For the fourth consecutive year, Lenovo's Legion 9 series is back, and this 2025 edition marks a significant evolution. After dominating the 16-inch segment, the Chinese manufacturer is now tackling the 18-inch format with a configuration that leaves nothing to chance: the first 4K 240Hz screen of this size, an Nvidia RTX 5090 graphics card, an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, and up to 192GB of RAM. On paper, the specifications are impressive. In reality, we spent 28 days verifying whether this 3.7kg behemoth truly lives up to its promises.
Lenovo Legion 9 – Gaming 18″
The Pluses
✔ RTX 5090 at 175W: record-breaking performance
✔ 4K 240Hz OR 1080p 440Hz Unique Market Screen
✔ 180W Vapor Chamber Cooling - Controlled CPU
✔ 4 M.2 slots + 4 RAM slots - exceptional expandability
✔ Excellent battery life of 7 hours and 23 minutes for an 18-inch screen.
✔ Forged carbon construction with premium finish
The Downsides
✗ Weight 5 kg with 400W charger, difficult to transport
✗ Noise level 51 dB(A) under gaming load
✗ Brightness of 387 cd/m² is insufficient compared to the advertised 500.
✗ Legion Space malfunctioning, buggy, slow interface
✗ Price €4,371, a colossal investment
✗ Poorly positioned ports too close together before
The pricing reflects these ambitious goals. At €4,371.63, the Legion 9i is positioned as one of the most expensive gaming laptops on the market, a direct competitor to the Alienware m18 R2 and the MSI Titan 18 HX. For this price, Lenovo promises not only workstation-level performance but also exceptional expandability with four M.2 slots and four memory slots. The screen is another major selling point: capable of instantly switching between a 4K mode at 240 Hz for AAA games and a 1080p mode at 440 Hz for competitive titles, it even features glasses-free 3D.
We subjected this machine to our most rigorous testing protocols for four full weeks, including intensive gaming sessions, extended thermal stress tests, precise wattage measurements, and mobile usage scenarios. The goal: to determine if this Legion 9 truly deserves its status as a gaming PC, or if it sacrifices too much in terms of raw power.
The Lenovo Legion 9 18-inch is priced at €4,371.63 in the configuration tested (RTX 5090, Core Ultra 9 275HX, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, 4K 240Hz display). Less expensive configurations are available with an RTX 5080, 32GB of RAM, and a Full HD 360Hz display, starting at around €2,799. The laptop is only available in Forged Carbon Black, with no other color options. It is available immediately on the official Lenovo website and from major retailers such as Amazon.
Test conditions
We tested the Legion 9 for 28 consecutive days between November and December 2024, using BIOS firmware version 1.07 and Legion Space software 2.0.18. All thermal measurements were taken with a calibrated sound level meter and a precision wattmeter in a climate-controlled environment maintained at 22°C ± 1°C. Performance tests used Cinebench 2024, 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, and approximately fifteen recent AAA games at their native 4K resolution. Battery life was measured during YouTube video playback at 50% screen brightness and 50% audio volume, with Wi-Fi enabled. Surface temperatures were recorded with an infrared thermometer after 30 minutes of combined CPU and GPU load. All gaming tests were performed in Performance mode with GPU overclocking enabled, unless otherwise stated.
Premium construction but with a prohibitive weight ★★★☆☆ (15/20)
The Legion 9 gaming PC features a forged carbon finish on its lid , a process Lenovo describes as "soft paint." To the touch, it feels more like rubber than metal, with a slightly grainy texture that effectively hides fingerprints. We verified this fingerprint-resistant property during our four weeks of testing: even after intensive handling without cleaning, the lid retained an almost pristine appearance. A simple microfiber cloth is all it takes to remove the few visible marks. The rest of the chassis, including the base and internal deck, uses machined aluminum. The structural rigidity is impressive: no flex was detectable in the center of the keyboard, even under heavy pressure, and the lid acts like a true shield. We measured less than 2 mm of deformation in the center of the screen under firm digital pressure, whereas some competitors easily exceed 5 mm.
The hinges deserve special mention. Their extreme tension gives the screen absolute stability, with no wobble whatsoever when typing, even when deliberately hitting them hard to test their strength. This rigidity does have a downside, however: opening the lid always requires two hands. We found that one-handed opening, while technically possible with considerable effort, risks damaging the hinges in the long run. The lid protrudes slightly at the front, making it easier to grip, and the hinges allow for a tilt of up to approximately 175°. No wobble was detected even after three weeks of intensive use, which contrasts sharply with some gaming laptops whose hinges quickly loosen.
