Gaming

Lenovo Legion 5i Pro review: A “pro” in professional gaming

Engineered for success from inside and out

Published

August 2, 2022

GadgetMatch

When it comes to a great selection of gaming laptops, no one does it quite like the Legion brand. Lenovo’s dedicated gaming brand produces some of the best in the market for a variety of gamers out there. Whether you’re the brash, highly competitive type or the more subtle one of the group, there’s a perfect one for you.

For 2022, Lenovo’s latest take on a “professional” gaming laptop comes in the form of the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro. Like its predecessors, it’s not the flashiest nor the most color-laden model, yet it boasts the same raw power and performance any gamer needs. Of course, the “Pro” in the model also includes features for an extraordinary young professional on a daily grind.

Is this the all-around option a professional like yourself could be looking for?

An unassuming form factor

Upon first glance, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro has a subtle aura to it, mostly due to its Space Gray finish. As part of the Legion Pro series, it passes off as any work laptop working professionals use in the office. Now, one of the key differences is that this laptop is on the bulkier side of things.

While it is a portable gaming device at its core, it’s quite heavy to bring around on a day-to-day basis. It will fit most laptop bags or backpacks you bring it in, but you will feel a bit of its 2.49kg worth of heft mostly due to the components it has inside. Although, it’s worth it considering what the device rocks with (more on that later).

In terms of overall design and port selection, the Legion 5i Pro doesn’t fall short on the essentials. From the available USB-A ports to the Ethernet jack and Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports, this laptop can fully support a wide variety of peripherals at your disposal. Plus, most of the ports are placed at the back, so no cables get in the way when you’re playing.

Delivers incredible performance for the everyday 9-5

Like every other gaming laptop out there, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro packs a punch in the performance department for everything you throw at it. With a 12th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and 32GB of RAM, this machine is as versatile as advertised. For most work-related tasks like creating presentations and creative tasks, the Legion 5i Pro excels at these with ease.

Another facet of the Legion 5i Pro that delivers as advertised is its 16:10, 165Hz refresh rate IPS display. At 500 nits peak brightness, the display provides great color accuracy and doesn’t wash out any deep blacks when watching dark videos. Of course, the high refresh rate makes animations run smoother, which is perfect for both gaming and entertainment.

Gaming worth doing after work hours

Speaking of gaming performance, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro boasts something great with a minor setback in between. First off, the NVIDIA RTX 3060 inside the device handles most games well at relatively high settings. Not only will you enjoy high frame rates, but you will also have the benefit of playing in great detail.

Secondly, if you do decide to turn down graphics settings, the Legion 5i Pro gives you high enough frames to compete at the highest level possible. Of course, this is further supplemented with the 165Hz refresh rate display allowing you to see elements a bit faster. For graphically-heavy games, the RTX 3060 handles these well enough to give you around 60-80 frames per second (FPS).

However, for games that support ray tracing, the RTX 3060 barely scrapes by even with the increased quality in detail. Frame rates for ray-tracing supported games hardly reached 30 FPS and were slow to respond with keyboard inputs, at times. Although, if you only play game modes that don’t demand too much from the GPU, you will appreciate the intricacy in the details and reflections.

It’s a bit too warm in some cases

At this point, no device is safe from the heat when the competition gets intense. As such, Lenovo’s Coldfront 4.0 cooling system kicks into high gear to keep the device as cool as it could be. The thing though, however, is that this isn’t particularly the case with the Legion 5i Pro.

In most cases, the device didn’t feel incredibly hot to near boiling point compared to other devices. However, after about an hour or so of playing games at decent frame rates, it felt uncomfortably warm near the WASD keys even while playing on a desk. Imagine playing games on your actual lap for one hour!

Not the longest lasting machine

This ties in pretty well with the laptop’s battery life when you’re doing all sorts of things. When used for most day-to-day tasks and casual gaming, the Legion 5i Pro lasts for around 10-12 hours before reaching for the charger. If you switch it up to only play games and at decent frame rates, it only lasts for one to two hours at best.

Charging the device, however, doesn’t take too long especially when you want to get back into the thick of things. With Fast Charge enabled, the Legion 5i Pro goes from 0 to 100 in an hour while idle. When you’re using the device while charging, it takes about an hour and 45 minutes, which isn’t too bad.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Starting at PhP 119,995, the Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is a subtle powerhouse for any type of gamer or professional out there. The hardware inside boasts great power to bolster any task you throw at it, whether it’s for productivity or gaming. Also, if you’re not into flashy designs, this laptop is a perfect fit.

Of course, not every gaming laptop built in this world is perfect. From the heat to the short battery life, these are the sacrifices you’ll deal with for a device as professional-looking as this. Although, Lenovo ensures users that these wouldn’t get in the way too much when you buckle down and get to work.

The Lenovo Legion 5i Pro is one versatile gaming device, and a worthy option for anyone looking for a more all-around device to bring around. Whether you’re on that 9-5 work day or that after hour gaming stream, this definitely has the potential to give you what you need, and then some.

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

Gaming

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes out now

Forge your destiny

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Rabbit and Bear Studios and 505 Games’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is now available across multiple platforms. One of the most anticipated JRPGs in recent memory may now be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Moreover, it may be accessed on PC via Steam, the Epic Games store, and GOG.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is crafted by game developers Junko Kawano (Suikoden I, IV) and the late Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I, II). The title features a modern take on classic 2D side-scrolling games. It has a six-character battle system, meticulous 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds, and a riveting story. As the name suggests, you can play over 100 characters.

