Lenovo, a leader in innovative computer technology, has raised the bar in the gaming laptop arena with the introduction of the Lenovo Legion 9i. This revolutionary 16-inch laptop is making waves as the world’s first liquid-cooled laptop, eliminating the need for an external pump. Equipped with top-tier Intel Core i9-HX hardware and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, the Legion 9i promises extended and uninterrupted gaming sessions like never before.
The gaming laptop market has seen various attempts to create slimmer and more versatile devices, with models like the Legion 5 Pro and Legion 5i aiming for mainstream appeal. Lenovo’s Legion 7, on the other hand, prioritized performance over portability. The new Legion 9i aims to bridge the gap between these two worlds, offering both power and style.
At the heart of this innovation is Lenovo’s partnership with Cooler Master. The Legion 9i incorporates CM’s Coldfront cooling system, aptly renamed the Legion Coldfront. This system features an array of three fans that draw in air through a staggering 6,333 intake vents and efficiently channel it through the laptop’s chassis. When internal temperatures reach 84 degrees centigrade, the Coldfront system activates, swiftly redirecting heat away from the GPU and VRAM to maintain optimal performance.
Beyond the mere enhancement of GPU power by 10W, the primary goal of liquid cooling in the Legion 9i is to ensure sustained performance during extended gaming sessions. Lenovo executives proudly claim “almost zero throttling,” a remarkable feat that prevents the laptop from lowering performance due to excessive heat, ensuring gamers get the most out of their experience.
Externally, the Legion 9i showcases a unique design element with forged carbon material, deviating from the conventional carbon fiber. Forged carbon incorporates carbon fiber bundles embedded in resin, heated to produce a distinctive appearance. Lenovo indicates that this design change was necessary to accommodate the innovative cooling system and ventilation.
In line with its gaming identity, the Legion 9i boasts RGB lighting accents on the keyboard, bottom covers, and the Legion emblem on the back. Individual keys on the TrueStrike keyboard feature customizable RGB lighting, managed effortlessly through the Legion software and Lenovo’s LA-2 AI chip. The LA-2 chip plays a pivotal role in power management between the CPU and GPU, ensuring consistently smooth frame rates.
Inside, Lenovo has equipped the Legion 9i with premium components, including a 13th-gen Core i9-13980HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and overclocked 32GB or 64GB of 6400MHz DDR5 RAM. The laptop offers up to two terabytes of PCIe 4.0 SSD storage.
The 16-inch 3,200×2,000 display boasts a remarkable 165Hz refresh rate and can reach a dazzling 1,200nits brightness using a miniLED array. With full Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, the Legion 9i caters not only to gamers but also to content creators.
While battery life may not be its strong suit, the Legion 9i houses a substantial 99.99Wh battery, compliant with TSA regulations for air travel.
The Legion 9i also ushers in next-generation connectivity with the inclusion of the MediaTek Filogic 380 card, supporting the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard with up to 6.5Gbps bandwidth and Bluetooth 5.3. The laptop’s 1080p webcam even incorporates the Tobii Horizon head-tracking system for enhanced gaming experiences.
A variety of ports grace the Legion 9i, including an RJ45 input, HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and Thunderbolt ports. Lenovo offers both a 330W proprietary adapter and a 140W USB-C adapter, catering to gamers’ diverse needs. However, Lenovo advises against GPU-intensive gaming while using the 140W charger, as it may lead to battery drainage during gameplay.
All Legion 9i configurations come with Windows 11 pre-installed, along with Lenovo Vantage for system management and Lenovo Legion Arena, a platform for consolidating games from different sources.
Measuring at 14.08 x 109.93 x 0.89 inches and weighing 5.64 pounds, the Lenovo Legion 9i offers a remarkable balance of power and portability.
The Lenovo Legion 9i is set to make waves in the gaming community, with prices starting at $4,399. Gamers can expect to get their hands on this groundbreaking laptop when it hits the market in October. Lenovo’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of gaming technology is evident in the Legion 9i, offering gamers a truly immersive and high-performance experience.
