Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 Gaming Laptop Review

Summary
The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 establishes itself as a compelling contender in the mid-range gaming laptop market, bringing together an impressive blend of performance, aesthetics, and price. This laptop offers high-end internals, including an Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, and a top-tier 16-inch, 16:10 display with a 2560×1600 resolution and a blistering 240Hz refresh rate. Its minimalist, sophisticated design subtly reflects its gaming capabilities, while also fitting in professional settings. Although the laptop's audio performance and battery life leave room for improvement, and its weight may hinder portability, its overall robust features and excellent price-performance ratio make the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 a strong option for gamers seeking a balance between power, appearance, and affordability.
Good
  • Excellent price-performance ratio, providing robust features and high-end internals at a relatively affordable price.
  • Top-tier display, offering a sharp 16-inch, 16:10 display with a 2560×1600 resolution and a blistering 240Hz refresh rate.
  • Aesthetically pleasing and sophisticated design that subtly incorporates gaming elements without being overly flashy.
  • Solid build quality, with the aluminum chassis adding a layer of robustness.
  • Customizable per-key RGB lighting and a dedicated LED strip for added flair.
  • Admirable 3D performance, rivaling laptops with even higher-end GPUs in synthetic tests and real-world gaming benchmarks.
Bad
  • The audio output is subpar, with muddled audio and a lack of bass from the in-built speakers.
  • Despite housing a sizable 99Whr battery, it falls short in battery life, lasting less than five hours in a video loop test.
  • Some flexibility around the center of the keyboard, which could be an issue for some users.
  • Its weight, including the 300-watt power brick, might make it less portable, which, combined with the limited battery life, restricts its utility as a mobile device.
8.4
Great
Design - 8.5
Quality - 8.5
Performance - 9
Daily Lifestyle - 7
Price - 9

Lenovo’s recent entrant in the gaming laptop space, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8, confidently marches forward with a potent blend of high-end specifications and an impressive display, all while maintaining an unassuming yet stealth-like aesthetic. This adept amalgamation of power, price, and appearance establishes the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 as a distinguished competitor in the gaming laptop domain.

Starting at $2,070, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 showcases an imposing Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. Our specific evaluation unit was enhanced with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, slightly elevating the cost. The apex of this series, the highest-end configuration, caps at $3,600, packed with RTX 4090 graphics and a 2TB SSD. All models flaunt a sharp 16-inch, 16:10 display, boasting a resolution of 2560×1600 and a staggering 240Hz refresh rate.

Upon initial observation, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8’s appearance leans towards the business-class end of the spectrum, eschewing the flashy RGB accents traditionally associated with gaming laptops in favor of a minimalist dark gray aluminum body. Subtle Lenovo insignia and a prominent Legion wordmark are the sole adornments you’ll locate. The machine’s gaming pedigree becomes apparent once the RGB lighting comes alive, adding an aesthetically pleasing edge to the otherwise understated exterior. It’s a refreshing deviation from the stereotypical gaming laptop design.

While the laptop radiates elegance, it doesn’t sacrifice durability. The aluminum chassis feels solid and well-built, albeit with a minor flex near the keyboard center. Typing on the keyboard delivers a satisfying experience due to the responsive keys. The inclusion of both a number pad and full-sized arrow keys by Lenovo is a prudent utilization of the expansive space afforded by the taller 16:10 display.

The laptop bestows the feature of customizable per-key RGB lighting, often overlooked in mid-range priced gaming laptops. Accompanied by an LED strip along the laptop’s front edge, this enhances the gaming aesthetic without being obtrusive. Six RGB profiles are available for user selection, offering ample scope for personalization.

The display of the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is both vivid and fast. The 16-inch 16:10 screen, with its 2560×1600 resolution, provides sharper imagery compared to numerous mid-range competitors. Its 240Hz refresh rate, complemented by a brightness rating of 500 nits, assures swift and vibrant image and game rendering. Text and image edges are crisp, colors pop, and in-game motion is rendered seamlessly.

