There was a time when Intel was the most recognized and demanded laptop processor maker. Right from powering an ultrathin notebook to a gaming beast, Intel dominated everything. However, AMD has made massive strides in the last few years, and we’re a quick change in market perception. Lenovo has joined the bandwagon, and AMD’s Ryzen 4000H series chips power the Legion 5 laptop.
The Legion 5 is an entry-level gaming laptop. While Intel configurations are available in a few markets, Lenovo has vetoed AMD for the Indian market. The prime question is, can the new Ryzen chips take on a legendary giant like Intel? Besides, the processor is just one organ of the complete machine. What about the GPU? The cooling? The display? Let’s find out!
It’s got a 15.6-inch IPS display with a 120Hz refresh rate
Powered by AMD Ryzen 5 4600H CPU and Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650Ti GPU
The keyboard is backlit, but you miss out on RGB
The body is Phantom Black and feels extremely sturdy
Work hard, play hard
That sounds like a cliche, right? The Legion 5 actually excels at being a very balanced laptop. The construction of the chassis is robust, and despite being plastic, it induces confidence. The design is modern, and the grills look quite futuristic. Just based on looks, the Legion 5 is confidence-inspiring, and there’s no body flex.
Our unit is the most commonly found variant and sports a Ryzen 5 4600H processor, 8GB RAM, 1 TB 5400 hard drive, and 256 GB PCIe storage. The base frequency is 3.0Ghz, across six Zen 2 CPU cores and 12 threads. It has an Nvidia GTX 1650Ti GPU with 4GB of VRAM, but there’s no real-time tracing. While the GPU specs may seem disappointing on paper, the real-world experience is surprisingly better.
Games like Apex Legends, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, and The Division 2 play like a breeze. You can easily expect it to churn out at least 60fps, while older games like Counter Strike: Global Offensive cross the 100 mark without any struggle. Intensive games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare hovered between 50 and 60. These numbers are quite encouraging because the experience is above average and consistent.
The 15.6-inch display has a matte finish that does a decent job of reducing reflection. The screen is bright enough, the colors are punchy, and it feels immersive. The bezels are thin, and the screen can lay back flat to 180 degrees.
Coming to work, the laptop can literally handle anything you throw at it. In an intense session, I had 16 Firefox tabs, three Word documents, two large Excel sheets, Zoom, and Spotify in tandem, without making me feel the laptop is entry-level. Video editing, rendering, and mathematical compilations are also effortless, albeit with a few more seconds.
A very utilitarian laptop
Gaming laptops generally have terrible battery life because the focus is on maximum performance. Lenovo has taken full advantage of the CPU and GPU, and the laptop can provide three to four hours of usage on a single charge. While this is in range with the competition, the laptop is well optimized to deliver more than four hours if the usage is light.
Despite the above-average battery life, don’t think about traveling a lot with this laptop along. It weighs like any other gaming laptop — a whopping 2.3kg. And the massive size of the chassis isn’t ideal for backpacking. However, this isn’t a shortcoming of the laptop since gaming rigs are designed to be more powerful, not portable.
One of the most things that I loved the most about the Legion 5 is its keyboard. With 1.5mm travel, it may take you a couple of hours to get used to if you’re coming from a paper-thin laptop like the MacBook Air. But once you get the hang of it, there’s no stopping. The keys feel very soft yet tactile, and the numeric pad is convenient.
Lastly, the keyboard layout is also optimum and encourages you to keep going without a break. Our unit has a white backlight, but an optional RGB one is available. The touchpad is fast, accurate, and big enough.
Vents and ports, everywhere
The laptop has many ventilation outlets, and you can hear the fan kick-in when intensive processing is required. The sides, as well as the bottom, are filled with grills, vents, and ports.
The heat doesn’t seep out of the keyboard and precisely gets pushed out via the openings.
This is an important factor because many laptops cannot control the flow and the heat ends up on your keyboard, passively making the experience underwhelming.
