Gaming

Lenovo Legion 7i Hands-On: Power with reservations

The company’s flagship has its upside, for now

Published

August 19, 2020

Gab Orlina

What’s it like to receive a big crate one day, while working from home? I opened it with the expectation that it’s something big, powerful, and expensive. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been sent to me via crate, right?

Lo and behold, Lenovo sent me one of their new flagship gaming devices. This time around, they’ve decided to go for a simpler way of naming things. Meet the Lenovo Legion 7i in all its fame and glory, which was announced back in April.

What exactly does this entire package bring to the table? Well, here are some initial thoughts I have on the Lenovo Legion 7i.

A pretty straightforward unboxing

For what it’s worth, unboxing the Legion 7i was as straightforward as it could ever be. The big Legion box came with two other boxes inside it: one for the laptop itself, the other for the 230W charging brick. One thing that immediately jumps ahead here is that, well it doesn’t come with any other peripherals.

If there was anything I could give Lenovo props on, it’s the black cloth-like sleeve that covered the device. I get it, it’s not that much since you’re more interested in getting the laptop out of the box. But, I acknowledge that some consideration was given even to that level.

Out of the box, it’s a pretty well-designed device

I felt that the Lenovo Legion 7i was built quite nicely. It’s not a device that just screams in its size or color choice, but it adds some subtlety to it. The near-Space Gray aluminum chassis just looks sexy to me, along with the metallic Legion logo on the lid. Although, these are fingerprint magnets so you should definitely wash your hands first.

L to R: HDMI, USB-A, RJ45 LAN, USB-A, charging port, Kensington lock

I applaud Lenovo Legion for actually putting the more important I/O ports at the back. I didn’t mind that it added just a few more inches to the overall length of the device. Honestly, placing the charging, USB-A, and HDMI ports at the back lessens any obstruction while playing. This also comes with two USB-C ports, with only one of them having Thunderbolt 3 support.

A 720p webcam with its own physical privacy shutter

Upon opening the lid, it’s what I expect out of most Legion laptops: full-size RGB-backlit keyboard, FHD display with the webcam placed above. At least they incorporated the physical webcam shutter, so no need for those sticky notes. Although, there was a portion of the keyboard, near the power button that felt loose or hollow.

Initial performance run seems promising

The unit that was sent to me actually comes with the 10th-generation Intel Core i7-10750H processor. It also came with an NVIDIA RTX 2070 Super Max-Q, a 240Hz FHD display, and 16GB of DDR4 RAM. It’s not the most powerful configuration out there, but I felt that it could still get the job done.

And so far, it actually has lived up to expectations. Most work applications run smoothly with the hardware this device is rocking. Gaming on it also feels like a breeze, as even more modern AAA titles look fantastic. I mean, it hasn’t won me a full game of Fall Guys yet but we’re getting there.

A 240Hz FHD display fit for both streaming content and gaming

Although, I will need to look into several more things before anything else. The thermal situation is one of them, but so far it hasn’t reached boiling hot levels. Of course, there’s the laptop’s battery life but I’m already experiencing a fast-draining battery.

Pricing and availability

So far, the Lenovo Legion 7i works like the true flagship that it is. It’s all compressed in one simple package, but with incredibly beefy hardware. Also, its build quality is honestly one of the more well-thought off ones I’ve seen in a while. Let’s just see if it fully stacks up to the competition. Keep in mind that this is priced at PhP 134,995, and will come with the Legion Recon backpack.

If you want to be the first to get this device, Lenovo Legion is opening pre-orders from August 19-23, 2020. As a bonus, all pre-orders of the Legion 7i will come with a set of peripherals worth PhP 12,980. Those who wish to pre-order the device may do so in the following participating stores:

Legion SM North EDSA
Legion SM City Cebu
Complink SM Mall of Asia
PC Corner Gilmore
PC Express SM Megamall
Thinking Tools SM Davao

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

May 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

Gaming

Stranger Than Heaven is a Yakuza prequel with Snoop Dogg

The story spans different eras and regions across half a century in Japan.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In my review of Yakuza Kiwami 3, I groaned about how every new entry in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchise — original and remake — looked identical with each other. I ended that playthrough hoping desperately for a new era. Thankfully, those hopes did not fall on deaf ears. In its first trailer, the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven showed off an interesting reimagining of the Yakuza universe. Oh, and Snoop Dogg is in it.

First announced back in late 2024 as Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven has now confirmed itself as a prequel to the prequel to the Yakuza games. It didn’t start that way, though. When it was announced, there was hope that the then-untitled game featured a new story disconnected from Yakuza. It looks like the final game is making the best of both worlds.

Stranger Than Heaven chronicles the rise of the infamous Tojo Clan. Unless this is decidedly different from the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza series, this is the clearest sign that this is, in fact, a prequel.

Makoto Daito, a Japanese boy living in Chicago, escapes America to forge a new life in Japan. Along the way, he meets Orpheus, a smuggler played by Snoop Dogg, who drags Makoto into the criminal underworld. Eventually, Makoto decides to do things his own way by creating a new crime family called the Tojo Clan.

Unlike other games in the series, Stranger Than Heaven spans different eras and regions in Japan, starting with Fukuoka in 1915 and ending with Kamurocho in 1965. It will also have different fighting mechanics by mapping the left and right bumpers/triggers to left and right attacks.

Off the bat, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a new era for the series. It launches winter this year for all major platforms.

Gaming

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6

Pre-orders now live

Published

May 4, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to launch on October 6, 2026, bringing a new high-speed twist to the Star Wars universe. The game is published by Secret Mode and developed by Fuse Games. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with support for up to 12 players.

Pre-orders are now open across Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions. Pricing starts at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with both digital and physical versions available depending on platform.

A different kind of Star Wars story

Set in the lawless Outer Rim, the game introduces the Galactic League—an unsanctioned racing circuit where skill matters more than destiny. You play as a mysterious pilot named Shade, navigating a single-player campaign built on rivalries, alliances, and unfinished business.

There’s no Force or prophecy here. Instead, the focus is on build strategy and racing mastery. Players can customize three types of repulsorcraft and even take on classic podracers, blending familiar Star Wars elements with a more competitive, arcade-style edge.

Multiplayer supports online races where players can test their builds and driving skills against others.

Pre-order bonuses and editions

All pre-orders include a bonus livery usable across vehicles, with platform-specific colors, plus a Player Banner background for multiplayer.

The Deluxe Edition adds three extra vehicles, exclusive Arcade events, a livery pack, and cosmetic upgrades like new player banners and insignias. It also includes a digital art book featuring early designs of characters, locations, and vehicles.

Collector’s Edition for dedicated pilots

For collectors, the physical Collector’s Edition bundles a model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, themed patches, a printed art book, and a steel case housed in premium packaging. It also includes all Deluxe Edition digital content.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with pre-orders now available.