In this article, we’re discussing the 2025 Lenovo Legion 9i, Lenovo’s full-size full-power 18-inch laptop.
Before we start, a heads-up: this series is sold as the Legion 9 in Europe and as the Legion 9i in the US market, and we’ll refer to it as the 9i throughout the article.
Unlike in the past, this refresh of the Legion 9i is a full-power 18-inch chassis, among the beefiest, the most powerful, and especially the best-cooled options in this segment. It weighs 5 kilos including the charger, though, so it’s not a portable implementation in the same way as the original Legion 9i 16-inch was a few years ago (reviewed here) .
Our configuration is the top-specced model with an RTX 5090, 192 GB of RAM, 4 TB of fast SSD storage, and a 3D-capable display. It delivers the performance expected from this hardware, and it does it while running quieter and cooler than the competitors tested so far, which is arguably the most important differentiator of this series. On the other hand, Lenovo only offers this notebook with an IPS display, while most competitors offer an arguably nicer mini LED panel.
I’ve gathered all my thoughts and impressions on this 18-inch Legion 9i down below, after using it for a few weeks, but in a mature implementation, tested a few months after launch.
Specs sheet as reviewed – Lenovo Legion 9i gen 10 18-inch gaming laptop
2025 Lenovo Legion 9i 18IAX10, gen 10
Display 18-inch, 16:10, glossy, non-touch,IPS QHD+ 2560 x 1600 px , 240 Hz 3ms, 500 nits SDR, 100% DCI-P3 colorswork at 440Hz at 2K resolution,
Processor Intel Arrow Lake HX,
Video Intel Graphics + Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop 24GB graphics (up to 175W with Dynamic Boost)
Memory 192 GB DDR5-4000 RAM (4x DIMMs, 4x 48GB DDR5-5600 sticks)
Storage 2x 2TB SSDs – 1x M.2 PCIe 5.0, 3x M.2 PCIe 4.0 slots, fit dual-sided SSDs
Connectivity WiFi 7 (Killer BE320 ) 2×2 with Bluetooth 5.4, 2.5Gigabit LAN (Killer E3100)
Ports Left: 2x USB-C with Thunderbolt 5, 1x USB-A gen2, LAN, audio jack
Battery 99.9Wh, 400 W power adapter, USB-C charging up to 140W
Size 403 mm or 15.87” (w) x 297 mm or 10.61 (d) x 23.9 – 28 mm or .94″ – 1.1” (h)
Weight 3.74 kg (8.25 lbs) – for the variant with the 3D display,
Extras clamshell 18-inch format with 180-degree screen angle,
Design and construction This laptop is pretty much an oversized Legion Pro 7i , and I wonder why Lenovo didn’t just call this series the Pro 9i, while reserving the standard 9i for a 16-inch portable model (which hasn’t been refreshed so far, so maybe it’s a dead product). In my mind, this is the Pro 9i we’ve been expecting.
Regardless, it’s a full-size 18-inch chassis, among the largest and heaviest out there. The laptop weighs 3.75 kilos in this tested maxed-out variant, and the 400W charger weighs an extra 1.2 kilos, for a total of 5 kilos in your backpack. In comparison, the ROG Scar 18 weighs 3.3 kilos, the MSI Titan 18 about 3.6 kilos, while the Alienware 18 Area 51 is heavier at 4.1+ kilos. So all in all, this is not a portable laptop, unlike the previous iteration in the Legion 9i series.
Note: Just keep in mind that the version with a regular 2D display is lighter by about 250 grams. Our model has the optional glassless 3D display variant, which results in a thicker and heavier lid part.
At least this notebook doesn’t feel that large in actual use, since it implements the design with a hump behind the display, so the screen is positioned a few cm closer to the user. Most other competitors use the same approach, though, except for Asus with the Scar 18.
This is also built like a tank, with anodized magnesium materials all around and with a thick and sturdy lid with a carbon-fiber design. There’s no flex, and I haven’t noticed any funny squeaky noises during my time with this laptop. It doesn’t even creak when picked up from a corner, although that’s quite an effort with a chassis of this size, and not recommended anyway.
The design is pretty neat, with an all-black theme and a carbon fiber lid. The matte black surfaces smudge easily, as expected, mostly on the armrest and around the keyboard deck. More importantly, though, the screen’s finish smudges easily and retains smudges in a way that standard glass-covered glossy displays do not – this requires consistent effort to wipe clean, so better not touch this display, it doesn’t support touch anyway.
The interior, in particular, is free of any engravings and branding elements, and is the cleanest I’ve seen on any laptop so far (there are some stickers that should be peeled off). The lid, on the other hand, compensates to some extent, with the Lenovo writing on the back hump, and the massive LEGION branding in the middle of the frame – this is RGB backlit as well.
Speaking of RGB, there’s also a lightbar at the front of the laptop, partially spreading to the sides. By default, the RGB elements are tied to the keyboard’s RGB settings, but they can be controlled individually in the settings – the Lighting Theme Options are part of the LegionSpace app, under the power profiles, and not that intuitive to figure out at first.
These aside, this Legion 9i checks out most of the right boxes when it comes to practicality and ergonomics, with grippy rubber feet, firm hinges with an 180-degree opening angle and a notch on the top part of the frame, a spacious armrest, and a full keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers.
