The Lenovo Legion brand is known for delivering impressive performance and features in its gaming laptops and desktops. I eagerly accepted the opportunity to test out the reasonably priced 16-inch Lenovo Legion Slim 5 (16″, Gen 8), and it certainly did not disappoint.
Lenovo, which has long been known for its ThinkPad and Yoga laptops that cater to both business and consumer needs, entered the gaming market with its first Legion products in 2017. Since then, the sub-brand has experienced significant growth.
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 laptop is a powerful device with impressive internal specs, a sleek design, and a mostly exceptional display. It comes with special gaming features like an RGB keyboard, a Dolby Atmos sound system, and several other options. What’s even better is that it’s available at affordable price points.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 (16″, Gen 8)
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that boasts a large screen and impressive internal components. It’s an excellent option for gamers of all levels, and is compatible with both PC gaming and cloud-based gaming.
- Brand
- Lenovo
- Storage
- Up to 1TB PCIe SSD Gen 4
- CPU
- AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS Processor or AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS Processor
- Memory
- 16GB (2 x 8GB) 5600Mhz DDR5
- Operating System
- Windows 11
- Ports
- USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort™ 1.4 / 140W power delivery), USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort™ 1.4), headphone/mic combo, 4-in-1 SD card reader, Ethernet (RJ45), 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 (one always-on 5V2A), HDMI 2.1
- Display (Size, Resolution)
- 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS or 16″ WUXGA (1920 x 1600) IPS
- Graphics
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060
- Dimensions
- 14.16 by 10.25 by 0.78-0.99in (359.7mm x 260.3mm x 19.7-25.2mm)
- Weight
- Starting at 5.07lbs (2.3kg)
- Audio
- 2 x 2W speakers with Nahimic Audio
- Camera
- 1080p FHD built-in webcam with e-shutter
Pros
- Sleek, modern design
- Large, robust monitor
- Affordably priced
- Lots of configurations to match any budget
Cons
- Poor display brightness
- Plastic casing
Price and Availability
You can choose between an Intel or AMD processor when purchasing the Lenovo Legion Slim 5. Best Buy only has two entry-level AMD options, while the Lenovo website has a selection of both Intel and AMD models.
Regarding AMD options, you can choose between an AMD Ryzen 5 7640HS processor or an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. Additionally, you can select between two NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards, RTX 4050 or RTX 4060, as well as 16GB of memory and up to 1TB of storage.
The Lenovo Slim 5i laptops offer different Intel models with an Intel Core i5-13500H or Intel Core i7-13700H processor. Additionally, you can choose from three NVIDIA GeForce graphics cards: RTX 4050, RTX 4060, or RTX 4070. These laptops can support up to 32GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
No matter which processor you opt for, you can select a lower-priced 16-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) screen or a superior 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display.
My review unit features an AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor with 512GB of storage and a 16-inch WQXGA (2560 x 1600) IPS display.
Design: Living Up to Its Name
The Legion Slim 5 Gen 8 is a laptop that boasts a modern and stylish design. As its name suggests, it’s very thin, as it weighs just 5.3 pounds and is 0.78 inches thick. The word “Legion” is ingrained at the top left of the case (when looking at it from behind with the display open), while “Lenovo” is printed vertically along the bottom right. The top is made from aluminum, with the rest of the chassis made of hard plastic.
I received the Storm Gray variant for review, and it proved to be both elegant and subtle. However, like other Lenovo laptops in this color, it is prone to smudges from fingerprints, which somewhat detracts from its appearance.
Although it is technically possible to open the Lenovo Legion Slim 5 with one hand, I’d recommend using the other hand for extra support. Once opened, you will immediately notice the thin bezels surrounding the matte panel. Additionally, the lid can be adjusted to different angles, including laying it flat at 180 degrees.
You’ll find speaker cutouts and a nicely sized ventilation grill on the bottom panel. The notebook releases air through four vents, with two on the back and one on each side.
Ports
This laptop has a variety of ports located in three different areas. To the left, there are two USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen. 2) ports that support DisplayPort 1.4. One of these offers 140W power delivery. The headphone/mic combo can always be found on the left side.On the right side, there is a 4-in-1 SD card reader and an E-shutter button for the webcam. The laptop’s rear has an Ethernet (RJ45) jack, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (one with always-on 5V2A), and HDMI 2.1.
Keyboard and TouchPad
This keyboard has six rows of keys that are 1.5mm in size. It also has a number pad on the right side and large arrow keys. The four-zone RGB lighting glows in white.
Overall, I enjoyed typing on this keyboard. The keys were easy to move between and had just the right amount of tactile feedback to make it enjoyable.
Display: Good and Bad
The display on my review unit features a WQXGA IPS panel with a 165Hz refresh rate and a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels (189 PPI). It has a 16:10 screen ratio.
The laptop’s screen has a brightness rating of 300 nits, which is not very high, making it challenging to use the device in outdoor settings. Interestingly, this appears to be a common issue among some of the latest mid-range laptops this year, with vivid colors but poor maximum brightness. This was also observed in the Lenovo Yoga 7i 16-Inch Gen 8 and Lenovo Slim Pro 7.
The display doesn’t offer touch, which is unfortunate, but not surprising for a gaming laptop.
Software: Packing a Bunch
The Lenovo laptop includes Lenovo Vantage and Legion Arena software. Lenovo Vantage is a comprehensive program providing security and support options for all computers and tablets. It also enables you to perform diagnostics and update drivers.
Legion Arena is a gaming location that connects to popular platforms and online stores, making it easier for you to find all of your purchased PC games in one centralized hub.
New users will receive a three-month Xbox Game Pass trial, alongside McAfee LiveSafe and Microsoft 365 trials.
Performance: Great Power for the Price
As I noted above, I was fortunate to receive a review unit AMD Ryzen 7 7840HS processor. It also came with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There’s also NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD FreeSync Premium support for ultra-smooth gameplay.
After carrying out several real-world tests, the laptop demonstrated exceptional performance. It swiftly opened multiple windows in Google Chrome and had no difficulties when using Adobe Photoshop. The Dolby Vision HDR feature produced stunningly clear visuals in terms of gaming.
Additionally, Lenovo Legion ColdFront 5.0 thermal technology keeps the laptop relatively cool and quiet during operation.
Battery Life: Varied Findings
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8’s battery life varies based on usage. Typically, it lasts between 5 and 8 hours before requiring a recharge. When gaming, the battery life is closer to the lower end of the spectrum. However, the laptop has a rapid charging feature that can increase your battery capacity to 70% within 30 minutes, which is a great feature. I tested and confirmed this capability and even exceeded it slightly.
Should You Buy the Lenovo Legion 5 (16″, Gen 8)?
If you’re searching for a gaming laptop that’s reasonably priced, the Lenovo Legion 5 (16″, Gen 8) is a great option. However, I recommend investing in the version that features the WQXGA IPS panel with 2560 x 1600 pixels. Additionally, it’s wise to consider purchasing one with more than 512GB of storage, particularly if you intend to store many games on it.
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 (16″, Gen 8)
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5 is a terrific 16-inch laptop for gamers of any skill set. It’s available in multiple configurations with either AMD or Intel internals