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Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) Laptop Review

Tested using Methodology v0.8.2
Reviewed Apr 27, 2022 at 10:55 am
Latest change: Test bench update Dec 07, 2023 at 07:56 am
Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) Picture
6.5
School
8.1
Gaming
6.2
Multimedia
8.6
Workstation
7.5
Business

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) is a lower mid-range gaming laptop. It's a step above the budget-oriented Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) but sits below the Legion 5 Pro and the Legion 7 in Lenovo's lineup. It's very similar to the IdeaPad Gaming 3 in design, user experience, and configuration options; however, it has an additional QHD display option and GPUs like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU. Unlike IdeaPad Gaming 3, the Legion 5 sports a MUX switch, and its GPUs run at a higher wattage, allowing for better performance.

Our Lenovo Legion 5 has an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 (95W) dedicated GPU, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage. If you need better multi-thread performance, you can upgrade the CPU to an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, which has more cores and threads. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is the lowest-end GPU option and can provide a 60 fps gaming experience at 1080p, though you'll have to play at low settings in most games. The RTX 3050 and 3050Ti are very similar and will get you around or slightly above 60 fps with medium or high settings, with the 3050Ti being only marginally better. The RTX 3060 is faster than the RTX 3050, providing a 35 to 40% performance boost over the RTX 3050. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M is roughly the equivalent of an RTX 3060; the performance will vary depending on each game's optimization. The RTX 3070 is the highest-end GPU available and the best option to pair with the QHD 165Hz display.

Our Verdict

6.5 School

The Lenovo Legion 5 is okay for school use. Its AMD Ryzen CPU and dedicated GPU can handle all student workloads, including demanding tasks like graphic design and 3D animation. The keyboard feels comfortable to type on for long periods, and the touchpad tracks well. The 1080p display is decently sharp and provides enough space for multitasking, and you can also configure the laptop with an even sharper QHD panel if you prefer. Unfortunately, it's a bulky device that's hard to carry around, and its battery lasts only about 4 hours of light productivity.

Pros
  • AMD Ryzen CPUs can handle demanding workloads.
  • Keyboard doesn't cause fatigue over an extended period.
  • Good webcam video quality.
Cons
  • Hard to carry around due to size and weight.
  • Display doesn't get bright enough to combat intense glare.
  • Battery lasts only about 4 hours of light productivity.
8.1 Gaming

The Lenovo Legion 5 is great for gaming. It's available with AMD Ryzen CPUs as well as various NVIDIA and AMD GPUs, all of which can deliver smooth gameplay at 1080p. You can also configure the laptop with a QHD 165Hz display, though you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 to get the best experience. The fans get pretty loud under load; however, there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU, so you won't experience any performance loss when gaming for an extended period. It's a little hard to access the internals, but on the upside, the memory and storage drive are user-replaceable.

Pros
  • AMD Ryzen CPUs can handle demanding workloads.
  • Available with powerful GPU options, up to an RTX 3070.
  • MUX switch.
  • User-replaceable memory and storage.
  • No noticeable throttling on CPU and GPU.
Cons
  • Loud fan noise under load.
  • Slow response time causes noticeable ghosting.
  • Hard to access internals.
6.2 Multimedia

The Lenovo Legion 5 is mediocre for media consumption. It isn't very portable as it's a bulky and heavy device, and its battery lasts less than 4 hours of video playback, so you'll have to bring the charger with you. The 120Hz display looks washed out and doesn't get bright enough to combat intense glare, but you can get the laptop with a brighter and more colorful panel. Although the speakers are good overall, they still have no bass whatsoever, so they aren't ideal for music or movies.

Pros
  • 100% sRGB and QHD panel options.
  • Flicker-free backlight helps reduce eye strain.
  • Speakers are well-suited for spoken content.
Cons
  • Hard to carry around due to size and weight.
  • 120Hz panel looks washed out.
  • Display doesn't get bright enough to combat intense glare.
  • Battery lasts only a little over 3 hours of video playback.
  • Blacks look gray in dim settings.
  • Speakers lack bass and sound quiet.
8.6 Workstation

The Lenovo Legion 5 is excellent as a workstation. It's available with powerful CPUs and GPUs that can handle demanding tasks like video editing, programming, or 3D rendering. The fans get pretty loud under load, but there's no noticeable throttling on the CPU or GPU, which is great for heavy, sustained workloads. It has a wide port selection that includes an HDMI 2.1 and plenty of USB ports, so you likely won't need a dock to plug in all of your peripherals. The memory and storage drive are user-replaceable, though it isn't easy to access the internals.

Pros
  • AMD Ryzen CPUs can handle demanding workloads.
  • Available with powerful GPU options, up to an RTX 3070.
  • Wide port selection.
  • User-replaceable memory and storage.
  • No noticeable throttling on CPU and GPU.
Cons
  • Loud fan noise under load.
  • Hard to access internals.
7.5 Business

The Lenovo Legion 5 is good for business use. Its AMD Ryzen processors can easily handle productivity tasks like web browsing, text formatting, and spreadsheets, as well as heavy multitasking with a large number of apps open simultaneously. The display provides plenty of room for multitasking, the keyboard feels comfortable to type on, and the webcam captures a good image for video calls. That said, it's hard to carry around as it's a bulky and heavy laptop, and its battery only lasts about 4 hours.