On the other hand, the edges are somewhat aggressive on the wrists – they have this slightly angled tapper, but the contact line still feels sharp. On top of that, make sure to pamper this sort of metal finish, as it can dent and scratch easily, especially on the corners where the coating is more fragile and probably around the ports (the iPhone 17 Pro scratching is a popular topic these days; that’s an anodized aluminum chassis, somewhat similar to this one). I’ve included a picture that shows a dent on the back edge – no marks on the interior so far, but keep this aspect in mind in your use.
I must also mention the always-on light in the Power button, lit in white/red/blue based on the active power profile – having a bright light under the screen, in the line of sight, is extremely annoying when using this laptop at night.
Lenovo has been doing this sort of light for many years now, but at least in the past, the glowing light in the power button was slimmer and not as bright. But with these 2025 Legion models…
Anyway, on a more positive note, the IO includes all the needed ports, including USB-C with Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, LAN, and a full-size SD card reader. These connectors are spread around the sides, with the power plug and the HDMI on the back edge, tucked away.
My only minor nit is that the ports are placed in the middle of the laptop, and not towards the back, which can get some cable cluttering; that aside, both of the Thunderbolt 5 ports are on the same edge, on the left. There is another USB-C port on the right as well, but that one only supports data, so no charging or video.
All in all, this Lenovo Legion 9i is a sturdy and versatile full-size format; and despite that awful always-on light in the power button, it’s still the best all-around design tested this year in this 18-inch space. If this were my daily driver, though, I’d look into disconnecting or covering up that light somehow.
Keyboard and touchpad The keyboard on this notebook is identical to the one implemented in the 2025 Legion Pro 7i, while the touchpad is similar as well, just larger here.
It’s a good typer overall, just as proper rubber-dome implementation with smooth feeling keycaps and firm feedback, and with 1.6 mm of travel. I did find this rather thumpy, though, loud. I don’t recall having the same impression using the Pro 7i, and I no longer have that around for comparison.
Lenovo includes a key replacement box with the high-tier Legions, with 8 ceramic keycaps and 16 replacement leaf springs. These are not mechanical switches, as on the Predator Helios , just a different design and slightly different feel. You can also buy this set on the side if you want to customize your keyboard somehow.
Anyway, the keys are RGB lit, with per-key control, 10 brightness levels to choose from, and multiple color styles and themes. Plus, pressing and holding the Function key highlights the keys with associated shortcuts.
These lights get very bright on the highest setting, while on the lowest setting, they are mostly dim enough for comfortable use in low-light environments – perhaps a little dimmer would have been nice.
The RGB settings are in the LenovoSpace app, and this time around I was able to figure out how this works, unlike on my previous encounter when using the Pro 7i. Not sure if the app has changed in any way in the meantime.
The touchpad seems like the same mylar surface as on the Pro 7i, and feels and works fine. It’s centered under the Space key, positioned to the right of the chassis.
It’s also a huge surface, and it will take some time to get used to where the actual clicks happen; at least there’s plenty of space underneath and above, separating the surface from the front lip and from the keyboard.
As for biometrics, there’s no IR functionality for the camera and no finger sensor, just like on the Pro 7i.
Screen – 4K 240Hz, IPS, glossy The display on this series is a glossy non-touch implementation with a 16:10 4K IPS panel, with 240Hz refresh at native resolution and fast response times. This is not a glass-covered display, but still shiny and reflective.
Lenovo actually offers two panel variants for this series, a regular IPS option and another one that can display 3D content at 2K resolution in supported applications and games, without requiring glasses – it uses eye-tracking through a lenticular lens array to appear 3D to the naked eye.
My review unit is the 3D panel, and if you look closely, you’ll notice a slight grain caused by the extra layer that allows for 3D. It’s mostly visible when looking at the screen slightly off angle, though, so it’s not that bad with regular use. It’s not the same kind of always-on grain that we get on touch OLEDs. It’s still there, though, slightly annoying at times and something you cannot unsee once you see it.
That aside, this panel is as good as it gets for an IPS, with 500-nits of brightness, 1200:1 contrast ratio, and almost 100% DCI-P3 coverage (~85% Adobe RGB). On top of that, the lowest brightness setting allows the screen to get very dim, making it a good option for use at night in a dark room – until you get back to that always-on light in the power button. Oh, and there’s no flickering or PWM.
Furthermore, this panel implements GSync and works in dual modes, either 240Hz at 4K resolution or 440Hz at 2K resolution – a good option for competitive eSports. All these make it arguably the most versatile option available out there for gaming, especially on an RTX 5090 full-power configuration such as this one.
So all in all, this is a solid panel, but you will have to accept the limits of this technology: more muted blacks and contrast compared to the miniLED and OLED technologies, limited HDR capabilities, and some light bleeding and glowing on dark backgrounds at high brightness settings.
My major peeve with this implementation is the reflective finish, though, as to me this would have made more sense as a matte finish. However, even this aspect is a potential differentiator for the Legion 9i, since the glossy finish can somewhat improve perceived colors and contrast to the eye, and since all the other 18-inch alternatives are matte displays, except for this one.
Oh, and one more reason Lenovo went with an IPS is the fact that there are no 18-inch 4K 240Hz mini LED options to begin with, and no 18-inch OLED panels of any kind as of mid-2025.