It’s also loaded with ports — AC power, Ethernet, four USB 3.0 Type-A, HDMI 2.0, USB-C with DisplayPort, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The USB-C port doesn’t support charging, and it misses out on an SD card reader. Being a budget-friendly offering, this one skips a biometric tool like a fingerprint scanner.
The Legion 5 has a 2W Harman speaker that’s way louder than you’d expect it to be. The speaker’s placement is on-point, and the sound output feels like it has surrounded you.
Finally, it’s got a 720p webcam that comes with a physical shutter to protect your privacy. I’d have preferred a 1080p camera since it literally costs nothing, and the world has moved on long ago. I’m not a fan of the webcam as it often makes you look very grainy even in well-lit conditions.
Is this your GadgetMatch?
With a starting price of INR 73,490, I’d like to add that calling the Legion 5 a “gaming laptop” is wrong. It’s a well-equipped laptop that’s gaming-centric. Lenovo has designed the laptop for casual gamers, and it does them justice perfectly. If you’re in the market for a hardcore gaming laptop, this surely isn’t made for you.
I’d say Lenovo has done a fabulous job creating a balanced machine that can get everything done. Work during the day and play hard during the night. Have a few hobby ideas? Go ahead and finish them on the weekend! If you get what I mean, this laptop is for you. It tries to be good at almost everything, and it does it without disappointing.
Many now-basic features like Windows Hello, USB-C charging, Full HD webcam, and RGB keyboard are missing. But if you think about it, are these omissions a deal-breaker?
India
TECNO’s POVA 8 5G is both futuristic and future-ready
8000mAh battery, Sony LYTIA 600 camera, Alive Matrix display, and more
Four months after the POVA Curve 2 5G, TECNO adds the POVA 8 5G to their performance-focused arsenal.
Futuristic vibe
TECNO’s POVA 8 5G continues the series’ signature sci-fi-inspired design language. The latest smartphone features sharp geometric elements and a semi-transparent rear panel.
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
One of its standout features is none other than the new Alive Matrix Display. It’s a customizable light panel on the back that can display 49 pre-loaded lighting effects for incoming calls, notifications, charging status, gaming sessions, and more. Prospective users can also personalize scenarios to match their style and could actually store many more customized effects aside from the pre-loaded ones.
Beside that LED display lies the 50MP main rear camera based on Sony’s LYTIA 600 (or LYT-600) sensor. The said sensor offers improved light capture for brighter and more detailed photos. It also supports 2x lossless zoom. Up front, you’ll get a 13MP front-facing shooter.
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
Powering the device is MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 SoC. That’s paired together with TECNO’s in-house G1 Signal Enhancement Chip and SE1 Wi-Fi Enhancement Chip — making it a triple chipset smartphone.
TECNO says these chips help improve connectivity in challenging environments such as elevators and basements while boosting Wi-Fi reception.
The phone also features a 144Hz display with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and military-grade durability.
Last but definitely not the least, its 8000mAh battery that can last as much as two days. For some measure, TECNO says the phone can last up to 85+ hours of music playback, 29+ hours of YouTube streaming, 26+ hours of WhatsApp, or 14+ hours of playing Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
Future-ready
Aside from the beastly battery packed inside, TECNO is also bringing several practical AI tools to the POVA 8 5G.
Among them is AI YouTube Summary. This turns lengthy videos into concise notes with key points and timestamps. The device also features AI-powered noise cancellation that helps isolate the speaker’s voice during calls, recordings, and meetings.
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
For photography, AI LightMaster 2.0 can remove unwanted reflections, lens flare, and shadows. The phone also supports uploading Live Photos directly to Instagram as Boomerang.
In select markets, users can even access AI Health features that estimate metrics such as heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and respiration through facial scanning technology.
Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch
Further solidifying its future readiness, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades and three years of security updates.
The company is also bundling three years of FREE 256GB cloud storage for POVA 8 5G users. Eligible markets can also receive a 3-month Google AI Plus trial which includes 2TB of cloud storage.
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO POVA 8 5G debuts first in India and is available in 16-Bit White, Terminal Green, and Plasma Orange colorways.
