Tag Archives: Laptops

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (2024) Laptop Review: Uncompromising Power at a Fair Price

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PROS:


  • Unbeatable performance for its price tag

  • Beautiful and vibrant 16-inch 2K 240Hz screen

  • A wide variety of ports

CONS:


  • Bulky and aggressive design

  • A bit pricey without discounts

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Although a heavyweight in actual weight and price, the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 delivers almost everything gamers and content creators need without breaking the bank.

Microsoft has been very aggressive with its push of AI on new Windows computers, represented by its now omnipresent CoPilot key. New laptops have just been launched touting AI capabilities that revolve largely around the usual culprits like content generation or summarizing content, but they’re not the only new kids on the block either. A new breed of gaming laptops is also on the rise, advertising some AI tricks to optimize their performance. That also means a refresh of popular models that promise even smoother performance and pack more power, but those always come at some cost. Rarely will you find a design that delivers the power that gamers need at a more affordable price point, which is the proposition that the 2024 Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (16IRX9H) is making, so we naturally had to put it to the test to see if it holds up in practice.

Designer: Lenovo

Aesthetics

Common gaming laptops often look like tanks, and the Legion Pro 7i (2024) is sadly no different. It’s not rugged by any means, sporting a sleek and sharp appearance, but it’s thick, heavy, and sharp at the edges. It has an aggressive look to it, though coupled with some RGB lights, it does have a bit of a cyberpunk flair. While it doesn’t shout to the world that it’s a gaming laptop, it doesn’t try to deny its identity either.

It’s also not that different from its Gen 8 predecessor, so there’s practically nothing that sets it apart visually. On the one hand, it establishes a familiarity with the Legion Pro line, so buyers will know what to expect. On the other hand, however, it also feels like it’s lagging behind when it comes to aesthetics, especially when Lenovo has quite a few interesting and distinctive designs available.

Overall, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 looks pretty plain on the outside. It isn’t as obnoxious as other gaming laptops that show off all their kaleidoscopic lighting, but it isn’t subtle either. You might feel a bit conscious bringing it to the workplace or meeting (unless you work at a game studio), but it will probably only get a few passing looks. Fortunately, most gamers will be willing to overlook this aspect if they’re getting the performance that they’re actually paying for.

Ergonomics

At 4.93 lbs (2.24kg) and 17.6mm (0.69in), there is no mistaking the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 for a thin and lightweight notebook. Again, this is your expected dimensions for a gaming laptop, so many gamers won’t be so bothered by it. But if you’re a creator and a gamer who find yourself moving around a lot, you best prepare your back and shoulders for some workout.

Fortunately, actually using the laptop turned out to be a more enjoyable experience, from the bright and vibrant screen to the responsive and comfortable keyboard. That keyboard is a bit notable in how it sufficiently spaces out the keys and still has room for a numeric keypad as well as a regular T-shaped cursor key arrangement. The latter actually extends a bit lower than the rest of the keys, which has the effect of pushing the touchpad to the left just a little. Definitely not enough to make the button-less surface painful to use.

As we’ll get to later, the Legion Pro 7i has a wide selection of ports, and they’re placed in a way that really takes into account how most people use laptops these days. The left side has a USB-A and a USB-C port, while the opposite side gets a USB-A along with a 3.5mm headphone/mic jack. This gives easy access to accessories you’ll connect and disconnect often, like a gaming mouse or your phone. The back has connections like two USB-A ports, one USB-C port, HDMI, and Ethernet, practically the ones you’ll use to “dock” the laptop to more stationary peripherals, making cable management a bit easier. Whether it’s gaming on the go or maybe even working in the office, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 is designed with ease of use and comfort in mind.