So, how about the 3D aspect? It works in about 30 games or so, including Cyberpunk and Black Myth: Wukong, and a few apps such as Blender or Maya, and looks interesting overall.
It doesn’t require headsets or glasses of any kind: how this works is the system renders two images at 2K resolution and overlaps them in a way that fools the brain into a 3D effect. You need to experience this in real life; it can’t be captured in images or videos. It does look 3D and doesn’t seem to cause fatigue after 30 min of gameplay. But the 3D effects are mostly visible on moving subjects, and is not perfectly implemented in all titles and every situation. So I’m not convinced I would actually use this mode on a daily basis with games.
All in all, you must consider whether this screen is worth the demanded premium of 250+ USD, alongside the increase in laptop weight and that grain I mentioned earlier. Up to you. It’s a new technology that actually works, and $250 might not be that much when accounting for the total price of this laptop, so it’s a tough call between the two display options. I do incline towards the regular display version, though, just for the lack of perceived grain from the 3D layer.
Hardware and performance Our test model is a top-specced configuration of the 2025 Lenovo Legion Pro 9, code name 18IAX10, with an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 dGPU, 192 GB of DDR5-4000 memory, and 4 TB of fast SSD storage.
Disclaimer: This is a retail unit provided by Lenovo for this review. It was tested on the software available as of late-September 2025, a few months after launch (BIOS RZCN32WW, GeForce Game Ready 581.42). Little can still change with later software updates at this point.
Spec-wise, the 2025 Legion Pro 9 is built on the latest and most powerful Intel and Nvidia hardware available to date.
The Core Ultra 9 275HX is a high-performance mobile processor part of the Intel Arrow Lake HX lineup , with 24 Cores and 24 Threads. It’s a hybrid design with Performance and Efficiency Cores. The design and thermal module of this Legion allow the processor to run at ~180-220W of sustained power in demanding CPU loads, the highest settings ever tested on a Legion so far.
For the GPU, the 2025 Legion Pro 9 series is available with full-power Nvidia Blackwell RTX 5000 graphics chips, either RTX 5080 16GB (175W) or RTX 5090 24GB (175W). Our review unit is the 5090 configuration. All variants offer a MUX and either regular Optimus or Advanced Optimus.
For the RAM, the series offers four DDR5 SODIMM slots. Our unit is a maxed-out 192 GB configuration, with 4x 48 GB DDR5-5200 RAM sticks. However, the RAM only works at 4000 MTs in this sort of configuration once you install 3 or 4 RAM sticks, and at 5200 MTs with two sticks, due to the memory controller’s design.
For storage, there are four M.2 2280 SSD slots inside, with one of them supporting PCIe gen5 speeds. All can fit dual-sided SSDs. Our sample comes preconfigured with two 2TB drives.
The RAM sticks, the SSDs, and the WiFi module are all upgradable here. For that, you’d need to remove the back panel, held in place by a handful of Philips screws, all the same size. There’s no pop-up screw, so you’ll need a prying tool to separate the back panel. Once inside, the RAM is covered by a plastic thermal protection, and all the SSDs are covered by metallic heat spreaders, which you need to remove to access the M.2 slots. For the WiFi module, you actually need to take out one of the fan’s cover.
Lenovo replaced the Vantage control app used on past Legions with a new piece of software called LenovoSpace. Not a fan necessarily, but it works once you get a hold of it – allows control over the power and fan settings, as well as the RGB lighting system (keyboard, logo on the lid, front lightbar). The power profiles are the same as before: Quiet, Balance, Performance, and Custom, with the latter offering various settings for the CPU/GPU and fan control.
Here are the power limits and targeted fan noise levels for each of the default profiles:
Quiet Balance Performance Custom
CPU only, PL1/PL2 TDP
55/65W
90/125W
170/205W
180/225W
GPU only, max TGP
90W
115W
175W
175W
Crossload power,
110W, 20 + 90 W
140W, 25 + 115 W
250W, 75 + 175 W
280W, 105 + 175 W
Noise at head-level, tested
<35 dBA
~42 dBA tests
~48 dBA tests
52 dBA, max fans
Well-balanced profiles, and both Balance and Performance are quieter than similar-tier profiles on competing notebooks. Keep in mind I measure noise at head-level, which is diagonally 60 cm above the laptop.
Before we jump to the performance section, here’s how this laptop handles everyday use and multitasking on the Quiet profile, unplugged from the wall.
Performance and benchmarks – Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX + Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 On to more demanding loads, we test the CPU’s sustained performance in the Cinebench R15 loop test.
I have the laptop on a stand, for consistency with other reviews, but it’s important to note that this laptop works mostly the same while kept flat on the desk, without choking the cooling module and or thermally limiting the performance, like on the Legion Pro 7i tested earlier in the year.
So, in Performance mode, the Core Ultra 9 275HX runs at around 180-200W sustained, with temperatures around 95 °C, and fan noise around 47-48 dBA.
With longer-duration sustained loads, the CPU ends up stabilizing at around 170W on this Performance mode, with temperatures around 90 °C. That’s shown in the Blender and Cinebench R23 tests further down.
There’s also Custom mode that allows maxing out the fans. In this case, the CPU runs at ~180-200W even in longer tests, with temperatures in the low 90s °C. The performance delta between the two modes is minimal, though.
On the Balance profile, the CPU stabilizes at ~90W sustained, with temperatures in the mid-60s °C and fan noise of around 42 dBA. The scores take a 25% dip on this profile.
