Lenovo Legion 9/9i Gen 8 16IRX8 (2023)

Lenovo Legion 9i (2023)

Manufacturer	Lenovo
Product family	Legion
Release date	January 2023 (2023-01)
Introductory price	USD 3199
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home Single Language No preload operating system
CPU	Intel Core i9-13980HX
Memory	Up to 32GB DDR5-5600, Up to 32GB DDR5-6400 (overclock), Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 (overclock)
Memory slots	Two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, dual-channel capable
Storage	1 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD, 2 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD in RAID 0
Storage slots	Two M.2 2280 PCIe 4.0 x4 slots
Removable storage	SD card reader
Display	Screen size: 16 inch Panel type: Mini LED Coating: Anti-glare Resolution: 3200 x 2000 PPI: 243 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 165 Hz Brightness: 1200 nits (HDR), 610 nits (SDR) DCI-P3: 100 % VRR: Yes Screen-to-body ratio: 89°
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12 GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 175 W
Sound	Stereo speakers (super linear speaker), 2W x2, audio by HARMAN, optimized with Nahimic Audio, Smart Amplifier (AMP)
Camera	Front: 1080p FHD with E-shutter, fixed focus
Touchpad	Buttonless glass surface multi-touch touchpad, 58 by 120 millimetres (2.3 in × 4.7 in)
Connectivity	Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3, M.2 Card MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7927, 802.11be 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3, M.2 Card 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On) 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (data transfer only) 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps (support data transfer, Lenovo Power Delivery 140W and DisplayPort 1.4) 1x HDMI 2.1 1x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm) 1x Ethernet (2.5GbE RJ-45) 1x Card reader 1x Power connector
Dimensions	W: 357.7 millimetres (14.08 in) D: 277.7 millimetres (10.93 in) H: 18.9 millimetres (0.74 in)
Mass	2.56 kilograms (5.6 lb)
Power brick	330W slim tip tiny GaN (3-pin) AC adapter, 100-240V, 50-60Hz
Battery	Integrated Li-Polymer 99.9Wh battery
Keyboard	Per-key RGB backlight
Chassis	Color: Carbon black Materials: Aluminium + forge carbon (top), magnesium-aluminium (bottom) Cooling: Hybrid thermal solution (liquid cooling + air cooling + liquid metal)
Number pad	Yes
Fingerprint reader	Yes (integrated in power button)
Facial recognition	No
Special features	Dolby Vision, DisplayHDR 1000, NVIDIA G-SYNC, Advanced Optimus, TÜV Low Blue Light, Mini LED backlight, 1536 zones (6 pieces mini LED per zone)
Website	Lenovo

All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) is a high-end gaming laptop designed to deliver top-tier performance and display quality. It features Intel's 13th generation Core i9 processors and Nvidia's RTX 4000 series GPUs, making it suitable for both gaming and content creation. The laptop is available in Carbon Black and offers a sleek, premium design with a forged carbon lid and magnesium-aluminium bottom.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) can be configured with the following processor:

• Intel Core i9-13980HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads, 36 MB cache, and a max frequency of 5.6 GHz.

The Intel Core i9-13980HX processor is designed to handle demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering. It offers high single-core and multi-core performance, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Reviewers have noted that the CPU performance is strong, but it does not match the very best spec laptops in sustained performance. The CPU power level can run higher when the GPU isn’t active, achieving over 120 watts in Cinebench in custom mode. However, the sustained performance is lower compared to other models like the Legion Pro 7i.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23: ~28476 points (multi-core)
• GeekBench 6.0.2: ~16876 points (multi-core), ~2675 points (single-core)

Graphics

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) offers the following GPU configurations:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU with 12 GB GDDR6 memory, 175 W TGP.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with 16 GB GDDR6 memory, 175 W TGP.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 GPUs are designed for gaming and content creation, with the RTX 4090 being the best option for high-resolution gaming. The RTX 4090 performs well at higher resolutions but shows signs of CPU bottlenecking at lower resolutions.

