Lenovo Legion 5 Review: Mid-Range Might with Minor Missteps

The Lenovo Legion 5 occupies a sweet spot in the mid-range gaming laptop market, offering solid performance, a comfortable design, and a budget-friendly price tag. My buddy has used this machine and liked it a lot. Except for a weakness that I will discuss later, this laptop is a good machine for AI and ML development.

Pros:

• Equipped with AMD Ryzen 5/7 or Intel Core i5/i7 processors and NVIDIA RTX 3050/3050 Ti GPUs, the Legion 5 tackles most modern games at 1080p with high settings and respectable frame-rates. It handles less demanding titles and esports at even higher resolutions.
• The full-size keyboard with per-key RGB lighting is a gamer's dream. The keys offer satisfying travel and responsive feedback, making long gaming sessions comfortable and enjoyable.
• The Legion 5 maintains its coolness thanks to its efficient cooling system. While some fan noise creeps in under heavy load, it effectively prevents overheating and throttling, ensuring smooth performance during intense gaming sessions.
• USB-C, HDMI, Thunderbolt 4, and an SD card reader provide flexibility for connecting external displays, peripherals, and storage devices. This flexibility comes in handy for building your ultimate gaming setup.
• While primarily plastic, the chassis feels sturdy and durable, holding up well to everyday use. The design, though not as striking as its Pro counterpart, still maintains a sleek and gamer-centric aesthetic.

Cons:

• The standard 1080p display, while decent, falls short compared to the QHD options of the Legion 5 Pro. Colors are good, but sharpness and detail might leave some users wanting more, especially when playing at higher resolutions.
• Expect around 3--4 hours of on-battery usage. This is manageable for short bursts of gaming, but not ideal for longer sessions away from a plug.
• RAM and storage are soldered on some configurations, limiting future upgrade options. Carefully consider your needs and choose the configuration that matches your requirements upfront.
• At 5.1 lbs, the Legion 5 isn't the lightest laptop, making it less than ideal for frequent on-the-go gaming.
• Out-of-the-box software includes some unnecessary programs. While easily removable, it's an inconvenience to clean up before getting to the good stuff.

User Reviews:

User reviews for this machine overwhelmingly praise its smooth performance on the latest games, thanks to its powerful specs and zero latency. This makes it a top contender for AI and ML enthusiasts who require a reliable workhorse for development and modeling. However, its battery life falls short compared to some competitors in its price range, which might be a dealbreaker for mobile users.

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