Then there’s Balance mode on USB-C power, which only allows for 40W sustained TDP, with quiet fans and lower scores.
The Quiet profile, with the laptop once more plugged in via the main charger, sets a 55W limit on the CPU, with sub-35 dBA fans and temperatures in the mid-50s °C. The scores drop to about 65% of what the laptop can do in Performance mode.
Finally, the CPU runs at ~45 W of power on battery, on the Balance profile. Details below.
Among these profiles, Balance mode could perhaps benefit from higher sustained power around 120W or so, but the others are fine for their purpose. They’re all quieter than on other high-performance notebooks, and thermals are never a limitation, regardless of using the laptop on a stand or flat on a desk.
To put these findings in perspective, here’s how this Core Ultra 9 275X implementation fares against other powerful platforms in this test.
This same processor scores a few percent higher in the MSI Titan 18, but that laptop runs louder. The Scar scores about on par with the Legion, at similar noise levels.
Compared to the previous generations of the Legion 9i, the 2025 refresh is 40-50% faster in this test, and runs quieter. But that was a different kind of laptop. More importantly, though, the Ultra 9 275HX shows significant performance gains over the previous-gen i9-14900HX platform as well, of about 25% compared to a full-power implementation in last year’s Titan 18. That’s significant!
I also wanted to point out the sustained CPU performance on Balance mode on a few of these laptops, to better showcase how Lenovo could have pushed the power limit a little higher for this profile. It’s still a competitive mode, but not quite on par with the Scar or the Titan.
We then went ahead and further verified our findings with the more taxing Cinebench R23 loop test and Blender – Classroom, which resulted in similar findings to what we explained above: 180+ sustained for Custom with max fans, 170W sustained on Performance, 90W sustained on Balance, and 55W sustained on Quiet.
We also ran the 3DMark CPU test on the Performance and Quiet profiles.
Finally, we ran our combined CPU+GPU stress tests on this notebook. 3DMark stress runs the same test for 20 times in a loop and looks for performance variation and degradation over time. This unit passes the test both flat on a desk and when placed on a stand, showcasing the prowess of its cooling module even when handling this sort of high-power specs. More on that in the gaming section down below.
Next, we ran the entire suite of tests and benchmarks on the Performance profile with the GPU set on Hybrid mode and with the screen set at the native 3840 x 2400 px resolution.
Again, the laptop was placed on a stand for all these tests to prevent thermal limitations.
Here’s what we got:
3DMark 13 – CPU profile: max – 16229, 16 – 13928, 8 – 9104, 4 – 4964, 2 – 2484, 1 – 1245;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike (DX11): 39101 (Graphics – 52528, Physics – 49904, Combined – 12062);3DMark 13 – Port Royal (RTX): 17291;3DMark 13 – Time Spy (DX12): 23242 (Graphics – 26172, CPU – 14221);3DMark 13 – Speed Way (DX12 Ultimate): 6806;3DMark 13 – Steel Nomad (DX12 Ultimate): 6622;3DMark 13 – DLSS: 38.44 fps DLSS Off, 140.21 fps DLSS On;
Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 15925;Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Medium: 34157;
Aida64 Extreme, memory test – ;PCMark 10: 9378 (Essentials – 10945, Productivity – 10554, Digital Content Creation – 19376);GeekBench 6.2.2 64-bit: Multi-core: 18667, Single-Core: 2906;CineBench R15 (best run): CPU 5894 cb, CPU Single Core 327 cb;CineBench R20 (best run): CPU 13730 cb, CPU Single Core 800 cb;CineBench R23: CPU 39783 cb (best single run), CPU 37913 cb (10 min run), CPU Single Core 2195 cb;CineBench 2024: GPU – pts, CPU 2238 pts (loop run), CPU Single Core 133 pts.
And here are some workstation benchmarks, on the same Performance profile:
Blender 4.3.2 – BMW scene – CPU Compute: 1m 01s;Blender 4.3.2 – BMW scene – GPU Compute: 8.28s (CUDA), 5.11 (Optix);Blender 4.3.2 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 2m 43s;Blender 4.3.2 – Classroom scene – GPU Compute: 15.95s (CUDA), 9.93s (Optix).
SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax 07: 208.37;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia 06: 110.41;SPECviewperf 2020 – Creo 03: 121.56;SPECviewperf 2020 – Energy: 75.12;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya 06: 657.49;SPECviewperf 2020 – Medical 03: 68.38;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX 04: 40.94;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW 07: 534.66
SPECviewperf 15 – 3DSMax 08: 86.20;SPECviewperf 15 – Blender 01: 83.65;SPECviewperf 15 – Catia 07: 89.60;SPECviewperf 15 – Creo 04: 121.46;SPECviewperf 15 – Energy 04: 75.35;SPECviewperf 15 – Enscape 01: 86.88;SPECviewperf 15 – Maya 07: 228.13;SPECviewperf 15 – Medical 04: 68.57;SPECviewperf 15 – Solidworks 08: 42.58;SPECviewperf 15 – Unreal Engine 01: 85.68;
V-Ray Benchmark: 27027 – CPU, 3251 – CUDA, 4203 – RTX.
These are solid results for a high-performance laptop of this generation, on par with the fastest notebooks tested so far, with the reference being the beastly MSI Titan 18 model .