Reviewers have praised the GPU performance, noting that it is excellent for gaming and content creation. The RTX 4090 provides high frame rates in demanding games, while the RTX 4080 offers solid performance with modest benefits over the RTX 4090 configuration.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy:
  • RTX 4090: ~20744 points
  • RTX 4080: ~18964 points
• 3DMark Fire Strike:
  • RTX 4090: ~46386 points
  • RTX 4080: ~33284 points

Memory

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) supports dual-channel memory and comes with the following configurations:

• Up to 32GB DDR5-5600
• Up to 32GB DDR5-6400 (overclock)
• Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 (overclock)

The memory is upgradeable, with two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots available. The RAM configuration is sufficient for multitasking and demanding applications, but accessing the memory slots requires more disassembly, which complicates the upgrade process.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~78494 MB/s

Storage

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) offers the following storage options:

• 1 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD
• 2 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD in RAID 0

The storage is user-replaceable, and the SSD offers fast read and write speeds. The RAID 0 configuration allows for sequential read and write rates of over 12000 MB/s and 11000 MB/s, respectively, although the drives are prone to throttling when running at such high speeds for extended periods.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark 5/6:
  • Read Seq Q32T1: ~12101 MB/s
  • Write Seq Q32T1: ~11245 MB/s

Co-processors

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) includes an AI Chip (LA2) for AI-based tasks. However, specific performance evaluations and benchmarks for the co-processor were not provided in the reviews.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) features a 6-row, multimedia Fn keys, numeric keypad, and per-key RGB backlight keyboard. The keyboard also includes 8 switchable keycaps.

Reviewers have noted that the keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience with good travel distance. The per-key RGB lighting is bright and uniform, with good software control through the Lenovo Vantage app. However, the large vent above the keyboard may affect typing comfort for some users.

Touchpad

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) features a buttonless glass surface multi-touch touchpad measuring 58 by 120 millimetres (2.3 in × 4.7 in). The touchpad supports Precision TouchPad (PTP).

Reviewers have noted that the touchpad is smooth and responsive but smaller compared to others, which may affect usability for some users. Palm rejection may not be great, leading to accidental touches during gaming.

Webcam

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) comes with a 1080p FHD webcam with E-shutter and fixed focus. The webcam supports video calls and provides decent image quality.

Reviewers have noted that the webcam quality is average, and it lacks Windows Hello face unlock. The integrated camera kill switch provides privacy.

Microphone

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) includes a dual-microphone array. Reviewers have noted that the microphone quality is decent for calls and video conferencing.

Output Devices

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Display

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) features a 16-inch Mini LED display with a resolution of 3200 x 2000 and a refresh rate of 165 Hz. The display offers excellent color accuracy, high contrast, and good brightness levels, with a measured brightness of 610 nits for SDR and up to 1200 nits for HDR.

The display is praised for its vivid and crisp visuals, though there are issues with brightness when running in dGPU mode, causing the screen to appear dim. The display supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and is suitable for gaming and professional work.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum Brightness: ~610 nits (SDR)
• Panel HardwareID: CSOT T3 MGN0007DA2-3; Coverage: 100.0% sRGB, 87.7% AdobeRGB, 97.5% DCI-P3

Audio

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) comes with stereo speakers (super linear speaker), 2W x2, audio by HARMAN, optimized with Nahimic Audio, and Smart Amplifier (AMP). The speakers are located underneath on the left and right sides and provide above-average sound with some bass.

Reviewers have noted that the speakers are impressive with lots of bass and clear mids and highs, but the overall volume could be better. The sound quality is above average, making it suitable for gaming and media consumption.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) offers two Wi-Fi options:

• Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i, 802.11ax 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3
• MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7927, 802.11be 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3

Reviewers have noted that the Wi-Fi performance is strong with no connectivity issues experienced. The Wi-Fi 7 option provides excellent connectivity, though drivers for Wi-Fi 7 support are expected later.

Bluetooth

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) includes Bluetooth 5.3, depending on the Wi-Fi module selected.

SD Card Reader

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) includes an SD card reader. Reviewers have noted that the SD card slot is functional but not very secure, as cards do not click in and can stick out, making it prone to accidental bumps.

USB

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (Always On)
• 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 (data transfer only)
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps (support data transfer, Lenovo Power Delivery 140W and DisplayPort 1.4)

Reviewers have noted that the port selection is excellent, though the presence of slower USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports is surprising for a premium laptop. The Thunderbolt 4 ports offer high-speed options up to 40 gigabits.

Display Outputs

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) includes the following display outputs:

• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 2x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 1.4

The HDMI port connects directly to the dedicated GPU, supporting 4K 120Hz output with G-Sync. The display outputs are versatile and support multiple external monitors, making it suitable for gaming and productivity setups.

