Lenovo Legion 9/9i Gen 9 16IRX9 (2024)

Lenovo Legion 9i (2024)

Manufacturer	Lenovo
Product family	Legion
Release date	January 2024 (2024-01)
Introductory price	USD 4899
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro Windows 11 Home Single Language
CPU	Intel Core i9-14900HX Intel Core i9-13980HX
Memory	Up to 64 GB DDR5-5600 (overclockable to DDR5-6400)
Memory slots	2 DDR5 SO-DIMM slots
Storage	Up to 2 TB PCIe Gen 4.0 x4 NVMe SSD (RAID 0 support)
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Removable storage	Full-size SD card reader
Display	Screen size: 16 inch Panel type: Mini LED Coating: Anti-glare Resolution: 3200 x 2000 PPI: 240 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 165 Hz Brightness: 1200 nits (HDR), 600 nits (SDR) Adobe RGB: 100 % 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 (2W x2) by HARMAN, optimized with Nahimic Audio, Smart Amplifier (AMP)
Camera	Front: 1080p FHD with E-shutter
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 MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 MT7927, 802.11be 2x2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 5.3 1 x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1) 1 x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1, Always On) 1 x USB-C (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1, data transfer only) 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps, with PD 140W and DisplayPort 1.4) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x Headphone / microphone combo jack (3.5mm) 1 x Ethernet (2.5GbE RJ-45) 1 x Card reader 1 x Power connector
Dimensions	W: 35.6 centimetres (14.0 in) D: 25.2 centimetres (9.9 in) H: 2.1 centimetres (0.83 in)
Mass	2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb)
Power brick	330W slim tip tiny GaN (3-pin) AC adapter, 140W USB-C slim (3-pin) AC adapter
Battery	Integrated Li-Polymer 99.9Wh
Keyboard	Per-key RGB backlit
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, TÜV Low Blue Light
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 (2024) is a high-end gaming laptop designed to offer top-tier performance and premium features. It is equipped with Intel's 14th generation Core i9 processors and Nvidia's RTX 4000 series GPUs, making it suitable for both gaming and professional applications. The laptop features a unique forged carbon lid, a mini LED display, and a hybrid cooling system that combines liquid and air cooling.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) can be configured with the following processors:

• Intel Core i9-14900HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads, 36 MB cache, and a max frequency of 5.8 GHz.
• 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 i9-14900HX and Core i9-13980HX processors are designed to handle demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering. The Core i9-14900HX is particularly noted for its strong multi-core performance, making it suitable for applications that require high parallel processing power.

Reviewers have praised the processors for their performance in multi-core tasks, though single-core performance is slightly less than some competitors. The Core i9-14900HX performs well in multi-core tasks, scoring 31,889 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core tests and 2,235 points in single-core tests. The Core i9-13980HX, on the other hand, excels in single-core tasks but is outperformed by thicker laptops with better cooling.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • Core i9-14900HX: ~31,889 points (multi-core), ~2,235 points (single-core)
  • Core i9-13980HX: ~28,470 points (multi-core)
• Geekbench 6.2.2:
  • Core i9-14900HX: ~13,238 points (multi-core), ~2,369 points (single-core)

Graphics

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) 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 4K resolution gaming. The RTX 4080, however, is limited to 175 watts, resulting in lower performance compared to other laptops with the same GPU.

Reviewers have noted that the GPU performance is excellent for gaming and content creation, though it is not the most powerful option available. The RTX 4080 provides good performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming, while the RTX 4090 is suitable for 4K resolution gaming.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics:
  • RTX 4090: ~34,686 points
• 3DMark Time Spy Graphics:
  • RTX 4090: ~20,099 points
• Basemark GPU:
  • RTX 4090: ~86,385 points
• Blender (GPU Render Time):
  • RTX 4090: ~0.4 min (Optix: 13 s)

Memory

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) supports dual-channel memory and comes with the following configurations:

• 32 GB DDR5-5600 RAM (upgradable to 64 GB DDR5-5600 or DDR5-6400)

The memory is upgradable, but accessing the memory requires removing the motherboard, complicating upgrades. The RAM is fast and adequate for multitasking and demanding applications.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~83,392 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Read: ~86,788 MB/s

Storage

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) offers the following storage options:

• Up to two drives, 2x M.2 SSD, M.2 2280 SSD up to 2TB, Storage Type: PCIe NVMe, PCIe 4.0 x4, RAID 0 support

The storage is user-replaceable, and the SSD offers fast read and write speeds. Reviewers have noted that the SSD provides excellent performance, capable of fitting a double-sided 4TB drive.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark 5/6:
  • Read Seq Q32T1: ~6,509 MB/s
  • Write Seq Q32T1: ~5,085 MB/s

Co-processors

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) does not include any co-processors.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) offers a full-size keyboard with the following features:

• 6-row, multimedia Fn keys, numeric keypad, 8 switchable keycaps, Per-key RGB backlight (with lighting lens on the front side)

Reviewers have noted that the keyboard is comfortable for typing and gaming, with a good overall typing experience. The keys have a crisp feel, though the key travel is shallow.

