What you need to know
- Lenovo announced its new Legion 5 and 5i gaming laptops.
- The laptops are available in 15-inch and 17-inch sizes.
- Prices start at $759.99 with Intel and AMD's latest processors, along with NVIDIA RTX and GTX graphics.
Following up on the recent launch of Intel and AMD's latest batch of mobile processors, Lenovo is bringing them to its Legion gaming lineup. Sitting right in the middle of the pack are the new Legion 5 and Legion 5i, which tap into the increased power of these new chips without starting at an absurd price. What's more, they come in two sizes depending on whether you want to go big or bigger.
First up are the two 15-inch models, which is where you'll see the most differentiation. The Legion 5i includes Intel's 10th Gen H-series processors, including Core i5 and i7 options. The Legion 5, meanwhile, goes for AMD's Ryzen 5 4600H and Ryzen 7 4800H chips instead. No matter which model you choose, you'll get NVIDIA GeForce GTX or RTX graphics, ranging from a GTX 1650 or 1650 Ti to an RTX 2060.
Lenovo Legion 5i and 5 (15-inch)
| Category | Legion 5i | Legion 5 |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Home | Windows 10 Home |
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel H-seriesIntel Core i5Intel Core i7 | AMD Ryzen 5 4600HAMD Ryzen 7 4800H |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 2060 | NVIDIA GTX 1650NVIDIA GTX 1650 Ti |
| Memory | 8GB, 16GB DDR4Two slotsUpgradeable | 8GB DDR4Two slotsUpgradeable |
| Storage | Up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDIncludes HDD bay and SATA cables | Up to a 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDIncludes HDD bay and SATA cables |
| Display | 15.6 inches1920x1080 (FHD)60Hz, 300 nits, 100% sRGB120Hz, 250 nits, 45% sRGB144Hz, 300 nits, 100%sRGB, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR240Hz, 500 nits, 100% sRGB, G-Sync, Dolby Vision HDR | 15.6 inches1920x1080 (FHD)120Hz, 250 nits, 45% sRGB60Hz, 300 nits, 100% sRGB |
| Ports | Four USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1)USB-C 3.1HDMI 2.0RJ45 Ethernet3.5mm audio | Four USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1)USB-C 3.1HDMI 2.0RJ45 Ethernet3.5mm audio |
| Keyboard | Lenovo TrueStrikeFour-zone RGB or white backlight1.5mm travel | Lenovo TrueStrikeFour-zone RGB or white backlight1.5mm travel |
| Touchpad | PrecisionOne-piece | PrecisionOne-piece |
| Audio | Dual 2W speakersDolby Atmos | Dual 2W speakersDolby Atmos |
| Camera | Front-facing 720pAbove displayPrivacy shutter | Front-facing 720pAbove displayPrivacy shutter |
| Wireless | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)Bluetooth 5.0 | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 60Wh | 60 Wh |
| Dimensions | 14.3 x 10.2 x 1.0 inches(363mm x 260mm x 25.5mm) | 14.3 x 10.2 x 1.0 inches(363mm x 260mm x 25.5mm) |
| Weight | From 5.5 pounds (2.53kg) | From 5.5 pounds (2.53kg) |
| Color | Phantom BlackHunter Moss GreenABS chassis | Phantom BlackABS chassis |
| Price | From $830 | From $760 |
| Expected release | May 2020 | May 2020 |
With the pricing starting at $830, these laptops comes with some solid displays. There are options ranging from 60Hz up to 144Hz, but you also get Dolby Vision HDR and a respectable 300 nits peak brightness on some panels. Lenovo says it has also increased the trackpad size by 39 percent, pairing it up with its new TrueStrike keyboard, which features 1.5mm travel. The addition of Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is also nice to have as the standard continues to roll out.
The 15-inch Legion 5 and Legion 5i are expected to launch in May starting at $760 for the former and $830 for the latter.
Lenovo Legion 5 (17-inch)
Moving on up in the size department, there's the 17-inch Legion 5. You'll get a similar set of options here, including up to a 144Hz display with Dolby Vision HDR. However, there is no AMD option for fans of the Ryzen series.
Like its smaller siblings, the 17-inch Legion 5 leans on 10th Gen Intel H-series chips, along with up to an NVIDIA RTX 2060. The design has been updated like the rest of the lineup as well, with vertical venting and improved thermals thanks to the fan design.
| Category | Spec |
|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Processor | 10th Gen Intel H-seriesIntel Core i7 |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 2060 |
| Memory | Up to 16GB DDR4Two slotsUpgradeable |
| Storage | Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSDIncludes HDD bay and SATA cables |
| Display | 17.3 inches1920x1080 (FHD)60Hz, 300 nits, 72% NTSC144Hz, 300 nits, 72% NTSC, Dolby Vision HDR |
| Ports | Four USB-A 3.1 (Gen 1)USB-C 3.1HDMI 2.0RJ45 Ethernet3.5mm audio |
| Keyboard | Lenovo TrueStrikeWhite backlight1.5mm travel |
| Touchpad | PrecisionOne-piece |
| Audio | Dual 2W speakersDolby Atmos |
| Camera | Front-facing 720pPrivacy shutter |
| Wireless | 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Battery | 80Wh |
| Dimensions | 15.84 x 11.41 x 1.03 inches(402.4mm x 290mm x 24.3 - 26.2mm) |
| Weight | From 6.57 pounds (2.98kg) |
| Color | Phantom BlackABS chassis |
| Price | From $1,130 |
| Expected release | May 2020 |
The 17-inch Legion 5 is a little pricier to start, as would be expected, but you get fewer color options. It's also fairly hefty at 6.57 pounds, so it won't be something you'll want to carry all day every day. Still, it's a solid option for anyone who needs a reliable gaming PC on the go with a huge screen.
The 17-inch Legion 5 is also expected to launch in May starting at $1,130.