On the CPU side, multi-threaded scores are on par with the Titan, but this Legion scores within 5% lower in single-core CPU tests for some reason. Compared to the Scar 18 , multi-threaded scores are 5-7% higher, while single-core CPU scores are still a little lower, but don’t forget we’ve tested the Scar 18 earlier in the year, with potentially less mature software.
On the GPU side, this runs mostly on par with the Titan, and within 5% faster than the Scar 18 or the Predator Helios 16 .
So this Legion 9i is about as fast a performer as you can get in a notebook today, with a slight exception in the single-core CPU tests.
Keep in mind, though, that the memory only runs at DDR5-4000 speeds due to the platform’s design limitation when implementing 4x memory slots, and at DDR-5200 speeds with two sticks of RAM, even if you’re using DDR5-5600 modules. It’s not going to matter for most use cases, but it might for some specific workloads, so make sure to further look into it. Previous-gen versions of the MSI Titan 18 had the same limitation, and you’ll find information on how the RAM speeds can affect things when searching for that series. For what is worth, the 2025 Titan 18 implements full-speed memory, since it was redesigned this year with only 2x RAM slots.
As far as the RTX 5080 variant of this Legion 9i laptop goes, expect 10-15% lower benchmark scores in the GPU-heavy loads, and 5-15% differences in workloads and games. The results in our review of the RTX 5080 Legion Pro 7i should be indicative of what to expect on this larger Legion as well, just with improved thermals overall. In fact, thermal behaviour is where this chassis excels, even compared to its rivals in the 18-inch space of high-performance notebooks .
Custom Mode – max power, 50+ dBA noise Let’s go over the other power profiles available in the LegionSpace control app. Custom mode is potentially the highest-tier profile and allows for a multitude of CPU/GPU power customizations and fan settings.
I maxed out everything possible and set the fans on Full Speed. That translates to noise levels of 50-52 dBA at head level, up from 47-48 dBA on Performance.
I ran agains some of the tests, and here’s what we got.
3DMark 13 –CPU profile: max – 17374, 16 – 14309, 8 – 9007, 4 – 4958, 2 – 2508, 1 – 1251;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: 37255 (Graphics – 46282, Physics – 51222, Combined – 12973);3DMark 13 – Port Royal (RTX): 14515;3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 21801 (Graphics – 24534, CPU – 13365);Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 16123;CineBench R23 (10 min loop): CPU 37892 cb, CPU Single Core 2198 cb;Blender 3.6.5 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 2m 38s.SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 208.53;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 110.23;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 640.29;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 39.06;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 485.88.
The 3DMark scores are lower than on Performance mode, somehow, while other scores are on par or at best 1-2% faster. So there’s no reason to actually use this mode with max-out settings here, especially considering the louder fan noise.
Balance Mode – low power, 35-42 dBA noise Balance mode is the mid-level profile that keeps fan noise lower, somewhere between 35 to 42 dBA. It gets to 42 dBA under sustained CPU loads, but keeps quieter under 40 dBA with mixed use, workloads, and games.
Here’s what we got in this case:
3DMark 13 – CPU profile: max – 10749, 16 – 9108, 8 – 6524, 4 – 3982, 2 – 2304, 1 – 1187;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: 35689 (Graphics – 43181, Physics – 49644, Combined – 13108);3DMark 13 – Port Royal (RTX): 13675;3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 17846 (Graphics – 20158, CPU – 10817);Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 13317;CineBench R23 (10 min loop): CPU 30808 cb, CPU Single Core 2130 cb;Blender 3.6.5 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 3m 11s.SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 202.65;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 102.82;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 610.98;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 38.30;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 472.86.
For benchmarks, we’re looking at about 80% of what’s possible on Performance mode on both the CPU and GPU side, with a less notable difference with mixed use and workloads.
A versatile mid-level profile, and generally quieter and cooler than the similar-tier settings on competing notebooks. I still consider that it could benefit from a slight increase in power settings, though.
Quiet Mode – lower power, sub 35 dBA noise Silent mode limits the CPU/GPU power to keep noise levels at sub-35 dBA and temperatures in check.
Here’s what we got:
3DMark 13 – CPU profile: max – 10144, 16 – 8277, 8 – 6355, 4 – 3335, 2 – 1312, 1 – 616;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: 27476 (Graphics – 36039, Physics – 34871, Combined – 8863);3DMark 13 – Port Royal (RTX): 11752;3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 15247 (Graphics – 16927, CPU – 9761);Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 11584;CineBench R23 (10 min loop): CPU 24957 cb, CPU Single Core 935 cb;Blender 3.6.5 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 4m 02s.SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 155.89;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 78.58;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 426.23;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 27.83;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 325.34.
With this profile, we’re roughly at about 60% of what the system delivers in Performance mode.
However, single-core CPU performance is greatly limited compared to all other modes, at about 40% of what the CPU can do; perhaps a bug with my unit, but something to further look into on your devices. With real use, I noticed some occasional stuttering with mixed-use on this profile, perhaps a consequence of the bottlenecked single-core speeds. I didn’t get the time to look into it any further, though.
Performance Mode on PD power This laptop supports PD power via the USB-C Thunderbolt 5 ports on the left edge, and I’ve tested it with a 100W PD charger. The USB-C port on the right does not support PD.