Pros
  • AMD Ryzen CPUs can handle demanding workloads.
  • Wide port selection.
  • Keyboard doesn't cause fatigue over an extended period.
  • Good webcam video quality.
Cons
  • Hard to carry around due to size and weight.
  • Display doesn't get bright enough to combat intense glare.
  • Battery lasts only about 4 hours of light productivity.
  • 6.5 School
  • 8.1 Gaming
  • 6.2 Multimedia
  • 8.6 Workstation
  • 7.5 Business
  1. Updated Dec 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.2.
  2. Updated Nov 03, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.1.
  3. Updated Sep 12, 2023: Added mention of the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) as an NVIDIA 40-series alternative with support for Frame Generation in the GPU section.
  4. Updated Mar 09, 2023: Added mention of the ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022) as an alternative with a faster CPU in theGeekbench 5 section.
  5. Updated Apr 27, 2022: Review published.
  6. Updated Apr 11, 2022: Early access published.
  7. Updated Apr 01, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Mar 29, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Mar 23, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Lenovo Legion 5 (model 82JWCTO1WW) with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H CPU, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 dedicated GPU, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage. The screen, CPU, GPU, memory, and storage are configurable; you can see the available options in the table below. Our review applies to variants with a model number starting with '82JW', '82JU', and '82NW'.

Screen
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 60Hz FreeSync (300 cd/m², 100% sRGB)
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 120Hz FreeSync (250 cd/m², 45% NTSC)
  • 15.6" IPS 1920 x 1080 165Hz FreeSync/G-SYNC Dolby Vision (300 cd/m², 100% sRGB)
  • 15.6" IPS 2560 x 1440 165Hz FreeSync/G-SYNC Dolby Vision (300 cd/m², 100% sRGB) 
CPU
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (6 cores/12 threads, up to 4.2GHz, 16MB)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (8 cores/ 16 threads, up to 4.4GHz, 16MB)
GPU
  • AMD Radeon RX 6600M 8GB GDDR6 (dedicated, 100W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB GDDR6 (dedicated, unknown TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4GB GDDR6 (dedicated, 95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti 4GB GDDR6 (dedicated, 95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GDDR6 (dedicated, 130W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB GDDR6 (dedicated, 130W TGP)
Memory
  • 8GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • 16GB DDR4 3200MHz
  • 32GB DDR4 3200MHz (82JU and 82NW models only)
Storage
  • 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
  • 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Color
  • Phantom Blue (top), Shadow Black (bottom)
  • Stingray (top), Dove Gray (bottom)

Our display and performance results are only valid for the configuration we tested. If you come across a different configuration option not listed above, or you have a similar Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop that doesn't correspond to our review, let us know, and we'll update it. Some tests, like black uniformity and color accuracy, may vary between individual units.

You can see our unit's label here.

Compared To Other Laptops

The Lenovo Legion 5 is among the best gaming laptops in its class. It has a sturdy build, a wide port selection, and proper cooling to allow the GPU to run at high wattage. It's also one of the few gaming laptops in its price range with a MUX switch.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022)

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022) is a bit better than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). The ASUS is more portable as it's a smaller device with a thin and light design, and it also has a brighter display, a larger and more responsive touchpad, and much longer battery life. However, the Lenovo has a wider port selection with two additional USB-As and an HDMI 2.1 port, and it doesn't get as hot under load, resulting in less throttling on the GPU. The ASUS still performs better, though, as its AMD Ryzen 6000 CPU is faster than the Lenovo's Ryzen 5000 CPUs.

Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021)

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) is better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021). They have similar configuration options; however, you can get the Legion 5 with a QHD 165Hz panel and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU, which aren't available on the IdeaPad Gaming 3. With the same configuration, the Legion will perform better and push out higher frame rates as it has a MUX switch, and its GPUs run at a higher wattage. The Legion 5 also has a sturdier build, a wider port selection, and better thermals.

HP Victus 16 (2021)

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) and the HP Victus 16 (2021) are very similar gaming laptops. The Lenovo has AMD Ryzen CPU options, while the HP has Intel 11th Gen CPUs. The Lenovo has higher-end GPU options like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU and an AMD Radeon RX 6600M, which aren't available on the HP. The overall user experience is similar between the two laptops; however, the HP has a larger and more responsive touchpad, while the Lenovo has a wider port selection. The HP doesn't have a MUX switch, but the Lenovo does.