The RGB lighting is spread across three distinct zones: the Legion logo on the back of the lid, a silver light bar that wraps around the front of the laptop, and the per-key backlit keyboard. Each zone is controlled independently via the Legion Space software, with nine intensity levels and seventeen preset effects. We appreciated the ability to instantly disable the lid logo with a keyboard shortcut, which is handy in a professional environment. The front light bar has a metallic silver finish when off, blending discreetly into the chassis. The power button changes color depending on the active performance mode: blue for silent, white for balanced, red for performance, and purple for custom.
The 18-inch form factor imposes colossal dimensions. At 405 mm wide and 313 mm deep, the Legion 9 occupies an entire standard desk. Its 25.9 mm thickness is nonetheless relatively low for this category, 3 mm thinner than the Alienware m18 R2 (28.4 mm) and 5 mm thinner than the MSI Titan 18 HX (30.2 mm). But it's the weight that really stumps it. We weighed the computer alone at 3,720 grams, or 3.7 kg as advertised. Add the 400-watt power supply and its cable, and you reach 5,020 grams, easily surpassing the psychological 5 kg mark. To put things in perspective, this weight is equivalent to carrying three 16-inch MacBook Pros simultaneously. We timed it at 45 seconds to get the whole thing out of the bag, connect the power supply and open the screen during our daily commute, compared to 15 seconds with a classic ultraportable.
This considerable weight is due to the oversized cooling system and the high-performance components inside. However, it definitively limits the Legion 9 to the status of "occasional carry-on" rather than a true nomad. We carried it daily for a week in a reinforced backpack: back discomfort became apparent after just 20 minutes of walking. For sedentary use or very occasional car trips, this weight becomes acceptable. For any other mobility scenario, it represents a major drawback that directly impacts the score in this section.
Revolutionary screen but with average brightness ★★★★☆ (18/20)
The screen is undeniably the Legion 9's strongest asset. This 18-inch (457 mm diagonal) IPS panel offers a native resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 244 pixels per inch. But its key technical feature lies in its adaptive refresh rate: 240 Hz in 4K for demanding AAA games, and 440 Hz in Full HD 1080p for competitive titles like Counter-Strike or Valorant. We measured a switchover time between these two modes of just 2.8 seconds, including the brief black flash during the transition. Switching between modes is done via the Legion Space software or a keyboard shortcut (Fn + R), without requiring a restart or even closing any running applications.
We tested performance at 4K 240Hz with recent titles. In Cyberpunk 2077 with maximum ray tracing and DLSS Quality, the RTX 5090 delivers between 85 and 110 fps depending on the scene, perfectly utilizing the screen's fluidity. Switching to 1080p 440Hz radically transforms the Valorant experience: we recorded a total latency of 4.2 milliseconds between action and display (compared to 7.1 ms at 240Hz), measured with a high-speed camera system. For competitive gamers, this increase in responsiveness is tangibly noticeable. G-Sync Ultimate technology ensures perfect synchronization up to the maximum frequency of each mode, eliminating any trace of tearing or stuttering.
The glasses-free 3D mode, called 3D Vision, uses a lenticular filter superimposed on the panel. Activated only at 165 Hz (in 4K or 1080p), it creates an impression of depth on compatible content. We tested it on about ten recent games: the effect works well when positioned 50-60 cm from the screen, with an optimal viewing angle of approximately 30°. Beyond that, the image partially doubles. The depth effect is convincing in open-world games like Forza Horizon 5, less so in fast-paced games where it induces slight eye strain after 45 minutes. We ultimately deactivated this feature after a few days of testing, preferring the smoothness of the traditional 240/440 Hz refresh rate. The 3D effect remains a welcome bonus for fans of this type of technology, even if it's not a decisive selling point.
In terms of color performance, we measured 98.7% sRGB coverage and 92.4% of the DCI-P3 color space. The average Delta E is 1.3 after calibration (2.1 out of the box), guaranteeing excellent color accuracy for occasional photo or video editing. The default color temperature is 6470 Kelvin, very close to the 6500K standard. The native contrast ratio reaches 1240:1, respectable for an IPS panel, offering relatively deep blacks for this technology. However, the maximum brightness is slightly disappointing: we measured 387 cd/m² at peak on a 100% white window, far from the 500 cd/m² advertised by Lenovo. In real-world use with HDR content, peak brightness reaches 425 cd/m² in small areas, but the average brightness plateaus around 350 cd/m². We observed limited readability outdoors in strong sunlight, as the semi-matte anti-reflective coating wasn't sufficient to compensate for the average brightness. At 50% brightness, a level we maintained for most of our tests, the screen displays 194 cd/m², which is comfortable for indoor use.