I don’t have Lenovo’s 140W PD charger to test with (or another 140W PD charger); results might differ with those higher power versions.
With the 100W charger, Balance mode on PD power offers limited performance and capabilities. It’s meant for multitasking and mixed use when you don’t want to bring along the main charger, and not for sustained loads, as the system pulls out of the battery with heavier loads or games. There’s no power through via USB-C, so you should set the dGPU to ECO mode when using the laptop via USB-C power.
Here’s what we got in terms of benchmark results on Balance mode on USB-C PD power, with the dGPU on Hybrid:
3DMark 13 – CPU profile: max – 10749, 16 – 9108, 8 – 6524, 4 – 3982, 2 – 2304, 1 – 1187;3DMark 13 – Fire Strike: 18697 (Graphics – 20614, Physics – 31274, Combined – 8128);3DMark 13 – Time Spy: 7102 (Graphics – 6681, CPU – 11049);Uniengine Superposition – 1080p Extreme: 4056;CineBench R23 (10 min loop): CPU 21648 cb, CPU Single Core 2076 cb;Blender 3.6.5 – Classroom scene – CPU Compute: 4m 36s.SPECviewperf 2020 – 3DSMax: 103.70;SPECviewperf 2020 – Catia: 63.34;SPECviewperf 2020 – Maya: 353.87;SPECviewperf 2020 – SNX: 29.61;SPECviewperf 2020 – SW: 251.24.
These results are 30-40% of what the laptop can do plugged in with the main charger, further emphasizing what you should expect from this laptop on USB-C power.
And here are some logs for a Blender CPU run and for gaming, showing the power settings and energy draw from the battery. That means the battery will die out in a few hours of sustained use on USB-C 100W PD.
Gaming performance – Ultra 9 + GeForce RTX 5090 With benchmarks out of the way, let’s see how this Lenovo Legion Pro 9 handles modern games.
We tested a couple of different games on the various available profiles at 4K (3840 x 2400 px) and 2.5K (2560 x 1600 px) resolutions, with the GPU set on dGPU mode. For all profiles and tests, the laptop is placed on a stand, for consistency between reviews, as this system performs fine and doesn’t heat up even when having the device flat on a desk.
I’ve also disabled any automatic settings and optimizations in the Nvidia app. Performance and Custom mode include the default GPU overclock available in the LegionSpace app. Custom mode also uses maxed-out settings with full-speed fans.
Here are the results:
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, RTX 5080 Laptop 150-175W 4K Performance, 4K Quiet, 2.5K Performance, 2.5K Custom, 2.5K Balance, 2.5K Quiet,
Black Myth: Wukong 52 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
–
68 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
–
–
–
Black Myth: Wukong 62 fps (22 fps – 1% low)
36 fps (18 fps – 1% low)
104 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
102 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
76 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
62 fps (22 fps – 1% low)
Black Myth: WukongMFG On 4x 110 fps (24 fps – 1% low)
68 fps (16 fps – 1% low)
171 fps (32 fps – 1% low)
–
128 fps (24 fps – 1% low)
108 fps (22 fps – 1% low)
Cyberpunk 2077 54 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
–
90 fps (66 fps – 1% low)
–
–
–
Cyberpunk 2077 58 fps (38 fps – 1% low)
–
100 fps (70 fps – 1% low)
–
–
–
Cyberpunk 2077MFG On 2x , Ray Reconstruction On, 72 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
40 fps (18 fps – 1% low)
128 fps (52 fps – 1% low)
126 fps (52 fps – 1% low)
102 fps (40 fps – 1% low)
78 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
Cyberpunk 2077MFG On 4x , Ray Reconstruction On, 128 fps (28 fps – 1% low)
74 fps (16 fps – 1% low)
224 fps (50 fps – 1% low)
–
160 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
136 fps (30 fps – 1% low)
Far Cry 6 97 fps (54 fps – 1% low)
62 fps (36 fps – 1% low)
124 fps (86 fps – 1% low)
122 fps (84 fps – 1% low)
110 fps (72 fps – 1% low)
78 fps (56 fps – 1% low)
Horizon Forbidden West 62 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
36 fps (22 fps – 1% low)
98 fps (68 fps – 1% low)
–
70 fps (44 fps – 1% low)
62 fps (43 fps – 1% low)
Horizon Forbidden West 124 fps (88 fps – 1% low)
65 fps (46 fps – 1% low)
168 fps (116 fps – 1% low)
–
130 fps (86 fps – 1% low)
112 fps (68 fps – 1% low)
Red Dead Redemption 2 89 fps (48 fps – 1% low)
78 fps (54 fps – 1% low)
118 fps (66 fps – 1% low)
–
98 fps (52 fps – 1% low)
-88 fps (42 fps – 1% low)
Shadow of Tomb Raider 114 fps (76 fps – 1% low)
65 fps (41 fps – 1% low)
162 fps (102 fps – 1% low)
158 fps (98 fps – 1% low)
-128 fps (98 fps – 1% low)
-100 fps (62 fps – 1% low)
Cyberpunk, Horizon FW, Witcher 3, Resident Evil – recorded with MSI Afterburner fps counter in campaign mode;
Black Myth, Far Cry 6, Red Dead Redemption 2, Tomb Raider – recorded with the included Benchmark utilities;
Red Dead Redemption 2 Optimized profile based on these settings .