GadgetMatch had the privilege of playing the game’s early preview here: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes First Impressions

The refreshed environment immediately stands out. There is more detail, depth, and movement compared to how side-scrolling games of the past used to be played. The game lets players choose their party mates. Meanwhile, the actual combat is turn-based, giving players room to strategize what sequences or gimmicks to select.

With more than 100 characters to choose from, the game also allows players to appropriately select heroes fit for certain regions and dungeons throughout the story. Moreover, some are designated catalysts that can give you access to more of the world’s treasures. In between, users may enjoy mini-games, like the fishing side quest in the preview. The collected fish can be part of another mini-game — cooking — as ingredients for recipes you can cook with.

Features

Why choose the MSI Claw?

Is it the gaming handheld for you?

Published

April 18, 2024

GadgetMatch

The MSI Claw is the latest gaming handheld from a major PC and laptop brand. The competition in this emerging gadget segment is tighter than ever. So, what is it about the MSI Claw that can scratch your gaming itch? Here’s a quick list.

Best grip in the game

One quick glance and it’s hard not to compare the claw with another popular gaming handheld. But a closer look and actually holding the thing will reveal that its grip easily feels better.

It has a slightly deeper groove that makes it easier to hold. So, MSI’s “Grip and Game” tagline isn’t all talk. Its design truly does provide one of the better feeling handles among its competition.

The overall design makes sure it’s made for extended gameplay sessions. The buttons are where you expect them to be. That includes the four mini buttons on the upper edges of the screen. These are the View, MSI Center M, Menu, and Quick Settings buttons.

In addition, the face buttons and d-pad all feel great. The face buttons, in particular, feel comparable to those of regular console controllers.

The rest of the buttons and triggers have a very satisfying tactile feel. It also uses Hall Effect technology to get rid of any stick drift issues.

Up top, you’ll find the power button, MicroSD Card slot, Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port, audio jack, and the volume buttons. These are intuitively placed and just makes sense given the overall design approach.

As cliché as it sounds, you’ll really think you got your money’s worth once you hold, touch, press, and grip the MSI Claw.

Dragon Vision

Now, MSI isn’t really calling it that but I thought it sounds pretty cool. A big part of the whole gaming experience is the display. Balancing resolution and frame rates is always tricky but the MSI Claw does it convincingly.

With this gaming handheld, you get a 7-inch display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Looks great on paper and it’s even better in real life. It’s the sweet spot in terms of both size and performance. There’s enough here to immerse you all while delivering a satisfying level of crisp and smoothness.

It’s comfortable to view whether you’re on the couch, on a desk table, or lying down getting a quick game in before you get some shut-eye.

Battery Life

At 53Whr, the MSI Claw has a 36% larger battery capacity than its contemporaries and promises 50% more play time.

MSI claims “elevated performance with extended endurance” using the Claw with faster charging capabilities.

These percentages are hard to measure in real life usage. What we can say for certain is that you get the expected performance and playtime typical of a handheld. That’s a little under two hours for graphically demanding titles, and close to four hours on less demanding ones.

The charging claim is legitimate. The MSI Claw juices up faster than most other handhelds, going from 20% to 100% in about a little over a K-Drama episode (roughly a little over an hour).

MSI Center M

Any self-respecting gaming handheld has its own software to make navigating the thing more manageable. While its direct competitors have an armoury crate and a space, MSI went with Center M.

The best part about MSI Center M is it puts your installed games front and center. Right when it launches, you get immediate access to the titles you have available on your machine.

MSI Afterburner is already the most commonly used app for taking a look at how your machine is performing while you play. That functionality is built-in to the MSI Claw. You can access it view the Quick Settings buttons.

Layout and functionality-wise, the MSI Center M is certainly one of the better Gaming Handheld softwares available right now.

Competitive Performance

A defining trait of the MSI Claw is that It’s the first gaming handheld to be powered by Intel Core Ultra. With it comes Intel XeSS tech. What it does is leverage AI upscaling to boost the fps of select titles.

As of launch, 50 notable games are supported. That number will certainly grow throughout the device’s lifespan. Some of the titles include Hi-Fi Rush, Dying Light 2, Forza Horizon 5, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0, Returnal, and many, many more.

Naturally, results will vary depending on the game mode you’re using. But in general, AAA games get anywhere between 10% to 45% better frame rate performance with Intel XeSS.

For our part we played TEKKEN 8 and the recently launched Horizon Forbidden West. Both graphically demanding games played relatively well on the MSI Claw. Frame rate performance on TEKKEN 8 is crucial and we got a relatively consistent fps, never dropping below 40.

Horizon Forbidden West is a much more graphically demanding game. We were able to run it in Medium Settings and while it doesn’t look as incredible, it still played relatively well with a frame rate surprising for a gaming handheld.

Extras

MSI made sure that if you wanted to, you could get some extra stuff with the MSI Claw. Its separately sold accessory set includes the Claw Travel Case, Nest Docking Station, Claw Lanyard, and Claw Keychain.

On paper, the MSI Claw lists its ergonomic design, AI Engine, and App Player as distinct advantages over its competition.

Whether it’s the Gaming Handheld that matches your needs is still ultimately up to you. If you have the opportunity to test drive the device, we suggest you do so. That might just solidify your purchase decision.