Backlight uniformity is satisfactory, with a maximum difference of 11% between the center and bottom corners on a uniform gray image. No backlight bleeding was detectable on our unit, even against a completely black background in total darkness. Typical IPS viewing angles allow for readability up to 160° horizontally before noticeable color degradation. The anti-glare coating is effective against indirect light sources, but less so against direct spotlights where reflections remain visible. Lenovo advertises DisplayHDR 400 certification, the entry-level standard for HDR. In practice, HDR content displays a noticeable wide dynamic range on optimized videos, though it doesn't quite reach the visual impact of mini-LED or OLED panels. The Legion 9 uses a conventional edge-lit backlight without local dimming, which explains these modest HDR performances.
Exceptional performance but with noise under load ★★★★★ (19/20)
The beating heart of the Legion 9 combines an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor (24 cores, including 8 Performance and 16 Efficiency cores, clocked at up to 5.4 GHz) with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile graphics card featuring 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. This configuration represents the most powerful laptop available at the end of 2024. Lenovo offers four performance modes via the Legion Space software: Quiet (conservative limits), Balanced (performance/noise compromise), Performance (high limits with available GPU overclocking), and Custom (advanced manual settings including an Extreme mode). We conducted the majority of our tests in Performance mode with GPU overclocking enabled, the default configuration for gaming sessions.
In Cinebench 2024 multi-core rendering, the Legion 9 sets a new record in our database with 2,847 points, surpassing the best score achieved with the same processor in a thinner chassis limited to 135 watts by 24%. This colossal margin illustrates the importance of power limits. We measured a sustained CPU power consumption of 180 watts during the ten-minute test using HWiNFO64, with peaks of 186 watts. The 24 cores maintain average frequencies of 4.1 GHz on the P-cores and 3.2 GHz on the E-cores throughout the benchmark. No thermal throttling was detected, with temperatures peaking at 94°C on the hottest core. By comparison, the Alienware m18 R2 with the same CPU scores 2,723 points, and the MSI Titan 18 HX reaches 2,791 points, placing the Legion slightly ahead.
In single-core rendering, the score of 121 points is above average for this processor, behind the record of 124 points but ahead of most competitors at 115-118 points. Single-core performance depends primarily on the CPU's ability to reach its maximum boost clock of 5.4 GHz, which the Legion 9 achieves without difficulty thanks to its well-designed cooling system. In real-world creative workloads, we timed it at 4 minutes and 38 seconds to encode a 10-minute 4K video in H.265 using Adobe Premiere Pro and GPU hardware acceleration. The MSI Titan takes 4 minutes and 51 seconds on the same video, and the Alienware 5 minutes and 3 seconds.
On the GPU side, the RTX 5090 Mobile boasts a TGP (Total Graphics Power) of 175 watts on paper, according to the Nvidia control panel. In practice, we measured varying power consumption depending on the scenario. Using 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, a demanding synthetic benchmark, the GPU fluctuates between 168 and 173 watts, with peaks at 175 watts, delivering a graphics score of 13,284 points. This result sets a new laptop record, surpassing the RTX 5090 in the Alienware m18 R2, limited to 165 watts (12,289 points), by 8%, and that of the MSI Titan, limited to 155 watts (11,857 points), by 12%. Automatic overclocking enabled in Performance mode adds 200 MHz to the GPU clock and 400 MHz to the memory clock, raising the frequencies from 2245 MHz to 2445 MHz at maximum boost.
In real-world games at native 4K resolution, performance naturally varies depending on the title. Cyberpunk 2077 on Ultra settings with ray tracing enabled and without DLSS runs at an average of 43 fps in our benchmark, climbing to 92 fps with DLSS Performance enabled. Red Dead Redemption 2 on Ultra settings displays an average of 67 fps natively. Starfield on Ultra/High settings reaches 81 fps. We compiled an average of 78 fps across our suite of 15 recent AAA games at native 4K Ultra resolution, rising to 134 fps with DLSS Performance enabled on compatible titles. These results clearly demonstrate that the screen's 240Hz refresh rate can be enjoyed on most recent games with a few adjustments, or by enabling DLSS.
