Is the Lenovo Legion 7i the perfect versatile laptop you’ve been searching for? This powerhouse aims to bridge the gap between a high-performance gaming laptop and a capable workstation. Featuring the 10th generation Intel Core i processors and powerful NVIDIA RTX graphics, the Legion 7i promises a smooth experience for both demanding games and professional tasks. This model also boasts an updated cooler system and a blazing-fast 240Hz refresh rate display, which we’ll delve into further below.
In this review, we’ll be focusing on the Intel Core i7-based model with NVIDIA RTX 2080 graphics (part number 81YT0005US). If you’re leaning towards AMD-based gaming laptops, be sure to check out our review of the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro!
Key Specifications of the Lenovo Legion 7i 81YT0005US:
- CPU: Intel Core i7-1075H
- RAM: 32GB DDR4
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q 8GB
- Display: 15.6-inch FHD (1920 x 1080), 240Hz Refresh Rate, 500 nits Brightness
- Storage: 512 GB PCIe SSD + 1 TB PCIe SSD
- Price (after web savings): $2,479.99 + tax
Sleek Design
The Lenovo Legion 7i stands out with its surprisingly thin profile for a gaming laptop without sacrificing build quality. Aesthetically, it shares similarities with the Legion 5i but boasts an even slimmer and lighter design, weighing in at approximately 4.6 pounds. The brushed metal chassis, complemented by subtle RGB accents, exudes a sophisticated, minimalist look. Lenovo currently offers six configurations of the Legion 7i model, with prices reaching up to $3199.99 + tax (or $2,889.99 discounted).
Premium design elements include LED light trims around the fan vents, LED strips along the bottom, and a customizable per-key RGB lighting keyboard. The iconic Legion “Y” logo is elegantly laser-engraved in the Slate Gray finish, solidifying the Lenovo Legion 7i’s status as a premium gaming laptop.
Immersive Display
The Lenovo Legion 7i features a vibrant 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) matte display, engineered for an immersive gaming experience. The panel delivers rich color contrast and saturation, covering 100% of the Adobe sRGB color gamut and supporting Vesa DisplayHDR 400 technology.
Like the Legion 5i, the Lenovo Legion 7i’s display offers a 180-degree hinge for added flexibility. It also includes a physical privacy switch at the top for enhanced security. The 240Hz refresh rate ensures incredibly smooth visuals, which are crucial for competitive gaming, while the 500 nits brightness contributes to a vivid and realistic image. It’s important to note that this specific configuration does not support NVIDIA G-SYNC.
Comprehensive Port Selection with LED Accents
A standout feature of the Legion 7i is its thoughtfully placed ports, enhanced with cool LED trims for better visibility. The laptop offers a wide array of I/O options:
- Headphone/mic combo jack
- RJ45 Ethernet port
- Kensington lock slot
- Two USB Type-C ports (one with Thunderbolt 3)
- HDMI 2.0
- Three USB 3.2 ports
- Power DC jack
Performance
The Lenovo Legion 7i (81YT0005US) is powered by the Intel Core i7-1075H processor, which has a base clock speed of 2.6GHz. As noted above, it also comes with 32GB of DDR4 2933MHz memory, a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics card (8GB VRAM), and a dual storage solution of 1TB PCIe SSD and a 512GB PCIe SSD combo.
The Lenovo Legion 7i delivers impressive and responsive performance, handling demanding AAA games effortlessly. While some graphically intensive titles like Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider may cause some heat buildup, users report that engaging the highest performance mode optimizes gameplay, similar to other high-end gaming laptops like the HP Omen 15 and MSI GS66 Stealth.
For digital content creation tasks such as running Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Pro, the system requires some optimization to achieve peak smoothness. The Asus Zephyrus G14, despite featuring an RTX 2060 Max-Q, has shown slightly better performance in this area.
Thermals
To manage heat effectively, the Lenovo Legion 7i incorporates an advanced thermal system featuring an integrated 2mm Vapor Chamber and an updated 6-point thermal sensor array. This system works in conjunction with a dual-fan design utilizing 73 liquid-crystal polymer fan blades, optimized thermal channels, and improved airflow. The Lenovo Q-Control 3.0 feature provides manual control over fan speeds and voltage, allowing users to activate thermal throttling when necessary, which transitions to power throttling after a short period.
TrueStrike Keyboard
The Lenovo Legion 7i features the renowned Lenovo TrueStrike keyboard, known for its soft-landing switches and comfortable 1.3mm key travel. It includes a full numeric keypad and dedicated media keys with a user-friendly layout. The per-key RGB lighting, powered by Corsair iCUE support, offers over 16 million customizable color combinations for both the keyboard and the chassis LED accents.
While the touchpad has been noted to have a small gap, it is unlikely to cause any long-term issues or malfunctions, similar to designs found in other premium laptops like the MSI GS75.
The Verdict: A Highly Versatile Premium Laptop
If you’re in the market for a versatile laptop that excels in gaming and productivity, has a fantastic selection of ports, and has a premium look and feel, the Lenovo Legion 7i is a strong contender. With six different configurations available, you can find a model to suit your specific needs and budget.
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