On the audio front, the laptop leaves room for improvement. The two 2-watt speakers offer somewhat muddy audio with an absence of bass – an aspect that Lenovo could enhance in future iterations. Fortunately, the conveniently positioned audio jack will likely find frequent use for those desiring a superior auditory experience.

In terms of connectivity, the laptop comes equipped with two USB-C ports (one supporting Thunderbolt 4), four USB Type-A ports, and a headphone jack, strategically placed for a seamless user experience.

When it comes to performance, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 truly excels. Backed by an i9-13900HX CPU, 32GB of RAM, and GeForce RTX 4070 graphics, it delivers superior performance. Be it office productivity tasks, web browsing, video chatting, or CPU-intensive tasks like video encoding or complex 2D scene rendering, the laptop operates flawlessly, demonstrating the raw power of Intel’s 13th-gen Core processors. The RTX 4070 GPU, while not being Nvidia’s flagship, delivers performance that surpasses expectations, especially when operating at its full capacity of 140 watts.

The 3D capabilities of this laptop are truly remarkable, both in synthetic tests and actual gaming benchmarks. The Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 stands toe-to-toe with other laptops armed with the RTX 3080 Ti and even the RTX 4090 GPUs, cementing its place as a formidable adversary in the mid-range gaming laptop sphere. In practical gaming benchmarks, it yielded admirable frame rates in titles such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Metro Exodus, further strengthening its gaming credentials.

However, the Achilles’ heel of the laptop is its subpar battery life. Despite being powered by a sizable 99Whr battery, it struggles to surpass five hours in a continuous video playback test. While this is not uncommon among gaming laptops, it’s something to bear in mind if you plan to use it unplugged for extended durations. Given the laptop’s substantial size and weight (8 pounds, inclusive of the 300-watt power brick), it’s likely destined to spend most of its lifetime desk-bound, connected to a power outlet.

Even with the slight hiccup in battery performance, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 remains a strong competitor in the gaming laptop market. Its successful amalgamation of impressive specifications and a sleek, minimalist design, delivering potent gaming performance without wreaking havoc on your wallet. The clever design choices, high-refresh-rate display, and sturdy construction make it an attractive proposition for gamers who seek a harmony of performance and price.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 epitomizes the phrase, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Hidden beneath its professional exterior lies a gaming powerhouse, delivering equal measures of gaming and productivity capabilities. Despite having a few weak points—namely, subpar speakers and limited battery life—it remains a compelling proposition in the gaming laptop marketplace. It strikes an impressive balance between aesthetic appeal, performance, and affordability.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 successfully combines excellent gaming performance with a stealth-inspired design. Each iteration of the Legion 7 series laptops has seen Lenovo subtly enhance both the aesthetic and tactile experience while maintaining the brand’s trademark understated style.

Enrobed in a dark gray aluminum shell, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 exudes a level of sophistication that conceals its gaming pedigree. This unobtrusive design language sets it apart in a market saturated with ostentatious gaming laptops, marking it as the discerning gamer’s choice.

While it may initially appear as a stealth machine, the large vents located on the sides and rear subtly hint at its true gaming capabilities. Initially, it projects an understated, quiet demeanor, but once the RGB lighting comes to life, its celebration of power and style is proudly displayed.

Weighing 5.46 pounds, it’s fairly typical for a 16-inch, 16:10 laptop. However, Lenovo’s dedication to crafting a sleek, stealth-inspired gaming laptop has resulted in a device that feels compact and easily manageable despite its size.

As we welcome the 8th generation, Lenovo continues to demonstrate its expertise in balancing form and function. The Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to continuous innovation and refinement, setting a higher standard for gaming laptops while retaining a sleek, stealth-like aesthetic.

This combination of gaming-centric features and a stealthy aesthetic positions the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 as a prime choice for gamers seeking a powerful device that seamlessly blends into any environment. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 is a clear contender in the gaming laptop market, offering an excellent balance of power, design appeal, and affordability. If you’re seeking a gaming laptop that offers top performance, a stunning display, and doesn’t shout its gaming nature from the rooftops, the Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 warrants serious consideration.

Written by
Gaming since Nintendo! Entrepreneur, gamer, wine lover, America! Come join the fun on the GL Discord!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Lost Password

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.