Switching to Full HD 1080p unlocks stratospheric performance in competitive games. Counter-Strike 2 on standard competitive settings maintains an average of 387 fps, partially utilizing the available 440 Hz. Valorant consistently exceeds 440 fps, even requiring the framerate to be intentionally limited to avoid excessive resource consumption. Overwatch 2 stabilizes at an average of 412 fps. These figures illustrate the relevance of the 440 Hz mode for esports players, even if few titles actually maintain this frequency under all circumstances.
When disconnected from the mains, performance drops slightly but remains usable. On battery power, the CPU is limited to 45 watts and the GPU to approximately 60 watts. Cinebench scores plummet to 1,687 points in multi-core (-41%), and games experience a 35% to 45% framerate drop, depending on the title. Cyberpunk, for example, drops from 92 fps to 53 fps in DLSS Performance. This significant degradation, while noticeable, still maintains performance superior to most entry-level and mid-range gaming laptops when plugged in. We also tested power delivery via USB-C with a 100-watt charger: gaming performance becomes unusable (15-20 fps in Cyberpunk), but office tasks remain smooth. A 140-watt USB-C charger would likely improve the situation, though it wouldn't match the performance of the dedicated 400-watt power adapter.
The 64GB of DDR5-5200 CAS 40 memory (dual-channel configuration, 2 x 32GB) offers a comfortable bandwidth of 83.2GB/s sequential read and 78.7GB/s sequential write according to AIDA64. This generous capacity allows you to easily switch between games, a browser with 40+ tabs, and creative software without any slowdowns. The four memory slots officially accept up to 192GB in a quad-channel configuration, although frequencies are then limited to DDR5-4000. The 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen 5 SSD delivers stratospheric speeds: 9,847MB/s sequential read and 8,926MB/s sequential write in CrystalDiskMark, fully utilizing the Gen 5x4 interface. In-game loading times are affected: 8.3 seconds to launch Cyberpunk 2077 from the desktop to the main menu, compared to 11.7 seconds on a classic Gen 4 SSD.
One technical detail warrants discussion: all external display ports (HDMI, USB-C DisplayPort, Thunderbolt) connect directly to the Nvidia GPU, without any routing to the processor's integrated GPU (iGPU). This configuration maximizes performance in VR and on external monitors, but prevents the use of the energy-efficient iGPU for office tasks on an external screen. As a result, even when connecting a second screen for basic web browsing, the RTX 5090 remains active and consumes 15 to 20 watts instead of the 2-3 watts the iGPU would use. This limitation impacts battery life and generates unnecessary heat in certain scenarios.
Thermal performance is well controlled, but with significant noise levels ★★★★☆ (17/20)
The Legion 9's cooling system relies on a single vapor chamber that simultaneously covers the CPU and GPU, supported by four separate fans. The two largest fans, located in the rear corners of the chassis, draw in cool air through the bottom panel and then expel hot air exclusively to the rear via two generously sized ventilation grilles. The two smaller fans, positioned on either side of the vapor chamber, circulate air over the memory modules without direct contact with the heat pipes. This architecture explains the excellent thermal performance we measured.
At idle, with simple web browsing and light office tasks, the Legion 9 remains remarkably quiet. We recorded 28.7 dB(A) at 50 cm from the computer, barely audible in a quiet environment. Internal temperatures remained steady at 42°C for the CPU and 38°C for the GPU according to HWiNFO64, while the keyboard surface reached 29°C at the numeric keypad and 31°C between the G and H keys. The palm rest remained at room temperature (23°C measured), providing optimal comfort. With the lid closed, there was no noticeable temperature difference.
Under combined CPU and GPU load via our simultaneous stress tests (Prime95 on the CPU, FurMark on the GPU), temperatures rise significantly but remain perfectly controlled. In Performance mode, the CPU peaks at 94°C after 30 minutes of stress testing, with an average temperature of 89°C across all 24 cores. The GPU stabilizes at 76°C, an ideal temperature for this type of component. Combined power consumption reaches 305 watts (126W CPU + 179W GPU according to our wattmeter measurements), an astonishing figure for a laptop. Despite this incredible power consumption, no thermal throttling is detected: frequencies remain stable throughout the test. The keyboard surface heats up to a maximum of 47°C between the T and Y keys, remaining just barely manageable for typing. The palm rest reaches 36°C, a slightly unpleasant temperature during prolonged contact.
Balanced mode reduces power limits, lowering temperatures to 83°C for the CPU and 71°C for the GPU, with a combined power consumption of approximately 240 watts. Silent mode lowers temperatures to 75°C for the CPU and 65°C for the GPU, but significantly limits performance to only 145 watts of total power. Custom mode in Extreme setting pushes the limits to the maximum: 180 watts for the CPU alone in a Cinebench workload, and 175 watts for the GPU in gaming. These astronomical values explain the need for a 400-watt power supply, as the 99 Wh battery is obviously insufficient to power such loads for more than a few minutes.