Dell G15 (2022)

The Dell G15 (2022) and the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) are fairly similar. The Lenovo comes out ahead in user experience because it has a much sturdier build, a better keyboard and touchpad, and a wider port selection. However, the Dell has higher-end display and GPU configurations, like a 1440p 240Hz panel with 400 cd/m² of brightness and 99% DCI P3 coverage, as well as an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti GPU. The Dell laptop's Intel 12th Gen. CPUs also perform better than the AMD Ryzen 5000-series processors on the Lenovo.

Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023)

The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023) is better than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). The Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 is available with newer and faster AMD CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs, which can deliver higher frame rates in demanding games. Also, its NVIDIA 40-series GPUs support Frame Generation, an AI-based feature that can dramatically boost performance in supported games. The Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 has a faster 240Hz QHD+ display option, a better 1080p webcam, and a larger 78Wh battery.

HP OMEN 16 (2022)

The HP OMEN 16 (2022) and the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) are both gaming laptops with many similar NVIDIA discrete GPU options; however, the HP uses Intel 12th Gen CPUs, while the Lenovo has AMD Ryzen 5000-series. The HP is more portable and offers a better user experience as it doesn't get as hot or loud under load. The performance will depend on which configuration you get, though the Lenovo laptop has an advantage due to the presence of a MUX switch, which the HP lacks.

ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022)

The ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022) and the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) are very similar overall. Although both laptops have a 15.6-inch screen, the ASUS is more portable, as it's lighter and more compact. The ASUS is available with Intel 12th Gen. CPUs, which are faster than the Lenovo laptop's AMD Ryzen 5000-series processors. The Lenovo has a wider port selection, but unlike the ASUS, it doesn't support Thunderbolt 4. It has an HDMI 2.1 port, while the ASUS' HDMI port is limited to HDMI 2.0.

HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (2021)

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) is better than the HP Pavilion Gaming Laptop 15 (2021). The Lenovo has a sturdier build, a better keyboard, and a wider port selection. The configuration options are similar between the two laptops, but the Lenovo has a QHD display option, as well as higher-end GPUs like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 and AMD Radeon RX 6600M. The Lenovo laptop also has a MUX switch, which the HP laptop lacks.

Dell Alienware m15 R3 (2020)

The Dell Alienware m15 R3 (2020) is better than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). The Dell is a more premium device with a sturdier build, a more comfortable keyboard, a more responsive touchpad, and a wider port selection. The Dell also has better display options, like a 1080p 300Hz and a 4k 60Hz OLED panel. The performance will depend on which configuration you get. The Dell has older CPU and GPU options, but it can perform just as well or better than the Lenovo, provided that you get a higher-end configuration with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080.

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2019)

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2019) are very different. The Lenovo is a mid-range Windows gaming laptop, while the Apple laptop is a macOS mobile workstation. The Apple laptop provides a better user experience as it has a sharper and brighter display, a larger and more responsive haptic touchpad, better-sounding speakers, and a better webcam. It also has longer battery life and a fingerprint sensor for quick logins. However, the Lenovo laptop's keyboard feels more comfortable to type on, and its AMD CPU and NVIDIA GPU are faster and can handle more demanding workloads.

MSI Raider GE67 HX (2022)

The MSI Raider GE67 HX (2022) is better than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). The MSI has a much better 240Hz OLED display and is available with more powerful CPUs and GPUs that can push higher frame rates. It also has a faster SSD, which helps shorten loading times in games, and its battery lasts longer. However, the Lenovo doesn't get as hot or loud under load.

ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2023)

The ASUS ROG Flow X13 (2023) is better than the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021). The Flow X13 is thinner and lighter, and it feels sturdier overall. It also has a better keyboard, a larger, more responsive touchpad, and a higher-resolution IR webcam. However, the Legion 5 has a wider port selection, and its RAM is user-replaceable. The Flow X13's GPUs aren't necessarily faster, as it depends on the configuration, but it has an advantage because the NVIDIA 40-series GPUs support Frame Generation. Also, the Flow X13 has a proprietary PCIe port that lets you connect ASUS' ROG XG Mobile eGPU interface, giving you access to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU.

Razer Blade 14 (2022)

Although the Razer Blade 14 (2022) and the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 15 (2021) are both gaming laptops, they aren't in the same class. The Razer is a significantly more premium device that offers a better user experience. It has a sturdier build with a full aluminum chassis and is available with more powerful internals to provide smoother gameplay. The Razer's QHD display with full DCI P3 coverage also makes it a better option for production workloads like video editing.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Form Factor
Traditional (Clamshell)

The Lenovo Legion 5 2021 has an understated design with minimal gamer aesthetic, similar to the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) and the HP Victus 16 (2021). It has fairly thin bezels on three sides with a thicker bottom chin, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad on the right side, and an off-center plastic touchpad. There are vents and ports on both sides of the laptop and the back. On the bottom of the laptop, you can find the speakers near the front and additional vents near the back. It's available in two color schemes: Phantom Blue with a Shadow Black bottom or Stingray with a Dove Gray bottom.