Performance

As a somewhat high-end gaming laptop, the 2024 Legion Pro 7i carries some of the best hardware in the market today. Sure, it might not have an NPU-toting processor, but the Intel Core i9-14900HX is definitely as or even more capable than an “Ultra” chip. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 is just one step lower than the top-of-the-line card, but it’s more than enough for both gaming and content creation. Our review unit came with 32GB of DDR5 RAM and 1TB of storage, which is to say it’s not wanting in any aspect. With both benchmarks and actual usage alike, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 performed impressively, yielding consistent high frame rates in games even high settings. It’s also a testament to the laptop’s cooling system that it’s able to squeeze out as much performance consistently, though it naturally did get warm to the touch and the fans were quite audible.

Visual quality is important for gamers, but it is an even more critical aspect for content creators who need color accuracy. This is one area where the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 surpasses the previous generation, adding support for NTSC, Adobe RGB, and DCI-P3 color gamuts. Not only does this make colors really pop, it also means that the 16-inch 2K screen is now able to support the needs of creatives, making the gaming laptop more of an all-around high-performance tool. And with extremely thin bezels, you experience a better immersion into that colorful world, especially when the decent bottom-firing speakers complete the audiovisual experience.

This heavy laptop carries a 99.99Whr battery, the largest allowable on planes, and its uptime is as much as you’d expect. Normal use, which is a mix of multimedia and browsing, can net you around 7 hours, but heavy gaming makes that figure nosedive to just two or less. Lenovo compensates for this with a “Super Rapid Charge” technology that can fully charge the Legion Pro 7i in around 80 minutes, presuming you’re using the hefty 330W power brick with a proprietary connector. You can also charge the laptop via USB-C if you have a 140W charger, but Lenovo doesn’t ship one in the box.

All in all, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 performs so well that we have very little to complain about it. There’s very little bloatware aside from Lenovo’s own tools, as well as those from Nahimic for audio and Tobii for the webcam. Yes, it’s heavy and it burns through a battery quickly, but that’s also expected from high-end gaming laptops. It’s a rather powerful package made even more enticing by its bang-for-buck value.

Sustainability

Before we get to that, however, a word has to be said about Lenovo’s actions to leave a more positive impact on the planet. Though the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 might look plain to the naked eye, it actually uses quite a number of sustainable materials for its body. It uses recycled aluminum as well as magnesium, giving the laptop both durability as well as a premium touch. The bottom, in particular, is made with 50% recycled aluminum, while the cover frame utilizes 30% post-consumer recycled polymers.

The laptop is also designed to be upgradable, at least as far as RAM is concerned. Repairs and other upgrades, however, require a bit more work, so it comes up short of getting a high score. Given how gaming laptops are more likely to wear out components faster than regular laptops, repairability should be the next priority for Lenovo’s designers and engineers.

Value

There’s no getting around the fact that the Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 is a bit pricey, starting at around $2,420 all the way to $2,850 for the highest configuration. And that’s with discounts already! On its own, that price tag might feel quite burdensome, until you consider that many laptops on this tier ask for more and deliver less.

With this sub-$3000 gaming laptop, you’re getting a near-perfect configuration that is useful not just for gaming but even for content creation as well. It’s not perfect, of course, and we wished it had a longer battery life given its weight, but you’d also be hard-pressed to find a similar experience on designs that won’t require you to pay even more with not as much performance gains.

Verdict

With PC gaming on the rise again, the number and variety of gaming laptops have also seen an uptick. While the need for power has never changed, gamers have become more conscientious not just about price value but design value as well. Carrying the design DNA of its predecessor, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (16″, 2024) looks sleek yet deceptively simple, belying the power it carries inside. But more than just unrelenting performance, it brings a well-rounded set of features that give gamers, creators, and any other user a powerful tool for a relatively fair price.

The post Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 (2024) Laptop Review: Uncompromising Power at a Fair Price first appeared on Yanko Design.