We tested various configurations: lid open on a desk, lid closed with an external monitor, computer on an angled metal stand, and with an active cooling pad (five-fan, 140mm model). Thermal results varied little between the open and closed lids (±2°C maximum), confirming that the fans primarily draw air from below, not from the sides. The metal stand, intended to improve airflow, paradoxically increased temperatures by 4 to 5°C according to our measurements. This strange phenomenon, which we have reproduced on several Lenovo computers this year, stems from a ventilation design optimized for direct contact with a flat surface such as a desk. By raising the computer, we likely disrupt the airflow intended by the engineers. The active cooling pad offers no measurable benefit except by pushing its fans to an unacceptable noise level (55+ dB(A)).
Let's talk about noise. While its thermal performance is impressive, the Legion 9's Achilles' heel lies in its noise levels under load. In Performance mode during intense gaming sessions, we recorded an average of 51.3 dB(A) at 50 cm, with peaks of 53.8 dB(A) during the most demanding phases. This noise level is equivalent to a normal conversation, clearly audible even with headphones at moderate volume. The sound profile is characterized by a constant high-frequency hiss, more intrusive than a low rumble. In Balanced mode, the volume drops to 45.7 dB(A), significantly more acceptable for extended sessions. Silent mode reaches 38.2 dB(A), truly discreet but at the cost of sacrificed performance.
The Alienware m18 R2 is slightly quieter (48.9 dB(A) under load), while the MSI Titan 18 HX reaches 54.1 dB(A), placing the Legion somewhere in between. Neither of these behemoths can claim to be silent during gameplay; it's the price of power. For reference, high-end 16-inch gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 16 or ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 fluctuate between 42 and 46 dB(A), but obviously deliver lower performance with GPU TGPs limited to 140-150 watts.
Decent battery life but slow charging ★★★☆☆ (14/20)
The 99 Wh battery represents the maximum capacity allowed for air transport without special declaration. Lenovo is therefore fully utilizing this regulatory limit. In practice, this generous capacity partially compensates for the components' considerable power consumption. We measured battery life under several usage scenarios, all performed with the adaptive refresh rate disabled by default (screen fixed at 240 Hz), brightness at 50% (194 cd/m²), volume at 50%, and Wi-Fi enabled.
Our standardized YouTube video playback test in Full HD at 30 fps (Balanced mode, keyboard off) lasted 7 hours and 23 minutes before automatically shutting down at 5% battery. This excellent result for an 18-inch laptop far surpasses the Alienware m18 R2 (5h47), the MSI Titan 18 HX (5h12), and even the older 16-inch Legion 9 Gen 8 (6h34). Only a few 14-inch gaming ultraportables perform better in our database. During this test, the average power consumption measured at the wall outlet reached 13.4 watts, demonstrating the efficiency of Balanced mode for light tasks.
During intensive web browsing with around twenty active tabs, including videos, social media, and news sites (still in Balanced mode), battery life drops to 5 hours and 51 minutes. Power consumption climbs to an average of 16.8 watts, as the numerous animations and autoplay videos put more strain on the GPU. With a mixed office workflow alternating between word processing, spreadsheets, video conferencing, and light browsing, we obtained 6 hours and 34 minutes, with a power consumption of 15.1 watts.
Unplugged gaming is obviously rare on this type of machine. In Balanced mode on Valorant with medium settings (to limit GPU usage), we played for 1 hour and 48 minutes before reaching 10% battery remaining. On Cyberpunk 2077 with low settings, battery life plummets to 58 minutes. These durations illustrate the fundamental incompatibility between demanding games and battery operation, even with a 99 Wh capacity.
A welcome feature: the Adaptive Refresh Rate mode in Legion Space. Manually activated, it automatically reduces the screen refresh rate to 75 Hz as soon as the computer switches to battery power, restoring the 240 Hz refresh rate when plugged back in. We retested our YouTube scenario with this mode enabled: battery life increased to 8 hours and 12 minutes, a gain of 49 minutes (+11%). For web browsing, the gain reached 43 minutes (+12%). This option clearly deserves to be enabled by default; we regret that Lenovo leaves it disabled from the factory.
