Legion 9i Gen 8 16irx8 Review: Lenovo’s Most Ambitious Gaming Laptop Yet

Unveiled only a few quick weeks in the past at IFA 2023, the brand new Legion 9i 16 is the highest-end Legion style to be had surpassing the midrange Legion 5 sequence and upper-midrange Legion 7 sequence. It’s the first Legion 9 product in different years after the mediocre Legion Y920 again in 2017. The newest style is notable for its mini-LED show and built-in liquid cooling thermals.

Our unit in assessment has been configured with the entirety and the kitchen sink to incorporate a thirteenth gen Core i9-13980HX CPU, 175 W GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 1 TB PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSD in RAID 0, and three.2K (3200 x 2000) mini-LED 165 Hz show with DCI-P3 colours for slightly below $4000 USD retail. All choices at the present time send with the similar Core i9 CPU and mini-LED show whilst best the GPU can also be configured right down to the RTX 4080.

Choices to the Legion 9i 16 come with different 16-inch gaming laptops just like the Razer Blade 16, Asus ROG Strix G16, HP Omen Go beyond 16, and the Alienware x16 R1.

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The Legion 9i 16 makes use of equivalent matte magnesium fabrics as at the Legion 7 sequence, however they’re visually very other. Initially, the keyboard has been driven ahead to be nearer to the person very similar to the Asus Zephyrus S GX531 to be able to make room for extra air flow grilles and a bigger cooling answer. Secondly, a novel carbon wrap development across the outer lid is helping to cut back fingerprint buildup whilst contributing to the gamer aesthetic. And finally, the sticking out rear has thickened to raised accommodate all of the inside adjustments and extra not easy {hardware}.

Chassis high quality is very good with just a little bit of yielding when making an attempt to curve the lid or depress the keyboard middle or palm rests. It does not really feel any higher or worse than the Legion 7 16 or Alienware x16 R1 relating to stress particularly since all of them weigh about the similar. Alternatively, the hinges stay moderately small in comparison to the a lot greater hinges of the Asus Strix sequence or the hot MSI Raider GE68. They is also sufficient when new, however best time will inform how effectively they’ll fare ultimately.

The prolonged rear and critical Core i9/RTX 4090 internals have resulted in a bigger and thicker chassis than the Legion 7 16. The diversities are noticeable because the Legion 9i 16 is greater than many different 16-inch gaming laptops just like the ROG Strix G16, Blade 16, or Omen Go beyond 16. Prime functionality and complex options come at the price of portability on this regard.

Port choices are considerable with maximum of them situated alongside the rear as a substitute of the perimeters. In contrast to the rear ports at the Alienware X16 R1, on the other hand, the ports at the Lenovo are personally categorised with LED signs for more uncomplicated get entry to.

Most effective the 2 rear USB-C ports can be utilized for exterior displays or for recharging the computer by the use of Energy Supply. The 3rd USB-C port alongside the precise edge is for information and charging exterior gadgets best.

The built-in SD reader is an aim to draw content material creators up to hardcore players to the Legion 9i. Switch charges don’t seem to be that groovy, on the other hand, at lower than part the rate of the SD reader at the Razer Blade 16.

The Killer AX1675i comes same old which is the gaming logo for the common AX211. Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are supported and we skilled no connectivity problems when paired to our Asus AXE11000 6 GHz community.

The two MP webcam is same old for the gaming computer class. Whilst there’s an built-in digicam kill transfer, there’s no IR sensor.

The ground panel is secured via 8 Phillips screws for moderately simple elimination. In contrast to on maximum different laptops, the motherboard at the Legion 9 16 is upside-down and so additional disassembly is needed to get entry to the cooling answer RAM modules. No less than the 2 M.2 2280 SSD slots are simply out there.

Along with the standard proprietary AC adapter and bureaucracy, the retail field additionally features a very at hand common 140 W USB-C adapter that can be utilized to price this computer and maximum different USB-C gadgets and eight keycaps.

The usual one-year restricted producer guaranty applies if bought in the USA.

The TrueStrike keyboard provides 1.5 mm key commute to be rather deeper than the keys on maximum Ultrabooks. Comments is unusually sharp and relaxed for membrane-based keys to turn that you just don’t want fancy mechanical switches for a just right typing revel in. The company keys are louder than the keys at the Blade 16 or Asus Zephyrus M16 however unquestionably nonetheless now not as clicky because the mechanical keys on fashions just like the Schenker XMG Neo 15 or Alienware m18.

The clickpad has been contracted to simply (12 x 5.9 cm) because of the site of the keyboard. Vertical cursor actions at the tall 16:10 display really feel cramped in consequence particularly when in comparison to gaming laptops with a lot greater clickpads just like the Razer Blade 16. Lenovo is banking on players the usage of their very own USB or Bluetooth mice for nearly all of eventualities.

Gliding and clicking are another way clean and with a delightful click on regardless of the small floor space. Alternatively, cursor actions would every so often freeze on our unit when the usage of the clickpad whilst the similar factor would now not happen when the usage of an exterior mouse. We propose double-checking the clickpad upon buying to verify it is freed from any defects.