Dynabook AI equipped Tecra A-Series Business Laptops

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Dynabook Tecra A-Series

Dynabook has introduced its latest professional laptops, the 14-inch Tecra A40-M and 16-inch Tecra A60-M, both enhanced with AI capabilities. These new models are engineered with Intel Core Ultra processors and run on Windows 11 Pro, aiming to redefine productivity and performance for modern professionals and educators. Points of Interest : Introduction of 14-inch Tecra […]

The post Dynabook AI equipped Tecra A-Series Business Laptops appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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2025 M5 MacBooks Details Leaked

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M5 MacBooks

Apple is set to redefine the laptop landscape with the highly anticipated release of the 2025 M5 MacBooks. These innovative devices promise to deliver a range of groundbreaking upgrades and design changes, catering to the evolving needs of users in an increasingly digital world. From enhanced security features to stunning display quality and powerful performance, […]

The post 2025 M5 MacBooks Details Leaked appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 14IMH9 (14″, 2024) Review: Graceful Balancing Act

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PROS:


  • Gorgeous 3.8K screen with very thin bezels

  • Stylish, lightweight, and flexible workstation on-the-go

  • Competitive performance even for light gaming

  • Creative speaker soundbar hinge design

CONS:


  • Included pen feels cramped

  • No HDMI port or SD card slot


RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

With a more portable design and solid performance, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 makes for a competitive all-rounder that can cover almost every need and use case.
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There has been a sudden flood of new laptops in the past months, most of them trying to ride the AI wave. With so many designs and so many configurations available, it can be a bit daunting to pick one for your next major computer purchase. There’s no shortage of models catering to gamers and content creators, as well as pro models aimed at high-performance workers. On the opposite side lies the “economy” choices meant for students and some employees, carrying barely enough power for the most basic tasks. When it comes to those who need a general-purpose computer that can keep up with their changing needs and situations, the choices can be a bit more difficult because they’re all over the place. A solid option with well-balanced features and an accessible price tag is always in demand, and that’s what the 2024 Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 (14IMH9) 2-in-1 convertible laptop is promising, so we take put it to the test to see if it does keep its word.

Designer: Lenovo

Aesthetics

The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 has a presence that grabs your attention without being loud or distracting. The simple yet sleek shape of the lid combined with the soft curves of the base creates an interesting silhouette whether the laptop is closed or open. And the dark Cosmic Blue hue, still a rarity in this product line, makes it stand out in an aesthetically pleasing way. When the lid is open and the screen powered on, the extra slim bezels around the display further emphasize the laptop’s modern appearance.

Even at first glance, it’s immediately evident how slim and small the 2-in-1 laptop is, at least for a 14-inch device. Compared to its Gen 8 predecessor, this year’s Lenovo Yoga 9i is significantly smaller and lighter, which greatly improves its portability. This attribute is even critical for this kind of laptop since it can be used as a tablet that you’ll sometimes have to hold up for long periods of time, though it does have some drawbacks compared to typical tablets, which we’ll get to later.

One design detail that might prove divisive is how the lid and the base practically have two different designs. The lid is thin and has flat edges with a matte surface, while the base sports curved edges with a shiny finish. The difference between the two is even more stark when you realize that the base is actually wider at its edges than the lid so that these two parts don’t sit flush with each other when closed. It’s an asymmetrical design quirk that might not sit well with some, while others might grow accustomed to it over time, enough to take it for granted.

Ergonomics

At only 2.98 lbs (1.35kg), the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 is relatively lighter than its predecessor as well as the nearest competition. This gives it an advantage when it comes to portability, especially when you consider how it doesn’t skimp on the specs in return. You still won’t want to hold it up unsupported for long periods of time, but it’s less straining than most. That said, you won’t be able to hold it as comfortably as a regular tablet like an iPad or a Surface because the keys fold to the back of the lid. They’re disabled, of course, but you will still undoubtedly press on them, making for a rather awkward experience.