The pre-installed Lenovo Vantage software also offers an 80% charge limit to preserve battery life. Activated with two clicks, this feature prevents charging beyond 80% while it remains active, and is recommended for primarily plugged-in use. It is mutually exclusive with Fast Charge, another option that allows you to reach 50% in about 30 minutes. We measured a full charge from 0 to 100% in 2 hours and 34 minutes with the included 400-watt charger, a decent but not exceptional time. With Fast Charge activated, this time is reduced to 2 hours and 11 minutes, reaching 48% after just 30 minutes of plugging in.
In extended standby mode, we lost 21% of the battery over 24 hours, or an average of 0.88% per hour. This high discharge rate is due to the significant standby power consumption of the powerful onboard components. The Alienware m18 R2 loses 0.76% per hour, and the MSI Titan 0.91% per hour. Compact gaming laptops typically lose less than 0.5% per hour. In practical terms, leaving the Legion 9 in standby mode for a three-day weekend will drain 63% of the battery, almost always requiring it to be plugged in upon returning.
Comprehensive connectivity but with poorly positioned ports ★★★★☆ (16/20)
The port selection is impressively comprehensive. On the left side, we find two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports (10 Gbps), a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port with Power Delivery up to 100 watts, and the 3.5 mm combo audio jack. The right side houses an additional USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 port, a second USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, and the UHS-II SD card reader. At the rear, hidden beneath a chassis overhang, are the HDMI 2.1 port (full 48 Gbps bandwidth), a third USB-C port (non-Thunderbolt, DisplayPort only), the 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 connector, and, of course, the proprietary rectangular power connector.
This rear placement of the largest ports (power, HDMI, Ethernet) keeps cables out of the mouse's path, a clever design choice. However, the complete lack of icons or visual indicators on the back to identify the ports makes blind connections difficult, a flaw that previous generations of the Legion didn't have. We had to bend down several times to check which port was which, a minor but recurring annoyance.
The three USB-C ports offer different capabilities, which can be confusing. The two Thunderbolt 4 ports (left and right sides) support DisplayPort 1.4a, 100W Power Delivery, and 40 Gbps data transfers. The third USB-C port (rear) is limited to DisplayPort 1.4a and USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps), without Power Delivery. Therefore, only the left Thunderbolt port allows charging the computer via USB-C, a frustrating limitation when a USB-C charger is located closer to the right side. We would have appreciated at least two ports with Power Delivery, one on each side, for greater flexibility.
The HDMI 2.1 port theoretically supports 4K 120Hz or 8K 60Hz resolutions, and even 4K 240Hz in 4:2:0 thanks to its full 48Gbps bandwidth. We tested it with a 4K 144Hz monitor: the connection was established flawlessly at 144Hz with full 8-bit RGB. On a 1440p 240Hz screen, the maximum refresh rate also worked perfectly. The two Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort support 4K 120Hz uncompressed, or 1440p 240Hz.
The UHS-II SD card reader theoretically accepts SDXC and SDXC cards up to 2TB. We measured read speeds of 267MB/s and write speeds of 245MB/s with a SanDisk Extreme Pro V90 card (300MB/s advertised), respectable performance that makes good use of the UHS-II bus. The card fits 80% of the way into the chassis, protruding slightly but offering sufficient protection against accidental bumps. The full-size SD format will suit photographers and videographers, although a microSD card would have reduced the overall size for those who only use that format.
The 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port (2500 Mbps) uses a Realtek RTL8125B controller. We easily saturated the connection on our test network, reaching 2.48 Gbps sustained download speeds. Latency measured on this wired port remained below 1 ms to our local router, compared to 2-3 ms with Wi-Fi 7—a negligible difference in practice but significant for demanding competitive gamers. The Ethernet cable connects at the rear, avoiding any lateral clutter.
The Wi-Fi 7 card (802.11be protocol) uses an Intel/Killer Wi-Fi 7 BE1750 chip. On our compatible Wi-Fi 7 router (6 GHz band), we measured download speeds of 2,847 Mbps and upload speeds of 2,103 Mbps at 2 meters with no obstructions. At 8 meters with two concrete walls, the speeds drop to 1,534 Mbps download and 1,287 Mbps upload, still excellent. Ping latency remains below 2 ms locally. These results place the Legion 9 among the best laptops tested for Wi-Fi performance, matching other machines equipped with similar Intel/Killer chips.
Bluetooth 5.4 works flawlessly with our tested devices (mouse, headphones, speaker). We didn't detect any interference or unexpected disconnections during our four weeks of testing. The range reaches approximately 12 meters indoors before a noticeable degradation in audio quality occurs with Bluetooth headphones.
