Some say that the first time you experience something great is always memorable. I’ve recently discovered the 8th generation Lenovo Legion Slim 5i for the first time and it has been such a jaw-dropping experience. This gaming laptop is an absolute powerhouse, and I’m thrilled to share some of my observations with its robust features. Here’s a full review.
Design
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i boasts a stunning and durable design. Its Storm Grey aluminum chassis paired with a PC-ABS bottom looks sleek despite packing great features.
What struck me the most is its slim and lightweight build compared to most gaming laptops with this kind of hardware setup. It was exceptionally easy to carry around and its design is a sign that you’re in for a treat.
Most of the sides offer ventilation for the thick chassis where most of the components are located. On the left are two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, both of which support DisplayPort 1.4 and one offering up to 140W PD Charging. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack for a combined headset and microphone. On the right side is a toggle switch to disable your web camera, and an SD card reader slot.
The back side houses more vents and most of the ports you’ll need, including two USB-A ports, an ethernet port for wired Internet connectivity, and the proprietary port for power.
When you lift the lid of the laptop, there is a 16-inch display and a trackpad for navigation along with left and right keys which are positioned more to the left.
The stereo speakers sit right above the keyboard with the power button right at the middle.
The full keyboard looks quite a bit cramped with the directional buttons at the bottom but there is adequate spacing for you to move around nicely when typing or gaming. Its 4-zone RGB lighting adds a touch of personalization and style to my gaming setup.
The backlit keyboard with 4-zone RGB lighting adds a touch of personalization and style to my gaming setup. The factory color calibration ensures that the visuals are vivid and true to life.
Display
One of the standout features of this laptop is its 16-inch WQXGA display. With a resolution of 2560×1600 and 300 nits of brightness, this screen is a visual delight. The anti-glare coating keeps reflections at bay.
The best thing is you can fold this as far as 180 degrees to give you more freedom on your monitor view.
The addition of G-SYNC technology and a high refresh rate of 165Hz ensures that my gaming experience is tear-free and buttery smooth. The color accuracy, boasting 100% sRGB, makes it an excellent choice for creative work as well. The low blue light feature is a thoughtful addition, perfect for extended gaming or work sessions, preserving my eyes from strain.
Performance
Under the hood, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i packs a punch with its Intel Core i7-13700H processor. With 14 cores (6 for performance and 8 for efficiency) and hyper-threading, this CPU delivers exceptional performance. The base clock of 2.4GHz and turbo boost up to 5.0GHz make it ideal for gaming, content creation, and multitasking.
My unit is equipped with a whopping 32GB of DDR5 RAM and a 1TB M.2 SSD (PCIe 4.0×4 NVMe) storage, which ensures lightning-fast data access and ample memory for my gaming and productivity needs. Multitasking is a breeze, and the dual-channel RAM configuration ensures that data-intensive applications run seamlessly. It doesn’t take too long to render video output too, compared to what I am currently using at home.
For graphics, the laptop features the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, boasting 8GB of GDDR6 memory. This graphics card is a beast, with its boost clock of 2175MHz and a TGP of 140W. It handles the latest games and demanding graphics-intensive tasks with ease. The inclusion of RTX capabilities enhances ray tracing and AI features, providing a visually stunning gaming experience. I tested it with some AAA titles and they ran smoothly even at high settings – no hiccups or lags.
The Legion Coldfront 5.0 cooling system deserves a special mention. It keeps the laptop’s temperature in check during demanding gaming sessions, ensuring that the CPU and GPU perform optimally without overheating. It’s truly a game-changer. My only gripe though is that the fans are quite loud when you are working with intensive apps on the laptop, which may irk you a bit when you’re trying to get in the zone.
Battery Life
The integrated 80Wh battery offers decent battery life, considering the laptop’s powerful components. When disconnected and just using its power, I get around four to five hours doing multitasking on my browser, some Adobe tools, and even a bit of small video editing with Capcut.
For more powerful and extended gaming sessions, it’s advisable to connect to the 230W Slim Tip power adapter.
Beyond your purchase: Here’s where I thought it matters
For me, getting the best value for money goes beyond your new device’s features and specifications. On top of the best features and latest innovations, Lenovo has Legion Ultimate Support, the only gamer-centric support service that provides users 24/7 access via phone, chat, or email to technicians who are armed with gamer-centric knowledge such as hardware optimization, software assistance, in-game settings for some of the most popular AAA games and more. It also includes on-site support fast repairs for those tricky problems and overall technical support to keep the device running in tip-top shape.
I think it’s very important that I not only enjoy powerful and innovative technology but also have the privilege of unparalleled, reliable support that covers everything I need to keep my product running smoothly across its lifecycle.
Final Thoughts
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has left me in awe with its outstanding performance, stunning display, and sleek design. Whether you’re a dedicated gamer or a creative professional, this laptop is a dream come true.