But while using the laptop is comfortable and even enjoyable, the Lenovo Slim Pen that ships with the Yoga 9i Gen 9 is a different story. We don’t have any complaints when it comes to the performance of the stylus, since it does a great job at it, but holding the short and nearly flat stick can strain your hand if you use it for too long. There’s also no secure place to put the stylus on when not in use, because the magnet on the back and top of the lid is not exactly that strong. It almost feels as if designing the pen was an afterthought, especially since previous Yoga 9i models had a silo for its home.

Performance

In addition to its facelift, the 2024 14-inch Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 gets a major upgrade in hardware. That’s the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, the chip maker’s latest entry into the AI arena. This is matched with high-speed LPDDR5x RAM, 32GB for our review unit, and 1TB PCIe SSD Gen 4 M.2 of storage. In addition to the integrated Intel AI Boost NPU (Neural Processing Unit), a key feature of this configuration is the integrated Intel Arc graphics. It’s still a far cry from dedicated GPUs from the likes of NVIDIA and AMD, but it’s still a major leap forward in terms of performance. And it doesn’t disappoint, at least within the right context and expectations. It’s no gaming laptop, but light gaming with medium settings is no problem, as are content creation apps, especially those that utilize AI features.

The real star of the show here is the 14-inch OLED display, with a 3.8K WQUXGA (3840 x 2400) resolution in our review unit (there’s also a 2.8K 2880×1800 option). Both are touch-capable, as you would expect from a 2-in-1 laptop, and the image quality is just astounding in both brightness and color vibrancy. It’s by no means perfect, especially compared to more “pro” laptops, but on a consumer product, this is simply gorgeous. It doesn’t fall short when it comes to audio either, and its unique design solves one of the biggest problems laptops have: speaker placement. In the Yoga 9i Gen 9’s case, the wide hinge also acts as a soundbar that’s always firing in your direction, and the audio that it puts out is full and broad, and it doesn’t sound distorted or tinny at maximum volume.

As a 2-in-1 laptop, the Yoga 9i Gen 9 has to carefully balance the needs of both laptop users as well as tablet users, and nowhere is that more evident than in the choice of I/O ports. There are three USB-C ports, two of which support Thunderbolt 4, one full-sized USB-A port, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. That’s pretty much it. The lack of an HDMI port means you’ll need to use a dongle if your external monitor doesn’t support USB-C video, and digital photographers might be unimpressed with the lack of a card reader. The I/O leans more on the side of portability and mobility, making some practical sacrifices along the way.

The typing experience is quite decent, and the keys have sufficient spacing and travel to keep most users happy. It’s also backlit, so typing in the dark is no problem at all. The touchpad is large, smooth, and responsive, leaving very little reason to complain. One design detail that some might take issue with is the column of special keys on the right edge, providing quick access to a few features, including a fingerprint scanner. Unfortunately, its placement makes it too easy to hit these keys accidentally, especially since they’re so close to important keys like Enter, Backspace, and the Left cursor key. It also means that the entire keyboard is practically shifted to the left, and so will your hands.

Battery life is decent, though not exactly remarkable. The 75Wh battery will last you an average of 5-7 hours on average use, shorter if you crank up the video or game settings. The good news is that it charges over USB-C and any of the three USB-C ports can be used for that purpose. That means you can opt for a faster and smaller GaN charger than the plain 65W brick that comes with the Lenovo Yoga 9i, not that it’s that big a charger in the first place.

Sustainability

The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9’s all-aluminum build means there’s less plastic in each laptop. Even better, it uses plenty of recycled materials as well, like 50% recycled aluminum for the base bottom, 50% post-consumer recycled plastic for the keyboard, and, of course, 100% plastic-free packaging. That’s definitely more than what you might find in other consumer laptops, so Lenovo deserves a pat on the back there.

Unfortunately, the longevity of the 2-in-1 laptop might be a bit of an issue, especially if you consider doing repairs or upgrades yourself. Although held down by four TORX screws, the base bottom panel also has some pretty strong adhesive that gets in the way of easily accessing replaceable parts. Also quite puzzling, this Gen 9 model has apparently dropped support for the longer 80mm NVMe SSD drives, limiting you to the 42mm variety only.