8.0
Design
Build Quality

The Lenovo Legion 5 gaming laptop's build quality is great. It's mostly plastic with some metal on the back. It feels solid, with no obvious gaps in the construction, and the finish doesn't scratch or pick up fingerprints easily. There's a bit of flex in the display but almost none in the keyboard deck. The weight distribution isn't that great as it's back-heavy, making using the laptop on a lap uncomfortable as it may tip over. If you want a more premium-feeling laptop with a sturdier aluminum chassis, check out the Razer Blade 14 (2022).

9.4
Design
Hinge
Range
178°
Stability
Good
One Finger Lift
Yes

The Lenovo Legion 5 15ACH6 has outstanding hinges. It feels strong but not too stiff, so you can still open the laptop with one hand, which is a nice quality-of-life feature. Opening the lid feels smooth, and there's very little wobble when typing aggressively or moving the laptop around.

5.3
Design
Portability
Size
15.6"
Thickness
1.3" (3.3 cm)
Width
14.2" (36.0 cm)
Depth
10.4" (26.4 cm)
Volume
191.4 in³ (3,136.3 cm³)
Weight
5.3 lbs (2.4 kg)
Charger Size
24.1 in³ (394.4 cm³)
Charger Weight
1.5 lbs (0.7 kg)

The Lenovo Legion 5 and its power adapter are hard to carry around, as they're both bulky and heavy. If you want a more portable thin and light gaming laptop, check out the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2022).

7.6
Design
Serviceability
Ease Of Access
6.0
RAM Slots
2
Storage Slots
2
Replaceable Battery
Yes
Replaceable Wireless Adapter
Yes

The Lenovo Legion 5 15's serviceability is good. The memory, storage, wireless adapter, and battery are all user-replaceable. However, it isn't easy to access the internals. Removing the ten Philips screws isn't a problem, but prying open the bottom panel is hard. You'll need a metal pick or prying tool, and you have to be careful as the clips holding the panel break easily. Once inside, you can find the components under the metal sheaths. You can see the service manual here. Opening the laptop and changing the hardware may void the manufacturer's warranty.

Design
In The Box

  • Lenovo Legion 5 laptop
  • 230W power adapter and cord
  • Documentation

Note: Models with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 3070, or an AMD Radeon RX 6600M GPU have a 300W power adapter.

Display
Display
Screen Specs
Resolution
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Pixel Density
141 PPI
Panel Type
IPS
Touch Screen
No
Screen-To-Body Ratio
80%

The Lenovo Legion 5 is available with the following displays:

  • 15.6" IPS 1080p 60Hz
  • 15.6" IPS 1080p 120Hz
  • 15.6" IPS 1080p 165Hz
  • 15.6" IPS 1440p 165Hz

The 1080p panels' pixel density is decent at this screen size, so images and text still look relatively sharp. The QHD panel looks noticeably sharper, with a pixel density of 188 PPI; however, it's harder to drive, meaning you'll have to pair it with the top-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 GPU to get good frame rates in games. The 16:9 aspect ratio is good for gaming and media consumption, but it's a bit too short for productivity, so you have to scroll more when reading documents.

8.7
Display
Refresh Rate
Refresh Rate
120 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync

The Lenovo Legion 5's 120Hz panel displays a relatively clear image in fast-moving content and provides a responsive gaming experience. However, the response time is a little slow, causing visible blur trails behind moving objects. The 60Hz panel will display a blurrier image, and it doesn't support any variable refresh rate technology. On the other hand, the 1080p and 1440p 165Hz panels support FreeSync and G-Sync and likely perform better than the 120Hz panel.

6.9
Display
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,092 : 1

The Lenovo Legion 5's contrast ratio is okay, but it's still low compared to other panel technologies like VA and OLED. Blacks look gray in dim settings, so it isn't ideal for viewing content in the dark. The other panel options will perform similarly. The contrast ratio can vary between individual units, but the difference is usually minor and isn't noticeable.

6.7
Display
Brightness
Maximum Brightness
273 cd/m²
Minimum Brightness
2 cd/m²

The Lenovo Legion gaming laptop's 120Hz panel doesn't get very bright. It's good enough for use in most indoor settings but not in a well-lit environment or outdoors in broad daylight. If you like viewing content in the dark, the screen gets very dim to help reduce eye strain.

The other three panels have an advertised brightness of 300 cd/m², which is brighter, but not significantly so, and still not enough to combat intense glare.

8.1
Display
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
3.68%
Indirect Reflections
2.4%
Calculated Direct Reflections
1.28%

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gaming has great reflection handling. It has a matte anti-reflective coating that does a good job of diffusing bright, direct reflections like a lamp or open window during the day. The reflections are still distracting when viewing dark content, but not as much when viewing bright content with the screen at max brightness. Bright ambient lighting creates a slight haziness on the screen, although it isn't too bad.

6.3
Display
Black Uniformity
Uniformity (Std. Dev.)
1.813%

The Lenovo Legion 5's black uniformity is mediocre. There's clouding throughout the screen, and some backlight bleed along the top and bottom edges. However, these uniformity issues are only visible when viewing dark content in a dim setting. Black uniformity varies due to manufacturing tolerances; you may get a unit with a little more or less backlight bleed, but you can expect the rest of the screen to be relatively similar.

