After writing the hands-on for the Lenovo Legion 7i, I came to the conclusion that this device has upside. It wasn’t the most powerful configuration you could get for the device, but initially the whole thing just fits well. It was even a welcome surprise to me that the build quality is great, and has RGB!

But much like NBA prospects, one must see them in action to truly assess their worth. While my initial impressions of the device were positive, I wanted to see if this device truly stacks against the best of them. 

To recap, here’s what the Lenovo Legion 7i offers:

It comes with an Intel Core i7 processor and an NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER Max-Q

It has a 240Hz FHD anti-glare display with 100% Adobe sRGB

It features a full-size keyboard with RGB lighting even at the back

It comes in an all-metal finish, with the metal Legion logo

Great performance for the most part

The unit I received came with the 6-core, Intel Core i7-10750H processor and the NVIDIA RTX 2070 SUPER Max-Q. It’s not the most powerful configuration you can get for this device, but it brings a lot to the table. Performance across the board was great the more applications I threw at it.

Whether it was for work or simply gaming my heart out, the Legion 7i kept me going through and through. I still haven’t won a game of Fall Guys while testing this machine out. But in terms of its raw power, this device definitely competes with the best of them.

My only issues with the device’s performance actually isn’t with the hardware. See, Lenovo always ships its devices with Vantage installed. Obviously, this should aid in the main operations of the device and should tick the important settings during certain activities. I don’t know why Vantage doesn’t automatically switch some of these, but it gets in the way.

Gaming on it feels like a breeze… for the most part

I’ve touched on how well this thing can game, and it still met my initial impression of it. Trying out a variety of titles for this laptop felt relatively easy, as I managed to play most games properly. Even heavy titles like Call of Duty: Warzone clocked in close to 60-70 FPS at near max settings during my tests.

Also, because the unit I came with has a 240Hz refresh rate display, I almost experienced no image tearing. Gameplay felt almost buttery smooth, especially in shooter games such as VALORANT. I kept up with everything that was happening around me with such ease, it almost felt natural.

Yet again, my issues with this wasn’t with the RTX 2070 SUPER Max-Q. Rather, there were two things that I somehow couldn’t understand how they got in there. First, for some reason Vantage doesn’t automatically turn on Performance Mode. Second, even while the laptop was on Performance Mode and plugged in to the charger, I experienced some level of FPS drops.

Even though these might not be the case for you, I’d still watch out for these down the road.

Battery’s what you expect, but the thermals were off

Upon initial use, I got about 5-6 hours just doing the normal routine. Compared to most gaming laptops, this is just what you would expect even from a 80Wh battery. Strictly gaming on the device only registered 2-3 hours, which is disappointing but expected. I guess that’s your payoff for siding with Intel, instead of going for the new AMD chips.

Charging the device didn’t take too long, especially with Rapid Charge turned on. Without it, it took me about 2-3 hours for a full charge. Honestly, I feel like you will need to bring the charger at all times for prolonged play. At least, it brings you back to the action and your work.

However, the bottleneck truly lies in the device’s Vapor Chamber cooling system. Don’t get me wrong: I appreciate the fact that there are four exhaust vents for all that hot air. Ideally, it’s supposed to keep things relatively less warm than usual. But alas, the device still felt too warm to touch and the fans were super loud.

The laptop’s saving graces?

Although, the device had some other good features that I felt made the experience a little better. First was the variety of ports available on this device, and where they’re all placed. Specifically, I found it a nice touch that high-usage ports for charging and all your peripherals were at the back. It makes cable management easier, and nothing gets in the way.

I also loved the way the keyboard felt as I was typing and playing. Lenovo’s TrueStrike keys have a certain smooth feeling every time I press them. Honestly, I didn’t feel any lag input especially while gaming. Also, the privacy webcam shutter was always a nice touch.

But alas, there are some things that just didn’t sit well with me. One was the webcam itself, which only stood at 720p. The images turn out a little grainy, and you can’t really use it at night unless under well-lit conditions. Next were the bottom-facing speakers, which I honestly felt would have been better with an elevated hinge.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

At Php 134,995, the Lenovo Legion 7i fits the mold of the usual gaming laptop. You get the power and performance from all the internal hardware. Also, you get a high refresh rate display to complement and elevate your gaming experience. Along with some great additional features, it’s a solid piece of hardware.

Of course, you really can’t get past the things that are bad about it. The obvious ones include the subpar battery life and the thermals that don’t cool down effectively. For the rest, it’s all up to your personal preference and what you intend to use this laptop for.

For what it’s worth, you actually get a great gaming machine that competes with the flagships. Just be wary of what you’re trading off to get all that power.