When in comparison to conventional IPS and OLED, mini-LED provides awesome black ranges than the previous or even upper most brightness ranges than the latter for total higher HDR fortify. On this case, Lenovo advertises a most brightness of 1200 nits for HDR1000 fortify which is unusual to peer on computer presentations. We are ready to substantiate a real-world most brightness of 1025 nits when HDR mode is enabled or 675 nits when exhibiting SDR content material. Maximum IPS and OLED panels on gaming laptops normally vary between 300 to 500 nits compared. Thus, you will want to play content material in HDR mode each time imaginable to raised exploit the advantages of mini-LED.

Apart from the very excessive brightness ranges, the panel additionally options G-Sync, complete DCI-P3 colours, rapid 165 Hz refresh fee and rapid reaction instances to be are compatible for each content material introduction and gaming functions alike.

The show comes well-calibrated out of the field towards the P3 same old with moderate grayscale and colour DeltaE values of simply 3 and a couple of.56, respectively. 

Flickering is provide on all brightness ranges at a gradual frequency of 4752 Hz.

Outside visibility is very good for a gaming computer because of the aforementioned excessive most brightness of mini-LED. Nevertheless, the heavy weight and quick battery lifetime of the device nonetheless restrict the computer to most commonly indoor eventualities.

We set our unit to Efficiency mode and dGPU mode by the use of Lenovo Vantage previous to working the benchmarks beneath. GPU Overclock may be enabled via default at +150 MHz GPU and +200 MHz VRAM just like on different high-end Legion fashions. It is really helpful that homeowners develop into aware of Vantage to regulate energy profiles and different auxiliary settings.

Complex Optimus, MUX and G-Sync are all supported not like at the fresh Legion Narrow 5 14.

CPU functionality is very good with effects which might be about 80 to 90 p.c quicker in multi-threaded workloads than the typical Core i7-13700H. The Core i9-13980HX is one in all Intel’s quickest cellular CPUs at the present time, however it nonetheless falls at the back of the competing Ryzen 9 7945HX in maximum multi-threaded benchmarks via about 10 p.c.

Efficiency is best 5 p.c quicker than the Core i9-13950HX in line with our time with the 2023 Razer Blade 16. Sadly, Lenovo does now not be offering some other CPUs choices rather then the Core i9-13980HX for individuals who would possibly have sought after to save lots of a couple of hundred greenbacks.

PCMark rankings are one of the most perfect of any gaming computer irrespective of measurement due in no small phase to our thirteenth gen Core HX CPU, RTX 4090 GPU, and particularly the RAID 0 PCIe4 x4 configuration. Nevertheless, we nonetheless skilled wake-from-sleep problems the place the display would every now and then stay clean and “frozen” for strangely lengthy classes of time. We suspect this may well be because of how the style juggles between the various other GPU modes.

LatencyMon finds DPC problems when opening more than one browser tabs of our homepage. 4K video playback at 60 FPS is sort of very best with only one dropped body recorded all the way through a one-minute period.

Our unit comes configured with two SK hynix HFS001TEJ9X115N PCIe4 x4 NVMe SSDs in RAID 0 configuration for insanely rapid sequential learn and write charges of up over 12000 MB/s an 11000 MB/s, respectively. Sadly, the drives are at risk of throttling when working at such excessive speeds for prolonged classes. Our DiskSpd loop check effects beneath display learn charges for some of the drives falling to round 4600 MB/s after about 4 mins.

Our 175 W cellular GeForce RTX 4090 plays inside simply 1 to two share issues of the typical computer in our database with the similar GPU. Effects are spectacular bearing in mind how extensive some RTX 4090 laptops can also be such because the MSI Raider GE78 HX 13VI.

When having a look on the larger image, the cellular RTX 4090 is set 40 p.c slower than a “correct” desktop RTX 4090. In reality, it provides best modest advantages of simply 5 to ten p.c over the cellular RTX 4080 configuration.

Working at the Balanced energy profile with overclocking grew to become off would cut back graphics functionality via about 17 p.c in step with our Hearth Strike effects desk beneath.

All video games run rather well on QHD or upper together with not easy titles like Cyberpunk 2077 or Ratchet and Clank. Observe that G-Sync can best be enabled if set to dGPU mode as it’s another way disabled if on Hybrid or built-in graphics modes.

The enthusiasts nearly by no means idle and so some noise will have to at all times be anticipated. They have a tendency to hover round 30.4 dB(A) towards a silent background of 23.7 dB(A) when below maximum commonplace rather a lot like internet surfing or video streaming even if set to Quiet mode. This vary is conventional of maximum different gaming laptops below equivalent stipulations, however the Legion 9i 16 does not pulse as ceaselessly supplied that you are working on Balanced iGPU mode or decrease.

Fan noise ramps up considerably as much as 52.2 dB(A) when gaming on Efficiency mode which is the predicted vary for high-end gaming laptops. The noise would drop rather to 49.5 dB(A) if gaming on Balanced mode as a substitute, however be mindful the 17 p.c graphics deficit when in comparison to Efficiency mode as famous above. Headphones when gaming are really helpful in both case.