6.6
Display
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
23°
Color Washout From Right
25°
Color Shift From Left
44°
Color Shift From Right
50°
Brightness Loss From Left
25°
Brightness Loss From Right
27°
Black Level Raise From Left
60°
Black Level Raise From Right
60°
Gamma Shift From Left
23°
Gamma Shift From Right
27°

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 AMD has okay horizontal viewing angles. The image dims very quickly when moving off-center. The picture quality is still good enough from the side to share text documents and other casual content, but you have to be close or directly in front of the screen if you need perfect accuracy. The other panels likely have similar viewing angles.

6.3
Display
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
25°
Color Washout From Above
21°
Color Shift From Below
30°
Color Shift From Above
25°
Brightness Loss From Below
27°
Brightness Loss From Above
22°
Black Level Raise From Below
45°
Black Level Raise From Above
45°
Gamma Shift From Below
32°
Gamma Shift From Above
25°

The Lenovo Legion 5 has mediocre vertical viewing angles. The image dims and washes out when viewed from above and below. It's fine if you're only looking at a text document, but you have to look at the screen straight on if accuracy is important, which can be hard when you don't have enough space to tilt the screen to your liking, like on a bus or airplane.

5.1
Display
Out-Of-The-Box Color Accuracy
Avg. White Balance dE
3.52
Avg. Gamma
2.18
Avg. Color dE
6.08
Avg. Color Temperature
6,563 K

The Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 has poor color accuracy out of the box. The white balance is alright, but most colors look inaccurate because the panel has a narrow color gamut and can't reproduce the proper colors. The color temperature is very close to the standard 6500K target. The gamma sticks roughly to a 2.2 target instead of following the sRGB curve, making dark scenes too dark and bright scenes a bit too bright. Color accuracy varies between individual units, but the difference is usually minor and hard to notice. The other panels with full sRGB coverage likely have better accuracy out of the box.

3.8
Display
Color Gamut
sRGB xy
63.16%
sRGB uv
49.41%
Adobe RGB xy
47.66%
Adobe RGB uv
42.88%
DCI P3 xy
47.39%
DCI P3 uv
39.84%
Rec. 2020 xy
34%
Rec. 2020 uv
29.03%

The Lenovo Legion 5 has a poor color gamut. It doesn't even have full coverage of the commonly-used sRGB color space, resulting in washed-out colors in most content. It also has very limited coverage of the wider color spaces like Adobe RGB, DCI P3, and Rec. 2020, making it unsuitable for color-critical work or for viewing and producing HDR content. The 60Hz and 165Hz panels - including the QHD display - will look better as they have an advertised 100% sRGB coverage.

10
Display
Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
Flicker Frequency
No Flicker
Flicker Active Below
0%

The Lenovo Legion 5 has a flicker-free backlight, which helps reduce eye strain for people sensitive to flickering.

Interface
8.2
Interface
Keyboard
Typing Quality
8.0
Numpad
Yes
Backlighting
Adjustable
Operating Force
67 gf
Actuation Force
33 gf
Pre-Travel
1.04 mm
Total Travel
1.52 mm

The Lenovo Legion 5 15 has a great keyboard. The plastic used for the keycaps feels high-quality, there's sufficient spacing between the keys, and the layout is fairly standard and easy to get used to. The keys have a lot of travel, don't require much force to actuate, and provide reasonably satisfying tactile feedback. They aren't the most stable keys, but it isn't bothersome when typing. The keyboard doesn't feel tiring to type on for extended periods. Typing noise is low, so you don't have to worry about using this laptop in a quiet environment. You can toggle between two backlight brightness levels or turn it off completely using FN and the spacebar. This model has white backlighting only, but there are models with a 4-zone RGB backlight.

7.2
Interface
Touchpad
Tracking Quality
7.5
Size
11.3 in² (72.8 cm²)
Material
Plastic
Dedicated Buttons
No

The Lenovo Legion 5 has a decent touchpad. It's on the smaller side, but it feels smooth and stable, with no signs of wobbling. It tracks all movements and gestures well, and there aren't any issues with palm rejection or actions like dragging and dropping. However, the click mechanism doesn't feel particularly satisfying, so it can be hard to know whether you've clicked hard enough for the laptop to register the input.

7.5
Interface
Speakers
Max Volume
75 dB SPL
Standard Error @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
4.6 dB
Slope @ Normal Vol. (65 dB)
-1.9
Bass Extension (Low-Frequency Ext.)
433 Hz
Treble Extension (High-Frequency Ext.)
15 kHz
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Vol.
1.4 dB

The Lenovo Legion 5's speakers are good overall. They sound relatively natural with a lot of emphasis in the vocal range, making them well suited for spoken content. However, they aren't ideal for music or movies because they have no bass whatsoever. They don't get very loud either, but the sound quality doesn't degrade much at max volume.

