Lenovo Legion 9i (2025)

Configs to buy / avoid: Buy the RTX 5080 config on sale because it should get most of the Legion 9i experience without the full RTX 5090 price hit. The optional 3D screen is interesting in the limited supported games, but in general, most people should avoid spending more for it, unless you can justify the price. Testing notes: The Legion 9i delivered the best gaming performance of any 18" laptop we've tested with record breaking CPU multicore performance, up to 180W CPU power in Cinebench, excellent battery life for an 18 inch Intel HX laptop, four RAM slots, four M.2 slots, fast Gen 5 storage, great speakers, strong port selection, Advanced Optimus, G-Sync, and a 4K 240Hz screen with optional 1200p 440Hz esports mode. Trade-offs: The main compromises were extreme pricing, heavy weight, louder custom performance modes, higher battery drain while asleep, side ports that could be further back, Type-C charging only on the left side, memory speed drops with higher capacity RAM configs, and the optional 3D screen adding cost and weight for niche use. Alternatives: If you want similar performance in a smaller laptop, consider the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, because it gets close while being easier to carry. If you are set on 18 inches but want Mini-LED brightness instead, consider the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18, but otherwise, the Legion 9i is the best 18" gaming laptop we've ever tested.