Launching at IFA, the Lenovo Legion 9i is Lenovo’s flagship gaming laptop for 2023. The laptop comes with unique features that set it apart from the crowd, catering to gamers and creators who want a top-of-the-line machine that can rival gaming rigs while providing some ‘peace and quiet’.
Lenovo announced the Lenovo Legion 9i as “the latest pinnacle of Lenovo Legion’s gaming laptop innovation”, and on closer inspection, we see why. The most prominent feature of the laptop is its self-contained liquid-cooling system, a world’s first according to Lenovo.
https://youtu.be/YHn8MkSXQLI
The Legion Coldfront integrated liquid-cooling system, which was co-engineered with Cooler Master, uses a “triple-fan air-cooling system with 6,333 individual intake vents”. It diligently monitors the GPU and springs to action when it reaches 84°C. Lenovo’s data reveals that this cooling system can output up to 230W TDP, competently managing even the most demanding workloads.
For PC builders or gaming enthusiasts, liquid cooling reigns as the pinnacle of PC cooling solutions. However, it can be difficult to set up because it requires extensive measurements and planning, but liquid cooling dissipates heat more efficiently while producing less noise.
This holds particular importance for gamers or creators who frequently overclock their PCs for CPU-intensive tasks. These creators willingly undergo the arduous and complicated process of installing liquid cooling due to its efficient and quieter operation, and because it enables them to squeeze out extra performance from their setup.
That’s what makes the Lenovo Legion 9i so special. Should it deliver the anticipated performance levels, Lenovo will successfully achieve its aim of providing gamers and creators with a “full development studio in their bag”.
However, the standout features of the new Lenovo Legion 9i extend beyond its projected performance capabilities. Lenovo has also positioned the new laptop as a luxury device, a designation achieved through meticulous design choices. To that effect, Lenovo opted for a forged carbon A-cover on the Lenovo Legion 9i which it asserts is “unique to each laptop”.
According to Lenovo, the unique finish on the cover results from the forging process. Beyond aesthetics, Lenovo disclosed that the forged carbon A-cover also reduces the weight of the Lenovo Legion 9i – a critical step to offset the additional weight from the self-contained liquid cooling system.
The Lenovo Legion 9i also boasts an Intel Core i9 processor and can be configured up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, 2TB SSD storage, and 64GB Overclocked 5600Mhz Dual Channel DDR5 RAM. These specs provide users with a significant advantage when handling more demanding tasks and applications, especially those that require a higher amount of memory.
The laptop has a massive 165Hz 3.2K Mini-LED display with Lenovo’s PureSight technology, boasting a 94% screen-to-body ratio. The display allows users to seamlessly switch between DCI-P3 and sRGB color spaces through the XRite software. Additionally, a Lenovo LA-2 AI chip integrates a Smart FPS feature to dynamically adjust the power supply to the GPU and CPU, maximizing on-screen FPS.
The Lenovo LA-2 AI chip also drives an intriguing feature – it monitors on-screen color changes and synchronizes them with the RGB lighting around the Lenovo Legion 9i for a more immersive experience.
Lastly, the Lenovo Legion 9i has a 99.99Whr battery, and ships with a 330W slim adapter and 140W Type-C power adapter. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 7, and Bluetooth 5.3, and users can pick between Windows 11 Pro and Windows 11 Home. In line with Lenovo’s tradition, the Legion 9i packs software features like Lenovo Vantage and Lenovo Arena, and purchasers receive a complimentary 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Lenovo Legion 9i Pricing and availability
The Lenovo Legion 9i will be available from October 2023 for a starting price of $4,399.
Our coverage of Lenovo’s announcements at IFA 2023 is brought to you by Lenovo. All thoughts and opinions are 100% our own.