First impressions of the new Lenovo Legion 7 and Legion Slim 7

It seems that after two long years of the pandemic, things are starting to pick up and things are gradually returning to face-to-face form. This weekend we were in Milan with Lenovo to learn the new generation Legion 7i.

We really already knew all about these new laptops because they were unveiled on May 10th, but apart from the specs, we were able to spend some time with the two new models to get first impressions before reviewing.

Lenovo insisted that the hardware before us was not final. They had some adjustment left and there could be some kind of malfunction, so tests or any similar program cannot be executed.

So, since we will talk about all this when we do our analysis of the new Lenovo Legion 7 and Slim 7, then next I will tell you a little about the intricacies of the design and first impressions of what we can. see with the naked eye.

Legion 7i and Legion 7 confusion. Are they different computers?

Okay, before we start talking about design, I want to clear something up. And that’s what for sure you will be a little confused with all this Legion 7, Legion 7i, Legion Slim 7 and Slim 7i. As the name suggests, they seem to be different generations, or, in short, different computers. And yes, but no.

The issue is actually quite simple and those with an “i” in their name are those with an Intel CPU with an Nvidia GPU and those with a Legion 7 or Slim 7 are those with which have AMD in both GPU and CPU.

In both cases, in this generation we are talking about the latest CPUs and GPUsSo we have an Intel Core i9 12900HX with an RTX 3080 Ti or an AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX with an RX6850M.

In the specification tables you can already see all the features, but the rest of the elements are SSC PCIe Gen 4 or DDR5 memory, so they are high speed modern components and, in the case of the Slim 7, we can install Mini-LED screens.

Keeping the same identity but adding improvements where it matters

Fortunately, the days when manufacturers changed the design of their equipment from generation to generation are long gone. Now everyone follows the Apple model, they created an identity and if you see Asus, Razer or Lenovo, you’ll recognize them by their shape without needing to see the logo or name.

The last generations of the Legion have been very similar, but this 2022 we have seen slight changes in some of the physical aspects, and to be honest, in addition to being welcome, some of them were necessary to give more of an aesthetic part.

I’m going to start with the Slim 7, a laptop that now looks more premium thanks to straighter lines and updated materials. They are more pleasant to the touch, they are made of aluminum and magnesium and they are certainly beautiful in appearance.

Also, there are no missing ports, which is what I like.. We have Thunderbolt 4 in the case of Intel (USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 in the case of AMD), another USB-C, a full SD reader, an audio jack, a button to hide the camera, a power port, 2 USB-A 3.2 , USB-A 3.2 with power delivery and HDMI 2.1.

It’s important to start seeing laptops with this HDMI 2.1. to take advantage of the newer TVs, but I also love that if they’re not just for gaming but also for work, we have a full size SD reader for photo and video pros.

This is something we’ve already seen in the previous generation and I’m glad they didn’t move to microSD.

Slim 7 weighs 2kg and is 16.9mm thick.. These are laptops designed to be…portable and for the user who needs power to play or work, but who prefers portability and being able to take it to class, to the office, or on the train when they’re not playing at their desk.

If we move to Legion 7, things change a bit in terms of size. They weigh 500 grams more and are almost 2 centimeters thick because they are more designed for board games.

We also have more ports, such as an optional Thunderbolt 4 in the case of Intel (another USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 in the case of AMD) or RJ45 to connect to the internet via cable. That port is still behind and I think this is the best option.

It’s still a sleek laptop, but here we already have some more “gaming” stuff like RGB lighting on the front and sides, RGB lighting also in the rear vents, and the Legion logo on the lid, also with RGB.

What Lenovo has worked on is the heat dissipation system. They have increased the size of the fans (two, one for the CPU and one for the GPU), as well as making the blades thinner and spinning 100 more revolutions than the previous generation.

Added optional copper heatpipe for GPU memory. and they have also improved the internal air distribution to optimize performance. Speaking of which, we have four hot air outlets and two inlets.

One is usually found at the bottom of the computer and the other is across the keys. They have a very low profile to keep them quiet.but the fans have the ability to draw in fresh air from above to optimize this cold flow.

Sounds great, but we’ll see these improvements when we get our hands on laptops for analysis, especially the Intel versions, which we’ve seen plenty of times are very warm.

High screens for playing and viewing content

On the screens, we see important progress in both resolution and panel type.. As usual, there are several panel options, but in the case of Slim 7 we see the famous Mini-LED.

All variants with an IPS panel, but resolutions can be 1920 x 1200 or 2560 x 1600 at 165Hz or 240Hz and 350 nits at the most basic and 500 nits at the most advanced IPS.

However, what catches the eye is a 16-inch mini LED with a resolution of 2560 x 1200 pixels.165 Hz and 1250 nits brightness.

According to the specs, this is one of the best panels for gaming laptops, with true HDR and all the benefits of MINI-LED panels, but you’ll have to wait for analysis to prove it.

The truth is that viewing angles are excellent, as is color reproduction. We haven’t been able to do many tests, but we haven’t seen any bleeding and as I said, the experience is promising.

What surprised me is that the Legion 7 doesn’t have a Mini-LED option.. There are two IPS screen options, both with a resolution of 2560 x 1200 pixels and the same 16-inch VRR and 3 milliseconds, characteristics that we also have in the Slim.

Yes, it still looks great, but I’m blown away by the lack of a Mini-LED option for the more enthusiastic.

In both cases, we have a 1080p webcam (long overdue, manufacturers) that we can hide. And yes, it does create a slight mound at the top, but it’s nice to have a camera these days, and that’s something other manufacturers have done away with.

Well, in a more “fiery” test, i can tell you that not only does it look great, but 240hz is scary. We played against Valorant pro player Mariam Maher, and while she beat the crap out of me, it gave me the opportunity to test Legion 7’s performance in-game.

If you like competitive games, you will love the game with the highest refresh rate. And if not, play games like Cyberpunk 2077 or God of War to the fullest with next-generation GPUs.

Launch and price of the new Lenovo Legion 7

It’s true that we were able to spend quite a bit of time with these laptops, so I can’t tell you about very specific things like the battery (99Wh with fast charging is great and I can’t wait to try it), synthetic tests, temperatures and other everyday details, but I can assure you that this is a small step up from the previous generation, but an improvement in some aspects.

New internal hardware, new ports, bigger batteries and an overall more premium feel carried over from the Slim 7 design and that mini LED screen.

And, of course, with these features, prices in the most “basic” versions approach 2,000 euros.

Well, As I have told you throughout these first impressions, we will see all this in the analysis. as soon as we can have units at home. It shouldn’t be long considering they’ll be released between June and July of this year, so… we’ll have to wait.