Case

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) features a full-aluminum chassis with a forged carbon lid and magnesium-aluminium bottom. The laptop is lightweight and compact, with dimensions of 357.7 millimetres (14.08 in) x 277.7 millimetres (10.93 in) x 18.9 millimetres (0.74 in) and a weight starting at 2.56 kilograms (5.6 lb).

The design is sleek and stylish, with a dark color that is fingerprint-resistant. However, reviewers have noted some flex in the chassis and screen wobble, which detr detracts from the premium feel. The display hinge is not very tight, contributing to the screen wobble.

The bottom part of the chassis is sturdy, but the keyboard deck and display lid have some flex. The laptop's overall build quality is praised, but it is not as robust as some competitors like the Razer Blade 16.

Maintenance

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) is designed to be user-serviceable to some extent. The bottom panel is secured by eight Phillips screws, making it relatively easy to open. However, the panel is tightly attached and can be difficult to pry open without breaking the clips.

Upgradeable components:

• M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSD (user-replaceable)
• RAM (user-replaceable, but requires more disassembly)
• Battery (user-replaceable)

The RAM is upgradeable, but accessing the memory slots requires more disassembly, which complicates the upgrade process. The Wi-Fi module is also user-replaceable.

Cooling System

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) features a hybrid thermal solution that combines liquid cooling, air cooling, and liquid metal. The cooling system is designed to handle the high-performance components effectively, although it does not significantly reduce noise levels compared to other gaming laptops.

Heat

The cooling system is effective, keeping surface temperatures manageable even under heavy load. The warmest area is the keyboard center, but it remains cooler than expected for a small chassis.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum upper side: ~49.6 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~46 °C

Noise

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) is praised for its quiet operation. The laptop is effectively silent during light tasks, and even under load, the fan noise is not overly distracting. It is considered one of the quietest gaming laptops tested.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: ~30.4 dB(A)
• Load: ~52.2 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) ships with a 330W slim tip tiny GaN (3-pin) AC adapter and an optional 140W USB-C slim (3-pin) AC adapter. The laptop is efficient in its power usage, but it has specific charging requirements, making it picky about chargers. It requires 100-watt or higher chargers for proper charging.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: ~32.3 W
• Load: ~298 W

Battery Life

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) comes with a 99.9 Wh Li-Polymer battery. The battery supports Super Rapid Charge, with Lenovo claiming it can charge up to 30% in 10 minutes, 70% in 30 minutes, and 100% in 80 minutes. Reviewers have noted that the battery life is average for a gaming laptop, with around four to six hours of light use.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: ~2h 39min
• Video Playback: ~5h

Biometrics

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader integrated into the power button. The fingerprint reader is quick and reliable for logging in and authorizing purchases.

Software

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) ships with Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 Home Single Language, or no preload operating system, depending on the configuration. The laptop comes with several preinstalled Lenovo apps and software.

Preinstalled Software

• Lenovo Vantage: Acts as the primary control center for system vitals, lighting, power, and fan profiles.
• McAfee LiveSafe™ (30-day trial version)
• Office 365 (30-day trial version)
• Dropbox
• Energy Star
• Lenovo Documentation
• Lenovo Privacy Settings
• Lenovo Smart
• Lenovo System Event Utility
• Spotify
• Intel Unison

Linux Support

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) has limited Linux support. Ubuntu 23.10 live CD booted, but features like the touchpad and camera did not work.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) comes with a 330W slim tip tiny GaN (3-pin) AC adapter and paperwork. The laptop includes a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2023) is considered a strong contender in the high-end gaming laptop market. It is praised for its performance, display quality, and overall build quality. The laptop is suitable for both gaming and content creation, offering a balance between performance and price. However, it has some drawbacks, such as chassis flex, specific charging requirements, and limited upgradeability.

Problems Summary

• Chassis flex and screen wobble.
• Specific charging requirements, picky about chargers.
• Limited upgradeability (requires more disassembly).
• Average webcam quality.
• Smaller touchpad with poor palm rejection.
• High idle power consumption.
• Below average battery life for a gaming laptop.

Links

• GizmoSlipTech Review
• JarrodsTech Review
• UltrabookReview
• NotebookCheck Review