These games run smoothly at 4K and QHD resolution with Ultra settings on all profiles, including on the Quiet profile. DLSS improves framerates, especially in the newer titles that support DLSS 4.0 with Multi Frame Generation set on 4x, and even allows 4K gaming on Quiet at 60+ fps in most titles.
The gaming performance is on par or a little better than on other 5090 18-inch notebooks tested so far , such as the MSI Titan 18 and the Asus ROG Scar 18. Just keep in mind that this Legion laptop is tested with more recent drivers and software, which could somewhat affect the results. For the most part, expect all these laptops to deliver similar performance, with the difference being in thermals, though. I’ll have a more detailed comparison of the two in a separate article if that’s of interest.
For comparison, the 5080 configuration will yield roughly 10-15% lower framerates in games. Furthermore, compared to previous-gen RTX 4090 notebooks, this 5090 implementation scores 10-20% higher in the tested games, without accounting for DLSS 4.0, which is an added benefit.
Let’s go over some performance and temperature logs.
First off, Performance mode with the laptop flat on the desk. We’re looking at noise levels around 45-46 dBA, with temperatures of 80-85 °C on the CPU and 70-74 °C on the GPU.
Lift the laptop on a stand and the temperatures drop by a few degrees: 75-80 °C on the CPU and 66-70 °C on the GPU. Impressive considering the total crossload power is around 240-250W for this mode, and the fans aren’t that loud. Best CPU/GPU thermals measured so far on a gaming notebook of this caliber.
There’s also a Custom mode that allows for Full Speed fans. This increases noise levels to 52+ dBA, with a minor impact on the CPU/GPU temperatures. Not a mode I’d want to use here. Instead, you might want to use this Custom mode to tweak a mid-level profile of your choosing, more powerful than the default Balance mode.
The default mid-level profile is Balance, and limits CPU/GPU power quite aggressively. This generally results in a quiet gaming experience at 35-40 dBA, with excellent temperatures in the low to mid 60s °C on both the CPU and GPU.
Framerates take a hit, though, at about 80% of Performance mode. Still not bad at all, but perhaps a little more performance could be squeezed with slightly higher power settings, especially on the GPU side (somewhere closer to 140W).
And then there’s Quiet mode, which sets a sub-35 dBA noise target and adjusts the power settings accordingly. This isn’t as restrictive as other similar profiles from other brands, though, so it delivers solid gaming performance with similar low temperatures in the 60s °C.
All in all, this Legion is pretty much the coolest and quietest running gaming notebook we’ve tested in recent years. And works fine both flat on a desk or when raised up on a stand. Impressive!
Noise, Heat, Connectivity, speakers, and others Lenovo went with a complex thermal module here, with a quad-fan triple-radiator system with a vapor chamber and some extra heatpipes, plus heatshields on the RAM and SSD, and thermal pads meant to channel air on predesigned paths.
As shown in the previous section, this cooling module is perfectly adequate for the hardware implemented here, even at 250+W of crossload power. I’d still put the laptop on a stand for longer gaming/sessions, as that still helps lower internal temperatures by a few degrees compared to keeping the laptop flat on the desk.
As far as the noise levels go, expect 52 dBA Custom with max fans, 45-48 dBA on Performance, 35-42 dBA on Balance, and sub-35 dBA on Quiet mode.
With daily use, the fans can idle on the Quiet profile, but that happened rarely during my time with this laptop, and only for brief moments. That’s with the laptop plugged in or unplugged. When active, these fans spin quietly with general use, but you’ll still hear their hum in a silent environment. I didn’t notice any coil whining or electronic noises on my unit.
Chassis temperatures remain cool with general use, with temperatures in the low to mid 30s °C.
*Daily Use – streaming Netflix in EDGE for 30 minutes, Quiet Mode, fans at <30 dB
This Legion remains cool with sustained loads as well, with temperatures in the mid to high 30s °C in most of the contact areas (WASD, Arrows, touchpad), and a hotspot around 42-43 °C in the middle of the laptop. The Scar 18 runs generally cooler, though, with its plastic chassis, while the MSI Titan 18 runs significantly warmer.
Using the laptop in Quiet mode leads to lower overall temperatures, with the warmest spot still in the middle of the chassis.
Keep in mind we’re testing at 24-25 °C ambient levels, so your results can vary in other conditions.
*Gaming – Performance mode – playing Witcher for 30 minutes, fans at ~45 dB
For connectivity, there’s WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 on this laptop, as well as 2.5G wired Internet, all through Killer modules. I didn’t notice any issues during my time with the notebook.
Audio is handled by a set of six speakers, with two dual-sided main ones on the bottom and two tweeters firing through the grills around the keyboard. The sound quality is among the best offered in the 18-inch space, loud and punchy. The amount of vibrations transmitted to the chassis and higher volumes is minimal.
Finally, there’s a 5MPx camera placed at the top of the screen, flanked by microphones. The image quality isn’t much, and there’s no IR with Hello.
Battery life There’s a 99 Wh battery inside this Legion 9i, the maximum size possible in a laptop.
Here’s what we got in our battery life tests, with the screen’s brightness set at around 120 nits (~60 brightness), the dGPU set on Hybrid, and the Windows 11 power mode on Best Power Efficiency.
