Lenovo Legion 7i Best 16” Gaming Laptop 2024 Review

Lenovo’s Legion 7i is my favorite 16” gaming laptop in 2024 so far. It replaces last year’s Legion Slim 7i, offering a thinner premium gaming experience with notable improvements and a reduced price. The 2024 Legion 7i is available in eclipse black or glacier white finishes.

Design and Build Quality

The anodized aluminum top and bottom panels feel nice, and the overall build quality is good. The front edge feels a bit sharp, but the curved edge is comfortable when resting your hands. There’s minimal flex in the keyboard and lid, but the laptop moved slightly on my desk when trying to bend the lid, indicating it could benefit from gripper front rubber feet. The middle of the lid sticks out for easy opening, and the screen can go the full 180 degrees back.

Portability

The Legion 7i is very similar in size to last year’s Legion Slim 7i but slightly deeper, with the thickness remaining almost the same. The laptop alone weighs 5lb (2.3kg), increasing to 7.2lb (3.3kg) with the included 230-watt charger. Lenovo has thankfully avoided using their chunky 300-watt brick.

Configuration and Performance

My configuration includes Intel’s Core i9-14900HX processor, Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics, 32 gigs of RAM, and a 16” 165Hz screen. Various configurations are available depending on your budget and needs.

Keyboard and Touch pad

The keyboard features per-key RGB lighting, with the option for white lighting only. Brightness is adjustable in 3 levels via the function key and arrow keys, or up to 9 levels through Lenovo’s Vantage software. The keyboard has 1.5mm key travel, offering a comfortable typing experience, although white keys can be harder to see in bright rooms depending on the RGB lighting. The glass touch pad is smooth, satisfying to press, but the click can be a little loud.

Power Button and Fingerprint Scanner

The power button is separate from the keyboard and doubles as a fingerprint scanner, lighting up green when activated. It is fast and accurate in recognizing fingerprints.

Ports and Connectivity

The Legion 7i offers a variety of ports:

  • Left Side: USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.
  • Right Side: Full-size SD card slot, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, camera disconnect switch, and another USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port.
  • Back: HDMI 2.1 and power input, with no Ethernet port unfortunately.

The port icons light up, making it easier to plug in cables without turning the laptop around. Both Type-C ports on the left can be used to charge the laptop, but only the one at the back supports DisplayPort for connecting monitors. HDMI always connects to the Nvidia graphics, capable of 4K 120Hz 12-bit with G-Sync.

Upgradeability

Accessing the internals requires unscrewing 8 Phillips head screws. Inside, there are two memory slots, two PCIe Gen 4 M.2 slots, and a Wi-Fi 6E card. The upgrade ability score is good for a 16-inch laptop, with the addition of a second memory slot compared to last year’s model.

Speakers and Audio

The speakers are located underneath on the left and right sides towards the front, offering above-average sound quality with some bass. The latency results were acceptable, with no major issues.

Battery Life

The 7i is powered by a 4-Cell 99.9Wh battery. Lenovo’s Vantage software includes features like adaptive refresh rate, conservation mode, and slower overnight charging to help prolong battery life. The laptop lasted almost 6 hours in YouTube video playback tests, slightly behind Razer’s Blade 16, but better than previous Legion models.

Thermals and Cooling

The Legion 7i features a new cooler design with two fans that spin in opposite directions, guiding cool air through a central chamber while ensuring hot air only exits out the back. Lenovo claims this design is both cooler and quieter. The Vantage software offers different performance modes, with the ability to customize fan speeds, power, and temperature limits.

Gaming and Performance

The laptop performed well in stress tests, with internal temperatures staying relatively low. Performance mode and custom mode were similar in average FPS during gaming, with the higher CPU power limit in custom mode providing a more stable experience. The 7i’s performance on battery power is impressive, now the second-highest result out of 41 laptops tested.

Screen Options

The Legion 7i offers two screen options: a 2560×1600 240Hz panel or a 3200×2000 165Hz panel. My 3.2K screen has higher color gamut, suitable for creators, while gamer might prefer the 2560×1600 option for easier game running. The screen brightness is slightly higher than advertised, with minimal backlight bleed.

MUX Switch and Optimums

The Legion 7i includes a MUX switch, allowing you to switch between integrated and discrete graphics via Lenovo Vantage. Advanced optimus is also available, enabling or disabling optimus without rebooting through the Nvidia control panel.

Conclusion

Overall, the Lenovo Legion 7i in 2024 is a significant upgrade over last year’s model, offering improved cooling, better battery life, and impressive performance in a sleek, portable design. It’s a top contender for gamers and creators alike, making it my favorite 16” gaming laptop of the year.

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