In the gaming world, the 13-inch laptop display is too small and 17 inches is too big. The 15-inch middle-child is a happy one. At the same time, I want a laptop that’s a gaming beast but should be able to handle all my other tasks, especially video editing. And I want something that wouldn’t stick out as a gaming laptop when I open it before business associates. It’s a lot to ask but there are some machines that deliver this and more, like Lenovo’s Legion 5i.
The Legion 5i is a long-haul machine as it allows you to easily expand and upgrade while the GPU and processor are enough to see you through for some years. Also, there is no skimping on the storage (the review unit had 1TB HDD). Let’s get down to business.
Perfect for all occasions
In way of looks, sporty is written all over it. Even though the material is plastic but it’s minus the feel of cheap plastic. One look and a gamer would be convinced that this is a gaming machine without overlooking the fact that the finish is also suited for boardrooms. Yes, it can toggle two worlds without looking out of place.
Weighing 2.3kgs, the laptop can easily slip into a backpack. At the same, one must remember that this is primarily a gaming laptop, which means the cooling system adds to the bulk. It’s not that heavy a laptop for gamers.
I really like the 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, which gets bright enough for gaming and watching films is also fun. The display hinge allows the user to open it flat at 180 degrees which is a help. There is good colour accuracy and range. In the same breathe, the biggest problem I have with the laptop is the display, which has a good degree of flex. It’s not a bad display but such flex is unwelcome in an expensive laptop.
Moving to the keyboard, it’s as good as it gets. The full-sized backlit keyboard has the keys well spread out and there is a click-y feel to the keys while the numpad is not bundled closely with the other keys; it’s slightly away from everything, which helps while gaming. Even the tab, shift, ctrl, Fn and Esc keys are big enough, which helps during gaming. The touchpad is sufficiently big without any flex and it’s quite intuitive. By the way, do try to change the backlighting of the keyboard by hitting the function key and spacebar. Pretty neat!
Also satisfying to see the connectors that have been provided. There is one USB port on each side while all the other ports are at the back (the headphone jack is on the left). At the back you will get two more USB ports, one USB Type-C port, one HDMI port and RJ45. It helps that most of the ports are at the back because when you keep it on your workstation, most of the cables won’t be visible.
Keeps a cool head!
I am really impressed by what Lenovo has done here. Powering the machine is a 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor. Playing using the highest settings is not a problem and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti keeps thing running smoothly. We played quite a bit of Forza Horizon 4 and Sniper Fury, both of which worked well. There is 120Hz screen refresh rate, which is sufficient for most gamers.
We then moved on to some video and photo editing. With Photoshop there is no problem but while using Premiere Pro to edit 4K videos, the machine at times uses up almost all the RAM.
Be it gaming or video editing, the cooling system is absolutely top-notch. The fans never get loud to the point of being unbearable. There are enough cooling vents on the machine — two on the sides, two on the back and a long one at the back.
Coming to battery life, it all depends on what you are using the laptop for. If it is about running games at its highest specs, don’t expect more than four and a half hours of battery life but if it about web browsing, watching films or daily work, then it goes up to six hours. Video editing can also drain power. In case you are travelling, carry the power adapter around, in case you get in the mood for some gaming. Being a gaming laptop, speakers are an important element. The Dolby Atmos speaker system is very good in way of sound quality, ensuring good separation of sounds.
Is it for you?
Specs aside, Lenovo has put a lot of attention to details. Clean looks, excellent thermals, amazing typing comfort on the keyboard, enough future-proofing and most of the ports are out sight while using the machine. For me, the win factor is the fact I can flaunt Lenovo’s Legion 5i both as a gaming as well as a productivity laptop. Truly a battle royale-ready laptop.
At a glance
Device: Lenovo Legion 5i
Processor: 10th Generation Intel Core i7-10750H
OS: Windows 10 Home
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650Ti 4GB GDDR6
Memory: 8GB (1x8) DDR4 2933Mhz Memory
Storage: 1TB HDD
Audio: 2 X 2W Harman Kardon speaker system with chamber and Dolby Atmos for gaming
Web cam: Built-in HD web cam (720p)
Battery: 60Whr 4 cells
Price: Rs 99,990