7.4
Interface
Webcam & Microphone
Video Quality
7.5
Resolution
720p
Position
Top Center
Privacy Cover
No
Face Unlock
No

The Lenovo Legion 5's webcam video quality is good. There's a fair amount of fine details in the image even though it's 720p; however, it looks a little underexposed, making it hard to differentiate darker colors. There's also some noise, although it's very minor. The microphone sounds slightly boomy, but voices still come across loud and clear with no static in the background. There isn't a physical privacy cover for the webcam, although there's a switch on the right side of the laptop that disables the camera at the software level.

Connectivity
9.0
Connectivity
Ports
USB-A Ports
4
USB-C Ports
2
Thunderbolt
No
USB-C Charging
Yes
USB-C Display Out
Yes
HDMI
2.1
DisplayPort
No
3.5mm Jack
Combo mic/headphone
Card Reader
No
Ethernet
Yes
Proprietary Port
Lenovo Power Connector
Security Lock
No

The Lenovo Legion 5 15 has an outstanding port selection. All four USB-A ports support USB 3.2 Gen 1 data transfer speed (up to 5Gbps). The USB-A on the side is always on, meaning you can use it to charge an external device even when the laptop is in sleep mode. Both USB-Cs support USB 3.2 Gen 2 data transfer speed (up to 10Gbps) and video output via DisplayPort 1.4; however, only the USB-C on the back of the device supports charging (up to 100W). If you want a gaming laptop with a USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 port, check out the HP OMEN 16 (2022).

Connectivity
Wireless Communication
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Bluetooth
5.2

The Lenovo Legion 5's wireless adapter is a Realtek RTL8852AE Wi-Fi 6. Some users have reported experiencing connection dropouts or slow internet speeds. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's a fix for these issues through a firmware update, but on the upside, the wireless adapter is user-replaceable.

Configuration
Configuration
CPU
Brand
AMD
Model
Ryzen 5 5600H
Core Count
6
Thread Count
12

You can configure the Lenovo Legion 5 Gen 6 with the following CPUs:

  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600H (6 cores/12 threads, up to 4.2GHz, 16MB cache)
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800H (8 cores/ 16 threads, up to 4.4GHz, 16MB cache)

Both are high-power mobile processors designed to handle demanding tasks, like gaming and video editing. The Ryzen 7 5800H is faster than the Ryzen 5 5600H, especially in multi-threaded workloads due to its increase core count. The performance increase doesn't affect GPU-limited games significantly, but it's noticeable in more CPU-intensive games like Civilization VI or open-world games. For demanding production workloads like video editing or programming, it's best to go with the Ryzen 7 5800H as it can complete tasks faster and provide a smoother experience overall.

Configuration
GPU
Brand
NVIDIA
Model
GeForce RTX 3050
Dedicated/Integrated
Dedicated
VRAM Size
4 GB

The Lenovo Legion 5 is available with the following dedicated GPUs:

  • AMD Radeon RX 6600M with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM (100W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM (unknown TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM (95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti with 4GB of GDDR6 VRAM (95W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM (130W TGP)
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM (130W TGP)

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 is an entry-level GPU that can push around 60 fps at 1080p with low settings. The RTX 3050 is faster than the GTX 1650 and will let you run graphically demanding games at high settings while still maintaining around 60 fps or slightly more. The RTX 3050Ti performs only about 10% better than the RTX 3050 on average; however, the RTX 3060 is much faster, giving you a 35% to 40% performance boost over the RTX 3050. The RTX 3070 is the top-end configuration and will give you roughly a 15% performance increase over the RTX 3060 on average, though it can be more in VRAM-heavy scenarios. Finally, the AMD Radeon RX 6600M is roughly equivalent to the RTX 3060; it'll perform a little better or worse depending on each game's optimization.

The NVIDIA RTX GPUs support DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and ray-tracing. DLSS helps increase the frame rate by rendering the game at a lower resolution and subsequently using temporal upscaling to minimize any loss in visual quality. However, it's more effective at higher resolutions, and its performance depends heavily on each game's implementation, meaning you may see only a small increase in frame rate at 1080p or none at all when enabled. As for ray-tracing, it isn't worth enabling on an RTX 3050 and 3050Ti because it has a high performance cost and will cause the frame rate to drop too low. It may be worth it on the RTX 3060 and 3070, but only if you use DLSS to make up for the performance loss. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M has a similar DLSS-like feature called FSR and supports ray-tracing as well. If you want an NVIDIA 40-series laptop with Frame Generation support, check out the Lenovo Legion Pro 5 Gen 8 16 (2023).

There's a MUX (multiplexer) switch to allow the GPU to send information directly to the display without going through the integrated GPU, meaning you'll see dramatically better performance than on laptops that lack this feature. The performance difference can be anywhere from 10% to 25%, or more in some cases.