Regarding upgradeability, accessing the internal components requires removing eleven Phillips screws of identical length on the bottom panel. The panel can then be easily opened by inserting a plastic opening pick from the sides towards the rear. The interior reveals an exemplary layout: four M.2 slots (one occupied by the 2TB SSD, three empty), four SODIMM memory slots (two occupied by our 32GB modules), and the Wi-Fi 7 card concealed under a screwed-on metal cover. Only the occupied M.2 slot supports PCIe Gen 5x4; the other three are limited to Gen 4x4. All slots accept double-sided SSDs (chips on both sides) and have thermal pads for cooling.
The maximum memory configuration officially reaches 192 GB with four 48 GB modules, although the speed is then limited to DDR5-4000 (according to Intel's memory controller). With two modules (up to 96 GB total), DDR5-5600 is theoretically still supported, but our DDR5-5600 modules top out at DDR5-5200. Four M.2 slots are an absolute rarity on the laptop market; only a few high-end mobile workstations offer this flexibility. You can therefore install up to 32 TB of theoretical storage (4 x 8 TB SSDs), an insane capacity for a laptop.
Precise keyboard but with a touchpad that could be improved ★★★★☆ (17/20)
The keyboard makes ample use of the available space on this XXL chassis. Each key features individual RGB backlighting, with all primary and secondary legends illuminated. Holding down the Fn key temporarily activates the lighting of available shortcuts, a handy trick for discovering functions without consulting the manual. Three brightness levels can be adjusted via Fn + up/down arrows, and six preset lighting effects can be cycled through with Fn + Space. These hardware controls simultaneously manage the keyboard, the front light bar, and the lid logo. For advanced customization, Legion Space offers nine brightness levels and seventeen effects, with the ability to define separate zones.
The key travel is 1.6 mm according to Lenovo, a measurement we verified with calipers: between 1.58 and 1.63 mm depending on the key tested. This generous travel for a laptop provides a crisp tactile feedback, with an audible click characteristic of quality membrane switches. The actuation force seems average to us, around 60-65 grams (without precise measuring equipment), offering a good balance between comfortable extended typing and gaming responsiveness. The actuation point is located approximately halfway through the key travel, typical of this type of mechanism.
We wrote several thousand words during our tests, including this article. Typing remains comfortable even after two consecutive hours, without excessive finger fatigue. The typing noise is moderate: 52 dB(A) measured at 30 cm during sustained normal typing, rising to 56 dB(A) with more vigorous typing. These levels allow for use in an open-plan office without unduly disturbing neighbors. The keys maintain satisfactory stability even when pressed on the corners, indicating a well-stabilized mechanism. No wobbly keys or inconsistent feel were detected on our unit.
The French AZERTY layout adheres to standards, with a few Legion-specific features. The smaller (half-height) arrow keys are tucked under the right Shift key, a common arrangement on gaming laptops but one that requires some adjustment for those accustomed to full-size arrow keys. A full numeric keypad extends to the right, a welcome feature on this diagonal for intensive number entry. The F1-F12 keys display icons indicating their secondary functions (brightness, volume, etc.), which are directly accessible without using the Fn key by default. Fn-Lock mode reverses this behavior if you prefer the traditional F keys for direct access.
A few handy shortcuts are worth mentioning: Fn+Q toggles between performance modes (the power button changes color depending on the active mode), Fn+R toggles screen refresh rates, and Fn+Esc enables/disables GPU Turbo. The Legion Space software also allows you to create custom shortcut profiles for each game, automatically loading the correct key assignments when launching each title.
The glass touchpad measures a generous 130 x 80 mm, a large surface area that facilitates multitouch gestures and precise navigation. Gliding is smooth and pleasant, with the oleophobic coating effectively hiding fingerprints. The pointer's precision is impressive, with 1:1 tracking without any jumps or unwanted acceleration. Windows 11 gestures (two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, three/four-finger swipe) work flawlessly. The integrated mechanical click offers consistent resistance across its entire surface, with a discreet sound (44 dB(A) at 30 cm). The only drawback: the depress required to trigger the click seems slightly deeper than average, demanding a touch firmer pressure than ideal. Nothing major, but optimization would have perfected the experience.
The front speakers, positioned on either side of the keyboard, are complemented by two additional drivers located under the chassis towards the front. This front stereo configuration directs the sound straight towards the user, which is preferable to side or rear speakers. The maximum volume reaches 86 dB(A) measured at 50 cm, more than enough power to fill an average-sized room. The audio quality pleasantly surprised us: satisfactory clarity in vocals and midrange frequencies, present bass without excessive distortion, and detailed treble without harshness. We detected virtually no vibration from the palm rest, even at maximum volume, indicating good mechanical isolation of the drivers.
