform.

I’ll additionally add that Lenovo pairs this configuration with a chunky 300W energy brick, a dual-piece design with lengthy cables, and a complete weight of round 1.2 kilos. You can too cost the laptop computer through USB-C at as much as 135W, in case you don’t need to convey alongside the principle charger, simply remember that it’s not going to run at full capabilities on USB-C energy.

Value and availability- Legion 5i

The Legion 5i is available in shops in most areas of the world on the time of this text.

The Intel i7 + RTX 3060 configuration reviewed right here is curently listed at Lenovo’s US retailer at $1329 (down from $1669 MSRP), with 16 GB of RAM , 512 GB SSD, and the 80Wh battery, however the FHD 165 Hz panel choice. The identical specs, however with the QHD show, are listed in Europe at round 1500-1700 EUR between the totally different international locations, with out accounting for the occasional reductions.

Different choices can be found as effectively, beginning at sub $1300 for the 3050Ti mannequin and going over 2K for the 3070Ti variant. The 3060 configurations are the better-value choices on this chassis, however the others are attention-grabbing as effectively, on the proper worth.

Follow this link for updated configurations and prices in your region on the time you’re studying this text.

For what’s price, the AMD-based 2022 Legion 5 fashions are additionally available in shops, beginning at round $1200 MSRP. At this actual second, although, the AMD RTX 3060 mannequin is costlier than the Intel variant, but that may change over time. Typically, I count on the AMD Ryzen 6000 configurations to promote for at the very least $100 lower than a equally specced Intel mode.

Closing thoughts- 2022 Lenovo Legion 5i

For the final years, the Legion 5 has been one of many highest-rated multi-purpose laptop computer collection within the mid-range worth section, and that’s not going to alter for the 2022 mannequin yr both.

In reality, Lenovo had been capable of polish a few of my nits with the earlier design, significantly across the unrefined energy profiles and quirky wi-fi. On prime of that, the 2022 Legion is a recent design with cleaner appears to be like and improved ergonomics, in addition to an up to date set of specs, now operating at larger energy than earlier than and able to elevated capabilities in demanding masses and in video games.

That’s particularly the case for the Intel-based Legion 5i fashions, the place the generational leap in efficiency from final yr is huge; the AMD mannequin isn’t as highly effective this yr, however is the extra power-efficient choice and the extra inexpensive alternative for budget-conscious patrons.

On the identical time, this laptop computer stays a full-size design weighing round 2.5 kilos, so principally suited to desk use, particularly when you think about that huge 300W energy brick within the combine. Most different laptops on this house are lighter, such because the Acer Nitro 5 or the Asus TUF Gaming collection, or the MSI Katana GF66s. Some are a little bit bit extra compact as effectively, though if portability is essential to you, a lot smaller RTX-based alternate options can be found, and so they’re pretty shut in efficiency regardless of operating lower-power {hardware} implementations. Amongst these, the TUF Sprint F15 or the ROG Zephyrus G15 come to thoughts, from those we’ve examined within the final months.

On prime of those, you also needs to take into account in your choice the competing 16-inch choices out there on this house on the market, and particularly the wonderful Legion 5 Professionals with the brighter panels and the marginally higher-quality development. For me, these are price a premium over the common Legion 5s, that are solely out there with relatively dull-looking and dim 16:9 300-nits screens. Between areas and gross sales affords, that premium could be $100 or $500, and across the $100-$200 mark I’d favor getting the 5 Professionals over the common 5s if potential.

So all in all, the 2022 Legion 5i continues to be a superb efficiency and gaming laptop computer within the mid-tier class, however I really feel that not essentially as dominating in its area of interest as previously. On one hand, the Legion 5 Professional collection is a troublesome contender on the proper worth, and on the opposite, competing merchandise from different manufacturers have improved a good bit over their earlier generations, combating the competitors on this house. You’re not going to be fallacious going with a Legion 5, however this isn’t essentially excellent for everybody.

This wraps out my time with this 2022 Lenovo Legion 5i collection, however I’d love to listen to your ideas on the collection and suggestions on my assessment, so get in contact within the feedback part down beneath.