Configuration
RAM
Capacity
8 GB
Modules
1
Type
DDR4
Speed
3,200 MHz

You can configure the Lenovo Legion 5 with 8, 16, or 32GB of memory. For the best gaming experience, it's best to get at least 16GB because 8GB isn't enough for some games and will cause stutters. The 8GB model is also in a single-channel configuration, which impacts performance, especially on AMD Ryzen systems. This laptop uses a single rank x16 memory module that doesn't perform as well as rank x8 modules due to its smaller bandwidth. However, this slower memory doesn't affect all games and applications; it's more of an issue in CPU-bound scenarios. Some users have reported getting rank x8 memory in their units, but Lenovo doesn't specify which type is in each model, so it's impossible to know what you'll get until you receive the device. On the upside, the memory is user-replaceable, meaning you can swap it out for a better one.

Configuration
Storage
Advertised Capacity
256 GB
Usable Capacity
209 GB
Drive 1
Samsung MZALQ256HBJD-00BL2
Drive 1 Type SSD
Drive 2
No 2nd Drive
Drive 2 Type No 2nd Drive

You can configure the Lenovo Legion 5 with a 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD.

Performance
8.6
Performance
Geekbench 5 (Synthetics)
CPU Single-Thread
1,341 points
CPU Multi-Thread
4,931 points
GPU Compute
61,050 points

The Lenovo Legion 5 has an excellent overall score in Geekbench 5. The AMD Ryzen 5 5600H has outstanding single-thread and good multi-thread performance. However, the multi-thread performance is worse than expected due to the laptop having single-rank x16 memory in a single-channel configuration, limiting performance in memory-sensitive tasks like file compression. In short, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and the Ryzen 7 5800H are very capable CPUs that can handle demanding production workloads. However, you'll have to upgrade the memory to get the most out of them. If you want a similar laptop with a faster CPU, check out the ASUS TUF Dash F15 (2022).

As for the GPU compute, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 has an excellent score, making it suitable for intensive tasks like video editing and 3D animation. If you want even better performance, go with the RTX 3060, 3070, or the AMD Radeon RX 6600M. The GTX 1650 can get the job done, but you might experience some stutters and frame drops here and there, and it'll take longer to complete tasks.

The results above are scores obtained in the Balanced power profile. The Performance mode only boosts graphical performance slightly.

9.3
Performance
Cinebench R23 (CPU Rendering)
Single-Thread
1,369 points
Multi-Thread
9,524 points

The Lenovo Legion 5 with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H performs exceptionally well in Cinebench R23, making it suitable for professional-level rendering or other related workloads. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800H has even better multi-thread performance, in the same ballpark as the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021).

8.7
Performance
Blender (3D Rendering)
CPU Render Time
4.3 min
GPU Render Time
1.2 min
GPU Render Time (Optix)
49 s

The Lenovo Legion 5's performance in Blender is excellent. Although the AMD Ryzen 5 5600H can render the bmw27 scene fairly quickly, it's always better to use the dedicated GPU as it's significantly faster, especially the NVIDIA RTX GPUs with Optix API hardware acceleration.

8.1
Performance
Basemark GPU (Game Scene)
Overall Score
57,172

The Lenovo Legion 5's Basemark GPU score is great and within the expected range for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. Switching to the Performance mode in the Lenovo Vantage software boosts graphical performance slightly, resulting in a score of 61,128. Every available GPU can deliver a smooth gaming experience at 1080p, though you'll have to lower some settings in demanding titles to get to 60 fps on models with a GTX 1650, an RTX 3050, or an RTX 3050Ti. The RTX 3070 is the only GPU that can deliver smooth gameplay at 1440p. The AMD Radeon RX 6600M is similar to an RTX 3060 in performance; it'll run better in an AMD title like Assassin's Creed Valhalla but worse in an NVIDIA title like Control.

9.1
Performance
Storage Drive Performance
Sequential Write Speed
924.6 MB/s
Sequential Read Speed
2,559.0 MB/s
Random Write Speed
94.4 MB/s
Random Read Speed
46.9 MB/s

The Lenovo Legion 5's SSD performance is outstanding. It has fast read and write speeds that make the system feel more responsive and snappy, shortening the time it takes to boot up, launch apps, and transfer files. Its sequential read speed is particularly impressive, which is good news for gamers as it can load large games very quickly. The speed of the SSD may vary depending on the size, as larger SSDs tend to perform better.

4.2
Performance
Battery
Capacity
60 Wh
Battery Life (Web Browsing)
4.1 hrs
Battery Life (Video Playback)
3.5 hrs
Battery Life (Gaming)
1.1 hrs
Charge Time
1.8 hrs

The Lenovo Legion 5 has poor battery life. Regardless of your usage, you'll have to plug it in at some point to get through the day. For demanding tasks like gaming or video editing, you'll have to use the laptop plugged in most of the time. Some models have a larger 80Wh battery, but it'll only add an hour or so more of light use. Battery life varies greatly depending on your usage and the laptop's configuration, as higher-end GPUs and displays with a faster refresh rate consume more power.