UPDATE: In India, the POVA 8 5G is currently offered in 6+128GB and 8+128GB configurations for INR 29,999 and INR 31,999 respectively.
Specific pricing and availability in global markets are yet to follow along these four color choices: Arc White, Graphite Black, Echo Green, and Helios Orange.
India
Nothing opens first India store in Bengaluru
New retail space blends self-expression, creator culture, and community play.
Nothing has officially opened its first India store in Bengaluru, marking a major step in the brand’s global retail expansion.
Located in Indiranagar, Nothing Store Bengaluru spans 5,032 square feet across two floors. The space draws inspiration from 1970s assembly lines and workshops, translating Nothing’s rebellious design language into an interactive, hands-on environment built for the local community.
The store puts self-expression at its core. It is the only Nothing location worldwide where customers can personalise their products. A dedicated studio also supports creator unboxings and hands-on content, reinforcing the brand’s focus on co-creation.
The space includes a community hangout zone for events and meetups, alongside playful elements such as vending machines, claw games, and conveyor-belt displays. An in-house coffee shop, seating areas, and workshop spaces position the store as a cultural hub rather than a traditional retail outlet.
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Nothing and CMF products are available in store, alongside official Nothing merchandise. The brand says the location will evolve over time through collaborations, workshops, and limited-run installations by local creators, reflecting the rhythm and voices of the city.
Bengaluru was chosen for its role as India’s innovation capital and its community of early adopters, creators, and cultural tastemakers. Indiranagar’s creative energy and lifestyle focus made it a natural home for Nothing’s first physical store in the country.
The Bengaluru opening builds on Nothing’s first store in Soho. The company has confirmed plans to open additional locations in New York and Japan.
Nothing Store Bengaluru opens on February 14, 2026, at 12:00 PM IST. It is located at 660/1, 100 Feet Road, 1st Stage, Indiranagar, Bengaluru. Regular store hours are 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM daily.
India
TECNO POVA Curve 2 5G packs an 8000mAh battery
The brand’s biggest battery in a smartphone yet
This 2026, TECNO is refreshing its performance-focused POVA lineup by adding a new member in it.
Big power without the bulk
Despite its slim and curved 7.42mm design (and weight of only 195g), the POVA Curve 2 5G arrives with TECNO’s largest battery yet — 8000mAh battery to be precise.
TECNO says the battery is TÜV SÜD-certified for long lifespan and is engineered to last up to six years. It’s also rated to operate in extreme temperatures ranging between as hot as 60°C (140ºF) or as cold as -20ºC (-4ºF).
If you’re already in a pinch, there’s the 45W fast charging with Bypass charging support in tow.
Durability was not compromised as it has a Corning Gorilla Glass 7i Front Glass protection, IP64 water and dust resistance rating, even SGS-certification for 1.5m drop protection.
Speaking of front, it features a curved 6.78-inch AMOLED display with a 144Hz refresh rate. Beneath that glass lies MediaTek’s Dimensity 7100 5G SoC.
On the software side, it runs the latest HiOS 16 (based on Android 16) with integrated AI tools in mind. That means AI-powered content summaries, writing assistance, call noise reduction, and automatic photo enhancements.
TECNO’s Ella AI Assistant has also been improved with more personalized interactions across the system. One-tap FlashMemo also exists for instantly capturing on-screen information. Moreover, Mind Hub organizes notes and AI-generated content in one place.
Lastly, connectivity gets a boost, too. With POVA Curve 2 5G’s dual-signal enhancement, it has an improved cellular and Wi-Fi performance in crowded or weak-signal environments. Interestingly, it also supports offline voice, text, and image communication up to 1.5km in open areas.
With all these in mind, TECNO promises two major Android OS upgrades.
Pricing and Availability
The TECNO POVA Curve 2 5G comes in three colorways: Melting Silver, Storm Titanium, and Mystic Purple.
It launches first in India this February 2026. Pricing is between INR 31,999 and INR 34,999 for the 8+128GB and 8+256GB configurations respectively.
It will also make an appearance at MWC 2026 this upcoming March 2 until March 5, 2026.
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