Touchpad

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) features a buttonless glass surface multi-touch touchpad measuring 58 by 120 millimetres (2.3 in × 4.7 in). The touchpad is responsive and supports gestures and two-finger scrolling effectively.

Webcam

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) comes with a 1080p FHD IR camera with E-shutter. The webcam does not support Windows Hello face recognition and offers decent video quality.

Microphone

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) includes an integrated dual-microphone array. Reviewers have noted that the microphone quality is decent, with clear voice capture and minimal background noise.

Output Devices

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Display

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) 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 600 nits for SDR and up to 1200 nits for HDR.

The display is praised for its vivid and crisp visuals, though it has a very glossy coating, making it reflective in bright rooms. The display supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and is IMAX Enhanced certified.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum Brightness: ~691 cd/m²
• ΔE Color: ~2.68
• ΔE Greyscale: ~1.2

Audio

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) comes with stereo speakers (2W x2) 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, though the wrist rest vibration is noticeable.

Benchmarks:

• Max Volume: ~77 dB SPL
• Bass Extension: ~339 Hz
• Treble Extension: ~11 kHz

Connectivity

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WiFi

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) 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 7 option provides excellent connectivity, though drivers for Wi-Fi 7 support are expected later.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: ~1200 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: ~1418 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) includes Bluetooth 5.3, depending on the Wi-Fi module selected.

SD Card Reader

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) includes a full-size SD card reader.

USB

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 1 x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1)
• 1 x USB-A (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1, Always On)
• 1 x USB-C (USB 5Gbps / USB 3.2 Gen 1, data transfer only)
• 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps, with PD 140W and DisplayPort 1.4)

Reviewers have noted that the port selection is excellent, though the Type-A ports are too close together.

Display Outputs

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) includes the following display outputs:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1
• 2 x USB Type-C with DisplayPort 1.4

The HDMI portconnects directly to the dedicated GPU, supporting 4K 120Hz output with G-Sync.

Case

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) features a forged carbon lid and magnesium-aluminum interior, available in Carbon Black. The laptop is relatively lightweight and compact for a gaming laptop, with dimensions of 35.6 centimetres (14.0 in) x 25.2 centimetres (9.9 in) x 2.1 centimetres (0.83 in) and a weight starting at 2.5 kilograms (5.5 lb).

The design is sleek and stylish, with a unique lid design that is visually appealing. However, reviewers have noted some ergonomic issues due to the large air intake for the water cooling system, which affects the overall comfort during use.

The build quality is praised for its premium feel, but it is not as robust as some competitors like the Razer Blade 16. The laptop's overall build quality is high, but it can get warm during use, particularly around the WASD keys.

Maintenance

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) is designed to be user-serviceable to some extent. The bottom panel is secured by eight Phillips head screws, making it relatively easy to open. However, some components, particularly the memory and cooler, are difficult to reach.

Upgradeable components:

• M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSD (user-replaceable)
• Memory (requires motherboard removal)

The RAM is upgradable, but accessing it requires removing the motherboard, complicating upgrades. The Wi-Fi module is also not user-replaceable.

Cooling System

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) features a hybrid thermal solution that combines liquid cooling, air cooling, and liquid metal. The cooling system is designed to cover the GPU memory, but its impact on overall performance is minimal. The laptop features a thick heatpipe shared between the CPU and GPU, and the water pump activates at specific temperature thresholds.

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: ~41.2 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~39 °C

Noise

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) 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: ~24.7 dB(A)
• Load: ~25.2 / 52 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) 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: ~20.5 / 27.7 / 32.1 W
• Load: ~105 / 323 W

Battery Life

The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) comes with a 99.9Wh 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 below average for a gaming laptop, with around four to five hours of light use and significantly less under load.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: ~4h 50min
• Video Playback: ~6h 24min
• Gaming: ~2h 09min

Biometrics

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) supports fingerprint recognition through its power button. The fingerprint scanner is quick and reliable for logging in and authorizing purchases.

Software

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) ships with Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, or Windows 11 Home Single Language, 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 (2024) has limited Linux support. Ubuntu 23.10 live CD booted, but Wi-Fi, touchpad, camera, speakers, and other features did not function properly.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Lenovo Legion 9i (2024) comes with a 330W slim tip tiny GaN (3-pin) AC adapter, an optional 140W USB-C slim (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 (2024) is considered a strong contender in the high-end gaming laptop market. It is praised for its performance, display quality, and unique design. The laptop is suitable for both gaming and professional applications, offering a balance between performance and premium features. However, it has some drawbacks, such as ergonomic issues, specific charging requirements, and limited upgradeability.

Problems Summary

• Ergonomic issues due to large air intake for water cooling.
• Specific charging requirements, picky about chargers.
• Limited upgradeability (requires motherboard removal for RAM).
• Mediocre webcam quality.
• Glossy and reflective display coating.
• Poor palm rejection on the touchpad.
• High idle power consumption.
• Below average battery life for a gaming laptop.

Links

• JarrodsTech Review
• GizmoSlipTech Review
• TechGuyBeau Review
• Notebookcheck Review