Value

The laptop market is a very competitive space, especially when brands put out new models almost at the same time and with the same core specs. That makes telling each apart a bit more difficult, let alone figuring out the actual value that a product has. With a price tag ranging from $1,300 to $1,500, the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 (14″, 2024) already stands out as being more affordable, but we definitely can’t judge it by that figure alone, nor can we ignore the competition.

The Yoga 9i Gen 9 definitely offers a well-rounded set of features, wrapped in a design that is elegant and distinctive, even if a bit odd at the edges. The 14-inch display really makes videos and images pop, up and the sound quality is impressive for a laptop. That said, it’s a very close call with its biggest rival, the newly refreshed HP Spectre x360 14, also a 2-in-1 convertible laptop. It might even boil down to which product and software ecosystem you prefer, but you can’t go wrong with a solid performer like the new 2024 14-inch Yoga 9i.

Verdict

Finding a good balance between power, portability, and price isn’t that easy. Some designs don’t even try and instead focus on a specific aspect and refine that to perfection. The Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 almost comes close, bringing the AI-empowered performance of the new Intel Core Ultra line to a sleek and elegant device that you can proudly show off, whether as a laptop or as a tablet. With a large and beautiful screen that barely has any bezels, it not only lets you focus on your work but also enjoy viewing content on it. Best of all, its sustainability and accessibility give it an edge over similarly priced options, making the Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 2-in-1 laptop truly enticing for creators and workers always on the go.

The post Lenovo Yoga 9i Gen 9 14IMH9 (14″, 2024) Review: Graceful Balancing Act first appeared on Yanko Design.

8 Game-Changing macOS Sequoia Features You Need to Try

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The latest release of macOS, Sequoia, brings a host of new features designed to improve your productivity and streamline your workflow. From seamless iPhone integration to advanced screen sharing options, Sequoia offers a range of tools to help you work more efficiently. The video below from Stephen Robles gives us more details on the latest […]

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Apple Releases macOS 15 Sequoia Beta 3.5 & Public Beta

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macOS 15

Apple has recently released macOS 15 Sequoia Beta 3.5 for developers, along with the first public beta. This synchronized release marks a significant milestone in the development process, bringing the operating system closer to a stable and polished version. The update introduces a range of new features, changes, and fixes that aim to enhance the […]

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Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 (2024) Review: (Carbon) Forging Ahead

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PROS:


  • Sleek, stylish, and distinctive design

  • Best-in-class performance for 16-inch gaming laptops

  • Bright, vibrant, and beautiful 16-inch 3.2K Mini LED screen

CONS:


  • Small and cramped touchpad

  • 330W GaN charger is a gigantic brick

  • Relatively pricey

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 continues to wrap the best performance that money can buy in a design that looks equally stunning and luxurious.

Gaming laptops are pretty much like miniature desktops on (your) legs, but their power has traditionally come at the expense of their design. The majority of these portable gaming computers are built like tanks, so when somewhat slim laptops come along, people definitely stop and take notice. Last year, Lenovo made quite a bold and ambitious move with the 8th-gen Legion 9i, a gaming laptop that was as much beauty as it was brawn. As with any other product line, the PC maker followed it up this year with the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 (16IRX9), promising the same stunning good looks but with upgraded specs and, of course, more AI. But was Lenovo able to manage a repeat of last year’s groundbreaking success or is this the generation to pass? We give this distinctive gaming laptop a spin to see whether it flies or flops.

Designer: Lenovo

Aesthetics

If you were worried that the Legion 9i Gen 8’s design was a one-off experiment, you’d be pleasantly surprised that isn’t the case, at least not yet. Right off the bat, the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 gives off that same eye-catching aura that makes it a mix of a rugged gaming machine and a trendsetting office laptop. The forged carbon chips are still the star of the show, at least when it comes to first impressions. Chosen for their lightweight properties, the random mix of pieces gives each laptop a unique personality. Admittedly, some might not like its camo-like design, but it’s hard to argue that it’s different from the RGB-laden black surfaces of common gaming laptops.