Floor temperatures are relatively heat regardless of the complex thermals. When gaming, the WASD keys and keyboard middle can also be as heat as 42 C and 46 C, respectively, which is rather hotter than what we noticed at the Alienware x16 R1. Many different gaming laptops just like the Razer Blade 16 pull in recent air from the WASD keys to stay that portion of the keyboard cool for extra relaxed gaming, however this isn’t the case for our Legion 9 16 design as proven via the temperature maps beneath.

CPU clock charges and board energy draw when beginning Prime95 tension would spike to three.6 GHz and 138 W, respectively, ahead of shedding and stabilizing at 3.0 GHz and 125 W after a few minute into the check. Core temperature would stabilize at 83 C in comparison to 100 C at the greater Alienware m18 R1 supplied with the very same Core i9-13980HX.

GPU functionality relies closely at the energy profile decided on as discussed above within the GPU Efficiency segment. When working Witcher 3 on Efficiency mode, for instance, the Nvidia GPU would stabilize at 2265 MHz and 160 W in comparison to simply 1650 MHz and 104 W when on Balanced mode with GPU Overclock off. GPU temperature would stabilize at 78 C in comparison to 71 C at the Blade 16 with the similar RTX 4090 GPU.

Energy intake could be very excessive regardless of the ability surroundings. Idling on desktop on Energy Saver iGPU mode and at the minimal brightness surroundings would nonetheless call for 32 W in comparison to simply 9 W to ten W at the Legion Narrow 5 16 or Asus ROG Strix G16 every with IPS panels. Intake additionally relies now not simply on brightness but in addition on colour just like with an OLED panel. An all-white display on our Legion 9i 16, for instance, would call for about 13 W greater than an all-black display even if at the most brightness surroundings for each colours. IPS panels would call for only a few watts at maximum regardless of the colour compared.

Working Prime95 on an exterior observe presentations very equivalent intake ranges between our Lenovo unit and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 powered via the competing Ryzen 9 7945HX as proven via the comparability graphs beneath. Efficiency-per-watt is however nonetheless in AMD’s want because the Ryzen 9 7945HX edges out our Core i9-13980HX in multi-threaded workloads regardless of their equivalent energy calls for.

Intake when gaming is rather upper via about 10 p.c when in comparison to the Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 SE with the older RTX 3080 Ti. Alternatively, the 40 to 75 p.c build up in graphics functionality with our RTX 4090 greater than makes up for the smaller build up in intake. The very excessive performance-per-watt of the cellular Ada Lovelace sequence is spectacular and second-to-none at the present time.

We are ready to measure a most draw of 298 W from the medium-large (18.5 x 2.6 x8.3 cm) 330 W AC adapter when each the CPU and GPU are every at one hundred pc usage. This fee is best transient because of thermal barriers.

Runtimes are deficient which correlate with our excessive energy intake numbers above. We are best to browse the internet for simply 160 mins even if set to Balanced iGPU mode. Different mini-LED laptops, just like the HP Omen Go beyond 16, would additionally show off very quick runtimes regardless of their extensive 90+ Wh battery packs.

Charging is a minimum of very rapid at kind of one hour when Lenovo Speedy Price is enabled in comparison to 90 mins or longer on maximum different gaming laptops. 3rd-party USB-C adapters too can price the device albeit at a slower fee and with unguaranteed compatibility.

In case you are available in the market for a Core i9 CPU, RTX 4090 GPU, and mini-LED show, then the Legion 9i 16 is actually price bearing in mind. When in comparison to different mini-LED gaming laptops just like the HP Omen Go beyond 16, Razer Blade 16, or the Asus Zephyrus M16, the Lenovo provides quicker graphics than the HP, decrease costs than the Razer, and the next local answer than the Asus. It nails each the specs and bodily design to be a wholesome step up from the already superb Legion Professional 7 sequence.

All of the upgrades have naturally resulted in a larger and heavier chassis. If you wish to have the CPU and show options of the Lenovo however in a extra moveable shape issue, then the pricier Blade 16 could be profitable. The built-in liquid cooling sounds attention-grabbing on paper, however it does not appear to have made for a lighter, quieter, and even cooler design. Be expecting the Lenovo to run simply as loudly as maximum different gaming laptops in the similar measurement class.

The Legion 9i 16 has all of the fancy specifications and a brand new glance that lovers can admire as long as you’ll omit the quick battery lifestyles and moderately extensive chassis.

You will have to in reality need mini-LED if you wish to have the Legion 9 16 because it provides no different show choices for higher or worse. Mini-LED is at its highest when HDR is enabled to take advantage of its 1000-nit most brightness. Another way, the panel could be very not easy at the battery with out a different main advantages over more cost effective panels like IPS or OLED.

Lenovo is now delivery its Legion 9i Gen 8 style beginning at $3420 USD if configured with the GeForce RTX 4080 as much as $4000 USD if absolutely configured with the RTX 4090 and further garage.