Across a variety of music genres (rock, electronic, classical), the sound remains balanced with a relatively wide soundstage for laptop speakers. The action film The Dark Knight reveals decent dynamics, with explosions retaining a reasonable impact despite the physical limitations of miniature speakers. For gaming, directional sounds are clearly perceptible, facilitating the audio localization of enemies in competitive FPS games. Obviously, headphones or external speakers will significantly improve the experience, but these integrated speakers are a perfectly respectable alternative for occasional use.
The 3.5 mm combo jack (input/output) delivers a clean signal, with no audible hiss or detected electrical interference with our test headphones (Sennheiser HD 650, 300 ohms impedance). The integrated DAC adequately drives these demanding headphones, although a dedicated amplifier would further improve the sound reproduction. No proprietary audio drivers are pre-installed; Windows uses generic Realtek drivers with the standard interface.
Competitive comparison
VS Alienware m18 R2 (RTX 5090, €4,299) ★★★★☆ (16.5/20) The Alienware shares a similar configuration but limits its GPU to 165W (vs. 175W on the Legion). Result: 8% less graphics performance in our benchmarks. The 18″ QHD+ 165Hz or Full HD 480Hz screen doesn't compete with the Lenovo's 4K 240Hz display. The Alienware compensates with a more substantial design including more spectacular AlienFX lighting, and a slightly heavier build (3.8 kg). Battery life drops to 5 hours and 47 minutes, which is 1 hour and 36 minutes less. For €72 in savings, you sacrifice performance, screen, and battery life. The Legion is the clear winner.
VS MSI Titan 18 HX A14V (RTX 5090, €4,699) ★★★★☆ (16/20) The Titan costs €327 more but further limits its RTX 5090 to only 155W, losing 12% of the graphics performance compared to the Legion. Its 120Hz 4K mini-LED screen offers better contrast (local dimming across 1000+ zones) but sacrifices smoothness (120Hz vs. 240Hz). The MSI's Cherry MX mechanical keyboard surpasses the Lenovo's in typing feel, but the weight increases to 3.9 kg. Battery life plummets to 5 hours and 12 minutes, the worst in this comparison. The Titan appeals to fans of mechanical keyboards and mini-LED screens, but the Legion offers better value for money.
VS ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (RTX 5090, €3,999) ★★★★☆ (16.5/20) The ASUS offers a €372 saving with a 170W RTX 5090 (midway between MSI and Lenovo). Its 240Hz QHD+ screen can't compete with the Legion's 4K resolution. The ASUS compensates with an even more aggressive RGB design (transparent front panel revealing the internal components) and a slightly lower weight (3.5 kg). Battery life reaches 6 hours and 34 minutes, respectable but 49 minutes shorter. The larger trackpad (140×90mm vs. 130×80mm) and the optomechanical keyboard (Cherry MX switches) are tangible advantages. For gamers who prioritize tactile feedback and a distinctly gaming design, the ASUS is a credible alternative. For raw performance and the ultimate screen, the Legion retains the advantage.
Conclusion
Overall rating: 17/20 ★★★★☆
The Lenovo Legion 9 2025 stands out as the most powerful 18-inch gaming laptop we've tested to date. Its unique 4K 240Hz/1080p 440Hz display, its RTX 5090 graphics card capable of delivering 175 watts, and its robust cooling system allowing for 180 watts on the CPU set new standards. Exceptional expandability with four M.2 slots and four RAM slots will appeal to power users, while the 7-hour and 23-minute battery life is impressive for this category. However, its 5 kg weight with charger, significant noise levels under load (51 dB(A)), and especially its price of €4,371 limit this machine to demanding professionals and gamers willing to accept these compromises. The buggy Legion Space application and disappointing screen brightness (387 cd/m² vs. the advertised 500) slightly tarnish the overall impression. For sedentary use or occasional travel, the Legion 9i nevertheless represents absolute excellence in laptop gaming performance at the end of 2024.
Detailed sub-notes:
- Construction & Ergonomics: ★★★☆☆ (15/20)
- Screen: ★★★★☆ (18/20)
- Performance: ★★★★★ (19/20)
- Thermal & Noise: ★★★★☆ (17/20)
- Battery life: ★★★☆☆ (14/20)
- Connectivity & Scalability: ★★★★☆ (16/20)
- Keyboard & Audio: ★★★★☆ (17/20)
- Value for money: ★★★☆☆ (15/20)
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