The die-cast magnesium chassis is still here and still 90% made from recycled materials. It gives the Legion 9i Gen 9 its light 5.51 lbs (2.49kg) weight without sacrificing its durability and structural integrity. That said, these figures must be taken in the context of other gaming laptops, not conventional notebooks like the sleek MacBook Pro. Yes, it’s relatively thin and light compared to others, but it has the unmistakable design of a gaming powerhouse. That thick extended rear is a testament not only to the variety of ports available but also to how much room Lenovo had to make to fit all those powerful components inside.

As with any gaming laptop, RGB lighting is a staple feature of the Legion 9i Gen 9, and every area is customizable and controllable, including completely turning them off, like the backlit icons for the ports on the back, for example. Aside from the keyboard, the amount and placement of lighting are tasteful and add a beautiful accent to the equally beautiful profile of the laptop without being gaudy or obnoxious. All in all, the Gen 9 gaming laptop carries on its predecessor’s title as one of the most striking of its kind.

Ergonomics

The size and weight of a gaming laptop aren’t just for bragging rights, of course. They go a long way in providing comfort and convenience, especially when carrying the computer from one place to another. Granted, the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 is hardly the thinnest nor the lightest, but it balances portability and power quite well. You won’t have any trouble shoving it into a backpack or laptop bag, perhaps aside from the fact that it is closer to a 17-inch laptop thanks to that protruding back portion.

Using the laptop itself is quite enjoyable, especially the tactile and responsive keyboard. With a decent amount of trouble, the full keyboard layout is both pleasurable and productive, freeing you from the need to look for external numeric keypads or do finger gymnastics to get to common functions. Of course, there’s plenty of RGB lighting underneath the keys, all of them configurable. A nifty trick is how the laptop can light up the most common shortcut keys by holding down the Fn key.

Unlike most laptops, including gaming ones, the Legion 9i Gen 9’s keyboard is pushed lower, closer to the user, to make room for cooling elements. While that does mean you don’t have to extend your arm too far to reach the keys, it also means that there isn’t enough room for the touchpad. Yes, the same gripe we had with last year’s model remains unchanged this year, and we have little hope the situation will improve any time soon. Granted, many gamers will probably reach for their favorite gaming mouse anyway, but this unfortunate design decision does make the laptop feel less appealing as an all-rounder.

Performance

While the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 hasn’t changed at all on the outside, it has a few upgraded parts inside that warrant a bump in model number. There’s the 14th-gen Intel Core i9-14900HX as well as an NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics, both top-of-the-line as far as gaming laptops go. Our review unit was equipped with 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD, though other configuration exists. The biggest upgrade from last year’s model, however, is really the Lenovo LA3-P AI chip, the intelligence that fine-tunes the laptop’s performance on the fly, faster than a human could. And it’s not just some buzzword-filled AI that makes funky images or answers questions but a true demonstration of what AI can actually do for us.

In terms of performance, the Legion 9i Gen 9 doesn’t disappoint, and the AI-powered Smart FPS manages to squeeze out every bit of performance compared to, well, the Performance profile. It’s not perfect, mind, and the difference between the two isn’t that staggering. It is, hopefully, just a portent of things to come as Lenovo continues to improve its AI.

Lenovo made a rather unusual decision in choosing a 3200×2000 resolution for the screen, but this 3.2K figure works just as well in balancing quality and power efficiency. The 16-inch 165Hz Mini LED is absolutely gorgeous and bright, easily rivaling OLED displays. The refresh rate might be a bit of a letdown, but 16-inch laptops that boast 240Hz also have a lower 2K resolution.

