Just be mindful that even when not under pressure, this gaming laptop can make some serious noise.
There were a few compromises made in making this one of thebest gaming laptops available.
Though the Legion Slim 7i may struggle with native4Kresolutions, it shines exceptionally in the 1440p range.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
This means graphically intensive games ranging fromCyberpunk 2077,Starfieldand the likes run wonderfully.
It also means that the gaming laptop wont survive playing games with higher visual fidelity without the power supply.
Other carryovers from the previous version include an individually per-key lit RGB keyboard alongside generous port selection.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
Not much has improved significantly with the latest Legion Slim 7i and thats totally fine.
What has changed is that its incrementally more powerful and lighter which means more than anything.
Simply put, this is one of thebest thin and light gaming laptopsreleased this year.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
In the United States, there are three configurations available alongside the ability to customizable a build.
The review spec version I receive will run potential buyers around $1,749.
The pre-build comes with Intel i7, 32GB, Nvidia RTX 4060 and 1TB SSD.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
The Legion Slim 7i is definitely less expensive thanRazer Blade 14orMSI Stealth GS66while offering similar power.
Potential buyers with a bit more expendable cash can look toward a customizable version thatll cost around $2,211.
Legion has a configuration tool to create the best set-up for buyers as well.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
When closed, its really easy to appreciate the all-metal chassis made from sandblasted aluminum and magnesium.
Port placement has changed slightly but feels overall familiar compared to last years model.
In the lower rear is an HDMI port and three USB-A ports.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
On the left side is the SD slot for content creators and camera shutter for privacy.
When closed its about less than an inch as well.
The audio quality of the speakers sounds good when listening to music, gaming or watching video content.
However, playing graphically intensive games will ensure the cooling fans are running at full blast.
This means itll probably be best to have a pair of headphones handy.
The display itself is a joy to look at with beautifully bold colors, deep blacks and respectable brightness.
Below that is the wonderfully lit per-key RGB keyboard that feels comfortable to use when typing documents or gaming.
All of this comes in a slim package that fits well in even a backpack or briefcase.
If anything, the power brick really hurts portability.
Watching 4K video and listening to hi-fi quality audio wasnt a problem either.
Cyberpunk 2077 managed to get 88 frames-per-second on average during benchmark tests.
Adding ray-tracing into the mix bumped that down around ten which still put it above 60fps.
Though Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition could only get 49fps, its still above 30fps which makes it still playable.
Providing the highest frame rate was Dirt 5 which pushed out 103 fps at Ultra parameters.
Despite the serviceable performance, dont expect to utilize the 240Hz refresh rate either.
The only game that got in that ballpark was Dirt 5 at low options.
During the PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Life test, the gaming laptop only lasted around 59 minutes.
However, general battery life is fairly average for better or worse.
Though its not ideal, its still better than competing lightweight gaming laptops.
The most obvious is through the port in the back that connects to the big power brick.
Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Slim 7i (2023)?
Understand that the price bump is significant though.
I used the laptop at both home and in office spaces.
Most of the time, the Legion Slim 7i was plugged in outside of a few occasions.
I used both Adobe Photoshop and Premier to try out how well it would work for creatives.
I have spent the past several years writing dozens of features on PC Gaming for TechRadar.
Pieces ranging from reviews on various components and hardware alongside editorials exploring PC Gaming culture at large.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed September 2023