5.3
Performance
Borderlands 3
Avg. FPS
45 fps
1% Low
24 fps
0.1% Low
12 fps
1% Low Delta
19 ms
0.1% Low Delta
61 ms
Avg. FPS On Very Low
111 fps

The Lenovo Legion 5 performs poorly in Borderlands 3. The game is very choppy at high settings. The average frame rate is much higher at low settings, but you'll still experience some stutters. It's better than the Lenovo IdeaPad Gaming 3 (2021) because this laptop has a MUX switch; however, it's also worse than expected for a configuration with a Ryzen 5 5600H and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 due to this unit's limited amount of memory, the memory density, and the memory channel configuration. You can expect the performance to be closer to that of the HP Victus 16 (2021) if you upgrade the memory. The GTX 1650 can reach 60 fps, but only if you turn down the graphical settings to near minimum. The RTX 3060, RTX 3070, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M can run this game smoothly, provided that you upgrade the memory.

7.6
Performance
Civilization VI
Avg. FPS
83 fps
1% Low
52 fps
0.1% Low
46 fps
1% Low Delta
7 ms
0.1% Low Delta
10 ms
Avg. FPS On Minimum
209 fps
Avg. Turn Time
7.6 s

Civilization VI runs well on the Lenovo Legion 5. The gameplay is smooth at high settings, with only some barely noticeable stutters here and there. However, the performance is worse than expected for a laptop with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. Every CPU and GPU configuration can run this game smoothly, but you'll have to turn down some settings on a GTX 1650 model to get to 60 fps. The RTX 3060, 3070, and the AMD Radeon RX 6600M will run this game at higher frame rates without any issues. The average turn time is decent and within the expected range. It'll be shorter on models with an AMD Ryzen 7 5800H, but only slightly.

9.4
Performance
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Avg. FPS
250 fps
1% Low
122 fps
0.1% Low
94 fps
1% Low Delta
4 ms
0.1% Low Delta
7 ms
Avg. FPS On Low
312 fps

CS:GO runs very smoothly on the Lenovo Legion 5. It's worse than expected for this unit's configuration but still very playable, even for competitive gamers. Every CPU and GPU configuration of the Lenovo Legion 5 can run this game smoothly.

6.8
Performance
Shadow Of The Tomb Raider
Avg. FPS
62 fps
1% Low
39 fps
0.1% Low
29 fps
1% Low Delta
10 ms
0.1% Low Delta
19 ms
Avg. FPS On Lowest
91 fps

Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs reasonably well on the Lenovo Legion 5 with an AMD Ryzen 5 5600H and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050. The average frame rate at high settings is good, but there are frequent micro-stutters. Again, the overall performance is worse than expected due to memory issues. Upgrading the memory to 16GB in dual-channel mode will improve the 1% and 0.1% lows as well as the average frame rate, especially at lower settings. You'll have to turn down some settings to reach 60 fps with the GTX 1650. The RTX 3060, 3070, and AMD Radeon RX 6600M can run this game smoothly without any issues. The large frame time spikes are scene changes and aren't representative of the laptop's performance.

7.2
Performance
Thermals And Noise
Keyboard Temp While Idle
30 °C (85 °F)
Keyboard Temp Under Load
40 °C (104 °F)
Fan Noise While Idle
30.0 dBA
Fan Noise Under Load
52.0 dBA
Power & Fan Control App
Yes

The Lenovo Legion 5 15 has decent thermal and noise handling. The keyboard deck is relatively cool when idle and only gets slightly warm under load. The fans are audible even when idle, though it isn't loud or distracting. However, they get much louder under load, producing a sound of heavy airflow and fast-spinning fans. Unfortunately, the Quiet power profile in the Lenovo Vantage software doesn't make much difference to the fan noise.

9.6
Performance
Performance Over Time
CPU Temp (Cinebench)
75 °C
CPU Perf. Loss (Cinebench)
3% loss
GPU Temp (Heaven)
62 °C
GPU Perf. Loss (Heaven)
0% loss

The Lenovo Legion 5's performance over time is outstanding. Neither the CPU nor the GPU gets very hot under load. The small amount of throttling on the CPU isn't noticeable, and the GPU doesn't throttle at all. All other configurations will perform similarly.

Additional Features And Software
Additional Features And Software
Software
Operating System
Windows 11
Additional Software
Yes

The Lenovo Legion 5 has a few pre-installed applications, including:

  • Lenovo Hotkeys: Lets you create keyboard macros.
  • Lenovo Vantage: Helps keep the BIOS and drivers up to date. It also lets you view the system's status and warranty information, as well as access various power profiles.
  • Lenovo Welcome: Introductory app containing general information about the laptop for new users.
  • McAfee Personal Security: Anti-malware application. It can also create and store complex passwords and offers identity restoration services.
  • Nahimic: SteelSeries-branded audio customization and configuration utility.

Additional Features And Software
Extra Features
RGB Illumination
No
Touch Pen
No
Secondary Display
No
Biometrics
No

The Lenovo Legion 5 doesn't have any extra features.