Lenovo’s Legion Pro 9i gaming laptop is filled with intricate specs that you might not think are upgrades, but make for a very intriguing device.
Lenovo has some of the best gaming laptops on the market, and it has extensively built its line to offer a range of configurations for different scenarios. The new Legion 9i Pro, however, is something special.
From specs alone, it’s one of the fastest gaming laptops money can buy, offering up to an RTX 4090 and Intel’s Core i9-13980HX. But the specs aren’t what stand out here. Lenovo has taken this device to the next level with water cooling, an ultra-bright mini-LED display, 140 watts of USB-C charging, and so much more. It’s not here yet, but the Legion Pro 9i might be Lenovo’s best laptop yet.
I tested the laptop at a preview event in New York ahead of its upcoming release and got an idea of where the line is headed.SpecsDesign
The Lenovo Legion 9i is a handsome device indeed. The most striking aspect of its design is its forged carbon top cover, which resembles military fatigues. The design of each system is notably unique due to the manufacturing process. Having spoken with Lenovo earlier this summer about its recycling and sustainability efforts, the company explained how it uses reclaimed waste material from other industries as a source for new products. It’s fascinating to see the designs actualized on devices set for the market.
Lenovo said the forged carbon helps lighten the weight of the Legion 9i, in comparison to other woven carbon materials used on older models. However, I found this laptop to still be rather hefty at approximately 5.64 pounds, and this is just its starting weight. It exceeds the 5.5-pound aluminum-built Legion 7 by several ounces, and I rated that device as sturdy, especially considering its premium materials.
While the Legion 9i might be made of lighter materials, its recycled magnesium alloy frame is wider and thicker at 14.08 inches by 10.93 inches by 0.74 to 0.89 inches. That could easily account for a weight difference. The size difference between the machines is notable considering they both have the same 16-inch display size.
For splashes of color, the laptop has an array of RGB lighting options, including its Legion Spectrum per-key RGB keyboard and strips of RGB lighting on its rear base, right above its ports, and at the front underside of the laptop. The Legion logo in the upper-right corner also glows with RGB. These effects make for great aesthetics, and they are software-controllable.
Rounding out the standard design features are a 1080p built-in webcam with a privacy e-shutter, which is among the ports along the side of the system.