25-30 W (~3-4 h of use) – text editing in Google Drive, Quiet Mode, screen at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;22 W (~4-5 h of use) – 1080p fullscreen video on Youtube in Edge, Quiet Mode, screen at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;25 W (~4 h of use) – Netflix fullscreen in Edge, Quiet Mode, screen at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;27-30W (~3-4 h of use) – browsing in Edge, Balanced Mode, screen at 60%, Wi-Fi ON;85 W (~1 h of use) – Gaming – Witcher 3, Balanced Mode, screen at 60%, Wi-Fi ON.
Somehow, these runtimes are shorter than on other Ultra 9 275HX implementations tested so far, and I did run the tests a few times, trying to figure out what might cause the higher drains.
For what is worth, other reviews mention better runtimes on this Legion, which lasted longer than the Scar and the Titan. But in my case, it did not, so take these findings with a lump of salt.
This laptop ships with a 400W charger, a dual-cable design with a hefty power brick, weighing around 1.2 kilos, including the cables. You pretty much need to bring along this charger for any sort of power use, since the laptop performs poorly on PD power.
PD power is available through the Thunderbolt ports on the left edge. I only tested with a 100W charger, but this should support up to 140W via PD, and the overall behaviour might improve somehow with that sort of charger.
Price and availability- Lenovo Legion 9i The Legion 9i 18-inch is widely available in stores at this point. You can get it directly from Lenovo, where possible, or/and through third-party stores. Lenovo’s website tends to have the best deals.
At this very moment, early-October 2025, the RTX 5080 version starts at $3300, while the RTX 5090 model starts at around $4000, both for the base specs: 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD, standard display. Both are competitive prices.
An RTX 5090 variant specced with 64 GB RAM and 2 TB of storage goes for around $4100, which is mid-priced in the segment today. For reference, MSI does not sell a Titan with less than 4 TB of SSD, the Scar 18 with the same specs goes for $4300, the Blade 18 for $4900, while the Alienware 18 Area 51 goes for $3600 as the more affordable option.
Fully specced with 192 GB RAM, 4 TB SSD, and the 3D display, we’re looking at 5200 USD. For about the same, you can get a Titan 18 with 64 GB of RAM, 6 TB of storage, and the 4K mini LED display. Or a Razer Blade 18 with 64 GB RAM and 4 TB SSDs.
Pricing in Europe varies between regions, but without accounting for occasional sales, the Legion 9i tends to be slightly better priced than most alternatives, perhaps with some exceptions such as the Acer Predator Helios 18 AI.
For the 5080 specs, the Alienware 18 and the Asus ROG Strix G18 tend to sell for less than the Legion 9i.
All in all, though, the Legion 9i 18-inch is an expensive series due to its nature and implemented specs, but at the same time, competitively priced within its niche.
Follow this link for updated prices and configurations in your area .
Final thoughts- Lenovo Legion 9i review The 2025 refresh of the Lenovo Legion 9i is arguably the best-balanced 18-inch high-performance laptop available in stores today. It’s not without some quirks, but it checks almost all of the right boxes when it comes to build quality, functionality and performance, while generally running at lower temperatures and fan noise than the competition in its segment.
This is still a niche laptop, for sure. Some might hardly even call it portable at 5 kilos, including the charger, but a large footprint and heavy weight are givens when going with an option in this class.
All else considered, there are two important aspects that could make or break this laptop for you: the screen and the overall thermal/noise balance in games and heavy loads.
As far as the screen goes, this series is only available with a glossy display and with IPS 4K 240Hz panels. Good panels overall and especially interesting for competitive fast-paced gaming, plus with the optional glassless 3D technology in some games and apps, but still without the contrast, blacks, and overall richness offered by miniLED panels included by some alternatives. My major issue is with the glossy finish, though, adding unnecessary reflections for questionable benefit in perceived image quality.
As for thermals/noise, this series generally runs quieter and cooler than other 18-inch models we’ve tested so far. The ROG Scar, with its plastic frame, actually keeps cooler externally, but the Legion runs cooler at the CPU/GPU level.
On top of these, Lenovo tends to run aggressive sales and discounts on its products, and there’s a fair chance you can get one of these for a few hundred less than its peers in most markets, especially outside the US. And that’s going to play a role in a decision as well.
As far as alternatives go, there are plenty of solid ones in the high-performance 18-inch space , with the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 , the MSI Titan 18 HX AI , the Alienware 18 Area 51 , and perhaps the Razer Blade 18 as the more notable options, each with its own share of advantages and particularities. I’ve linked to our reviews where available, and we’ll discuss them in a comparison article at some point.
What you don’t get in the 18-inch segment at this point are OLED displays , for that, you have to go with a more compact 16-inch option. In fact, there are many interesting options available in the 16-inch space, both with miniLED or OLED displays, in more portable packages and with somewhat similar performance. But without the same screen real estate, and generally warmer and louder.
That wraps up my time with this Lenovo Legion 9i 18-inch series. Get in touch with your thoughts, feedback, and questions down below in the comments section.
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Review by: Andrei Girbea
Andrei Girbea is a Writer and Editor-in-Chief here at Ultrabookreview.com . I write about mobile technology, laptops and computers in general. I've been doing it for more than 15 years now. I'm a techie with a Bachelor's in Computer Engineering. I mostly write reviews and thorough guides here on the site, with some occasional columns and first-impression articles.