It’s not all sunshine and roses, though, as the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 feels like it made a few trade-offs as well. Audio, while loud, feels a little insufficient and thin. The fans can get pretty loud as well, even with the boasted true liquid cooling. That doesn’t seem to kick in often to keep temperatures consistently cool and feels more like an emergency feature when things are about to start burning up. The biggest gripe in this area is the lack of improvement in battery life, which still scores less than two hours when gaming even at medium settings. As if adding insult to injury, the fast-charging 330W GaN charger is still a literal charging brick, a veritable dangerous weapon if you ever decide to start swinging it around to clear people away from the power outlet you’ll desperately be aiming for.

Long story short, the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 (2024) definitely delivers on its promise of big power, but the cost of that promise is also starting to show. Make no mistake, it’s the kind of power that gamers want and need, but there will be more compromises and sacrifices along the way. More importantly, the gap between it and its predecessor might not look too big, making it an even more difficult choice, as we shall see later.

Sustainability

It’s definitely encouraging to see PC manufacturers starting to make big strides in changing the formula for their laptop designs. That’s not just about the appearance but, more importantly, the materials being used. Using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics is one thing, but reducing the use of plastic in the first place is an even more effective solution.

The Legion 9i Gen 9 doesn’t just use metal for its chassis. It uses 90% recycled metal instead of raw materials. That not only reduces material waste but also reduces energy consumption when creating fresh new metal. Lenovo is also slowly but surely improving the repairability of its products, a family trait being shared by many Lenovo laptops, not just the Legion 9i.

Value

There’s no denying that the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 offers one of the best laptop gaming experiences in the market today, from its impressive performance to its gorgeous display to its intelligent lighting that can sync to any video or audio that’s playing. And while beauty is still in the eye of the beholder, few will argue that it commands a striking presence in any room either. It’s not without its shortcomings, but many of those can admittedly be taken for granted given how much power it offers.

The biggest hurdle to its adoption, however, will be that $3,200 price tag hanging over its head, and that’s just for the starting configuration. A maxed-out Legion 9i Gen 9 could very well cost you more than $4,000 even with a discount. Unfortunately, the 16-inch gaming laptop market has quite a few competitive entries this year as well, making the choice even harder. Fortunately, you don’t have to go far because Lenovo has quite a few offerings as well that could better fit your budget, including last year’s Legion 9i Gen 8.

Verdict

Gone are the days when gamers just took whatever kind of laptop was thrown at them just because those were the only designs possible. People have become more discerning as well as more sensitive to how their gear looks and many don’t just want some neon billboard masquerading as a laptop. The Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9, just like its predecessor, puts design on the same pedestal as performance, delivering a gaming experience that isn’t just powerful but also pleasing to look at. It doesn’t carry a rather high price tag, enough to deter some early adopters, but it’s an investment that will keep on giving long after other laptops have gone out of fashion.

The post Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 9 (2024) Review: (Carbon) Forging Ahead first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Mac User’s Guide to Choosing the Perfect USB Hub

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Mac USB Hubs

As a Mac user, you may often find yourself in need of additional ports to connect various devices and peripherals. With the limited number of ports available on modern MacBooks, especially the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, a USB hub becomes an essential accessory to expand your connectivity options. However, choosing the right USB hub […]

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M4 MacBooks Leak: Is This Apple’s Biggest Laptop Upgrade Yet?

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M4 MacBook

Many of us are eagerly anticipating the release of the upcoming M4 MacBooks, which promise to deliver substantial performance improvements and long-awaited upgrades. The M4 chip, recently introduced in an iPad, is set to transform the MacBook lineup, offering enhanced single-core performance, improved efficiency, and extended battery life. This article delves into the key changes […]

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Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 vs MacBook Air M3 (Video)

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Surface Laptop 7

In the ever-evolving world of laptops, two prominent contenders have emerged: the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 and the MacBook Air M3. Both devices offer unique features and capabilities, making it crucial for potential buyers to understand their differences and strengths. The video below from Kyle Erickson gives us a detailed comparison between these two laptops, […]

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